Those are two unrelated things. The BCA was making money from its amateur leagues. My understanding is that a BCA member that is/was an amateur league decided that the BCA should not be directly competing against its own members and got enough board members to agree with them that they forced the BCA to sell the league. I have heard a rumor that the real hope was that there would be no buyer and the BCA league (and the competition it gave) would just evaporate.
Nasty, destructive politics, in my view.
I also feel that since the BCA no longer has any player members it has no right to be the governing body of pool in North America. It seems, however, to be the best of several bad choices.
Thanks for sharing some data about the mysterious BCA who does everything behind the curtain, with no transparency.
I think professional pool is better without the BCA. Let Matchroom Sport rule pool. I hope Barry Hearn does not pay any stupid WPA sanctioning fee.
I think with Matchroom Sport's promotion capabilities and crediblity around the world in other genres, pool has as chance for the OIympics. With the WPA, it's the same-old, same-old nothing. The WPA goes to France with a few other sport organizations to ask for pool to be included. The Olympic Committee looks at the WPA, et al., and the image of pool and laughs, thinking, "Are you kidding me?" Instead, the Olympic Committee admits breakdancing, flag twirling, and soon I'm sure there will be Olympic lawn mower races and hot dog eating competitions, anything but pool.
Matchroom Sport, on the other hand, will be the change agent for pool. They have a good team that likes pool right now with a very savvy young lady, Emily Frazer, and, of course, the hardworking Luke Riches.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Matchroom Sport will save the day for pool. You heard it here first. I may be dead when pool gets in the Olympics because I'm old, but this post will live on forever as my prediction.
