Economic situation and rising gas prices changed your play?

[CocoboloCowboy]

How has the current economic situation and rising gas prices effected your play?
1. Do you play as often each week?
2. Do you travel to go play in a tournament more or less?
3. Have you put off buying a pool table or cues?
4. Do you still play leagues and will you?
This is just an informal thought you can answer any or all or not at all.

I will still try play in (1) tournament if it is close to home weekly, and I have the extra money in budget for the entry fee.

 

[TXsouthpaw]

Being broke actually makes me better. It forces me to stay home and play on my 9 footer more. If ive got cash i live in the poolhall, but its only got 8 footers and im usually getting drunk and not practicing.

Yeah and no regional tourneys lately either, but thats cause im playing alot of golf too.

 

[easy-e]

If rising gas prices stop someone from playing pool they might need to check their financial situation. What are we talking about here, like an extra $20 a month?

 

[tucson9ball]

gas and economy

How has the current economic situation and rising gas prices effected your play?
1. Do you play as often each week?
2. Do you travel to go play in a tournament more or less?
3. Have you put off buying a pool table or cues?
4. Do you still play leagues and will you?
This is just an informal thought you can answer any or all or not at all.

I will still try play in (1) tournament if it is close to home weekly, and I have the extra money in budget for the entry fee.

This does not affect my game at all. I have a 9ft. Diamond Pro at home. I believe most people compete at pool halls near their homes most of the time, so gas is not much of a factor here. If you can afford the table time for a few hours you should be able to pay for the gas to get to your local pool hall.
However, if you are one of the unfortunate that have lost a job, then your game may take a huge hit. My sympathy if this is the case.

 

[lodini]

If rising gas prices stop someone from playing pool they might need to check their financial situation. What are we talking about here, like an extra $20 a month?

$20 a month! LOL, I wish that's all it was... try $20 for a night of playing. Not to mention the 45 minute drive each way to a decent pool hall, when gas prices are around $4.25 a gallon.

 

[easy-e]

$20 a month! LOL, I wish that's all it was... try $20 for a night of playing. Not to mention the 45 minute drive each way to a decent pool hall, when gas prices are around $4.25 a gallon.

I was just referencing the gas prices. If gas is a buck more expensive than we are used to, and your car gets decent gas mileage, you are only spending an additional few dollars to get to the pool room (considering you were going there anyways). I would love to see someone actually quit pool because of gas prices.......

 

[TXsouthpaw]

If rising gas prices stop someone from playing pool they might need to check their financial situation. What are we talking about here, like an extra $20 a month?

gas dont effect me going out to local halls. but drivng across a state the size of texas to play in regional tourneys just aint worth it.

 

[lodini]

I was just referencing the gas prices. If gas is a buck more expensive than we are used to, and your car gets decent gas mileage, you are only spending an additional few dollars to get to the pool room (considering you were going there anyways). I would love to see someone actually quit pool because of gas prices.......

It's not just gas prices... EVERYTHING is more expensive. I hardly do anything anymore. I rarely go out because driving around is so much more expensive. Food prices are insane as well. People are cutting back all parts of their budgets, with entertainment going first. You seem to be belittling and joking about a very serious situation nationwide... and though you stated quite clearly that everyone affected by this needs to reevaluate their finances, I don't think it's very funny.

 

[9Ball_JJ]

I have to drive at the minimum 40 mins to a decent pool hall from where I live. I used to go to the pool hall just because I was bored and wanted to hang out with the friends I've made there. Now, I find myself going to the pool hall less, like for league and the occasional tournament. Even when I have league during the week, I go straight from work to cut down on driving back and forth.

 

[easy-e]

It's not just gas prices... EVERYTHING is more expensive. I hardly do anything anymore. I rarely go out because driving around is so much more expensive. Food prices are insane as well. People are cutting back all parts of their budgets, with entertainment going first. You seem to be belittling and joking about a very serious situation nationwide... and though you stated quite clearly that everyone affected by this needs to reevaluate their finances, I don't think it's very funny.

Holy crap! Chill out. I am not making fun of anyone. If you can't afford something, quit doing it. Just don't blame gas prices for your quitting pool. Maybe the totality of the circumstances (food, rent, gas, movie tickets, beer, wine, internet, tv, blah, blah, blah) are affecting you, if so than I am sorry, but blaming gas prices for quitting pool is nuts. JMO

 

[cuechick]

I think this is a great question. Many speculated that the lower than normal turn out for this year's BCA was due to the gas prices.

What I have been doing (and keep in mind, I work from home) I give myself a $35 weekly gas allowance. No matter the price per gallon. I drive a small pick up truck and this is now only about 3/4 of a tank, I use to be able to fill the tank for 20.00! I then try to make that last the full week... traveling to pool halls is usually my biggest use of this ration.

My entire team took off the summer league session. Not because of the cost of gas, but saving that money has been a bonus, as that room is one of the farthest. They also have a Thursday night tournament I would like to play in but do not cause of the distance. Instead, I play in a smaller bar type tournament, that is much closer.

As far as traveling to tournaments, I would no longer consider that without sharing the ride with one or two others. In the past I would have thought nothing of driving solo, 5+ hours... no more...

 

[skip2134]

It's interesting to see how gas prices have affected so many people. I know that the rise in gas prices has affected my game as well. The closest pool hall to me is 60 miles away (1hour 15 minutes speeding(traffic)). This pool hall only has 4 tables and little to no action. The next closest pool hall is an additional 70 miles which makes it 2 1/2 hours from home. It costs me more to drive to the pool hall than it does in table time.

Thus, I'm building a 16x22 room on the back of my house for my 9 footer. Money is slow so it should be done soon. Just put windows in yesterday. This is the answer that many people are finding to save money from pool halls. This is really a bad thing because it will add to the demolition of this wonderful sport.

Your thoughts...


MD

 

[easy-e]

gas dont effect me going out to local halls. but drivng across a state the size of texas to play in regional tourneys just aint worth it.

Agreed. Everyone needs to make their own decisions on whether something is "worth it" or not. If a few extra bucks for gas is going to stop someone from doing something they love, then I feel sorry for them. Obviously, hundreds of dollars in gas is a reasonable reason to NOT do something.

 

[rack'em zach'em]

I hear you on that...It's why I don't drive to Dallas to gamble anymore...Even if I win two or three sets..I really only win one...depending on how much I'm playing for..

 

[lodini]

Holy crap! Chill out. I am not making fun of anyone. If you can't afford something, quit doing it. Just don't blame gas prices for your quitting pool. Maybe the totality of the circumstances (food, rent, gas, movie tickets, beer, wine, internet, tv, blah, blah, blah) are affecting you, if so than I am sorry, but blaming gas prices for quitting pool is nuts. JMO

The original question was about the current economic situation and gas prices... we ARE discussing the totality of the circumstances.

 

[easy-e]

The original question was about the current economic situation and gas prices... we ARE discussing the totality of the circumstances.

Sorry for the confusion....I was discussing the gas prices.

 

[ridewiththewind]

How has the current economic situation and rising gas prices effected your play?
1. Do you play as often each week?
2. Do you travel to go play in a tournament more or less?
3. Have you put off buying a pool table or cues?
4. Do you still play leagues and will you?
This is just an informal thought you can answer any or all or not at all.

I will still try play in (1) tournament if it is close to home weekly, and I have the extra money in budget for the entry fee.

1. No, I do not play as often out as I used to. I used to hit at least 3 tournies a week, now I am down to one a week...or sometimes I skip them altogether.

2. Not really, no.

3. I am fortunate to own my own table, so make up for lack of weekly tourney play by playing at home. No new cues are in my near future.

4. My normal league play is usually in the fall/winter. I used to play on at least two leagues, but, if I do any league play at all this season, it will very likely be down to just one league, as I will not be able to afford the travel costs for two leagues with fuel costs the way they currently are.

Lisa

 

[jongreve]

1. Yes
2. Less
3. No
4. Yes

I did have to cut back on my slot machine play to maintain my weekly table time

 

[Gatz]

You Americans are so funny. $4 dollars a gallon LOL. We pay over $6 here in Canada, and we don't ***** this much lol

 

[lodini]

You Americans are so funny. $4 dollars a gallon LOL. We pay over $6 here in Canada, and we don't ***** this much lol

We'll be there very soon.

And no one is *****ing... we are just having a discussion about how these things affect us. What is the big deal to you? And why do you have to be nasty about it?