Everyone complains about pool just needing a major sponsor....

[jay helfert]

One thing a potential sponsor looks at is how many eyes will be on their product at an event. That includes the live audience, the audience on television and online, and the media audience (newspapers and other reports). The second thing is what are the demographics of that audience; such as income range, age and gender.

If only a few thousand will see the event and thus their product, it isn't worth much. If a few million will see it then it has value (Nathan's hot dog eating contest for example). If the millions who see it are in a valuable demographic it has more value (could be they want a young crowd, like the 20-35 age group who are big spenders, or maybe it's the high income crowd which appeals to Golf and Tennis sponsors).

That's it in a nutshell. Now tell me how Pool fits into the above scenario.

 

[BC21]

There is the answer and the question.

Winston Cup for example.
Bacardi sponsors racing.
Budweiser.
Casinos sponsor poker.

Etc.

The things associated with pool that some retract from seem to be pretty big in some other sports.

While many in pool want to distance the sport from the seedy old reputation, some other sports are still enveloped in it, and successful.

Hard to say what the solution might be, but many of the problems are clear.

Hard to say where it will end up.


.

So true.

Any type of business interested in sponsoring pool and billiards would have to know that they have a substantial targeted demographic to tap into before considering it. In other words, the people playing pool and/or watching pool would have to have the potential of being interested in my product or service. If I am not in the billiards industry, selling pool cues, chalk, pool tables, etc.... I must be selling something that would appeal to my targeted audience. If I'm worried that the seedy side of pool will tarnish my business reputation, I'm probably not offering any goods or services that would interest the bulk of those living on or around pool tables.

Potentially successful non-industry related sponsors could include brewing companies, internet gaming, clothing manufacturers, computer software design, financial advisors, pharmaceuticals, radio and TV stations, and many more possibilities. Sponsorship is meant to provide advertising in a public setting, either to a live audience or via official radio/tv/internet broadcasting. The seedy action would not involve players wearing/displaying sponsored logos.

If a company, like Nike, is worried that a player might tarnish their good business name, like Tiger Woods did, then they'll find it difficult to sponsor any human being regardless of what sport or game they are involved in professionally. I for one am not influenced by what a sponsored individual does on his own personal time. That's his business. When some yahoo nobody does something stupid enough to make national headlines, and the person happens to be wearing a Nike hat or a Budweiser shirt, you don't see people saying to themselves "well, I'm not buying from those companies anymore!". Lol. It's the same way when a famous person does something stupid. It's a little rediculous how quickly companies go into damage control mode for the sake of protecting their reputation, when in reality there is no damage to control. It's quite an overreach to think, for instance, when a well-known figure gets arrested in public for any reason, that people actually care or think twice about what specific merchandise/clothing the person was wearing at the time of the incident. Unless the guy points to a logo on his shirt and says "This is why I did it, right here!", no one will think twice about it.

 

[Dan_B]

If you’re looking for a shortcut to a matchup of a sponsor too pool; gambling.

If you’re looking for a shortcut to a matchup of a sponsor too billiards; skills?

Still comes down to “what is the game” that trumps up the attraction?

…the egg will have to be first, a miracle some would say, yet, it has happen before.

The leagues are the farms and the chef is in the kitchen…

:smile:

 

[realkingcobra]

One thing a potential sponsor looks at is how many eyes will be on their product at an event. That includes the live audience, the audience on television and online, and the media audience (newspapers and other reports). The second thing is what are the demographics of that audience; such as income range, age and gender.

If only a few thousand will see the event and thus their product, it isn't worth much. If a few million will see it then it has value (Nathan's hot dog eating contest for example). If the millions who see it are in a valuable demographic it has more value (could be they want a young crowd, like the 20-35 age group who are big spenders or maybe the high income crowd which appeals to Golf and Tennis).

That's it in a nutshell. Now tell me how Pool fits into the above scenario.

Ok, when there's an event center set up with lets say 32 Diamond 9ft ProAms, and every table has 4 camers each, to cover the head, foot, left, and right view of the table from over head for consumer viewing, viewers chouce as to which table they want to watch, for $4.95 a day, and you have a field of international players, and the rules of the event are mindful of the vieweres time frame to watch, so all matches are single eliminations, 3 hour time limit per match, you're going to gain a work viewing audience like it or not. If for example if in the world Pro division, there was only ONE Russian player that made the cut, and he by himself was representing Russia in the world 10 ball championships, do you think only 20 people would sign up to watch his progress during the event? I don't think so, and i strongly ceel that with this being a ONE time a year event, i don't think anyone would miss watching their dad, mom, brother, sister or anyother family member playing in the amateur divisions world championships either, not when the players are coming from all over the world to compete....the $4.95 a day is the SPONSORSHIP that paves the way for the advertiser's because tbey get a full year of advertising out of each single event.

 

[realkingcobra]

So true.

Any type of business interested in sponsoring pool and billiards would have to know that they have a substantial targeted demographic to tap into before considering it. In other words, the people playing pool and/or watching pool would have to have the potential of being interested in my product or service. If I am not in the billiards industry, selling pool cues, chalk, pool tables, etc.... I must be selling something that would appeal to my targeted audience. If I'm worried that the seedy side of pool will tarnish my business reputation, I'm probably not offering any goods or services that would interest the bulk of those living on or around pool tables.

Potentially successful non-industry related sponsors could include brewing companies, internet gaming, clothing manufacturers, computer software design, financial advisors, pharmaceuticals, radio and TV stations, and many more possibilities. Sponsorship is meant to provide advertising in a public setting, either to a live audience or via official radio/tv/internet broadcasting. The seedy action would not involve players wearing/displaying sponsored logos.

If a company, like Nike, is worried that a player might tarnish their good business name, like Tiger Woods did, then they'll find it difficult to sponsor any human being regardless of what sport or game they are involved in professionally. I for one am not influenced by what a sponsored individual does on his own personal time. That's his business. When some yahoo nobody does something stupid enough to make national headlines, and the person happens to be wearing a Nike hat or a Budweiser shirt, you don't see people saying to themselves "well, I'm not buying from those companies anymore!". Lol. It's the same way when a famous person does something stupid. It's a little rediculous how quickly companies go into damage control mode for the sake of protecting their reputation, when in reality there is no damage to control. It's quite an overreach to think, for instance, when a well-known figure gets arrested in public for any reason, that people actually care or think twice about what specific merchandise/clothing the person was wearing at the time of the incident. Unless the guy points to a logo on his shirt and says "This is why I did it, right here!", no one will think twice about it.

Niki is the prime cancer date for sponsorship and advertising and the reason being is because ever shoe manufacturer there is makes shoes for every reason in the world, except for the reason pool needs shoes as well as factory workers and in many other jobs around the world......to just simply STAND in all day long on concrete without moving around hardly at all. Factory workers go out and buy ergonomic mats to stand on so that by the end of the day they're not walking like they're crippled. I can't tell you how many pool tables I've worked on that were sitting on a concrete floor, then after 5 or 6 hours of that left me feeling crippled as well. So you see, there IS a need for Niki to get involved in this sport, because we don't have the correct shoes to play pool for hours upon hours, day after day without paying the price for standing on concrete everyday.

 

[Rackemep]

Niki is the prime cancer date for sponsorship and advertising and the reason being is because ever shoe manufacturer there is makes shoes for every reason in the world, except for the reason pool needs shoes as well as factory workers and in many other jobs around the world......to just simply STAND in all day long on concrete without moving around hardly at all. Factory workers go out and buy ergonomic mats to stand on so that by the end of the day they're not walking like they're crippled. I can't tell you how many pool tables I've worked on that were sitting on a concrete floor, then after 5 or 6 hours of that left me feeling crippled as well. So you see, there IS a need for Niki to get involved in this sport, because we don't have the correct shoes to play pool for hours upon hours, day after day without paying the price for standing on concrete everyday.

I just don't see Nike getting involved in billiards shoes. They have already carved out a LARGE market for themselves and are already making money hand over fist. In other words they are already fat and happy...Nike is a 20-billion dollar company. The billiards market is small fish in a small pond...Nike is a whaling fleet in the ocean....plus it's a gamble... In other sports you have a much greater need for specialized shoes...i think it'd be hard to convince the pool world that they need specialized billiards shoes...

Don't get me wrong, it'd be awesome if they took an interest in the billiards industry! They would certainly bring some weight to the table!

 

[realkingcobra]

One thing a potential sponsor looks at is how many eyes will be on their product at an event. That includes the live audience, the audience on television and online, and the media audience (newspapers and other reports). The second thing is what are the demographics of that audience; such as income range, age and gender.

If only a few thousand will see the event and thus their product, it isn't worth much. If a few million will see it then it has value (Nathan's hot dog eating contest for example). If the millions who see it are in a valuable demographic it has more value (could be they want a young crowd, like the 20-35 age group who are big spenders, or maybe it's the high income crowd which appeals to Golf and Tennis sponsors).

That's it in a nutshell. Now tell me how Pool fits into the above scenario.

I'll give you something else to think about Jay, use your imagination and lets say i pull off the first world 10 ball championship and nust for example lets say SVB won all the marbles as was crowned the reigning world 10 ball champion. First of all, because he's the reigning world champion he is not required to play in the next years world championship tournament again to defend his title, BUT.... he MUST defend his title throughout the year against any nbr 1 contender. The nbr 1 contender is decided by the other 127 Pro's playing in tournaments in which only THEY are allowed to compete in as they've earned that privilege for a year by already making the cut to the Pro division for the last world championship tournament. Newcomers have to wait to make the cut for the next years world championship tournament in order to enter the nbr 1 contender challenge. So, to determine the nbr on contender position the players have to match up, at least 8 of them at events like DCC, US Open, or ANY pool room around the world that would be willing to let them hoste an event at their place. Points are awarded based on the amount of wins they collect per event. After 3 months, the highest points earner can then challenge SVB to a mandatory title match, in which case SVB would have to accept. SVB would have to play the challenger in the same format as the world tournament is held, BUT....instead of playing a single race to 21 in a 3 hour time frame, the challenger would be required to beat SVB either 3 straight 3 hour matches, or best 3 out of 5 three hour matches. If the challenger loses, SVB retains his title. If he loses, he returns back the the tournament list of players and must earn a nbr 1 contender position or win the next upcoming world championship, which earns the right to be the nbr 1 contender and a shot at regaining the title. If during the year following winning the title, he has NOT lost it, he becomes the sitting world champion waiting at the world championships to end so as to provide him with his next defence of his world title crown. If for example SVB holds his title for say 5 years and is undefeated in that time frame, he becomes the longest reigning world champion in 10 ball, sucessfully defending the title from 14 nbr 1 contender challenges....just an example, or the title could read....SVB just won the world championship 10 ball title for the 3rd time, successfully taking it away from so-n-so for his 3rd championsip title.

 

[realkingcobra]

I just don't see Nike getting involved in billiards shoes. They have already carved out a LARGE market for themselves and are already making money hand over fist. In other words they are already fat and happy...Nike is a 20-billion dollar company. The billiards market is small fish in a small pond...Nike is a whaling fleet in the ocean....plus it's a gamble... In other sports you have a much greater need for specialized shoes...i think it'd be hard to convince the pool world that they need specialized billiards shoes...

Don't get me wrong, it'd be awesome if they took an interest in the billiards industry! They would certainly bring some weight to the table!

Stop thinking billiards, thats the problem. Think, Niki is making the concrete shoes for the working class that has to stand in one spot all day long and just to prove how valuable they are and work, the Niki concrete is the official shoe of the Pro Billiards industry, used in every event as to eliminate the fatigue and crippling effect of standing on concrete all day long so the pro players can focus more on winning their match instead of how bad their feet hurt!

 

[Rackemep]

Stop thinking billiards, thats the problem. Think, Niki is making the concrete shoes for the working class that has to stand in one spot all day long and just to prove how valuable they are and work, the Niki concrete is the official shoe of the Pro Billiards industry, used in every event as to eliminate the fatigue and crippling effect of standing on concrete all day long so the pro players can focus more on winning their match instead of how bad their feet hurt!

Make it happen captain!...

First there has to be a pro tour, then there has to be fans who want to watch the pro tour and then Nike might jump on board...

Seriously though if you have a plan that could make those things happen then set it in motion. I'd love to see the pros making big bucks and getting treated like rock stars! I'd love to see pool rooms overflowing with people to the point that new rooms are opening up and flourishing...

 

[realkingcobra]

Make it happen captain!...

First there has to be a pro tour, then there has to be fans who want to watch the pro tour and then Nike might jump on board...

Seriously though if you have a plan that could make those things happen then set it in motion. I'd love to see the pros making big bucks and getting treated like rock stars! I'd love to see pool rooms overflowing with people to the point that new rooms are opening up and flourishing...

That is what my plans have always been, that and the control of the money generated from viewers so it goes to the right places and not into someones pocket. Imagine pulling in 300,000 viewers world wide from the first world 10 ball championship consisting of the top 128 players on the planet for a 2 day event, because thats all the time needed to run it on 32 9ft pool tables, thats $1,485,000 in viewership fees, then used to guarantee the next world 8 ball championships. AND, there's no guessing how much a PRO is going to make in a aorld tournament, it's more of the minimum they can earn. First round loss pays $500, then doubles up every round afterwards, thats a pay out of $64,000 per round, second place pays $64,000 first pays $128,000.

Once viewerships start increasing, so does the minimum payout per round, including a first round loss, I'd like to see the first round loss climb to $1,000 minimum so that winning the championship would pay $256,000 guaranteed.
With 128 players in a single elimination format, there's only 8 rounds of play at 3 hours per round, with 32 tables, half the players are free to leave back home by the end of the first day, look how much is saved by the players right there, tournament finished up by early evening on the second day, everyone goes home.

 

[Rackemep]

That is what my plans have always been, that and the control of the money generated from viewers so it goes to the right places and not into someones pocket. Imagine pulling in 300,000 viewers world wide from the first world 10 ball championship consisting of the top 128 players on the planet for a 2 day event, because thats all the time needed to run it on 32 9ft pool tables, thats $1,485,000 in viewership fees, then used to guarantee the next world 8 ball championships. AND, there's no guessing how much a PRO is going to make in a aorld tournament, it's more of the minimum they can earn. First round loss pays $500, then doubles up every round afterwards, thats a pay out of $64,000 per round, second place pays $64,000 first pays $128,000.

But can you count on the viewership numbers? Especially being a PPV? Does the Mosconi Cup even get that amount of viewers?

 

[realkingcobra]

But can you count on the viewership numbers? Especially being a PPV? Does the Mosconi Cup even get that amount of viewers?

Exactly how is the Marconi cup international to about 58 pool playing countries?

 

[realkingcobra]

But can you count on the viewership numbers? Especially being a PPV? Does the Mosconi Cup even get that amount of viewers?

And one other thing, which world championship does it crown the winner? How many international viewers to you think tune in to watch the football Superbowl? Here's a thought, the average 9ft pool table in a pool room here in the United States gets used about 5.5 hours a day, while in Jakarta Indonesia the average pool player plays pool an average....of 4 hours a day

 

[Oze147]

How to get sponsors involved in pool?

Shut down WPA, APA, Eurotour etc. and hand the whole thing over to Barry Hearn.
I promise you, that in ten years pool will be on the same level as snooker or darts.

But things would change drastically.

Pool would be just 9 or maybe 10 ball.
No one pocket, banks, 14/1 etc.
"Official" gambling aka the big moneymatches would be gone or at least the top players would be prohibited from competing in them.
90% of big tournaments would take place in asia, with the risk that even something like the US open or der DCC will turn into amateur tournaments.

...and the list goes on...

 

[Rackemep]

@ RKC....The potential problems I see with counting on viewership to supply the prize fund is 1. You'll have no idea how much the prize fund is until the event is over. So it'd be impossible to guarantee any sort of payout unless you try to sell the PPV in advance and stop selling it before the event started. That way you have a known prize fund before the event starts. 2. It's a big gamble... You could put on this huge world event and potentially get too few viewers to make the payouts worth the trip. You'd be banking everything on the first event being a huge success because if it flopped no one would want to come play in it again...

A large guaranteed prize fund will attract the players, that much I'm sure of... What I'm unsure of is what will attract the fans... I kind of think the Bonus Ball guys might of been onto something! Not so much with the game itself but with the city/state based teams (I know you're thinking global not national but it's got to start somewhere) ...having a professional "home" team to root for could potentially give the average Joe a reason watch pool. Having pro teams could also help create that division between the pro and amatuer level players...if you had 5 man teams and ran each event like a mini M.C. it could potentially be interesting enough that even non players might start to watch...then you take your "All Stars" from the pro teams and make the Mosconi Cup team which could potentially give new pool fans a glimpse into international pool...

I don't know man... I think all of us pool enthusiasts would love to see professional pool flourish there just seems to be so many pitfalls in trying to making happen

 

[realkingcobra]

Let me expand a little more on my plans, Airway Heights, WA. is 10 minutes west of the Spokane International Airport. Lots of hotels in the area, but not much going on in hotel rentals in the winter months as this area is not considered a big industrial growth area, hell you can rent a studio apt in Spokane for $250 a month...LOL and if you look around you can find 3 bd apartments for $600 a month.

So picture this, restaurant called Gunslingers Saloon restaurant & Event center. The restaurant theme is based on the old west, 16oz NY steak dinner is called the Wyatt Earp, the half pound burgers are called the Pat Garrett burgers, but the variety is like that of a Red Robin, and the 1/4 pounders are the Billy the Kids burgers. The monster tacos and buritos are the Pancho Villa's, and the skinless chicken breast with rice pilaf and the vegetables are the Annie Oakley and so on an so on. The lounge has 8 Diamond 7ft bar tables and is a major supporter as well as play off location for the BCA, APA, TAP and world open bar table champiinships. The event center is another 30,000 sqft of room housing 64 9ft Diamond ProAms, bleacher seating, and major big screen Tv's with some of the matchs taking place being shown on them as well, tbis room is called.... the OK corral where the shoot outs take place, and is NOT open to the public at any time unless there is an event taking place. The reason for this is because it's also the multi purpose room, meaning that when major bar table championships are taking place, all the 9fts are moved into storage replaced by 7ft Diamond bar tables, under the same 4 cameras linked to the internet for live viewing per table, for the $4.95 a day viewership fee, once again, you're looking at world participants, therefore World viewership. And for the record Chinese 8-ball could be played in this event center as well by simply replacing the diamond rails with Chinese 8-ball rails, as well as straight rail Billiards, on a world stage. Viewership becomes the sponsors, which then invites the right advertiser's, to want to put their names on certain world class tournaments, such as the Niki world 10 ball championships, remember now....that covers 4 skill level divisions. This event center is supported by the pool rooms around the world creating skill level testing, classification of players in their regions of the world, in house tournaments to send their local representative players to the worlds finals. It don't even matter if an area don't have a pool room so to speak, take Sheridan Wyoming for example. No 9ft Diamond to skill test on, but a bar there has 12 Valley bar tables, not a problem if a home owner bought a 9ft Diamond with all his buddies pitching in, then everyone can take and submit their skill level testing scores....and yes, all skill level testing has to be able to be viewed live by an official from the world tournament organization. Then, even though there's no 9ft pool room available, qualifying tournaments to determine the representatives of this area of the world can still be held on the bar tables, with the understanding that in the world 10 ball championships as an advance or intermediate player, they will be playing on 9ft Diamonds in the finals playoffs.

And, yes, there's a lot more to this game plan.

 

[realkingcobra]

@ RKC....The potential problems I see with counting on viewership to supply the prize fund is 1. You'll have no idea how much the prize fund is until the event is over. So it'd be impossible to guarantee any sort of payout unless you try to sell the PPV in advance and stop selling it before the event started. That way you have a known prize fund before the event starts. 2. It's a big gamble... You could put on this huge world event and potentially get too few viewers to make the payouts worth the trip. You'd be banking everything on the first event being a huge success because if it flopped no one would want to come play in it again...

A large guaranteed prize fund will attract the players, that much I'm sure of... What I'm unsure of is what will attract the fans... I kind of think the Bonus Ball guys might of been onto something! Not so much with the game itself but with the city/state based teams (I know you're thinking global not national but it's got to start somewhere) ...having a professional "home" team to root for could potentially give the average Joe a reason watch pool. Having pro teams could also help create that division between the pro and amatuer level players...if you had 5 man teams and ran each event like a mini M.C. it could potentially be interesting enough that even non players might start to watch...then you take your "All Stars" from the pro teams and make the Mosconi Cup team which could potentially give new pool fans a glimpse into international pool...

I don't know man... I think all of us pool enthusiasts would love to see professional pool flourish there just seems to be so many pitfalls in trying to making happen

If i had Gunslinger Saloon restaurant lounge & Event Center open today, i guarantee you i could sign up 1,000 pool roome around the world to put in a 9ft Diamond ProAm so they could involve their region of the world....keep in mind, that's $500,000 in table sanction fees alone, how many players do you think world wide would pay the $50 fee to take a skill test at a shot to play in a world amateurs pool tournament, that's another $25 per person. If i were to for example draw in more money than what was needed to pay out all the prize monies because of the viewerships added as well, ALL the money is not paid out in the event, any overages carry over to the next event....and the problem today, as it's always been in the past...that money ends up in someone's pocket. To further create an honest sport, each and every location member is also a member on the board of tournament directors for their region of the world, and have a 49% vote in upcoming events.

 

[Rackemep]

Let me expand a little more on my plans, Airway Heights, WA. is 10 minutes west of the Spokane International Airport. Lots of hotels in the area, but not much going on in hotel rentals in the winter months as this area is not considered a big industrial growth area, hell you can rent a studio apt in Spokane for $250 a month...LOL and if you look around you can find 3 bd apartments for $600 a month.

So picture this, restaurant called Gunslingers Saloon restaurant & Event center. The restaurant theme is based on the old west, 16oz NY steak dinner is called the Wyatt Earp, the half pound burgers are called the Pat Garrett burgers, but the variety is like that of a Red Robin, and the 1/4 pounders are the Billy the Kids burgers. The monster tacos and buritos are the Pancho Villa's, and the skinless chicken breast with rice pilaf and the vegetables are the Annie Oakley and so on an so on. The lounge has 8 Diamond 7ft bar tables and is a major supporter as well as play off location for the BCA, APA, TAP and world open bar table champiinships. The event center is another 30,000 sqft of room housing 64 9ft Diamond ProAms, bleacher seating, and major big screen Tv's with some of the matchs taking place being shown on them as well, tbis room is called.... the OK corral where the shoot outs take place, and is NOT open to the public at any time unless there is an event taking place. The reason for this is because it's also the multi purpose room, meaning that when major bar table championships are taking place, all the 9fts are moved into storage replaced by 7ft Diamond bar tables, under the same 4 cameras linked to the internet for live viewing per table, for the $4.95 a day viewership fee, once again, you're looking at world participants, therefore World viewership. And for the record Chinese 8-ball could be played in this event center as well by simply replacing the diamond rails with Chinese 8-ball rails, as well as straight rail Billiards, on a world stage. Viewership becomes the sponsors, which then invites the right advertiser's, to want to put their names on certain world class tournaments, such as the Niki world 10 ball championships, remember now....that covers 4 skill level divisions. This event center is supported by the pool rooms around the world creating skill level testing, classification of players in their regions of the world, in house tournaments to send their local representative players to the worlds finals. It don't even matter if an area don't have a pool room so to speak, take Sheridan Wyoming for example. No 9ft Diamond to skill test on, but a bar there has 12 Valley bar tables, not a problem if a home owner bought a 9ft Diamond with all his buddies pitching in, then everyone can take and submit their skill level testing scores....and yes, all skill level testing has to be able to be viewed live by an official from the world tournament organization. Then, even though there's no 9ft pool room available, qualifying tournaments to determine the representatives of this area of the world can still be held on the bar tables, with the understanding that in the world 10 ball championships as an advance or intermediate player, they will be playing on 9ft Diamonds in the finals playoffs.

And, yes, there's a lot more to this game plan.

Funny, I had a similar idea for a pool event center, Ive dreamed of building one in Vegas with its own hotel and everything...wanted to call it "Legends billiards plaza" as a tribute to all the past greats of the game (kinda like a hall of fame)... I always kind of figured with all the league nationals being in Vegas that it's already a major destination for pool players and the event center could serve as THE venue for nationals as well as major pro events... Pipe dreams are fun!

 

[realkingcobra]

Funny, I had a similar idea for a pool event center, Ive dreamed of building one in Vegas with its own hotel and everything...wanted to call it "Legends billiards plaza" as a tribute to all the past greats of the game (kinda like a hall of fame)... I always kind of figured with all the league nationals being in Vegas that it's already a major destination for pool players and the event center cold serve as THE venue for nationals as well as major pro events... Pipe dreams are fun!

Yes, they are fun, and once you've figured out how to make them happen, they get even funner

 

[realkingcobra]

Funny, I had a similar idea for a pool event center, Ive dreamed of building one in Vegas with its own hotel and everything...wanted to call it "Legends billiards plaza" as a tribute to all the past greats of the game (kinda like a hall of fame)... I always kind of figured with all the league nationals being in Vegas that it's already a major destination for pool players and the event center could serve as THE venue for nationals as well as major pro events... Pipe dreams are fun!

How many league owners do you think there are, and how many league operators are there? Why do you suppose that with pool being played on bar tables all over the world...there isn't a pool league called the "world pool league"?