exploring the possibilities/consequences of ipt exclusivity

[NYC cue dude]

In my personal business opinion, Trudeau has nothing to lose by requiring the ipt touring members to sign an exclusivity agreement.

lets assume for a minute, the 2007 season, the first where his players are guaranteed 100k minimum, will be the first year the new policy will be implemented.

What will this do to pool.

Firstly, kt will not be concenred about scheduling. Obviously, he knows all of his players will be at all 11 of his events. it removes the extra work (securing locations for future events can be hard work) required by being a slave to the annual pool calendar.

But explore for one minute the muscle he could flex over the entire industry.

Someone posted in another thread that kt will be looking for a sanctioning fee. I agree that he will be. But how much. Can your local blaze tour, tri-state tour, joss tour, etc afford to pay kt? He can command anything he wants, can't he? the smaller tours might offer 1, 2 or 3k added. What if he asserts a standard 20k sanctioning fee? 30k?

What if he doesn't like the promoter or organization. Perhaps he doesn't like barry berhman, or the upa or the bca. What if the new sponsor of the bca (poker) is the competition for the ipt's poker sponsor (they maybe the same co., but i don't recall as i write.)

What if he only allows his players to enter 8ballevents, or 9 ball events only. He can eliminate certain genre's of the game with one stroke of the pen. What about the independent tournaments, running on shoestring budgets that would be required to pay a sanctioning fee AND be reqired to buy official ipt equipment ie. diamond natural cures tables, ipt sardo racks, and ipt chalk and ipt gorina cloth. Surely i know that for instance the world straight pool championships, which took 16 years to have it's revival, would certainly not be recurring again any time soon.

What if kt DECIDES TO PROHIBIT HIS PLAYERS FROM PLAYING IN ALL THE WPA SANCTIONED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS, SO HIS EVENTS ALONE CAN ONLY BE CONSIDERED THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. He did tell me he eventually would like to have a straight pool event. what if he held one str8 pool event aand one 9ball event each year, and call them the world championships? OMG!!!

At the same time, I want the ipt to succeed. I think ultimately, it will bring respectability to this game we all love, if it succeeds. I think the players will finally make a living wage, and bring the best players, dressed and behaving professionally, out of the dark alleys and into mainstream sporting arenas.

I am no naysayer, but I am not a blind follower either. I have no agenda, other then seeing my friends earn future security, doing what they love, playing pool.

any thoughts out there, or scenarios under which pool might be helped or hurt if kt demands exclusivity?

 

[Blackjack]

any thoughts out there, or scenarios under which pool might be helped or hurt if kt demands exclusivity?

Exclusivity is not a bad thing as long as the interest of the players and the game of POOL are protected. It coud advance the sport to the same level of other sports/games, and if KT plays his cards right, he could market the sport effectively worldwide, but he won't do it with 8 ball. (JMHO).

I would support the IPT if there was a separate entity set up to protect the players. I have said that before. I have also offered to assist in setting up and advising such an entity and I have been ignored, insulted and labeled a naysayer - even by some people that I have gone out of my way to assist in the past REGARDING THESE VERY SAME ISSUES with past organizations.

This is not about having an agenda. You either care about the future of pool or you don't. Cashing in on a short term deal without looking at it from all ends is risky, immature, and it can be devastating. We found that out with Mackey's deal with big name tobacco. In the end there was nothing left for anybody and nobody wanted anything to do with us. We would be wise to learn from that mistake and not dive head first into shallow water.

Will the IPT succeed or fail? That depends on how well they market the tour and whether or not the loyalty of the players is with Kevin Trudeau or if its with his money. The issue will then be whether or not the players are mature enough to handle the money, the exposure and the pressure of sustaining the popularity of the tour. If they are not able to handle those 3 things, then the IPT will turn into 747 that has no fuel, no pilot, and no where to land safely. If the players corner themselves into exclusivity and turn their backs on other promoters and organizations, there will be another long period of reconstruction in their futures.

 

[jjinfla]

Doesn't the WPBA restrict where their players can play? Don't they charge appearance fees? Don't the women have to get approval from the WPBA before they enter any other tournaments?

I think the money itself will restrict where the IPT players will play. As Mike Sigel said, why should a player enter a tournament where he may win $4,000 if he comes in 1st when he can earn that just for showing up at an IPT tournament? If he plays well he gets a lot more.

I think the lure of a guaranteed $100,000 salary with the IPT will be enough to keep the players on board.

Of course they may allow players to play in other tournaments and any money won would apply to that guanteed $100,000 or subtracted from any royalties they have coming.

Jake

 

[sjm]

I am not as concerned. Look at women's pool in America. The ten regional women's tours are all affiliated with the WPBA, each of them tending to ensure that talent will continue to develop in a way that will keep the WPBA strong. It's a system that works, and the result has been the deepest talent pool ever seen in women's pro pool. The lesser tours have strengthened, rather than weakened, the WPBA product.

If KT comes to own the sport of pool because his proves the sport's first sustainable business model offering large incomes to professional players, I believe he'll see to it that the supply of pool tournaments matches the demand. I further believe that he'll recognize that the men's regional tours will serve the IPT and the sport well, and will embrace them in a way that wiil make them more, rather than less, prominent.

Exclusivity contracts could possibly mean that we'll no longer see guys like Reyes, Hohmann, or Souquet competing in the events of lesser tours or events not specifically sanctioned by the IPT, but so what? We don't bemoan the fact that we won't see a) Derek Jeter batting if we attend a minor league baseball game, b) Tiger Woods driving if we attend a Nationwide Tour golf event, or c) Peyton Manning throwing if we attend an indoor arena football game. That's because we recognize that rights to each sport's premier players belong to the most elite organizations in each sport.

Exclusivity is what would make the player appearances in premier events so special. A friend of mine once commented "if I need only go to the Cue Club in Vegas during BCA week to watch some top pros play for big money, why should I spend money for tickets at the pro event at the Riviera?" I've never really had a good answer, because if the pro pool product is being "given away" somewhere else, my friend makes a reasonable point. Similarly, if one can watch the very best at second-tier events, it makes their appearances at premier events less critical to watch.

Let's not overlook one critical point. When KT markets his tour to potential sponsors and investors, he is far more likely to command the best possible deals if he can claim exclusive rights to the players.

This is a relatively complex matter, but all aspects of exclusivity need to be considered.

 

[ironman]

In my personal business opinion, Trudeau has nothing to lose by requiring the ipt touring members to sign an exclusivity agreement.

lets assume for a minute, the 2007 season, the first where his players are guaranteed 100k minimum, will be the first year the new policy will be implemented.

What will this do to pool.

Firstly, kt will not be concenred about scheduling. Obviously, he knows all of his players will be at all 11 of his events. it removes the extra work (securing locations for future events can be hard work) required by being a slave to the annual pool calendar.

But explore for one minute the muscle he could flex over the entire industry.

Someone posted in another thread that kt will be looking for a sanctioning fee. I agree that he will be. But how much. Can your local blaze tour, tri-state tour, joss tour, etc afford to pay kt? He can command anything he wants, can't he? the smaller tours might offer 1, 2 or 3k added. What if he asserts a standard 20k sanctioning fee? 30k?

What if he doesn't like the promoter or organization. Perhaps he doesn't like barry berhman, or the upa or the bca. What if the new sponsor of the bca (poker) is the competition for the ipt's poker sponsor (they maybe the same co., but i don't recall as i write.)

What if he only allows his players to enter 8ballevents, or 9 ball events only. He can eliminate certain genre's of the game with one stroke of the pen. What about the independent tournaments, running on shoestring budgets that would be required to pay a sanctioning fee AND be reqired to buy official ipt equipment ie. diamond natural cures tables, ipt sardo racks, and ipt chalk and ipt gorina cloth. Surely i know that for instance the world straight pool championships, which took 16 years to have it's revival, would certainly not be recurring again any time soon.

What if kt DECIDES TO PROHIBIT HIS PLAYERS FROM PLAYING IN ALL THE WPA SANCTIONED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS, SO HIS EVENTS ALONE CAN ONLY BE CONSIDERED THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. He did tell me he eventually would like to have a straight pool event. what if he held one str8 pool event aand one 9ball event each year, and call them the world championships? OMG!!!

At the same time, I want the ipt to succeed. I think ultimately, it will bring respectability to this game we all love, if it succeeds. I think the players will finally make a living wage, and bring the best players, dressed and behaving professionally, out of the dark alleys and into mainstream sporting arenas.

I am no naysayer, but I am not a blind follower either. I have no agenda, other then seeing my friends earn future security, doing what they love, playing pool.

any thoughts out there, or scenarios under which pool might be helped or hurt if kt demands exclusivity?

My gut instinct tells me that it is coming. It is not a good feeling.

 

[Nick B]

What could happen?

Let's look at this hypotheticaly. What would happen to the following organizations should KT decide to clamp down.

1. Without the Top Women (or and the most marketable) will the WPBA survive? Take away AF, KC, JL, KF, JC and JB and they might as well close shop. Further to this that the IPT bar will be too high (full with top flight men (sorry gals)) and a developing female will have no chance for premium female exposure and thus stunted.

2. Does Barry B 30 years of sweat on the US Open fall to the floor because he can't get the "Real" champions to come out?

3. What about DCC and other majors?

4. Please no flaming. Just think it through...does Pool ever make it to the Promised Land...the Olympics associated to KT?

If your not worried about 1-4 full steam ahead. If it's just about the money the guys should give up pool and become professional Bass fisherman or bull riders. The money is better and they get regular airtime on ESPN.

My apologies to the Fisherman and Cowboys.

Nick

 

[cueball1950]

I have to agree with ironman on his take on this whole thing. What alot of people have written here is surely speculative and most of it is right on target. If KT does go with the exclusivity contract it will definately hurt all the regional tours. Most of them will not be able to pay any type of large sanctioning fee. Then what will the fans do. i know what they will do....stay away. I travel to alot of tournaments thru out the year. And believe me when i say that i would not make the same effort if the top players like reyes, strickland, varner, morris, hall and the other top players are not playing. i sincerely feel that the U S Open won't survive. Neither will the UPA or WPA and the other major tournaments. who will, in their right mind, want to watch somebody named Joe Smo win the open or WPA.

Now my question is this. Will KT charge the players a fee for him letting them play in the OPEN or WPA. Will the players pay that fee? I don't think they will. Pro Pool Players in the USA are like a bunch of HO'S. They will follow the money. They have to in order to survive. I am not bashing them. Just stating my opinion. The way pool was/is before made them that way. How can a pro player make ends meet being married and having a couple of kids. They can't. Unless they have some type of Sponsorship deal helping them.
What happens to the exclusivity contract if the IPT was to suddenly fold for some reason. KT still has them under contract and still can collect fees for letting them play elsewhere. This is the part that really scares me. If i was a player on his tour and he wanted me to sign a contract like that i would have to make some type of stipulation like that in case it folded. Don't get me wrong. i would love to see the IPT make it and i sincerely hope they do. The players need and deserve it. But what amazes me even more is the people who are playing on this tour and take everything as gospel and follow it like blind mice..............guess i just rambled on to much.........mike

 

[memikey]

Cueball1950.......there's a bit of that I really don't understand.....if the IPT "folded" one element of their being considered "folded'' would be that they themselves were no longer in a position to fulfil their own contractual obligations towards the players so what do you think in practical terms that a "folded" IPT could do about enforcing any player exclusivity contract they might be holding?

 

[ironman]

I have to agree with ironman on his take on this whole thing. What alot of people have written here is surely speculative and most of it is right on target. If KT does go with the exclusivity contract it will definately hurt all the regional tours. Most of them will not be able to pay any type of large sanctioning fee. Then what will the fans do. i know what they will do....stay away. I travel to alot of tournaments thru out the year. And believe me when i say that i would not make the same effort if the top players like reyes, strickland, varner, morris, hall and the other top players are not playing. i sincerely feel that the U S Open won't survive. Neither will the UPA or WPA and the other major tournaments. who will, in their right mind, want to watch somebody named Joe Smo win the open or WPA.

Now my question is this. Will KT charge the players a fee for him letting them play in the OPEN or WPA. Will the players pay that fee? I don't think they will. Pro Pool Players in the USA are like a bunch of HO'S. They will follow the money. They have to in order to survive. I am not bashing them. Just stating my opinion. The way pool was/is before made them that way. How can a pro player make ends meet being married and having a couple of kids. They can't. Unless they have some type of Sponsorship deal helping them.
What happens to the exclusivity contract if the IPT was to suddenly fold for some reason. KT still has them under contract and still can collect fees for letting them play elsewhere. This is the part that really scares me. If i was a player on his tour and he wanted me to sign a contract like that i would have to make some type of stipulation like that in case it folded. Don't get me wrong. i would love to see the IPT make it and i sincerely hope they do. The players need and deserve it. But what amazes me even more is the people who are playing on this tour and take everything as gospel and follow it like blind mice..............guess i just rambled on to much.........mike

I don't pretend to have all the answers and can only speculate as to the direction this is headed. I agree with Blackjack though in hoping that whatever path KT chooses, that it will be for the best intrest of the game. I truly hope that other "Majors" will remain intact.
We run a small regional tour in Texas and so far, all the rumblings about the IPT has actually boosted our monthly numbers. We were averaging 68 per monthly event last year through July this year, we are averaging 84 and climbing. We believe that it is because the league players and so forth now feel they have a better chance at getting to the money rounds without some of the bigger names involved or too busy to be invoved.
The Texas State championships were held the same weekend as the IPT in Vegas and though the field was not as deep in talent as last year, there were 73 entrants vs. 38 last year. I know, this is only one year and I'm not ready to give the IPT full credit for the boost in #'s, but there does seem to be some pattern, so far.

 

[Renegade]

Exclusivity is not a bad thing as long as the interest of the players and the game of POOL are protected. It coud advance the sport to the same level of other sports/games, and if KT plays his cards right, he could market the sport effectively worldwide, .

I agree completely. KT is doing a lot of good for pool. He may even argue that's what's good for KT is good for pool in general. Still, he is a businessman first and foremost. And if his interests would not coincide with the interests of pool in general, who do you think he'd side with?

To keep everybody honest, a players' association would provide the protection and check and balance needed in a situation such as this. Who was it who said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely?

Someone, or something, must represent the interests of the players and of pool, otherwise, KT can and will do everything that he wants, whether it is good for the game or not.

 

[jjinfla]

Let's look at this hypotheticaly. What would happen to the following organizations should KT decide to clamp down.

1. Without the Top Women (or and the most marketable) will the WPBA survive? Take away AF, KC, JL, KF, JC and JB and they might as well close shop. Further to this that the IPT bar will be too high (full with top flight men (sorry gals)) and a developing female will have no chance for premium female exposure and thus stunted.

2. Does Barry B 30 years of sweat on the US Open fall to the floor because he can't get the "Real" champions to come out?

3. What about DCC and other majors?

4. Please no flaming. Just think it through...does Pool ever make it to the Promised Land...the Olympics associated to KT?

If your not worried about 1-4 full steam ahead. If it's just about the money the guys should give up pool and become professional Bass fisherman or bull riders. The money is better and they get regular airtime on ESPN.

My apologies to the Fisherman and Cowboys.

Nick

1) Right now it appears that the top women will not make it into the IPT for 2007. Those few who do will continue to play in both tournaments with KT's approval. (Yes, women do get special priviliges). So I think the WPBA will continue for some time.

2) I believe that the IPT "season" will be from January to June so it should not affect the US Open in any way. I also believe that KT will make special concessions to IPT players to allow them to play in the US Open. Therefore, the US Open should become bigger than ever because they will be the only ones allowed to showcase the IPT stars.

I also believe that tournaments overseas will also get special dispensation, from the Pope, to allow the IPT players to play there. Therefore, their popularity will grow.

When I first started following pro players in 1999 I was amazed that I could go to a Florida Pro stop and watch all these name players play and no one cared about charging admission. If a product is given away for free why in the world would anyone go somewhere where you had to pay for the same thing? Charlie tried to promote the pros and charge admission but people would tell me "why should I pay to go watch them when I can see them play next week for free".

Of course the IPT does give its players all these little incentives. The green room where they can relax free of "admiring fans", complete with free food, and a massage. And what was the value of that carrying case with all the goodies inside that they received. And the minimum guaranteed salary for appearing. That sure is a better deal then they ever received before at any tournament.

Yes, the regular tournaments will survive without the IPT pros, just as minor league teams survive in baseball. Without the pros playing in those tournaments the local tournaments will draw more players because they will have a better chance of cashing in the tournaments. Fans at these tournaments are inconsequential because tounament directors do not try and attract fans, all they want is players.

Jake

 

[memikey]

Jake....realistically....purely on logistics....especially bearing in mind the overseas travel for everyone....

Can't see 7 IPT Open events,each of which will need 25 qualifying tournaments (175 in total),plus 2 IPT Closed events,all being easily staged January to June 2007.

Even harder to see 11 IPT Open events,each of which will need 25 qualifying tournaments (275 in total),plus 2 IPT Closed events,all being staged January to June 2008.

The above doesn't include the season ending Tour Card Qualifying Tournaments (or the 100 or so pre-qualifying events for that) each year or The King of the Hill event each year.

 

[Blackjack]

1) Right now it appears that the top women will not make it into the IPT for 2007. Those few who do will continue to play in both tournaments with KT's approval. (Yes, women do get special priviliges). So I think the WPBA will continue for some time.

Why doesn't he just start a Woman's Division? That makes sense to everybody else I've talked to, why doesn't that makes sense to Kevin Trudeau?

2) I believe that the IPT "season" will be from January to June so it should not affect the US Open in any way. I also believe that KT will make special concessions to IPT players to allow them to play in the US Open. Therefore, the US Open should become bigger than ever because they will be the only ones allowed to showcase the IPT stars.

Tell that to Barry Behrman. He had to reschedule the Open this year to accomodate the players due to "unavoidable" scheduling conflicts with the IPT. The other point that you are missing is that the IPT players are not likely to play in an event that pays them a small fraction of what Kevin is paying them. Ultimately, that will be the kis of death to many events, including the US Open.

I also believe that tournaments overseas will also get special dispensation, from the Pope, to allow the IPT players to play there. Therefore, their popularity will grow.

That would make sense if you provided a reason other than "the IPT players" are playing in the events. Hohmann, Souquet & Eckert have been playing over in Europe for years and they couldn't sell out a small gymnasium if they wanted to, yet go to Asia and people tackle players in the street to get an autograph. The IPT name is not a big money draw or a guarantee for fan support - at least not yet.

When I first started following pro players in 1999 I was amazed that I could go to a Florida Pro stop and watch all these name players play and no one cared about charging admission. If a product is given away for free why in the world would anyone go somewhere where you had to pay for the same thing? Charlie tried to promote the pros and charge admission but people would tell me "why should I pay to go watch them when I can see them play next week for free".

Exactly. Fans are cheap and they don't support the sport. So what the IPT plans on doing is quadrupling the price of everything (at some point this will expensive due to the payouts) and maybe these fans with short arms and deep pockets will suddenly start supporting pool... or we are going to attract NEW fans... well these NEW fans will not have a clue about - nor can they appreciate the rich history of the game which has been built upon events such as the US Open.

Of course the IPT does give its players all these little incentives. The green room where they can relax free of "admiring fans", complete with free food, and a massage. And what was the value of that carrying case with all the goodies inside that they received. And the minimum guaranteed salary for appearing. That sure is a better deal then they ever received before at any tournament.

That's exactly what we need... separate the fans from the players. What has made pool unique is the fact that you could sit next to Mosconi, Rempe, Sigel, Hall, or Mizerak and engage in every day conversation about the sport we all love without security backing you away or interfering with your interaction. Try to do that at a MLB game, at an NBA game, at an NHL game, or at Daytona. Incentives? How is that incentive good for pool?

Yes, the regular tournaments will survive without the IPT pros, just as minor league teams survive in baseball. Without the pros playing in those tournaments the local tournaments will draw more players because they will have a better chance of cashing in the tournaments. Fans at these tournaments are inconsequential because tounament directors do not try and attract fans, all they want is players.

lol... this statement completely goes against everything you just said in trying to prove your point.

Bottom line is that you can't toss the baby out with the bath water. Last year the IPT puposely distanced itself from the rest of the industry and the international governing bodies of the sport. He was welcomed by these organizations, and asked to pay sanctioning and refused. However, he has the audacity to ask players to pay $1000 entry per qualifier and in return the winner gets a tour card - no money - and everybody else gets to go home beaming with pride because they have supported the IPT and pool? That won't last long either.


If he would partner with smaller tours such as the Viking Tour, with the goal being - the top 3 players advance to the IPT - or earn a qualifying spot - then that makes sense. Just don't have non-IPT players looking stupid by paying those entry amounts and going home owing somebody else money. That's what that is causing.

This is also causing some people to take advantage of pool players - ask around - there is one guy that is "making deals" with IPT pool players. Some people know who I am talking about. The deal he offers sounds good on the surface, but if you actually do the math he is ripping them off out of more than half of their earnings - before taxes. I warned that this would happen almost a year ago, and people said I was "being negative".

I'll be negative again by saying that I will assist any player with legal fees/representation/support/ if and when they wake up and realize they've been ripped off again by this particular person. I mean that in the most negative, naysaying way I can possibly send out to everybody. There is nothing set up to prpotect the players from people such as this guy, yet this guy is the top money earner (according to my calculations) and yes, he is ripping these guys off with a smile on his face. Same deal as always, Jake - just more money.

 

[ScottW]

Heh, I think Jake's last post was first-half tongue-in-cheek, second-half semi-serious. I mean, approval from the Pope? Har.

Memikey brings up a good point... with the seven 'open' events scheduled for 2007, and if they continue with the qualifiers the way they have been - that's 25 * 7 = 175 qualifiers that will need to be run (for the 350 open spots) over that year - or even, half (or so) a year, as the last four events of the year aren't open. The last qualifier for the last open event will have to take place a week or two before the last open event.

So let's take this year as an example - the last World open qualifiers are going on Aug. 25-27 - essentially, the end of the 8th month of the calendar year. That's roughly 35 weeks from the start of the year.

175 / 35 = an average of 5 qualifiers going on *every week*. And that's a lot of events going on around the country (and overseas) that will be drawing people away from other events. Of course, the high entry fee will still be a barrier for many folks, not drawing them away from local/regional tour events that they would be playing in anyway.

My point is, folks need to look beyond just the main events and the tour card holders (who obviously don't need to deal with the qualifiers) when assessing the whole "KT says he 'wants to own pool'" meme. With the way they've structured the qualifier system, the IPT isn't just cutting in on the big events - they're also competing with practically every other event out there.

 

[JAM]

Doesn't the WPBA restrict where their players can play? Don't they charge appearance fees? Don't the women have to get approval from the WPBA before they enter any other tournaments?

I think the money itself will restrict where the IPT players will play. As Mike Sigel said, why should a player enter a tournament where he may win $4,000 if he comes in 1st when he can earn that just for showing up at an IPT tournament? If he plays well he gets a lot more.

I think the lure of a guaranteed $100,000 salary with the IPT will be enough to keep the players on board.

Of course they may allow players to play in other tournaments and any money won would apply to that guanteed $100,000 or subtracted from any royalties they have coming.

All very good points, Jake, and very well said. Sure does seem to me as if there are MANY mud puddles and thunder bolts on the AzBilliards IPT forum, but it sure is great to see a beam of sunshine every now and then from posters who have actually WITNESSED and EXPERIENCED the IPT up front and in person.

JAM

 

[mthornto]

posters who have actually WITNESSED and EXPERIENCED the IPT up front and in person
JAM

Yes, the closest most of us came was to watch (strike that, listen) to the NORTH AMERICAN OPEN on an EUROPEAN tv channel streamed from an ASIAN web site. For us in the US, it was definatly INTERNATIONAL

Back on topic, I really do hope the IPT does not destroy all of the other major tournaments. JAM's point about bieng careful not to judge before actually experiencing an IPT event taken, I still have a hard time believing there is any way that an IPT tournament could ever be as fan friendly and enjoyable as the DCC. Hopefully, Diamond Billiards relationship with the IPT will keep at least this event safe.


michael <- looking forward to when the web broadcasts start

 

[ironman]

Yes, the closest most of us came was to watch (strike that, listen) to the NORTH AMERICAN OPEN on an EUROPEAN tv channel streamed from an ASIAN web site. For us in the US, it was definatly INTERNATIONAL

Back on topic, I really do hope the IPT does not destroy all of the other major tournaments. JAM's point about bieng careful not to judge before actually experiencing an IPT event taken, I still have a hard time believing there is any way that an IPT tournament could ever be as fan friendly and enjoyable as the DCC. Hopefully, Diamond Billiards relationship with the IPT will keep at least this event safe.


michael <- looking forward to when the web broadcasts start

That is a very good point

 

[jjinfla]

When the IPT first started if someone would have told me they will be having 200 qualifiers at $1,000 to $2,000 a pop I would have thought they were crazy. But lo and behold the IPT pulled it off.

Do I think they can have qualifiers for 10 - 11 IPT tournaments that would be held in the first six months of 2007? I have to say no way, there just isn't time. But then, maybe they will be holding qualifiers for 2007 from July to December. Or maybe most of the tournaments will be just for card holders.

I can think of a lot of reasons for the IPT to fail. It is a good thing that KT thinks of reasons for it to succeed. That explains why he is a rich man and I am not. That is the difference between success and failure - think positively. Just like Blackjack is always stressing at the pool table - think positively.

The IPT is not rigid. Nor is it set in stone. They are able to be flexible and change as they need to.

Here is an old link. Click on schedule and see the changes that have been made.

http://www.internationalpooltour.com/ipt/QandA/default.asp

Yes, The One, there is the $1,000 entry fee you kept looking for that has been changed to $1,500. Oh well, such is life.

Jake

 

[ScottW]

When the IPT first started if someone would have told me they will be having 200 qualifiers at $1,000 to $2,000 a pop I would have thought they were crazy. But lo and behold the IPT pulled it off.

They haven't pulled it off yet. They've run (at this point) thirty qualifiers. Twenty-five for the NA Open and five, so far, for the World Open. (And no, I'm not counting the five two-tour-card deals - those were, ah, 'emergency' things. )

I can't see them running 2007 open qualifiers in 2006. What about the whole "who loses their tour card" issue? The schedule lists the 2007 card qualifiers running in mid-December. They can't really start running open qualifiers 'til AFTER this is done - so that it's known who has their 2007 cards and who doesn't.

And I'm going to go out on a limb here and bet that for the 2007 open events other than the 2007 World event - i.e. the events that list a $2mil purse instead of the $3mil purse for the World event - that the qualifier fees will be $1k again.

 

[memikey]

......Do I think they can have qualifiers for 10 - 11 IPT tournaments that would be held in the first six months of 2007? I have to say no way, there just isn't time. But then, maybe they will be holding qualifiers for 2007 from July to December. Or maybe most of the tournaments will be just for card holders.

Jake

Jake,if the above bit is in answer to my post about the questionable logistics of what you had suggested before then I have to say that this still doesn't make a great deal of logistical sense and in fact muddies the water even more unless the IPT organisers have found one of H G Wells time machines and put it into working order

It is already August,we have the qualifiers for Reno to play then Reno itself.That only leaves September to December during which time they also already have 100 pre-qualifying tournaments for the December tour card qualifier event to organise.Nobody currently on the tour money list will know before December whether they're going to have a 2007 tour card or not so they wouldn't know whether they were even eligible to enter qualifiers for 2007 events or not before December.It is not going to happen.

Furthermore,have you forgotten why you originally suggested in the first place that maybe IPT would hold events in January to June ? Surely the practise of holding loads of IPT qualifiers July to December in any year for the following years tournaments would partly defeat the whole object of why you originally suggested they might confine their tourneys to January to June i.e. re avoiding clashes with non IPT events like the US Open in the second half of the year.

Lastly the 2007 tour (excluding the King of the Hill and the end of season tour card qualifier,neither of which can possibly involve qualifying events to be held a year earlier) consists of 7 open events and 2 card holder events and there's doesn't seem to be the remotest prospect of any of those 7 opens being changed to card holder only events,why would IPT ever do that?

My posts are about the logistics of your suggestions only,I'm not really interested in the "will IPT fail debate" so I'm steering clear of that