Franchised Pool Rooms = Solution to a Tour?

[Scottster]

What is everyone's opinion on a franchised Pool room being a solution to organizing a Pro Tour?

The 2 that come to mind right off the top of my head are "Side Pockets" (7 Pool Rooms through out midwest and one in florida) and Jillians (not sure on how many).

This would put pool in the arena of where enthusiasts frequent. Increase the business of the franchise plus give the franchise worldwide exposure.

THoughts?

 

[Jack Flanagan]

sorry to be a spoilsport, but the first thing that came to mind was: where will the small businessman go when we "WalMartize" every type of business ? I, for one, don't want to lose any more $ to a rich corporation,,,just look at the top 10 billionaires on Forbe's list; four of them are heirs to the Sam Walton fortune,,,,money made on the backs of small businesspeople forced out when WalMart came to town.......

my "home town" had lots of small cafes and rerstaurants,,,but,,, McDonalds and others came to town______

we had individually owned auto parts stores (who actually had parts to repair your autos) until AutoZone and others came to town______

we had "real" grocery stores and meat markets until WalMart came to town
we had "real" shoe stores (and shoe repair) until Walmart came to town
and the list could go on forever,,,,,,,,,, j

 

[StraightPoolIU]

sorry to be a spoilsport, but the first thing that came to mind was: where will the small businessman go when we "WalMartize" every type of business ? I, for one, don't want to lose any more $ to a rich corporation,,,just look at the top 10 billionaires on Forbe's list; four of them are heirs to the Sam Walton fortune,,,,money made on the backs of small businesspeople forced out when WalMart came to town.......

my "home town" had lots of small cafes and rerstaurants,,,but,,, McDonalds and others came to town______

we had individually owned auto parts stores (who actually had parts to repair your autos) until AutoZone and others came to town______

we had "real" grocery stores and meat markets until WalMart came to town
we had "real" shoe stores (and shoe repair) until Walmart came to town
and the list could go on forever,,,,,,,,,, j

I don't see how any of that really addresses the question asked, but to answer the original question I would say it's unlikely that holding tournaments at a franchise would help much. First of all their facilities probably wouldn't be large enough to hold a big tournament, and second of all there are a lot more issues involved in getting a successful pro tour than venue just look at some other threads on the issue.

 

[Jack Flanagan]

maybe I started my 'rant' before I read the first post more closely,,,,but I stand by my rant; we don't need some corporate franchise to drown out the little guy.

we do need honest (K. T. need not apply) people who love pool, support pool, and don't make ungodly profits, for profits sake, and then drop pennys on the supporters and brag about being the 'savior' of pool.

the old saying "hindsight is 20/20" needs to be looked at before jumping into bed with some other corporate 'pied-piper'..........JMHO

 

[Johnnyt]

maybe I started my 'rant' before I read the first post more closely,,,,but I stand by my rant; we don't need some corporate franchise to drown out the little guy.

we do need honest (K. T. need not apply) people who love pool, support pool, and don't make ungodly profits, for profits sake, and then drop pennys on the supporters and brag about being the 'savior' of pool.

the old saying "hindsight is 20/20" needs to be looked at before jumping into bed with some other corporate 'pied-piper'..........JMHO

You're right Jack...and I bet you have Alen Jackson's song "The Little Guy". Johnnyt

 

[Fred]

What is everyone's opinion on a franchised Pool room being a solution to organizing a Pro Tour?

The 2 that come to mind right off the top of my head are "Side Pockets" (7 Pool Rooms through out midwest and one in florida) and Jillians (not sure on how many).

This would put pool in the arena of where enthusiasts frequent. Increase the business of the franchise plus give the franchise worldwide exposure.

THoughts?

I think its a good idea. These places aren't big enough for a large tournament, but the truth is pool doesnt have enough money to put all of its stars under the same roof at the same time. Smaller events with 2 - 4 advancing. Maybe some league affiliation. Thats where the money is.
Justin Nuder

 

[Jason Robichaud]

I am from New Brunswick Canada and we have a Franchise called Doolys. It has more than 90 locations across Canada. The balls are crap, tables crap (not level), cloth crap…They want people that can’t play to go in drink play a few hours with a group and leave. They are not one bit interested in promoting pool tournaments. The few people that own a Doolys location like Luc Salvas probably promotes, but the head office isn’t interested.

 

[breaktime2]

The customers that frequent these places are not poolplayers. They are casual date night, beer drinking, game watching crowds. Anyone who has ever been in this business knows that hard core poolplayers are not your primary source of income. Not even close. These franchises are business enterprises first and foremost (by the way I don't think this is a bad thing). Therefore they will invest their money in improving their ability to service their main customers. Rooms that hold tournaments don't do it to make more money. They do it cause of their love of the game (or they have a need for action and can make a few $ that way). When we hold a tournament, we make less money than when we don't. Do you have any idea how much business I have to do to make up for the $3-5 thousand dollar added money? Want to have a successful tour? Come up with a game plan that can actually make money. I guarantee you it won't come from a Jillians crowd.