Future for the UPA

Jude Rosenstock

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So there was no World Summit and no Big Apple Classic. The UPA site shows no scheduled upcoming tournaments. Just out of curiosity, did they announce that the UPA is now defunct or is that de facto at this point?
 
Having been in the web development biz for the past ten years, I can say with some authority that waaaaay too often, people/organizations simply don't update their websites properly. :D

So it could be that they simply haven't kept their site up to date. I'd consider the lack of updates 'circumstantial evidence' on the UPA's status. I'd talk to a Real Live Human Being who knows what's going on to be sure.
 
ScottW said:
Having been in the web development biz for the past ten years, I can say with some authority that waaaaay too often, people/organizations simply don't update their websites properly. :D

Website aside, the cancellation of two big events back-to-back is pretty good evidence that something is rotten in the state of Florida.
 
I just think that the UPA has become the circumstantial victim of the reigning IPT. If that's the case, it's really sad. I mean, I know there are a lot of fans that are very fond of the IPT show but from a player's perspective (especially a non-pro like myself), the UPA always put on rather grand events that anyone could play in.

The World Summit and Big Apple Classic were events that I wanted to play in and I have little interest in going through the rather expensive and rigorous process of becoming an IPT member. I guess this means I'll have to plan for the U.S. Open and Joss Tour events if I ever plan on playing in anything of that caliber again.
 
are you speaking of the Big Apple 9 ball challenge? if so that was not a UPA event, I was one of 3 tournament directors for the event that was held at Masters....The UPA has mentioned that supposedly the World Summit of Pool will be held in Baltimore, they are aiming for November....But you're right, they never do update the website, I dont think they know what they're doing.......well when i worked for them, they used to be a little bit more organized, i must admit its getting a bit rediculous now....

Information Correspondant UPA
 
All wrong guys and gals.

Dragon promotions PURCHASED the rights to the world summit of pool, and outside of santioning, the upa doesnt have anything to do with it.

DP is undertgoing some transitions, and may not schedule any us events for the next 6 months. They have been concetrating on hosting events in korea, where interest is TREMENDOUS. DP virtually OWNS pool, mens and womens, and the tv airing rights there.

As far as the upa, jude, most of their inaction now is that they are completely underfunded, managemtn is, for personal reasons, uncommited, and the presence of the ipt has inhibited the creation of 10 or 20k added events.

Hope that helps

rg
 
NYC cue dude said:
All wrong guys and gals.

Dragon promotions PURCHASED the rights to the world summit of pool, and outside of santioning, the upa doesnt have anything to do with it.

DP is undertgoing some transitions, and may not schedule any us events for the next 6 months. They have been concetrating on hosting events in korea, where interest is TREMENDOUS. DP virtually OWNS pool, mens and womens, and the tv airing rights there.

As far as the upa, jude, most of their inaction now is that they are completely underfunded, managemtn is, for personal reasons, uncommited, and the presence of the ipt has inhibited the creation of 10 or 20k added events.

Hope that helps

rg

Well, that is a shame for New York City but to a degree, understandable. Everything is just too expensive.

I wonder if there's a reason why Atlantic City has never played host. One would figure with all the events that go on in Las Vegas, Atlantic City would be a natural second-choice. In fact, with its proximity to New York, DC & Philadelphia along with its travel convenience (non-stop buses and a plethora of hotels), one might think it would be a first-choice.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
I guess this means I'll have to plan for the U.S. Open and Joss Tour events if I ever plan on playing in anything of that caliber again.
I like the way you think Jude !

Check out the newly released 2006/2007 Joss Tour schedule and mark your calender for these two $25,000 added Joss events at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.


Turning Stone Classic VIII 9-ball Open
February 22-25, 2007

Turning Stone Classic IX 9-ball Open
August 16-19, 2007

C'mon up!
 
Done right, the UPA could have become a feeder tour for the IPT. The regional tours could have been feeder tours for the UPA. And so on...
 
Roadie said:
Done right, the UPA could have become a feeder tour for the IPT. The regional tours could have been feeder tours for the UPA. And so on...
Don't completely give up on the UPA folks.... I was recently told that the UPA has a new owner that has some new ideas... There might even be a chat with the new owner on here before too long. I know that it's been discussed, I just don't know when or if it will happen for sure.

Yes, it could be a feeder for the IPT or it could pick up the pieces for the male pro players if the IPT fails to exist.

Lets try to be upbeat, postive, and optimistic about something in the pool world. ;)
 
roadie, your a genious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really.

I like the way you think.

At the beggining of the summer, I was asked to take over the UPA presidency. This hasn't been widely publicized, but some people are aware of this. At the time, i felt the ipt was gaining momentum, and the upa should turn it's attention to 8 ball, and serve almost like a minor league system.

I felt that ipt hopefuls would come out in force, trying to improve their games. I aslo figured that if it was 8 ball, than some pros still might turn up, even with the smaller prizes, in an effort to stay sharp.

My ideas were met with less than enthusiastic responses. Coupled with some other pool related circumstances that occured around the same time, i turned down their offer.

The upa is seriously undrfunded. Inside reports say that the upa wont make it out of 2006.

Perhaps if they werent so stubborn......


rg
 
cmartor3 said:
are you speaking of the Big Apple 9 ball challenge? if so that was not a UPA event, I was one of 3 tournament directors for the event that was held at Masters....The UPA has mentioned that supposedly the World Summit of Pool will be held in Baltimore, they are aiming for November....But you're right, they never do update the website, I dont think they know what they're doing.......well when i worked for them, they used to be a little bit more organized, i must admit its getting a bit rediculous now....

Information Correspondant UPA

The Big Apple 9-ball was a UPA event at the time of the "BlackOut". I was there.
 
CrownCityCorey said:
The Big Apple 9-ball was a UPA event at the time of the "BlackOut". I was there.
I've heard some stories about that tourney... glad I wasn't there... what a nightmare that had to be.

Corey, a couple of yrs ago when they were having those rolling black outs in CA... did that happen in your area? I imagine that had to be a nightmare too. I guess it helps that people knew it was going to happen but it still had to be a royal pain just the same.
 
I am writing this just for the sake of argument. If the IPT survives I think it will be a predominantly asian enterprise. I think the UPA was rotting on the vine regardless of the IPT. They were guilty of not paying players just like the IPT. Whoever takes over or if it is indeed dead whichever tour steps up to take its place is going to have to think bigger than tournaments that pay 25k for first place. This means serious marketing and sponsorship. This means doing alot of foot work that no promoter has seen fit to do. I am not optimistic. Although I love pool, there is not alot of ambitious, capable people to push the sport forward.
 
mnorwood said:
I am writing this just for the sake of argument. If the IPT survives I think it will be a predominantly asian enterprise. I think the UPA was rotting on the vine regardless of the IPT. They were guilty of not paying players just like the IPT. Whoever takes over or if it is indeed dead whichever tour steps up to take its place is going to have to think bigger than tournaments that pay 25k for first place. This means serious marketing and sponsorship. This means doing alot of foot work that no promoter has seen fit to do. I am not optimistic. Although I love pool, there is not alot of ambitious, capable people to push the sport forward.

Good Observations :)

One of the biggest reasons (mens) Tours have failed is that most of the tours have been run by players. After being involved with the game for a few decades in several different areas and a business owner I can see things that need improvement.

Here are a few differences in why the WPBA is successful and the mens tours are not.

A) Men think that sponsors should be chasing them (pride). The Women go get the sponsors.

B) Men over-rate their $ value to make appearances and the Women are proud to do them (the majority anyways).

C) Very rarely do you see men celebrating a 2nd or 3rd place finish like the ladies do (men are not to happy unless they win).

The bottom line is that the women still show some love for the "game" of pocket billiards. The men all believe they should be #1 (pride again) and seem like they would rather be golfing.

Maybe the men could learn a lot if they just stopped and asked for directions once in a while. The men show (I'm sure the profile fits me also) a need for a major attitude adjustment and realize they are not the hand that holds up the Earth.

Get a business man that is not involved to take care of the business and let the players play the tour.

Just a couple thoughts (I could prob go on & on)....

:eek:
 
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Heh - the only solution to that is hormone treatment for the guys, I think. :P

It's a testosterone vs. estrogen issue!

:D
 
If the IPT goes belly up soon enough they'll recover. Otherwise they could be in trouble.
As I said from the beginning somebody like KT had to be bad for pool or anything else he gets his deceitful little hands on.
 
Ruthless said:
Good Observations :)

One of the biggest reasons (mens) Tours have failed is that most of the tours have been run by players. :


That is because no sane businessman who expects to make a living running it will get involved. Players run it for the love of the game.

When I ask players how the TD makes money running a tour they tell me to look at all the money they take in from the players. And they are dead serious.

Jake
 
Roadie said:
Done right, the UPA could have become a feeder tour for the IPT. The regional tours could have been feeder tours for the UPA. And so on...


That sounds like the UPA is no longer in existence. Is that true? Did it fold after Charlie left?

If the UPA died, how come no one knows about it being dead. Did it just fade away? Must not be much interest in it. Do they still post UPA standings in BD?

Jake
 
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