Future Of Pool

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1pocketfanatic

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We have all heard and read about the struggles of the IPT this past year and how they have hurt the game of pool. Over the years it seems there have been tours and promises made to the players that get everyone worked up and excited only to blow their hopes and hurt them financially. What does everyone think about the future of the game? We will ever have a stable liable tour for the pros, or will they still barely make a living and live like they have been for a long time now? I'm not talking about the top 5 or 10 players who are living comfortable im talking about pros that we are lucky to have on here and else where that havent reached that level yet but it is in their future.
 
for the future of pool...........
 

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Pool is now at the place it has always been...and always will be, IMO.; a sport/recreation that can't produce much in the way of TV ratings. Without that ability, no true pro "tour" will ever make it, at least in the US. I hope I'm wrong, but that's the way I see it.
 
i think it's the little things about this game that make it great. the skill, the community of people you'll find in a pool hall, little things make it great but unless you're a pool junkie you'll probably never understand why people like it. so it's hard to market, i doubt that many if any will get rich playing pool
 
almost everyone have played pool at least once in their life and they keep coming back and play once in while for fun amongst friends. If they like the game enough to grab a cue stick and play why wouldn't they like to watch it on TV?

The poolhall I go, on fridays and saturday nights, There is a line up for the pool tables and you could wait 30 min easily....poolhall has 42 tables.
 
Jimbojim said:
almost everyone have played pool at least once in their life and they keep coming back and play once in while for fun amongst friends. If they like the game enough to grab a cue stick and play why wouldn't they like to watch it on TV?

The poolhall I go, on fridays and saturday nights, There is a line up for the pool tables and you could wait 30 min easily....poolhall has 42 tables.
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yeah but with the exception of allison fisher, earl strickland and janet lee not one of those people that go there could name a different pro player. but ask 'em who oprah interviewed .......
 
IMHO, in order for a successful Pro Tour, many of the Pool oriented businesses will have to step up and support the effort. This includes the supplier companies, production companies whether it be cues, tables or accessories, and pool schools. I also believe that BCN plays a major role in attracting outside sponsorship. With Rob covering events it allows an opportunity for billiards to be broadcast worldwide LIVE. IF we really want pool to thrive the fans of pool need to buy the coverage of BCN and spread the word of what BCN offers the pool community in coverage of live events. The better the support numbers for BCN the easier it becomes to sale sponsorship to outside sponsors

If the inside industry will sponsor the tour, it will make attracting title and event sponsorship easier to obtain. The inside sponsorship is a must, the corporate sponsors will not want anything to do with the tour if pools own industry wont pitch in, this is a simple fact.

Personally, I am working on establishing a regional tour in the Midwest, it is in the infant stages, I have a venue secured, and a format in place (honestly, it is still in the "pipe dream" stage, but I am putting forth effort). Now I am at the tough stage... Sponsorship. I am hopeful I can get something going. The "Optimist" looks at the current market of pool fans as an untapped market for corporations to advertise to.
 
The future of pool I belive is teaching the game to the masses.Altough many people play the game, it is little more than something to do while drinking a beer.If people understood the compex nature of the game they would find the brodcasted pro events more interesting and there for raise the ratings which in turns leads to more and beter sponsorship. Ive seen high schools with badmitten teams,fencing teams,bowling classes and almost all have chess clubs; Ive never seen a school offer a billiard club or class for those students who would prefer an alternative phys ed.The bowling class in the local high schools go off campas twice a week where they are instructed at the local bowling ally.The same could be done for pool with the help of local pool halls and instrution provided by local leages and insructors. I think if young people were tought how to play the game succesfully It would not only contribute greatly on the local level but would do a great deal to promoting the sport on a national level.
 
i think the only way it will gain popularity in the US is through a gambling aspect.

instead of a tournament they should have top pro's match up for big money matches. i think that would be much more interesting to the avid pool player as well as the general population.

the last known pool boom was stemmed from the allure of gambling. the color of money! if tom cruise was a top tournament player i dont think that the movie would have had the effect that it did on the billiard community or success in the box office.
 
seems like i meet many EX-players that spend most of thier time in poker clubs/casinos now a days.reason...there is no money on the tournament scene.thenyou have a fiasco like ipt and it just cements peoples idea that pool is not good...i know better as i have played all my life and have met some very nice people. im not bashing the northeast tour or any other for that matter but why would you play a sport you /very few people exept the top 5 or 10% can even come close to earning a living on the pro circuit,they play for 3 -4 days for 2-3 k while a poker player plays a tournament for 8hrs and makes 10-15 grand depending on the buy in .even a buy in us100 will pay about 3k for the winner.so people who do get involved and play pool reaslly must love the game,which is really great.soryy for the length of this but i do love the game and would love to see the pool game expand but i dont see that happening.........what are your thiughts on my line of thinking
 
Altough many people play the game, it is little more than something to do while drinking a beer.
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what a line! that is the main crux of the "so many people all over the world play pool" argument. sad but true. people will only ever become a fan of the game when they understand it.
 
PunchOut said:
i think the only way it will gain popularity in the US is through a gambling aspect.

instead of a tournament they should have top pro's match up for big money matches. i think that would be much more interesting to the avid pool player as well as the general population.

the last known pool boom was stemmed from the allure of gambling. the color of money! if tom cruise was a top tournament player i dont think that the movie would have had the effect that it did on the billiard community or success in the box office.
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Hey there PunchOut, I would like to contrast on your quote there.

It is TRUE that "playing for money" is a good way for two players to prove who has more maintained nerve. Nevertheless, it does not create skill as much. From what I have read a while back, the Germans are not heavy playing for money. Instead, they play for the honor. What money does, in so many ways, is it creates the assumption that you're nerves are steady... but when the pressure is really on [i.e. Race to 10 and both of you are on the hill] (and depending on what the aspect of your mentallity becomes) you will choke. Great examples would include: Jasmin Ouschan and Thorsten Hohmann (especially when he won that North American IPT).
 
As far as billiards goes...

It will get better.

There are exceptions to my previous sentence - as I will talk about later - but if we AZers can persuade the ones that lack our abillities and preach to the game, then there will be an increase towards how many diehard players we have.

BUT, and no disrespect towards this beautiful country we live in, if the people continue watching the sports that favor this country well (for instance: Football, Basketball, and Baseball to say the few), then there will be a strain for billiards.

See, we Americans enjoy these three verbs: Fast, Now, and Easy. Do I have a problem with that... HECKS NO! But I do believe that there has to be time for intellectuality. As chess is a game... Billiards is a sport that relates to this game. Is there any fitness to billiards... you'd be surprised. Corey Deuel and Jasmin Ouschan are a few take really good care of their health more than I have ever seen anybody from what I have watched. Is there benefits to that... certainly. So if anybody here says that if this sport isn't a sport... I'll just laugh at you or give you the bird! :D
 
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