Gremlin said:loco,
I am going to the chuckwagon races. To the devil with poolrooms who let the UPA run them out of business. If they depend on one tournament a year to stay in business what can be said?
Cheers,
Gremlin
cardiac kid said:Wow Green Guy. Without being there, how can you blame the UPA for this tragedy. At least you might have waited for someone on location to tell us what happened. I wish Great White was the only billiard room to close this year. Personally, I will miss Felt's in San Ramon, CA. How about Americana Billiards in NYC. Must be a conspiracy of the pro players in the US to deprive themselves of places to play and earn a living.
piglit said:I believe the Green Guy's post was asking: How in the hell does one tournament, in this case, one no tournament, make or break a business?
-pigi
Celtic said:Screw that Gremlin, did you ever even see the place or know one single thing about it? That place was one of the 2 best and most popular pool halls in Calgary and supported the players more then any other hall in the city. I spent alot of time there, I know how well they treated the players and kept the sport alive in Calgary. I will miss the place as a person who actually played there alot and knew the owner and people who frequented the place. That is a loss for Calgary and a loss for the sport as a whole when a place like that ceases to be. If the UPA is causing this kind of result maybe we should not be blaming the pool hall and asking WTF the UPA is doing as it sure as hell is not helping this sport go anywhere except down.
Mike Templeton said:If it was that great a place, then I wonder why it closed?
Mike Templeton
cardiac kid said:Hi Mike,
Probably apathy. All the "pool players" hung out there. The great folks who actually pay the bills found something else to do with their discretionary income. We have a great room here, that is on life support. No one and I mean no one to play! Afternoons and evenings are boring. I have found other things to do with my time. One of the room owners answers to the loss of players was to raise rates. Another was to take out 4.5 x 9 tables and install 3.5 x 7's. I guess closing is the next option.
Gremlin said:loco,
I am going to the chuckwagon races. To the devil with poolrooms who let the UPA run them out of business. If they depend on one tournament a year to stay in business what can be said?
Cheers,
Gremlin
cardiac kid said:Wow Green Guy. Without being there, how can you blame the UPA for this tragedy. At least you might have waited for someone on location to tell us what happened. I wish Great White was the only billiard room to close this year. Personally, I will miss Felt's in San Ramon, CA. How about Americana Billiards in NYC. Must be a conspiracy of the pro players in the US to deprive themselves of places to play and earn a living.
TATE said:Why do you think the UPA was at fault? Sounds to me like the UPA made the right call. They must have figured out something was wrong and pulled the plug.
manlyshot said:Chris, have you read the news briefings on AzBilliards or other forums about why Great White pulled out? It is because the UPA promoted a slew of pro players to participate. When the time drew near, only 8 signed up, 6 of them being UPA touring pros. Certain of those six UPA touring pros requested free perks from the owner of Great White. I don't blame the guy for pulling out. He was required to pay the UPA a fee for their "sanctioning," to ensure that all the monies are paid out, which is a good thing, but with only 8 players signed up, I understand why the owner made his deccision.
The reason many pool rooms are suffering on the East Coast stems from numerous maladies, the smoking ban being one of them, unfortunately. With the explosion of billiard emporiums sprouting up these days, good old-fashioned traditional pool rooms are suffering. I think to blame the UPA for Great White closing is not fair, but on the other hand, it is just another slap in the face for independent promoters and pool rooms suffering in this cash-starved pool industry.
Again, everybody is chewing on the same bone in this sport, and only when new sponsors enter the arena will we see a difference.
ManlyShot
Gremlin said:cardiac,
Get one thing straight right up front Charlie Williams is my friend. He no longer
is the president of the UPA thank God. Now he can play pool! I have never trashed him in my life. I support Charlie and wish him well always.
Green Guy, I failed to separate you and Manlyshot in that sentence. You are correct. I apologize profusely!![]()
Gremlin said:The Great White? I have been there, it's a poolroom, seen one ya seen em all. So what? The UPA? What is it a players association or shake down racket?If it is a players association then the players better take over and run the crooks out. Maybe then you will receive some decent sponsors.
I just think its sad that there is one less place to play. The UPA? I think it's both! Without the "contract", there is nothing to sell to a sponsor or promoter. Can you suggest a better way to manage the careers of over one hundred primadonnas? The major sponsors will never come again. Why waste money on pool when there's NASCAR or semi-naked women!
Gremlin said:The way pool is right now it has lost my interest. I won't invest a dime in pool the way it is now. The players? Crap! They don't even pay back money they borrow. I think pool as it is right now can be described as less then honorable as far as I am concerned.
Again I agree. What about the future? I am seriously considering opening a room. I don't need to make lots of money. I just don't want to lose a ton! I guess I'm just another frustrated pool bum.
I would also like to mention my displeasure with Kelly Fisher playing in the Women's Amateur event in Vegas. I might guess you think it great. She had no business in that event. If she is not a professional player, who can one be? In her place, I'd have been embarrassed. On the other hand, she won more money in Vegas ($3300) than most of the other pros playing in the pro tournament.![]()
loco said:Hey before the big fighht breaks out anyone want to actually read my post. I am not blaming anyone for closing down I think it is bad that they are closing and dont know the reason why , but what I am concerend about is the 250$ I sent in to enter the tourney and wether or not I will ever see it again
LOCO