Has Allen & The SBE Crew Made Things Better At The Oaks This Time??

Kickin' Chicken

Kickin' Chicken

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Unfortunately, I could not make this SBE, first one I'll miss in 11 years. :(

So, I remember a few years ago this was a very bad venue at the OAKS and there were promises that things would be much better this time and so I'm wondering how things are compared to last time.

I have heard from some friends there but would like more input from az'ers who are there.

Aside from the general appearance of a concrete & steel trucking warehouse with all those huge overhead doors and loading docks, the general complaints were to do with poor lighting of the amateur tables, not enough bathrooms/dirty bathrooms, poor flow inside the venue and even worse after vendors closed at night, vendor area security, and food choices and food vendor access.

How's it looking this time?

best,
brian kc
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
Unfortunately, I could not make this SBE, first one I'll miss in 11 years. :(

So, I remember a few years ago this was a very bad venue at the OAKS and there were promises that things would be much better this time and so I'm wondering how things are compared to last time.

I have heard from some friends there but would like more input from az'ers who are there.

Aside from the general appearance of a concrete & steel trucking warehouse with all those huge overhead doors and loading docks, the general complaints were to do with poor lighting of the amateur tables, not enough bathrooms/dirty bathrooms, poor flow inside the venue and even worse after vendors closed at night, vendor area security, and food choices and food vendor access.

How's it looking this time?

best,
brian kc[/QUOTE

Lighting Was good, food seemed like quite a few choices, went into 3 bathrooms and I thing they were all 1 hole, and 1 seat. Not sure about the other one/s.
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I'd give it a B+. There are things that could be improved, but overall, I think they've done a nice job. There is a lot of space and it's more pool tables and people than I've ever seen assembled together--yet you don't feel like you're constantly in a stampede. There really is a lot of space and things are spread out nicely.

The food selection looks good to me. Not gourmet, by any means, but a good selection of food.

I think that the lighting is not great for the open amateur event. The ceilings are so high that the lighting is pretty far away. I don't think there is anything they could do about that though.

The action/challenge/midnight room feels like an airplane hanger with a concrete floor and only about 16 Diamond tables (if that many) widely scattered. Too bad that they couldn't get 3 times as many in that room (there is space there!). During the day, those are the only practice tables and each one may have 4-6 challengers, so if you don't keep the table, you're waiting about 20-30 minutes before your turn comes up.

I've watched some of the pro matches and the bleachers provide a nice vantage point, but are not very comfortable. I can only do 1 hour stretches, at most, before I have to walk around to keep my back loose. You can pay for VIP seats, but they are table level, and while closer, I don't think they give as good a perspective.

Unfortunately, I did not win any matches in the Warmup and Open, but I did make a nice score at the casino when I (in a spur of the moment decision) decided to put $15 on 21 on the roulette, and hit it! I turned that into $500, and immediately tipped the wheel spinner $10 and cashed out!

I do encourage everyone to come as this is really an amazing epicenter of pool activity for these few days.
 
I don't think they'll ever beat the setup at the valley forge convention center where it was regularly held a few years ago
 
expo

This is the second time at this location. First time was on a whim since valley forge is now a casino. like anything you will run into problems and year by year things are corrected and improved. An event of this size takes serious planning year round. it is better this year and will get better year by year
 
I fully agree!

I believe Allen and the Valley Forge Convention Center had at least 18 years to work with each other. This is the 2nd time in 4 years that this event was hosted at Oaks. Let's give Allen a chance to work with this location, and improve the events. He has a proven track record.

The playing area are now carpeted. This was a complaint from previous years, and not just at Oaks, that concrete flooring was hard on the feet.

In the past, I had to pay to watch the Pros play. Whether the matchups are good, or not, I had to pay if I wanted to watch the Pros play. Now I have the option to pay for VIP seating, or watch for free.

POOLPLYR1111 said:
This is the second time at this location. First time was on a whim since valley forge is now a casino. like anything you will run into problems and year by year things are corrected and improved. An event of this size takes serious planning year round. it is better this year and will get better year by year
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wait....is that guy playing blindfolded?!?

I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.
 
The lighting for the amateur tables was probably my biggest complaint this year. Some tables just were so dark it was unacceptable and not worth spending so much money, to play and drive so far and pay for a hotel, to just throw that money away because you couldn't see good enough to shoot as good as you could normally.

My friend and I both really struggled with the lighting. Some areas were obviously better than others. We probably were in the darkest section or something. I ended up shooting in a different brighter area and could see better and shot better.

Also, the pro area had the tables running long ways parallel to the bleachers contrary to last year in Edison. You really could only follow the three tables in front of you rather than if they were running perpendicular to the bleachers where they could fit more tables into your viewing area. But it was still awesome watching for free and I'm just trying to give all possible feedback to make this great event even better!

A huge problem I saw was with the noise of the bleachers when people would walk on them. They were aluminum bleachers, and the problem wasn't with footsteps on them, it was almost like something would let loose and make a really loud creeking noise. It was seriously distracting me when watching so I could only imagine how the pros felt. Also it was close to the bathrooms that had these super loud hand dryers that sounded like a hurricane going off. Not sure if they'd be able to rearrange where the pros play to get away from that noise but probably not. I'd say the bleachers should definitely be a fix for next year. They were so loud and distracting inside the quiet pro arena.

Also, the food court had a great selection but was pretty steep with prices. I ordered a bottled lemonade, grilled chicken sandwich, and French fries with cheese and it was like $17.50 lol. It adds up if you eat two meals there every day.

Once again just giving constructive criticism in my opinion to make this great event even better.
Thanks,
Tim
 
Alan runs the greatest show in pool. I think the action area should get a little carpet love too. I played 14 hours straight yesterday and my feet are like hamburger meat!

Diamond should put a few 9 foot tables in action area. At a dollar a game they would make a fortune. Then guys can't say they'd beat you on a 9 footer like they do.

put in a few bleachers in action area. Silly to have 300 people trying to watch a match. These can be rented easily. It would make it a much better scene in there.

Hold this 3 times a year. It would fill every time.

Great job Allen and company.
 
Bathrooms were clean / not enough spectator chairs(4 chairs at each table with 2 going to the shooters, so that left two for spectators), Lighting still needs improvement (no lights over tables). Food was good but a bit high. The practice room was big but not much going on Thursday 1 ball/1 pocket
and Friday there was a small crowd around a 10 ball game. I didn't like that set up of that room. The pro arena had stands on one side of the room only with 8 tables in front, VIP seating in middle and 8 tables in the rear. So unless you purchased VIP it was hard to follow the far 8 tables from the stands (to far away), That's my take and hopefully improvements in the future. I must add that I liked Edison better then Oak's, it's still an old warehouse.
Allen and Staff a big Thank You for this show no matter where it's at.

PS - It was nice to see the black widow Jennette Lee and Lori Jon Jones, they are very nice and very pretty too. I also had a nice chat with Bob Meucci about his wico blanks and some of the other things he has done in his career. I stopped by Steve Kleins booth to see the Balabuska tributes and they looked great. I also picked up a Lomax J/B that i ordered back in Jan, plain and simple I had a good time except for playing like crap. :-)
 
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I thought it was well done considering the high ceiling for lighting but with the added carpeting there no a lot less echoing and clashing of balls being heard. Food was good, a little overpriced but that is expected. Watching the pros for free was great. A lot of room for walking and for watching your friends/family play.


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Leaving in a few hours. Is the dealer area crowded? Hot? Weather wise, it's super nice out today but wanted to be prepared for what's indoor. Thanks!
 
2strong4u said:
Diamond should put a few 9 foot tables in action area. At a dollar a game they would make a fortune. Then guys can't say they'd beat you on a 9 footer like they do.
put in a few bleachers in action area. Silly to have 300 people trying to watch a match. These can be rented easily. It would make it a much better scene in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Love these ideas!!! Especially the bleacher idea!!!

ironchef. said:
Leaving in a few hours. Is the dealer area crowded? Hot? Weather wise, it's super nice out today but wanted to be prepared for what's indoor. Thanks!
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Probably the most crowded on Sat. Last night not too bad. Not hot for me but I love the summer though! lol (Wife got chilly in Pro area)

The VIP needs to be 3 rows HIGH like in the past. NOT all on 1 level. But I'm usually there for the final day. Maybe it will change. (less tables)

There should be no smoking in the action area. But that's just me. It wasn't horrible but it would have kept my wife from complaining about it. But she was a trooper. Hung in until the early AM hrs. Rep for her! lol
 
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