High Tech Version of Pool

[Korsakoff]

Doesn't really appeal to me, but I'm not sure I fully understand what they are doing from the article. Some pictures or a short clip would have helped.

Topgolf founders tap investors for high-tech version of game of pool

Twins behind ‘gamified’ golfing chain sold for $2.1bn raise funds from backers including Blackstone’s David Blitzer

www.ft.com

 

[billiards_watch]

Paywall.

Good effort for trying.

 

[Korsakoff]

Paywall.

Good effort for trying.

Sorry about that. I had no problem clicking and going to the site. I did notice it was Financial Times, and I thought they had a paywall. Let me see if I can get back there, and I'll copy/paste. No, blocks me now. I'll simply look elsewhere.

Topgolf founders raise $34m to turn pool hi-tech as activity bars boom

Steve and Dave Jolliffe plan to open first Poolhouse in London next year

www.theguardian.com

Founders of Topgolf, Puttshack turn their sights to revitalizing pool

The founders of Topgolf and Puttshack have raised $34M of seed capital from investors for a venture aiming to invigorate the game of pool.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

Topgolf Founders Raise $34 Million For Poolhouse, Their Latest Sports Startup

Poolhouse, a startup founded by the brothers behind Topgolf, has raised $34 million in a seed round. The first Poolhouse is expected to open early next year in London.

www.forbes.com

They mostly all say the same thing, but each has a sentence or two that sheds a bit more light. I still don't really get it, though.

 

[Moe Szyslak]

Let me guess, it's Blacklight Pool??

 

[Jimmy_Betmore]

Let me guess, it's Blacklight Pool??

Not really. But I sincerely doubt it'll be anything anyone here is interested in.

"The venue, which is being backed by investors including the US-based venture capital firm Sharp Alpha Advisors and the Daily Mail investment arm, dmg ventures, uses pool tables, balls and cues from the traditional game but adds tracking technology and video projections to add bonus targets and obstacles in an attempt to appeal to larger groups."

 

[Moe Szyslak]

I think I prefer Blacklight pool...

 

[Xenon256]

We may not be interested but if attracts people to the game I for one am all for it. I have seen personally that a couple friends that don't play pool and have watched some WNT events with me have been getting into it. They are big watchers of other sports and now hit me up to see how their favorite players do in events that can't or just didn't get to watch. Both are thinking about joining leagues.

 

[Benelli]

From the SBJ Article:

The founders of Topgolf and Puttshack have raised $34M of seed capital from investors, including Blackstone Chair David Blitzer, for a venture “aiming to invigorate the game of pool,” according to Josh Noble of the FINANCIAL TIMES. The new venture, called Poolhouse, is described as a “‘tech-enabled’ version of the table-top game.” In addition to Blitzer, Poolhouse has drawn backing from N.Y.-based VC fund Sharp Alpha and Simon Sports. It has been developed by Steve and Dave Jolliffe, the brothers behind the concepts for Topgolf and Puttshack. Poolhouse “involves pool tables, balls and cues, but adds tracking technology and video projections” to “overlay additional features, such as bonus targets and obstacles.” The company’s first 20-table venue is “due to open early next year opposite London’s.” Poolhouse then plans to “focus its efforts” on the U.S. (FINANCIAL TIMES, 4/14). FORBES’ Tim Casey reports the company plans on “opening four to five locations per year in the U.S. starting in 2027 in downtown locations of major cities such as Boston, Chicago, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.” Poolhouse will “lease space in buildings rather than own the buildings” (FORBES, 4/14).

 

[Moe Szyslak]

We may not be interested but if attracts people to the game I for one am all for it.

To me it sounds like one of those things where they're trying to make it like a video game because the people like the video games and stuff. But ultimately a video game is better at doing video games than pool is, so either it's a novelty and they're not interested in the real thing or they'd rather just play a video game. And pool isn't exactly cheap already. Wait until you see what an hour of "augmented reality" pool is going to cost.

Poolhouse raises $34M for gamified pool from the creators of Topgolf

Poolhouse, an effort from the Topgolf founders to build entertainment clubs around the game of pool, has raised $34 million.

venturebeat.com

The drinks offering is being curated with the Venning brothers from Three Sheets, a staple on the World’s 50 Best Bars list
The food will be tapas style, where people can share everything with each other. It won’t do just a burger, but something more like a Wagyu burger.

This is like a night out splurge. Nobody's going to be practicing pool at a place with $35 Wagyu burgers and $15 drinks.

The novelty of Topgolf has worn off, and now it's not doing that great. Turns out the people that actually like golf are more interested in actual golf.

Struggling Topgolf to be spun off

Topgolf Callaway Brands said it plans to separate into two companies just four years after it acquired the eatertainment chain.

www.restaurantbusinessonline.com

Is the Topgolf Franchise Struggling? Fresh Take on Golf Franchises

Explore how Topgolf and golf-focused franchises are evolving with cost-effective models and a renewed focus on the game.

fransmart.com

While Topgolf focuses on ‘eatertainment,’ concepts that prioritize the actual game of golf are thriving.

 

[Flakeandrun]

sounds shite

 

[Mensabum]

From the SBJ Article:

The founders of Topgolf and Puttshack have raised $34M of seed capital from investors, including Blackstone Chair David Blitzer, for a venture “aiming to invigorate the game of pool,” according to Josh Noble of the FINANCIAL TIMES. The new venture, called Poolhouse, is described as a “‘tech-enabled’ version of the table-top game.” In addition to Blitzer, Poolhouse has drawn backing from N.Y.-based VC fund Sharp Alpha and Simon Sports. It has been developed by Steve and Dave Jolliffe, the brothers behind the concepts for Topgolf and Puttshack. Poolhouse “involves pool tables, balls and cues, but adds tracking technology and video projections” to “overlay additional features, such as bonus targets and obstacles.” The company’s first 20-table venue is “due to open early next year opposite London’s.” Poolhouse then plans to “focus its efforts” on the U.S. (FINANCIAL TIMES, 4/14). FORBES’ Tim Casey reports the company plans on “opening four to five locations per year in the U.S. starting in 2027 in downtown locations of major cities such as Boston, Chicago, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.” Poolhouse will “lease space in buildings rather than own the buildings” (FORBES, 4/14).

It's a giant pinball machine played with sticks!!

 

[Moe Szyslak]

It's a giant pinball machine played with sticks!!

I think that's it, but the backers would have you killed for putting it that way. It's a video game, or augmented reality. Pinball is OLD. This is NEW and AI is probably involved...somehow.

But yeah, bonus targets and places where you lose points are projected on the cloth and there's a flashing light and a big noise when you hit it. Everything old is new again.

 

[nataddrho]

People want to play pool because they want to run lots of balls, and be better at it than other people. We all want to be better at what already exists. I don’t see this product addressing any desire.

It reminds me of those fancy dart boards with television arcade screens around it that try to augment the game. At the core it is still just darts.

 

[straightline]

sounds shite

Oh I'd pay 5 bucks a minute to exp
Wait...

 

[Flakeandrun]

People want to play pool because they want to run lots of balls, and be better at it than other people. We all want to be better at what already exists. I don’t see this product addressing any desire.

It reminds me of those fancy dart boards with television arcade screens around it that try to augment the game. At the core it is still just darts.

Koreans go F nuts for that though.... (but I imagine they are a Korean product, and as a result pushed into their bars, and television - they literally have televised championships for robot-darts... an example of a conceptual nonsense normalized for market stimulation. Korea is very good at this.)

 

[Mensabum]

I think that's it, but the backers would have you killed for putting it that way. It's a video game, or augmented reality. Pinball is OLD. This is NEW and AI is probably involved...somehow.

But yeah, bonus targets and places where you lose points are projected on the cloth and there's a flashing light and a big noise when you hit it. Everything old is new again.

Oh yeah. You could never say that in the advert or get it anywhere near the description. I can see the bed lighting up, pop up obstacles, like bumper pool, bonus points areas in the rails, etc... you're spot on. Old is new!!

 

[Mensabum]

From the SBJ Article:

The founders of Topgolf and Puttshack have raised $34M of seed capital from investors, including Blackstone Chair David Blitzer, for a venture “aiming to invigorate the game of pool,” according to Josh Noble of the FINANCIAL TIMES. The new venture, called Poolhouse, is described as a “‘tech-enabled’ version of the table-top game.” In addition to Blitzer, Poolhouse has drawn backing from N.Y.-based VC fund Sharp Alpha and Simon Sports. It has been developed by Steve and Dave Jolliffe, the brothers behind the concepts for Topgolf and Puttshack. Poolhouse “involves pool tables, balls and cues, but adds tracking technology and video projections” to “overlay additional features, such as bonus targets and obstacles.” The company’s first 20-table venue is “due to open early next year opposite London’s.” Poolhouse then plans to “focus its efforts” on the U.S. (FINANCIAL TIMES, 4/14). FORBES’ Tim Casey reports the company plans on “opening four to five locations per year in the U.S. starting in 2027 in downtown locations of major cities such as Boston, Chicago, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.” Poolhouse will “lease space in buildings rather than own the buildings” (FORBES, 4/14).

They might want to rethink a couple of those promo cities!!

 

[Mensabum]

Koreans go F nuts for that though.... (but I imagine they are a Korean product, and as a result pushed into their bars, and television - they literally have televised championships for robot-darts... an example of a conceptual nonsense normalized for market stimulation. Korea is very good at this.)

I could see the short term appeal to non pool playing folks out for a night with the gal pal or missus. Few drinks, some bells and whistles, like putt putt is to golf.

 

[iusedtoberich]

Mark me down for this falling flat on its face. A bunch of bar bangers must be behind it.

 

[iusedtoberich]

IDK how they got 34MM. They must have looked at that BCA book from 1990 that said millions of people play pool every week.