Hilton-sponsored NAOT Tour-Pittsburgh-2/20-24-$20,000 added monies

JAM

JAM

I am the storm
Silver Member
I'm not sure why this is, but I'm having trouble getting info about the upcoming $20,000-added Hilton-sponsored NAOT tournament in Pittsburgh, to occur in approximately 2 weeks, February 20-24.

This is Presidents Day weekend, and many working stiffs will be off on Monday, February 21, making it a great time for any pool event. Hopefully, it will attract quite a few players as well as spectators.

I am going to be attending the $15,000-added Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour at the Turning Stone Casino in Upstate New York from February 18th through the 20th. Currently, the roster is full with 96 pre-paid players.

In order to compete in the NAOT tournament, it is a requirement that one must stay at the Hilton. The Hilton in Pittsburgh is booked for these dates, and there are no rooms available at this time. Does that mean that the players who do want to compete, but cannot get a room at the Hilton, cannot play?

I am hoping that Jim Dawson or anybody associated with the NAOT Tour will allow any and all of the 96 players who are attending the Joss tourney, which ends Sunday, to be able to get in and compete in this magnificant event. This is the second leg of this tour. The first leg which was held in Destin, Florida, only received 43 players. There are MANY players in my neck of the woods who desire to attend the NAOT tournament in Pittsburgh, but without room availability at the Hilton, I am in the dark as to what to do next.

I want to go to Pittsburgh and have Keith play in this event after the Joss tourney at Turning Stone ends. Hopefully, somebody in the know will respond to this post and give some guidance.

If the players meeting for NAOT is Sunday, February 20th, and the Joss Tour ends on Sunday, February 20th, it would be nice to know if the promoters of the NAOT will allow the Joss tournament players to arrive a day later. Without room availability at the Hilton in Pittsburgh and not knowing if the promoters will allow the Joss competitors to get in late, I am fearful that there will be a low turnout. I'd like to go, but can't get any guidance at this time. :confused:

JAM
 
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Hello JAM,

Do you have the exact dates when the tour stops in Cherry Hill? Do you have to buy tickets in advance or pay at the door? I'm really looking forward to go and would enjoy meeting you, Keith (if you guys go), and the other players. If you and Keith don't mind maybe a pic w/ my older son :) . Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Rob
 
Hi JAM,

The real shame is the starting time for the event. Why in G-d's name did they schedule the players meeting for Saturday night and first matches Sunday morning? NONE of the players at the Joss event can play in both. I drive "fast". I can't make the trip from Vernon, NY to Pittsburgh, PA in much under seven hours. Perhaps some will try. This is why pool is a disaster!

Mike Z has spoken with the Hilton people. They are aware that they have limited the field size of their event because of all the players going to the Turning Stone. This should have been one of the greatest weekend and weeks of pool in the Northeast in many, many years. Even with the $125 entry in Pittsburgh, I believe they will get no more than sixty four players. Stupid! Could have had 128 or more.

Look forward to seeing you and Keith at the "Stone". I'm going to have FUN.
 
JAM,

You may not play as many hours as some of the rest of us. Your contributions to the game and this forum more than make up for your lack of play time. Keep up the great job.

Incidently, to those of you who have never been to the Turning Stone, bring your own "booze". The Stone is dry!
 
Thanks for the info, Cardiac Kid. :)

This is a tragedy that the first day of the $20,000-added Hilton-sponsored NAOT tournament begins on Sunday, the LAST day of the $15,000-added Joss Tour Turning Stone event.

I really wanted Keith to get a chance to compete in Pittsburgh, but I guess it won't happen this time! I hope the UPA can bring enough players to this wonderful tournament this time, as opposed to the 43 who showed up on the first leg of this tour. Again, this is tragic having a scheduling conflict like this, but at least I can make my travel plans now.

You're so right about Turning Stone. I've been there only once. You can smoke cigarettes as much as you want, unlike the rest of New York State, but there is no alcohol served on site. I've been told that you can bring your own, though. We already got a room at the $90 player's rate. I'm looking forward to this one. There's a poker tournament on Friday night that I'm fixing to make my debut, so watch out! :D

Br8knrun52, hope to meet you, and, of course, you can snap as many pictures as you desire! I really like pictures! :p

There will be two Cherry Hill, New Jersey stops on the Hilton-sponsored NAOT tour:

March 29-April 3, 2005
Hilton Philadelphia
Cherry Hill, N.J. • (609) 213-1516

Nov. 26-Dec. 4, 2005
Season Finale
Hilton Philadelphia
Cherry Hill, N.J. • (609) 213-1516

JAM
 
JAM said:
There will be two Cherry Hill, New Jersey stops on the Hilton-sponsored NAOT tour:

March 29-April 3, 2005
Hilton Philadelphia
Cherry Hill, N.J. • (609) 213-1516

Nov. 26-Dec. 4, 2005
Season Finale
Hilton Philadelphia
Cherry Hill, N.J. • (609) 213-1516

JAM
Click to expand...

Hi JAM,

I have the UPA site open on another screen. They show the dates for the first Cherry Hill event as April 11 through the 17th. Which one is correct?

I like the Novewmber/December date. The event ends the day before I leave for the Reno Open.
 
JAM said:
I'm not sure why this is, but I'm having trouble getting info about the upcoming $20,000-added Hilton-sponsored NAOT tournament in Pittsburgh, to occur in approximately 2 weeks, February 20-24.

This is Presidents Day weekend, and many working stiffs will be off on Monday, February 21, making it a great time for any pool event. Hopefully, it will attract quite a few players as well as spectators.

I am going to be attending the $15,000-added Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour at the Turning Stone Casino in Upstate New York from February 18th through the 20th. Currently, the roster is full with 96 pre-paid players.

In order to compete in the NAOT tournament, it is a requirement that one must stay at the Hilton. The Hilton in Pittsburgh is booked for these dates, and there are no rooms available at this time. Does that mean that the players who do want to compete, but cannot get a room at the Hilton, cannot play?

I am hoping that Jim Dawson or anybody associated with the NAOT Tour will allow any and all of the 96 players who are attending the Joss tourney, which ends Sunday, to be able to get in and compete in this magnificant event. This is the second leg of this tour. The first leg which was held in Destin, Florida, only received 43 players. There are MANY players in my neck of the woods who desire to attend the NAOT tournament in Pittsburgh, but without room availability at the Hilton, I am in the dark as to what to do next.

I want to go to Pittsburgh and have Keith play in this event after the Joss tourney at Turning Stone ends. Hopefully, somebody in the know will respond to this post and give some guidance.

If the players meeting for NAOT is Sunday, February 20th, and the Joss Tour ends on Sunday, February 20th, it would be nice to know if the promoters of the NAOT will allow the Joss tournament players to arrive a day later. Without room availability at the Hilton in Pittsburgh and not knowing if the promoters will allow the Joss competitors to get in late, I am fearful that there will be a low turnout. I'd like to go, but can't get any guidance at this time. :confused:

JAM
Click to expand...

jam,

I just spoke to Jim Dawson, the td, on the phone and he said that their are still rooms available. There was a little confusion on the special players rate but it is still available until next thursday. He also stated that he has spoke with Mike Zuglan and Mike is going to try and finish the Joss event up early on sunday to allow players the opportunity to make it to Pittsburgh. Mike is going to try and finish the joss event by 1:00 pm and Jim said to try and make it to Pittsburgh by 10:00 pm on sunday. He said that Mike Davis will be playing in both along with at least half a dozen other players. He said to call and reserve your room and tell them you will be coming in late from the joss event. I hope you and Keith can make it.

Trizzat
 
Is there a website for this event? I'm looking for any info and possibly a match schedule.

Thanks
 
Skess said:
Is there a website for this event? I'm looking for any info and possibly a match schedule.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Look on the upa site. there is a page dedicated to this event, I think it is on the home page actually. There is no brackets yet since everyone is not signed up yet.

Trizzat
 
cardiac kid said:
Hi JAM,

I have the UPA site open on another screen. They show the dates for the first Cherry Hill event as April 11 through the 17th. Which one is correct?

I like the November/December date. The event ends the day before I leave for the Reno Open.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about the April dates, Cardiac Kid, but the one in November is the season finale, $50,000 ADDED!

JAM
 
Bob Romano said:
This should be a good weekend, it's my birthday weekend. Here's to Keith, bring home the big Money!
Click to expand...

Well, an early HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, Eydie! Hope you guys do something cool that weekend. It's kind of nice to have a 3-day holiday, to boot!

JAM
 
trizzat said:
I just spoke to Jim Dawson, the td, on the phone and he said that their are still rooms available. There was a little confusion on the special players rate but it is still available until next thursday. He also stated that he has spoke with Mike Zuglan and Mike is going to try and finish the Joss event up early on sunday to allow players the opportunity to make it to Pittsburgh. Mike is going to try and finish the joss event by 1:00 pm and Jim said to try and make it to Pittsburgh by 10:00 pm on sunday. He said that Mike Davis will be playing in both along with at least half a dozen other players. He said to call and reserve your room and tell them you will be coming in late from the joss event. I hope you and Keith can make it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the helpful info, Trizzat! :)

It's about a 6-hour drive from the Joss event at Turning Stone to the Hilton in Pittsburgh. Do you know what time the players meeting is for the NAOT tournament? Also, what time do the first matches begin?

I would hate to drive all the way and be disappointed. It's a 10-1/2-hour drive from my home to Turning Stone, and it would be a bummer to drive from Turning Stone to Pittsburgh, a 6-hour drive I might add, and not have a guarantee that Keith can get in.

JAM
 
Pitt Tourn Info

Jam...call Jim Dawson at 609-213-1516 he can answer all your questions.
 
JAM said:
Thanks for the helpful info, Trizzat! :)

It's about a 6-hour drive from the Joss event at Turning Stone to the Hilton in Pittsburgh. Do you know what time the players meeting is for the NAOT tournament? Also, what time do the first matches begin?

I would hate to drive all the way and be disappointed. It's a 10-1/2-hour drive from my home to Turning Stone, and it would be a bummer to drive from Turning Stone to Pittsburgh, a 6-hour drive I might add, and not have a guarantee that Keith can get in.

JAM
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jam,
The players meeting is scheduled for saturday night, the 19th, but Jim said if your in by about 10pm on Sunday there is no problem getting in. He is trying to be accomadating to the players wanting to play both the turning stone and naot events. You could try and call him at 609-213-1516, I had no problem getting a hold of him he personally answered the phone, I believe it's a cell phone. It's always best to get the info straight from the horse's mouth. He seemed to be very understanding of the situation. Hope you can make it. There should be lots of action at breakers, about 4 miles from the hilton, after hours. This will be one of the greatest pool weeks Pittsburgh has seen in a long time.

Trizzat
 
Thanks, Race2-9 and Trizzat, for the excellent advice. I just got off the phone with Jim Dawson. He's doing everything he can to get the logistics straightened out, so that the Joss Tour players can compete in Pittsburgh.

A lot of top players are going to be at the NAOT event, to include Earl "The Pearl" Strickland, the world-class champion who won the popular vote by a whopping two-thirds majority for the Hall of Fame right here on AzBilliards.

Some other noteworthy players who have committed to play: Danny "Kid Delicious" Basavich, Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer, 2004 Skins Champion Niels Feijen, Tony "The Assassin" Robles, Ryan "Genie Man" McCreesh, 2003 WPC Champion Thorsten Hohmann, and Mike Davis, just to name a few.

Diana Hoppe will be on site providing coverage, as well as many other media folks. This is going to be one great tourney.

I'm hoping we can work out the logistics and make it. This sounds like one event I definitely do not want to miss!

JAM
 
the hilton tour is a prime example of what happens when someone who has never really ran a tournament before tries to start off big...........

kudos to them for making it happen, but someone needs to hire someone to make this thing work........
 
vapoolplayer said:
the hilton tour is a prime example of what happens when someone who has never really ran a tournament before tries to start off big...........

kudos to them for making it happen, but someone needs to hire someone to make this thing work........
Click to expand...


You couldn't be more correct, they have the right idea but need to look at when they schedule these things or hire someone with enough experience in the business to make it work.
 
JAM said:
In order to compete in the NAOT tournament, it is a requirement that one must stay at the Hilton. The Hilton in Pittsburgh is booked for these dates, and there are no rooms available at this time. Does that mean that the players who do want to compete, but cannot get a room at the Hilton, cannot play?
Click to expand...

What about local players? They can't play unless they go stay at the hotel? There is a NAOT tournaments scheduled for later this year in August in Tucson. While Tucson is about an hour and 20 minute drive for me from Chandler, I wasn't planning on staying out there every night for the entire week. I'd be a little irritated if I couldn't play because I'd have the nerve to want to go sleep in my own bed here and there.
 
Good post, JAM, and you're right, why would anyone make the long trip to Pittsburgh withotu an assurance that they'd be able to compete.

From what I'm reading in this thread, it sounds like Jim Dawson is a quality guy who's trying hard to make this work. It's no secret that Mike Zuglan is also a quality guy, and it sounds like the two of them are putting their heads together to accommodate those who wish to play in both events. More power to both of them for doing what they can to deal with this scheduling SNAFU.
 
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