How can we generate more money?

[JrockJustin]

How can we generate more money for pool?

What would it take to organize a league with a similar set-up as in baseball, basketball, football...etc?

What is holding pool back right now? Too many different kinds of billiard games? Lack of interest?

What can we do?

 

[Billy_Bob]

-You must "give" to "receive"!

-Can't be selfish and think only of yourself and your own preferences.

-Need to be able to think about other people [the masses] and what they want.

-Need to have an open mind and ask or find out through research, focus groups, questionnaires, etc. what will work best.

-Large corporations (which make a lot of money btw) do this. They will do a lot of research to learn what product(s) people want, test market it in a small area, then when the product is sold nationwide, they *know* it will do well. Hollywood does the same thing. They have a special theatre where each person viewing something can give continuous feedback while they are watching. If most people watching a segment give it a "boring" or "low opinion", then they know they should change that segment or cut it.

 

[scottycoyote]

i dont think you will ever see the kind of money you see in poker......in pool. The reason? People can pick up pool and learn it and be half way good at it in no time, you see the guys who play it on the net constantly, and a year later they are in the world series of poker for 5 million. Pool just aint that easy, you aint gonna learn it overnight, you aint gonna learn it sitting at home on the computer or watching it on tv. Only people who know how to play and are really into the game watch it, and i dont think thats gonna change no matter the format, etc. Its like bowling, its always gonna be a niche sport, i dont think anything will get more interest in the sport short of another great pool movie.

 

[bruin70]

How can we generate more money for pool?
What can we do?

we can't

it's useless

forget it

 

[Flex]

we can't

it's useless

forget it

Who cares about money?

I enjoy it for the psychological rewards it brings... nothing like the sound of a ball smacking into the pocket with authority... the feel of a pure, solid center ball hit..... the opponent who slumps in his chair when you drill the money ball deep... the exhilaration of the ping in your cue, the clack of the balls, the crack of the ball going down, the cue ball going three rails for perfect shape, the groan of your opponent....

Flex

 

[Bruce S. de Lis]

Pool is view by many as a Dirty Game played in Smokey, Drug Infested Room, by Lairs, Cheats, and Con man.

Most Mothers wanted to keep their kids out of Pool Rooms when I was growing up. As BAD PEOPLE hung out there, and as the Sun went down the People got BADDER.

The TWO BEST POOL MOVIES, I have ever seen are the Hustler, and the Color of Money. Did not do much to portray Pool as the All American Sport, that Big Name Sponsors who Sponsor the NBA, NFL, Pro Hockey, Golf, etc. Would want to associate themselves with.

Pool IMO first needs to start with an IMAGE MAKE OVER, and that will not happen IMO.

 

[macguy]

How can we generate more money for pool?

What would it take to organize a league with a similar set-up as in baseball, basketball, football...etc?

What is holding pool back right now? Too many different kinds of billiard games? Lack of interest?

What can we do?

Professional sports you mention are forms of entertainment. Pool would need to be made more entertaining to the general public. Pokers only entertainment value is the money involved, that's the hook for them. Beyond that, no one in their right mind would watch people sitting around a table staring at each others for very long.

 

[ShootingArts]

the answers have been given

To make pool a high dollar sport it has to have mass appeal or at the very least mass appeal in the coveted 18-35 market that spends a lot of money easily.

Stock car racing was in much the same place back in the fifties. A less than savory sport played by people that as a whole had more than a touch of outlaw in them. Bill France formed Nascar, forced the drivers and teams to act like professionals at the track and in public, and the rest is history.

We want big dollars and to have a major league requires big dollars. Watch a stock car race or read a list of sponsors and you will see many companies with absolutely no ties to cars or stock car racing investing millions a year. Can anyone tell me what the pay off would be for any company not directly associated with pool to sponsor events or players to the tune of millions? Pool players can't seem to decide themselves, as a group, if it is a sport or a gambling game. No major outside sponsor wants to be associated in the public's minds with something that is unsavory, again in many of the public's minds.

To summarize: The only way pool will attract real dollars, other than a sugar daddy that enjoys the sport, is to clean up it's act and find a way to capture the attention of the public and entertain them. Do that and the sponsors and major TV time will come. Sponsors and a lot of major network time equals $$$$. It is a tall order and I don't know if we will ever see it happen.

Hu

 

[onepocketchump]

How can we generate more money for pool?

What would it take to organize a league with a similar set-up as in baseball, basketball, football...etc?

What is holding pool back right now? Too many different kinds of billiard games? Lack of interest?

What can we do?

1. get $1 per week of league play from each league player in all leagues to go to a non-profit organization that is ONLY setup to administer the rules and run tournaments from amateur to pro level.

2. Incorporating it. Getting everyone to sign on.....good luck. What woudl it take? Money and Power.

3. Fragmentation is holding billiards back. Bowling and tennis and golf all have the same rules and formats no matter where you go in the country to compete. Nevermind the fact that "MOST" people who play pool regularly in bars have no clue that pool is even played in an organized fashion, those of us who do play all the time are constantly confronted with different rules and formats. Instead of getting together to make more pie, the existing organizations are mostly interested in fighting over the half-eaten pieces of what is there now.

John

 

[Colin Colenso]

How can we generate more money for pool?

What would it take to organize a league with a similar set-up as in baseball, basketball, football...etc?

What is holding pool back right now? Too many different kinds of billiard games? Lack of interest?

What can we do?

We, the collective don't make things happen, it is the few great entrpreneurs that can really lift the game.

There must be a 'we' and pool already has it. The game is one of the top few participation sports world wide.

If anyone wants to make a difference then they can do many things. Organize local competitions or a league, seek sponsors (learn how to sell to and satisfy sponsors). Write articles, set up websites, provide stories for media (PR).

Basically get to know the various aspects of the industry and perhaps specialize in one to make it more effective.

Perhaps you can gain the various skills and make the right connections to make some big steps forward in the sport.

Like any business, success will be made by those with more skills and knowledge. Pool needs more talented people like this, cooperating to create new and better opportunities in the sport.

 

[onepocketchump]

Here's a thought: (and I want credit, if turns into a quote)

All questions exist in the same universe as the answers. Or, if the question can be asked then does that mean that the answer exists. Algebraic: The answer always lies within the question.

Got to go and do some work!

John

 

[KBP]

Pool is view by many as a Dirty Game played in Smokey, Drug Infested Room, by Lairs, Cheats, and Con man.

Most Mothers wanted to keep their kids out of Pool Rooms when I was growing up. As BAD PEOPLE hung out there, and as the Sun went down the People got BADDER.

The TWO BEST POOL MOVIES, I have ever seen are the Hustler, and the Color of Money. Did not do much to portray Pool as the All American Sport, that Big Name Sponsors who Sponsor the NBA, NFL, Pro Hockey, Golf, etc. Would want to associate themselves with.

Pool IMO first needs to start with an IMAGE MAKE OVER, and that will not happen IMO.

I agree with you Bruce. Image make over would be hard. I have players that would rather show out than play the game. I've had players kick tables, break cues and all sorts of other stuff that is really uncalled for....BTW they can't play on the tour if they do these things. But still its image. Pool has always had a bad image. I still have people turn their noses up at me or make a wierd face when I say I own and operate a billiard tour. So image I also fell is the main factor.
Kay

 

[shoutout33]

Um...okay?

Is it just me or have you all already forgotten about the International Pool Tour (IPT)? Yeah, I know it hasn't started and people are skeptical about it, but this is the best chance pool has right now if you want to make some money in it. First place prize for the regular tourneys is $200,000, the Open is $350,00, and the World tourney is a half a million, and...news flash...the money is guaranteed!!! Someone (Kevin Trudeau) is already generating the money AND other things to help pool get off the ground. If you want to help, support the IPT.

 

[Colin Colenso]

Is it just me or have you all already forgotten about the International Pool Tour (IPT)?

No, it's just you who forgot....temporarily it seems

But seriously, its a good point. Well worth supporting, and supporting strongly if it keeps going ahead as planned.

I've offered my services already and certainly hope I can do something to assist at some stage. No email replies yet though

 

[shoutout33]

Thanks for the reply Colin...nice comeback too. I hope you do well on the tour if that is what you are referring too. I haven't had the greatest love for 8-ball because it seems that's what all amature leauges do! It's weird, most tourneys are 9-ball, but the game isn't supported as much in amature ranks. Most leagues are 8-ball, but it's not supported on the tour level! LOL!

I'm starting to jump on the bandwagon now in reguards to 8-ball, becase I have a profound love for one pocket. I want to learn straight pool too, because I hear (based on what Loree Jon Jones said...), the two are somewhat similar. But I guess the reason I replied the way I did is because people are still trying to FIND a way to get money into pool or get some notoriety. People, we already have it...we just need to get behind it and hope for the best.

 

[Bruce S. de Lis]

I agree with you Bruce. Image make over would be hard. I have players that would rather show out than play the game. I've had players kick tables, break cues and all sorts of other stuff that is really uncalled for....BTW they can't play on the tour if they do these things. But still its image. Pool has always had a bad image. I still have people turn their noses up at me or make a wierd face when I say I own and operate a billiard tour. So image I also fell is the main factor.
Kay

I understand from a freind of mine who tells few lies that the Great Mike Sigel is not a Nice Person, some of the Stuff that comes out of his Mouth is Totally Uncalled For, and Just Not nice.

Mike is a Great Player, but I could not see if what my friend say about Sigel's Behavors, Sportmanship, etc. Is something that a Company like General Motors, or a Big Six Account Firm would be lineing up to Sponsor him, or have him be their Spokesperson.

 

[Snapshot9]

Colin

We, the collective don't make things happen, it is the few great entrpreneurs that can really lift the game.

There must be a 'we' and pool already has it. The game is one of the top few participation sports world wide.

If anyone wants to make a difference then they can do many things. Organize local competitions or a league, seek sponsors (learn how to sell to and satisfy sponsors). Write articles, set up websites, provide stories for media (PR).

Basically get to know the various aspects of the industry and perhaps specialize in one to make it more effective.

Perhaps you can gain the various skills and make the right connections to make some big steps forward in the sport.

Like any business, success will be made by those with more skills and knowledge. Pool needs more talented people like this, cooperating to create new and better opportunities in the sport.

I agree with you except someone or an entity has to oversee the direction
of the sport in general, and keep lower factions working towards the goals
that all players want. That doesn't happen in Pool today.

Why do so many players want nothing but good for Pool with better tournaments and tours, better definition of levels, more junior leagues
and tournaments, get Pool in the Olympics, etc.. and it never does happen.

Same reason a CEO will not let the workers make the rules, they might
want something that is not appropriate. The CEO's all claim they work for the company, but when they retire, it is easy to see they were working for
themselves.

I also have offered my services to the UPA, only to have some beaucratic
BS emailed back to me. When I suggested that a business plan be put
into action, defining short term and long term goals, there answer was
to submit the business plan. Anyone that knows how to develop a
business plan or to have done consuting work (as I have) knows that
you have to work closely with the organization, from top to bottom, before
you are able to develop something meaningful for the organization for
a business plan for the future. I don't know any Pool organization so
well run, that they can afford to turn down help when it is offered.
IMO, we need more Mark Wilson's running these organizations rather
than the ones that are.

 

[KBP]

Mike Sigel is a nice man but there have been some antics when he's at the table. He has always been nice to me and always had time to talk to me.

And Scott has helped me a lot with the tour here lately and he is working hard on a division near him. I always appreciate the help and here's your attaboy Scott.

We do need something to bring the pool world up I just don't what would be a sure thing that would work.
Kay

 

[bruin70]

Who cares about money?

I enjoy it for the psychological rewards it brings... nothing like the sound of a ball smacking into the pocket with authority.,,,,,,,,,,,

Flex

my sentiments exactly, flex. i don't care if the pros make money or not...and why should i, pray tell. i enjoy the sport for what it brings me.

if anyone wants to make money for players, how about this. let anyone who cares adopt-a-player, and just send him cash/checks.

 

[KBP]

If they are going to send money can I go on the adoption list????