How do Action Matches Work?

Shermanscs

Shermanscs

Steve sherman
Silver Member
How do Action Matches Work? And for that matter, how does the notion of $ added to an event work? I was watching the POV stream of the West Coast Challenge this 4th of July. A number of the events have some good prize money added, $3k-$10k.
On the 11th they list a $100,000 challenge match between Dennis Orcollo and Tony Chohan. What I don't understand is how they raise that kind of money for these pool events and how those investors gain a return from that investment. Don't get me wrong, I think it is great for the sport, but I wonder how this model actually works. Viewership is still very small, compared to say, TV. So even revenues from advertising could not come close to covering an investment like this. The pool hall could not possibly profit enough from the business coming through he door to make a return on this kind of investment. I can't imagine that someone would "donate" the funds just for the action.

Does anyone know how this works? I am extremely interested to know.

Thanks,
- Steve
 
With action matches the players bring the money to the table, hence action match. Now it's probably backer money in most cases, but each side brings $50k and then you have a $100k action match.

With money added, it's event organizer adding the money to the torunament entrance fees to enlarge the prize fund.
 
Action match, 'where does the money come from?'...the answer to that: from anywhere money comes from.

Earned wages, stolen car wash and vending machine cash, inheritance...any and all means, legal and illegal.

And it isnt cash, its gambling coupons.
 
Shermanscs said:
How do Action Matches Work? And for that matter, how does the notion of $ added to an event work? I was watching the POV stream of the West Coast Challenge this 4th of July. A number of the events have some good prize money added, $3k-$10k.
On the 11th they list a $100,000 challenge match between Dennis Orcollo and Tony Chohan. What I don't understand is how they raise that kind of money for these pool events and how those investors gain a return from that investment. Don't get me wrong, I think it is great for the sport, but I wonder how this model actually works. Viewership is still very small, compared to say, TV. So even revenues from advertising could not come close to covering an investment like this. The pool hall could not possibly profit enough from the business coming through he door to make a return on this kind of investment. I can't imagine that someone would "donate" the funds just for the action.

Does anyone know how this works? I am extremely interested to know.

Thanks,
- Steve
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Action? Really? Its GAMBLING pure and simple. Each side posts 50g's. The term often heard is "$100,000 in the middle" meaning each side is in for half the total.
 
I think the OP is asking why people add money to tournaments and how they make it back.
 
They probably lose money if a lot is added but its the cost of doing business and remaining relevant. It's a form of advertisement. They migjt not make it all back that weekend, but maybe in the long-run they will keep people coming back and at the same time acquire new patrons.

50 players and they spend $20 each, they make back a little there. If some of their friends come to watch, drink, and eat, make a little more.
 
bad_hit said:
I think the OP is asking why people add money to tournaments and how they make it back.
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Depending on the tournament, there may be some sponsorship money or product (for example, a tour sponsored by a cue maker may donate a cue which is then raffled off by the room). Some events make money from PPV (the US Open and the DCC, for example) and occasionally other sponsors. And, as someone else mentioned, the room owner may add money banking on food and beverage sales during the event, spin-off table rental from eliminated players getting into action and general promotion of the room.
 
In the long run it's obviously poor ROI for backers when they only take part of the winnings and eat all of the losses, so for them it must not be just about making money.
 
A lot of Casino's will hold pool tournaments also.

Guess they are banking on the pool crowd losing money at the casino.
 
"added money" is really a sham. A 3 card monty if you will. Lets say it's $1000 added tournament based on 64 players. Well in turn the room charges a "tournament fee" of $16 per player which covers the "added" money. Basically they are letting the players use the room for the tournament for no charge of table time. So they make the money on the food and drinks from the players. This is how 90% of "added money" events are run. Like others said with a sponsored tournament there can be a cue given to the owner to raffle off to recoup the monies that way as well. If you break down the payouts usually its just players playing for their entry pool.
 
Which is way better than most amateur events that pay cash.
Pool players...looking out for #1 since 1658.
DirtyJersey said:
"added money" is really a sham. A 3 card monty if you will. Lets say it's $1000 added tournament based on 64 players. Well in turn the room charges a "tournament fee" of $16 per player which covers the "added" money. Basically they are letting the players use the room for the tournament for no charge of table time. So they make the money on the food and drinks from the players. This is how 90% of "added money" events are run. Like others said with a sponsored tournament there can be a cue given to the owner to raffle off to recoup the monies that way as well. If you break down the payouts usually its just players playing for their entry pool.
Click to expand...
 
DirtyJersey said:
"added money" is really a sham. A 3 card monty if you will. Lets say it's $1000 added tournament based on 64 players. Well in turn the room charges a "tournament fee" of $16 per player which covers the "added" money. Basically they are letting the players use the room for the tournament for no charge of table time. So they make the money on the food and drinks from the players. This is how 90% of "added money" events are run. Like others said with a sponsored tournament there can be a cue given to the owner to raffle off to recoup the monies that way as well. If you break down the payouts usually its just players playing for their entry pool.
Click to expand...



I don't like the "added money" game (something Grady was complaining about on RSB 20 years ago) but when I've done the math for various events there is usually "some" added money even when you deduct the greens fee.

I agree with Grady's proposal that if you say $1,000 added it should be actually all added (and if it's really $600 after greens fees then say $600), but the problem is that unless all promotors do it many pool players will go to the tournament advertising $1,000 (with $500 net) over the one that advertises $600 and no greens fees. People just see the bigger number.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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Black-Balled said:
Which is way better than most amateur events that pay cash.
Pool players...looking out for #1 since 1658.
Click to expand...

Lets just call a spade a spade and be able to see through the BS. A lot of pro events are run this way as well and any amateur event that's worse is attended by ppl that don't know any better.
 
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