How Far Would You Travel For A Team Event That Added $25,000?

[tomgearhart]

Hi Everyone:

Those of you who know me know that I have promoted amateur and professional billiard tournaments. One notable one has been the recent Glass City Opens in Toledo, Ohio.

I want to do an amateur $25,000 added guaranteed, triple-elimination, 5-person, no-handicaps (bring your 5-best players), hotel event. To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever added this kind of money to a single amateur team event. (Unless you belong to an organized pool league structure, like the APA, BCA, Valley, etc.). Those of you who have played in my events know what a fun weekend away it is. The package I will be offering to play in this event will be something no one else has ever offered.

It would be limited to 128-teams and the winners walking away with $20,000 and the 2nd place team getting $10,000. We would pay down 29-places. I will come with more details about the event later, what it costs to enter, when, how many days it is, and what you get for the entry fee, etc..

My question is this:
How far would you drive to get into an event like this?

 

[LeagueGuy]

Hi Tom.
I have played in some of your events in Toledo years ago. They were always a great time.
I would drive 12 or more hours to play in that style of event and would not have a hard time finding teamamtes to join me.

 

[zy112]

This would be a very interesting tournament if its possible. Hypothetically, if I was good enough to enter and had four other team mates were I felt like we had somewhat of a shot, I would go anywhere in the continetal US.

That would be a sweet tournament to see streamed. Obviously your not going to be watching pro caliber play, but thats what would make it fun to watch, at least for me.

 

[Nostroke]

Didnt Galveston try for a similar team event where few showed?

Keep in mind, most teams already are locked into Vegas and taking additional time off for another team event is not in the cards at all for many. Also it usually takes several years to build up an event. Most who tried for the big extravaganza in year one, missed the mark by quite a bit.

You gotta crawl before you walk. Can't say that enough.

 

[tomgearhart]

Didnt Galveston try for a similar team event where few showed?

Keep in mind, most teams already are locked into Vegas and taking additional time off for another team event is not in the cards at all for many. Also it usually takes several years to build up an event. Most who tried for the big extravaganza in year one, missed the mark by quite a bit.

You gotta crawl before you walk. Can't say that enough.

My memory isn't real good on the Galveston tournament, but didn't he try to do a Derby City style pro & amateur event there over an eleven day period? Lot's of people can't get off that long.

To do a 128-team event isn't quite "the big extravaganza" it appears to be. I've been doing these types of tournaments for over 19-years and have done several triple-elimination team events in the past that numbered in the 90's, so 128 is only a few more. Plus, I plan to do it over a holiday weekend where most people have it off anyway. I've got over 90 teams in events that had nothing added, and am now going to offer a guaranteed $25,000 added. No, I am not worried about them coming, I really believe I'll have too many and have to send their entries back. I only want to know how far they would be willing to drive without having to fly in.

Thanks to LeagueGuy and zy112 for your comments.

 

[DRW]

25,000 team event

Sounds good, keep us posted.:thumbup:

 

[Mr Slate]

I'd travel as far as I needed to as long as I could make it back to work on time.

 

[SpinDoctor]

I'm sure we could field a few teams from Edmonton that would fly down for an event like that.

 

[stuckart]

Not sure on the Holiday Weekend you are thinking about but the BCA has a Big Southwest Regional Championship over the Labor Day Weekend that will have many events including Teams for Men and Women. (That's Sept. 1st - 5th).


I would think it would be really hard for you to get 128 teams without a huge amount of notification, unless a vast majority are within driving distance. I couldn't find 5 guys in Arizona that would pay all their expenses to make that trip. (I'd love to play, but just not good enough for a field of anyone can play).

 

[RunoutJJ]

I could put together a very strong team and im sure every player would fly or drive to it if its within reason.

I think a 4 to 6 month heads up and it would be possible for anybody to go to an event like this. I usually spend about 500 for trips to NYC and its only 4 hours away but if the purse is that big i would save up for it for sure!!

 

[SpinDoctor]

I have a quick question about the "amateur" tag you used. What criteria are you using to determine who can and cannot play? I've seen many tournaments over the years touted as amateur events that were filled with guys who played pro speed so I'm curious.

 

[randyg]

Galvaston was exactly what you are asking about. All-Star Teams. Why not regular rostered teams? SPF=randyg

 

[Johnnyt]

I would travel pretty far for a $25,000 added that I have a chance to cast high in. Johnnyt

 

[Majic]

Is there a bridge to Aruba???

 

[tomgearhart]

I have a quick question about the "amateur" tag you used. What criteria are you using to determine who can and cannot play? I've seen many tournaments over the years touted as amateur events that were filled with guys who played pro speed so I'm curious.

Originally, we were going to go with a handicapped tournament but then changed our minds as it would bring nothing but headaches. With this much money on the line, the door would be open for sandbagging. We haven't worked out the complete details of what an "amateur" is yet. Probably something along the lines of: if you've ever cashed in a "pro" event, then you should be excluded.

Even this will cause some cries of foul for this or that player. No matter what we do, there will be some people shooting lights out. There are many talented players, not pros, who play this great game of ours. Maybe the wise members of this forum can help me out with some advice on what criteria we should use to determine "amateur" status.

However, remember that "amateur" doesn't mean unskilled, just that they don't make their living as a pro. I think people playing in this tournament want to have fun while playing for some of the best prize money ever offered up. And that is what our tournaments are all about.....fun!