IPT Million-Dollar Tour: The savior of American pool?

JAM

I am the storm
Silver Member
Most of us have been reading about the upcoming match on August 20th between Mike Sigel and Loree Jon Jones to take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas! There have been a variety of opinions as to the choice of these two Hall of Famers competing for $150,000 in total prize monies. The most recent press release about this event has given me a ray of sunshine in an otherwise gloom-and-doom pool world. I'm throwing this out there for some opinions.

Let me see if I can read between the lines of this latest press release:

The International Pool Tour, a major new pool organization founded by media mogul Kevin Trudeau, will launch on Aug. 20 with a high-profile, made-for-TV battle of the sexes between Hall-of-Famers Mike Sigel and Loree Jon Jones...

It's a "made-for-TV battle of the sexes," and who better than two Hall of Famers for the LAUNCH -- key word here.

Continuing: ...Hoping to stimulate mainstream interest in the event by grafting poolroom conditions to tournament pool, Trudeau has mandated several unusual rules for the matchup. There will be no shot clock, jump cues or breaking from the side rail. Winner will break, and slow-speed cloth will be used...

These are unusual rules, most likely only for TV purposes, and it's very interesting that they'll be using the slow-speed cloth, with the players not afforded a jump cue.

THIS GOT MY ATTENTION: ...Trudeau expects a full-fledged series of televised 8-ball tournaments to follow in the next year under the International Pool Tour banner. Each will have a minimum of $1 million in guaranteed prize money...

I'm leery of the phrase "Trudeau EXPECTS a full-fledged series," but what is fantastic is what follows: "Each will have a minimum of $1 million in guaranteed prize money." EACH? Wow! :D :D :D

In sum: ...IPT founder Trudeau, who launched and owns the Golf TV Channel in the United Kingdom, has built a $2 billion global business empire in television, publishing and marketing. He is best known in the U.S. for his many infomercials hawking self-help and holistic health products.

$2-billion global business empire, Trudeau knows how to make things happen. This could be a godsend to American pool as we know it today. :)

Any thoughts?

JAM
 
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How in the world is this a WORLD championship match?
I applaud Trudeau but $150,000 in prize money would have guaranteed the best players in the world would have come if he staged a real world 8-ball championship.
 
I think it's great Jam... What this guy is going to try and accomplish should certainly help our sport in the longterm. I know other people have mentioned some down sides to this. But really, money, advertisement and main stream media exposure is exactly what we need.
 
JAM said:
Most of us have been reading about the upcoming match on August 20th between Mike Sigel and Loree Jon Jones to take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas! There have been a variety of opinions as to the choice of these two Hall of Famers competing for $150,000 in total prize monies. The most recent press release about this event has given me a ray of sunshine in an otherwise gloom-and-doom pool world. I'm throwing this out there for some opinions.

Let me see if I can read between the lines of this latest press release:

The International Pool Tour, a major new pool organization founded by media mogul Kevin Trudeau, will launch on Aug. 20 with a high-profile, made-for-TV battle of the sexes between Hall-of-Famers Mike Sigel and Loree Jon Jones...

It's a "made-for-TV battle of the sexes," and who better than two Hall of Famers for the LAUNCH -- key word here.

Continuing: ...Hoping to stimulate mainstream interest in the event by grafting poolroom conditions to tournament pool, Trudeau has mandated several unusual rules for the matchup. There will be no shot clock, jump cues or breaking from the side rail. Winner will break, and slow-speed cloth will be used...

These are unusual rules, most likely only for TV purposes, and it's very interesting that they'll be using the slow-speed cloth, with the players not afforded a jump cue.

THIS GOT MY ATTENTION: ...Trudeau expects a full-fledged series of televised 8-ball tournaments to follow in the next year under the International Pool Tour banner. Each will have a minimum of $1 million in guaranteed prize money...

I'm leery of the phrase "Trudeau EXPECTS a full-fledged series," but what is fantastic is what follows: "Each will have a minimum of $1 million in guaranteed prize money." EACH? Wow! :D :D :D

In sum: ...IPT founder Trudeau, who launched and owns the Golf TV Channel in the United Kingdom, has built a $2 billion global business empire in television, publishing and marketing. He is best known in the U.S. for his many infomercials hawking self-help and holistic health products.

$2-billion global business empire, Trudeau knows how to make things happen. This could be a godsend to American pool as we know it today. :)

Any thoughts?

JAM

I think that this is a great way to draw attention to the sport. More people will want to see this than just another tournament. I think the male vs female aspect of it also gives it a lot of marketability. Maybe this is the start of something BIG...
 
JoeyInCali said:
How in the world is this a WORLD championship match?
I applaud Trudeau but $150,000 in prize money would have guaranteed the best players in the world would have come if he staged a real world 8-ball championship.


I think it's better in this format as far as "getting the ball rolling". The sponsor is probably using it as a gage of interest.If he doesn't get the interest he hopes for you could see the whole thing go down the shitter.
$150,000 to check the interest in something is pretty damn good...it shows the guy is serious. It'll all depend on how successful this is as to whether the guy comes up with the million per tournament or not.If it's not successful ....maybe less money or maybe a complete withdrawl of the offer.
I wish him luck with it and hope folks don't do the usual .....finding some way to screw up a good thing.

Terry
 
JoeyInCali said:
How in the world is this a WORLD championship match?
I applaud Trudeau but $150,000 in prize money would have guaranteed the best players in the world would have come if he staged a real world 8-ball championship.


Joey...If I understand it correctly, Mr. Trudeau is beginning with an 'exhibition' match between Loree Jon and Mike. The later scheduled events are supposed to be regular 8-ball tournaments, culminating in a "final" tournament (somewhat similar to the WPC), that is supposed to be a 'legitimate' world championship. I have to say, at least this guy has some serious financial backing behind him. The Pro Bowlers Tour was 'rescued' from the abyss by another dot.com billionaire (Paul Allen), and growing healthy again. Perhaps Trudeau will do the same for American pool! We can only hope...

Scott Lee
 
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU JAM!!! I was hoping you'd start something concerning the IPT! I honestly believe this'll be what pocket billiards needs to get those guys and gals the money they deserve! I mean if poker can do it (never thought it'd be exciting to watch someone play cards...:p) why not pool?

How in the world is this a WORLD championship match? I applaud Trudeau but $150,000 in prize money would have guaranteed the best players in the world would have come if he staged a real world 8-ball championship

Joey, I think you might have read it wrong. This is just to show how the tournament will be shown on tv. The IPT World 8-ball Championships will be a total purse of 3 million and first place will be $300,000. Plus, for the regular tourneys, $200,000 will be minimum for first place.
 
Scott Lee said:
Joey...If I understand it correctly, Mr. Trudeau is beginning with an 'exhibition' match between Loree Jon and Mike. The later scheduled events are supposed to be regular 8-ball tournaments, culminating in a "final" tournament (somewhat similar to the WPC), that is supposed to be a 'legitimate' world championship. I have to say, at least this guy has some serious financial backing behind him. The Pro Bowlers Tour was 'rescued' from the abyss by another dot.com billionaire (Paul Allen), and growing healthy again. Perhaps Trudeau will do the same for American pool! We can only hope...

Scott Lee
Thanks Scott.
I PRAY the world 8-ball comes back in a much bigger way in Vegas again.
I remember the world 8-ball at the Riviera eons ago it seems now.
 
It will be a disaster, guaranteed!

1) Shady promoter
2) Boring game
3) Contrived hype
4) Players are washed up
5) Dated equipment
6) Big promises - no substance
 
bgb said:
It will be a disaster, guaranteed!

1) Shady promoter
2) Boring game
3) Contrived hype
4) Players are washed up
5) Dated equipment
6) Big promises - no substance


Hope it just turns out that you're just a "Gloomy Gus"!
Just give the guy a chance,what's to lose? Disappointment has been the norm so ???

Terry
 
For the first time I can recall, there was an advertisement (~1/4 page) in the Sports section of the LA Times yesterday about this event. That has got to be a step in the right direction. Now if they could only report the results.....

Ghost
 
Kevin Trudeau is certainly a talented marketer and I certainly hope he can not only bring popularity but also credibility to the sport. His first venture makes several spurious claims that make those in the know shudder a little.

I haven't seen anyone else bring up his well publicized questionable past:
See: http://www.mlmsurvivor.com/ftc_trudeaulinks.htm

I don't know the inside story, so better not judge a book by its cover. However, I've seen many of his infomercials and believed they were misleading. Buyer beware I always say.

Just google Kevin Trudeau jail / fraud or similar terms and you'll find plenty of stories.

Fingers crossed though. I wish him well in creating some great pool entertainment.
 
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JAM said:
Any thoughts?

JAM

There is so much hype and over the top BS in all the press releases re this. They have a schedule up now on their site

http://www.internationalpooltour.com/ipt/events/default.asp#2

This is one of the events

Event: IPT World 8-Ball Open Championship
Date: October 13-29, 2006
Location: To Be Announced...
Prize Money: $3,000,000
1st Prize: $500,000
Who can enter: IPT members as of October 31, 2005
Entry Fee: $199* Non IPT Members may participate in this event for an entry fee of $1000. IPT


500K First prize!! (huh?)

I will bet anyone that this event with those purses never takes place. I mean you have to crawl before you can walk.
This guy obviously knows nothing about pool events and i think someone sold him a bill of goods to get a payday.

Remember those Billiard Channel guys and their modest goals compared to this?

Anyway he is going to need a lot of smoke and mirrors in order to pull this one off. My point is the market just isnt here. I wish it was.

Does anyone know how the UPA looks at this and will they let their players play in these may never happen events?

Oh Yeah-One other thing. I love Loree Jon Jones but no one outside the 'inner pool community' knows her AT ALL.
Ill bet 90% of league players cant complete the quiz
Loree Jon ______(blank)

The people that do know her know that the event is a farce. So where is your audience that will care?
 
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Nostroke said:
There is so much hype and over the top BS in all the press releases re this. They have a schedule up now on their site

http://www.internationalpooltour.com/ipt/events/default.asp#2

According to the website:
"IPT Founder Trudeau, who launched and owns the Golf Channel in the United Kingdom."

Yet I can find no trace of any info connecting Kevin to any Golf Channel, other than this one blurb on the internet. hmmmmm

If that tour really does go ahead...I think I'll start practicing again :cool:

I wonder if he could sign up a few thousand members at 500 bucks a head and then shut the league down. hmmm.
 
Nostroke said:
Ill bet 90% of league players cant complete the quiz
Loree Jon ______(blank)

The people that do know her know that the event is a farce. So where is your audience that will care?

Jones,... something,... Right???


What do I win?

Sorry, couldn't help myself
 
Tbeaux said:
Hope it just turns out that you're just a "Gloomy Gus"!
Just give the guy a chance,what's to lose? Disappointment has been the norm so ???

Terry

I agree, let's give this guy the benefit of the doubt and support his efforts. It's great that he's trying to do something and I hope everything goes well. I think a battle of the sexes is a great idea, marketing-wise. In fact, I hope Loree Jon wins...which'll provide more media coverage.
 
bgb said:
It will be a disaster, guaranteed!

1) Shady promoter

yep, he's only a successful billionaire........what a crook :rolleyes:

bgb said:
2) Boring game

its only the most popular game in the US :rolleyes:

bgb said:
3) Contrived hype

worked for pro wrestling

bgb said:
4) Players are washed up

how many people on the planet can beat sigel even now???

bgb said:
5) Dated equipment

the only thing dated is the slow nap cloth

bgb said:
6) Big promises - no substance

haven't had time to see if there will be any substance or not..........

but hey, what are YOU doing to help pool????


again, i'm glad a poster identified himself as an idiot after only posting a few times and not making us wait 3 or 4 hundred posts to find out :D

VAP
 
ScottR said:
No, dummy......Oganowski! :D

LOL :)


I hope as this IPT endeavour moves forward, it does benefit the Pro's. I mean the prize money in pool is no where near what it should be.
 
I want to make a couple of points that put a more positive spin on this tour's development.

1. As an event marketer I can say that the economics of what he is trying to do has potential. If he really has a 15mill budget for marketing his Natural Products, then he can use this sports property as a channel for high exposure. He does also have pretty good media savy, something past associations have never had...save for Barry Hearn of Matchroom. He won't need to be making his money out of player's fees. Pool also has a huge potential fan base if produced right as we have always complained about, so there is potentially a ready market for the sports broadcasting and reality tv shows they are planning if production is good. Another point regarding economics, is that most sports marketers can tell you the guy that gets rich is the guy that owns the sports property. Take Bernie Ecclestone and Don King as perfect examples. If he can make it work he'll be sitting on a gold mine and he'll have the whole billiard product industry at his beck and call, not to mention a big gambling industry.

2. In his Q+A, I am quite impressed by the depth of knowledge of the game, even though I am not totally conviced about some aspects (I rarely am). I do think they are on the right track with 8-ball though. The initial promotion, while a little fabricated, is a good promotional kick-off strategy.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed tightly. Kevin will have a new fan if he pulls it off!
 
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