IPT Qualifiers

[onepocketchump]

The answer is "sponsorship", as in "lots of sponsorship money coming in". Also, I figure, golf is perceived somewhat as an "athletic" sport - and we all know how Americans love their athletic sports (football, baseball, etc).

Pool will never be as big a spectator sport as golf, etc. partly due to, to put it simply, "arses on pews" - specifically, the number of arses on pews. Stadiums hold tens of thousands of people. Golf tournaments, thousands of folks line up along the fairways/greens, shuffle around. Pool? How many people can you put in chairs/bleachers around a table, where folks have a decent view? A couple of hundred or so? Check this link to a photo of the KOTH event, I'm assuming this was the table for the final rounds:

http://www.internationalpooltour.com/ipt_content/ipt_online_event/photo_day5/large_view/image_22.jpg

How many seats were there? Pool just won't ever be a comparible spectator sport when there isn't room for the spectators.

Plus, Tiger's just got that charisma thing going for him. That's a tough thing to top.

You can't put the cart before the horse. Sponsorship = Advertising. No one will spend a lot advertising unless they feel they can get signifigant exposure. I don't know about the correlation to fans in stadiums vs. telefans. Certainly you make a valid point.

I believe however that if the IPT becomes a staple on television that they will also fill the stands. Last year at the WPBA Carolina Classic they had several thousand people filling up the stands. It was standing room only.

Ralf Greenleaf used to perform for thousands daily on Broadway. Using giant mirrors, he was able to bring the audience into his performance. One thing is certain, using 60,000sft convention centers to hold your tournaments is pretty far from the poolroom and allowing for plenty of room for spectators. At the Sigel/Jones match the stands were full and the spectators animated.

I can imagine a high stakes billiard match taking place in Madison Square Garden with a sold out crowd. Fantasy? Maybe. But with the IPT we are that much closer.

John

 

[sixpack]

...

The only reason Tiger's charisma is allowed to shine through is because of TV production. There's quite a few pool players who may be just as charismatic as Tiger Woods, but nobody knows about them, except the very small culture of pool that exists now.

JAM

That's true, if Tiger weren't on the big stage, he'd just be a very popular window salesman or something....HOWEVER, the combination of dominance, commitment, wide appeal and personality that he brings is special. I have known a lot of pool players that are more entertaining than he is. I have known some that dominate as much as he does on a local level. To date, I haven't seen any players that have the whole package like he does. I, for one, hope that with the IPT we see pool players take it all to a new level. It's difficult to be completely committed to your profession when the guy who brings your pizza to you at the motel comes out ahead of you after you got 4th in a pro tournament. I look forward to seeing who can bring separate themselves.

As good as Efren is, he is not better in relation to other players as Tiger is to other golfers. Tiger is better than even money to win so far this year. That is STRONG. It's easier for Tiger to dominate because of stroke play. In bracket tournaments, for a pool player to dominate the way Tiger has, they will have to be roughly a 90% favorite to win every match. Nobody now is that good.

The math:
to win 6 straight matches is (.90*.90*.90*.90*.90*.90 = .53 or 53% chance to win)

With the round robin format of the IPT, I think the best players will win more and the percentages work out to where the best player will win more tournaments, so we might finally see someone really develop star power and charisma.

Cheers,
RC

 

[enzo]

i just want to add one thing to this charisma subject. many of the better players i can think of are rather drab, that is perfectly ok, they have every right to act however they wish. my point, i hope so badly that keith mccready does really well in some of the initial events. ive been aroud pool 12 years now, and the most entertaining events i have witnessed in my life (not just in pool, but in my life) came from that man in the early 90's in LA and anaheim. and i realize this wasn't even his heyday. there is really nothing like the humor that comes out of that mans mouth, you just have to experience it.

anyway, i believe that keith (and players with similar upbeat attitudes)could help promote the ipt TREMENDOUSLY in the beginning stages. in contrast, can you imagine if ...well, i wont even say any names, but we can all appreciate the top players ability to play and it will be marketable to us no matter what. but for the average potential pool fan, these capable champions will be very boring in my opinion. not knocking them but its the truth. so, practice up keith, the future of pool could depend on it.

 

[Banker Burt]

Here are a few asnwers (maybe)

As I read through this post I am hearing much of the realistic pool world as known historically. I am also hearing good strategies known in general business tactics, but there has been little (written) to support a credible decision for supporting the IPT; from a player or investor standpoint.

It is my opinion that people like Jay know business well, regardless of how his bankroll matchs-up with let's say KT's. With this said, I think Jay's stature in the pool community should speak volumes to the IPT people and maybe even more than Mike Sigel himself.

This IPT thing has only been in public view for less than a year, a few what I call invititations have been sent out and actually played and yes a good chunk of money has been spent without a return by the IPT.

For me though, this does not make sense if good business people are having to deal with numerous changes, unknown answers to justified questions and the worst part is a whole bunch of great players are OUT in the cold having to vend for themselves until business can begin.

As far as the qualifiers I caddied for a professional golfer who attempted to make the PGA Tour. It was a potentially lucerative opportunity for the player and myself because we had a solid sponsor who knew the risk but most importantly they knew what was going on with the PGA.

This is not yet the case for pool. I am sure the IPT will eventually get its act together, but it is difficult for all non-IPT card holders (and their sponsors) to make any kind of plans nor trust the future; if for no other reason of being based on the past of the pool world.

By the way in all PGA qualifying events, money is paid to top finishing players even if they do NOT make the grade and get their PGA card. This is undoubtedly due to the integrity of the PGA towards the sport of golf and the players who work so hard to become a professional.

 

[jay helfert]

As I read through this post I am hearing much of the realistic pool world as known historically. I am also hearing good strategies known in general business tactics, but there has been little (written) to support a credible decision for supporting the IPT; from a player or investor standpoint.

It is my opinion that people like Jay know business well, regardless of how his bankroll matchs-up with let's say KT's. With this said, I think Jay's stature in the pool community should speak volumes to the IPT people and maybe even more than Mike Sigel himself.

This IPT thing has only been in public view for less than a year, a few what I call invititations have been sent out and actually played and yes a good chunk of money has been spent without a return by the IPT.

For me though, this does not make sense if good business people are having to deal with numerous changes, unknown answers to justified questions and the worst part is a whole bunch of great players are OUT in the cold having to vend for themselves until business can begin.

As far as the qualifiers I caddied for a professional golfer who attempted to make the PGA Tour. It was a potentially lucerative opportunity for the player and myself because we had a solid sponsor who knew the risk but most importantly they knew what was going on with the PGA.

This is not yet the case for pool. I am sure the IPT will eventually get its act together, but it is difficult for all non-IPT card holders (and their sponsors) to make any kind of plans nor trust the future; if for no other reason of being based on the past of the pool world.

By the way in all PGA qualifying events, money is paid to top finishing players even if they do NOT make the grade and get their PGA card. This is undoubtedly due to the integrity of the PGA towards the sport of golf and the players who work so hard to become a professional.

Thanks Burt. That was a thoughtful post. Tried to PM you but was unable to.
i am taking a wait and see stance to the IPT and how they progress over the next few months.

Like many others, I'm hoping for the best. I've long dreamed of, and would love to see a real Pro Pool Tour. That would be great for all concerned in the pool world.

You're quite right. My BR is not as deep as KT's, but fortunately I don't have to depend on him or anyone else. I have had some success in business and real estate. What I like to say in the Poker rooms when someone questions me is "I'm down to my last two million". That usually ends that converstion with a chuckle.