in a coma
The IPT may not be dead but is definite comatose. No word from corporate, qualifiers averaging less than 4 players. One of the main reasons for low turnout at the qualifiers may be the cost associated with bringing the equipment up to IPT standards (cloth, balls, Sardo racks, and chalk) is an expense for room Operators. The IPT is there to collect their fees, $250 a table, and you get four players for the qualifier. This is a LOSING proposition for any room owner. Hosted a 130 player APA US Amateur qualifier this past weekend at no cost to me. Set sales records in most catagories for a very profitable weekend.
Oh by the way, the IPT still owes me, as a sponsor $1100 from the Las Vegas event this past July. They have been reconciling sponsorships for over 4 months. All appropriate paperwork has been filed with the IPT and still nothing. I'm more angry at being ignored than I am with the lack of payment.
The IPT needs to come clean and tell the true story of the status of their tour.
I still have a glimmer of hope that all will eventually get paid and the tour will become a success. As of today it doesn't look very promising.