Las Vegas & Pro Pool - What I am Talking about Here is the Future

[cardiac kid]

Just don't understand why people are so fixated on the number of spectators in the stands. Get some major sponsors. Get guaranteed network TV or cable time. Put a first class product before the cameras. To paraphrase the voice, "build it and they will come". The stands could be empty and the game will make money. From the reaction here, the stands should be full at every opportunity!

Lyn

 

[subdude1974]

Here is a summary.

Reasons why its a good idea...

Inexpensive housing and hotels
Some players will be there already
No travel expenses or inexpensive travel
Other things to do for pool fans who come there every week
Players can actually make a living

Reasons its a bad idea...

Gambling capital of the world (not sure its really bad)
Vegas is not for everyone

I am sure you can add to both list but one thing is for sure even though Vegas is not for everyone, I also say being stuck in the middle of nowhere in an overpriced hotel room with crap food stinks too. Oh and I forgot the cold weather, I will take the heat any day. :smile:

The main reason it is a bad idea is that it would get very boring for the locals and fewer would attend as who wants to travel 2000 miles to watch a 1 hour match. Truth be told, the venue is not the problem with pool. The biggest problem with pool is the fact there is not 1 governing body overseeing the sport. Every sport has one.
Football - NFL
Baseball - NBA
Soccer - FIFA(I think)
Golf - PGA
Basketball - NBA
If there was one body in pool, that would attract larger sponsors and there would be more money in the sport. But nothing will change as all these mini tours keep all the best players separated from each other. The reason all the other sports are more successful is because every time they play, the best is going against the best. Pool is rarely that way. It is almost always a David vs. Goliath match. That is why the money hasn't changed since the 60s and 70s.

 

[vagabond]

Didn't her husband give the NBA a lifetime ban in Vegas because of the trouble caused at the All-Star game several years ago? Money talks eh?

Hope your doing well. Get into Vegas on April 23rd for the APA event. See you at the Cue Club. Won't have lots of time but I look forward to seeing you.

Lyn

Will be looking forward to play some one pocket with u.

 

[bfdlad]

WOW! I am all over the place on this one. First, too many distractions. At first I agreed then thought well the Bull riders are there the same time as Mosconi Cup The stands are filled at the Bull riding and at Mosconi cup so the fans only get distracted if the event isn't worth watching. OR is it because the Mosconi Cup and Bull riding end each day at a reasonable time and the fans know they can go and have the Vegas fun after their sport is over? Then again both of these events happen once a year and people make plans to be there at that time. Take vacation at work, save up the money to go etc. I can almost guarentee that is the bull riding and the Mosconi cup was on every month that the crowds would be down to nothing. So a full season in Vegas I don't believe would get asses in seats. Not enough for a casino to sponsor it full time anyway.

The fact that the airline tickets are cheaper and hotels are cheaper is a good thing. This means if the events are brought to Vegas, I mean ALL of them then the players can go back and forth but to live there we would need a big tourney or even a medium sized tourney every week. If we are only talking about one a month Then it makes more sense for the players to stay living where they are and just fly in every month. I am VERY certain that we could not get a tourney every week in Vegas anyway. Some tourneys only exist because of the location they are at. i.e Music City Open the owener of the pool room puts that event on and I imagine wouldn't move it to vegas. Turning Stone is a regional event. As I think about it I can't think of a single promoter who would change the location of their event for one reason or another.
Now I do agree with Lenny to a certain point but until there are tourneys in place in Vegas on a very VERY regular basis I don't see them moving there full time. So I guess the goal is to get the tourneys there and see if the players follow.
Lenny its a great idea but with all the logistics of it I just do not see it happening. The casinos are not going to sponsor an event for any real money that will only draw at the most in a dream world 500 people per weekend to their casino. The current promoters with the exception of Mark Griffin (Already there) moving their event to Vegas,

 

[bfdlad]

Just don't understand why people are so fixated on the number of spectators in the stands. Get some major sponsors. Get guaranteed network TV or cable time. Put a first class product before the cameras. To paraphrase the voice, "build it and they will come". The stands could be empty and the game will make money. From the reaction here, the stands should be full at every opportunity!

Lyn

Casinos what people in their casino, so to get the added money or sponsorship they want to know how many will be there at a realistic guess. The Major sponsors would want to know what kind of exposure they will get. Let just lie to them and pump up the numbers a little. We get 1,000 spectators at every event and we get 25,000 viewers for each event. I have had this conversation with the people at Jack Daniels, 3 olives Vodka and Go Daddy to name a few. With these numbers they can put a sign up on hwy 50 and get 250,000 people see it a day.

 

[cardiac kid]

Casinos what people in their casino, so to get the added money or sponsorship they want to know how many will be there at a realistic guess. The Major sponsors would want to know what kind of exposure they will get. Let just lie to them and pump up the numbers a little. We get 1,000 spectators at every event and we get 25,000 viewers for each event. I have had this conversation with the people at Jack Daniels, 3 olives Vodka and Go Daddy to name a few. With these numbers they can put a sign up on hwy 50 and get 250,000 people see it a day.

Mark,

Understand your comment. In reality, The Crucible in the UK is perhaps the only venue drawing that many spectators for a Snooker match and the finals at that. Matchroom Sports makes money in a variety of ways on pool. They already have the sponsors. The TV coverage. The interest of the pool (snooker) playing public. We have almost nothing. We do have memories of what used to be. And as posters continue to reminded us of, a history of manipulation. We need to get over that first and find a way to create a new vision of pool and pool players. Think Greg Sullivan has taken the first steps in that direction with Caesars Inc Horseshoe Casinos chain.

Found this to be an interesting tidbit. For all the history and visibility of the New York Yankees, the TV / Cable network YES is worth more money. Even including Yankee Stadium with the team. Show me the subscribers and I'll show you the money!!!! JMHO.

Lyn

 

[softshot]

IF.. you had a stable of top flight players in Vegas..instead of having an event.. you have races to 10 all day everyday..with players and games changing often. Small arena with some seating. All on camera pumped to flat screens all over the building in between matches the screens show rankings and odds for each player in the next match.. and have someone not unlike a keno runner taking bets all over the building..

Just a thought

 

[dr9ball]

If you have a job that will provide a home and an income for yourself and your family then you sometimes need to relocate. These players are on the road already and most do not have families they are tied down to. You think its crazy what I am suggesting but I think its crazy that players pay out most of their money in expenses traveling and hotels plus bills back home, its a double whammy. Some players do not even have homes and go from place to place like a rolling stone, they could just make Vegas there home and be a bit happier I think.

It sounds like you really like Las Vegas. I'm not so sure everyone else feels the same way. It was fun to play pool there but I wouldn't want to live there. Of course, I am not a pro pool player.

 

[Scott Lee]

Maniac...Yeah, but he got it wrong anyway. The poster who posted the question said "geographic center of North America"...not the USA. The answer, of course, is Rugby ND...and was already known by the person who posted the question. On top of that, there's already a big amateur tournament there every year (sponsored by the Four Bears Casino).

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Disclaimer: this post NOT to be taken seriously, and in no way do I mean to insult the real, living persons of Lebanon, Kansas.



Ahhh yes, Lebanon, Kansas, where the men are men and the women are.......well........

Where teeth are a rarity and foreplay between two married people sounds like this: "How 'bout pullin' them panties off, sis".

Yeah, let's put on a pool tournament there!!!

Maniac

 

[Fast Lenny]

It sounds like you really like Las Vegas. I'm not so sure everyone else feels the same way. It was fun to play pool there but I wouldn't want to live there. Of course, I am not a pro pool player.

I actually do not think its much different to me then any other city, I am not trapped at the casino like a sucker but I do appreciate the cuisine and weather there, plus if you want to do something then you can any night or day at anytime. :smile: