Members only Pool Rooms?

Kid Dynomite

Kid Dynomite

Dennis (Michael) Wilson
Silver Member
Why is it that pool rooms have not adopted the country club business model???

I see some benefits to this for the serious players
Namely:
1) Better playing conditions
2) Better Noise control
3) Better table availability!
4) less need for advertising!
5) Less need for high dollar real estate


etc. etc etc.

I think you get my point. Just curious if this has been done and how it worked out? Better off owning then renting and you have more control when you are a club member with voting rights and partial ownership?

Our poolrooms have died and there is still a large group of players that would be interested in paying a yearly membership like most gun clubs charge!

Please voice any and all ideas on this topic.

Sincerely,
KD
 
Personally this is something I've always wanted to do myself. Give members a key and keep it open 24 hours a day. All your need is a location, good networking skills with all your serious local players and well heeled types, and a private club charter and licenses. I think that something like this has to be non profit though. Obviously club employees and managers would be compensated for running the establishment. You could have a small kitchen that served easy food and a bar. Bar and kitchen would only be open a set number of hours but cheap drinks locked after certain hours on slow nights.
 
The problem I see with this is that there aren't enough real players to keep the doors open. Pool rooms make thier money on booze and food not table time/ membership fees. The membership fee to a players only room would need to be more than I think most would pay. I think they'd just go to a regular room and deal with the "conditions" I'm not saying I think it's impossible or they don't exist I just think for the most part it would be hard to accomplish financially.
 
LucasBilliards said:
The problem I see with this is that there aren't enough real players to keep the doors open. Pool rooms make thier money on booze and food not table time/ membership fees. The membership fee to a players only room would need to be more than I think most would pay. I think they'd just go to a regular room and deal with the "conditions" I'm not saying I think it's impossible or they don't exist I just think for the most part it would be hard to accomplish financially.
Click to expand...

First it would have to be small at least initially and location wouldn't really matter as much so rent could be cheap but you would need to know a lot of the local players and gamblers etc to get business. I think to do this as a money making business would not succeed but as a private club with a small board of officers and a manager it could maybe work. All profits would go to maintaining the club. But you'd also need to attract gamblers and have a place to have cards/domino's etc as well as gambling machines.
 
The Illinois Billiard Club has apparently been successful with the private club model. I don't know that it is an equity club, but I believe it is a private, members only (and guests) facility.
 
There's the Minneapolis Billiard Club. Not sure if they are still around though.
 
well heeled types
Click to expand...

How would you regulate membership then, should you not want to become an elitist club?

First it would have to be small
Click to expand...

How many tables?
I know that if I were decide to show up one evening and couldn't get any table time, that would be the first and last months membership that you would collect from me.

First you mention small, and then alcohol, food, cards and VLTs are added.
You would have to have a staff member in order to serve people.

If you want to join a private club, join the Eagles. Most Eagles Fraternities have pool tables.
 
Blue Hog ridr said:
How would you regulate membership then, should you not want to become an elitist club?



How many tables?
I know that if I were decide to show up one evening and couldn't get any table time, that would be the first and last months membership that you would collect from me.

First you mention small, and then alcohol, food, cards and VLTs are added.
You would have to have a staff member in order to serve people.

If you want to join a private club, join the Eagles. Most Eagles Fraternities have pool tables.
Click to expand...

Point being you can't survive on tables alone..you need to drum up action to get people in a place like that. Honestly if I invest the money and open up a small place like this (say 5 diamond tables, a snooker table, and a barbox) I want action going on not league types looking to practice all the time. You have the other stuff cause it brings action and money.
 
Blue Hog ridr said:
How would you regulate membership then, should you not want to become an elitist club?



How many tables?
I know that if I were decide to show up one evening and couldn't get any table time, that would be the first and last months membership that you would collect from me.
Just like in golf you would have scheduled Tee Times!!!
First you mention small, and then alcohol, food, cards and VLTs are added.
You would have to have a staff member in order to serve people.

If you want to join a private club, join the Eagles. Most Eagles Fraternities have pool tables.
Click to expand...

Just like in golf you would have scheduled Tee Times!!!

What happens at the shooting range?? You go and its full and you wait till it opens up! At, $10 to $20 bucks a box of ammo some one is going to blow through enough money in ammo to call it quits for the day!

Pool is just the same, someone just goes bust gambling is the only difference!
 
Last edited:
Comparing pool rooms to gun clubs is apples and oranges. Different economic parameters for your customers and different clients. The average shooter will spend a minimum of $150 worth of ammo every time he goes. And he knows this. He doesnt expect to WIN $150 worth of ammo when he goes. And the wear and tear on a gun range is minimal. There is no constant update that requires professional level expertise. People have a tendency to compare gym memberships also. Gyms make 99% of their income on people that never go. They lose money on the 1% that have been working out 4 days a week for 20 years. Pool rooms make most their money on people that are not very good at pool. The occasional player or couple or family that just want a fun time out. They do not care if the bill is $30 for a night of fun. Serious players have a very different outlook. A private club needs to split all the expenses evenly. If the responsibilities do not want to be split up then you hire someone to clean up etc and divide his/her wages among the members. Unfortunately for this you need above average incomes for all your members. And pool is a sport that caters to lower income public. :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top