midwest open joke

S

schon267

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I just recently returned from the midwest open and feel compelled to let everyone know what a joke it turned out to be for the pool players participating this year.

#1 my girlfriend and I arrived on wednesday night to hit some balls only to find out after being entered in the tourny (I was in both the open 8 & 9 ball, she was in the 8 ball) that we had to pay $6 to enter the playing area!!! what a joke, we're both playing in the tournament, yet we have to pay to get in and hit balls, taking in account that we're going to funnel money into the $1 tables!!!! this is the only time I have ever paid to enter a tournament, then be charged a fee to get into the venue!!!!

#2 the romano's advertised $15,000 added money, yet when the open 9-ball tourny, having 158 players was played, low and behold only $790 was added to that event ($5 per player x 158). of course there was a $10 registration fee(another joke), so basically they we're only giving $5 of the $10 registration fee back to the 9-ball purse calling it "added money". this in my book, is not added money! added money is money added to the full entry fee collected, having a greens fee or bogus registration fee, and then returning that to the players is NOT added money!!!! it's an insult to anyone entered in that event.

#3 the pro 9-ball event was advertised as $5,000 added, the entry fee was $275 , the tournament had 16 players. $275 x 16 = $4400 plus $5,000 added = $9,400 in my book. but low and behold, the total purse was only $6,000??? so according to the math, they only added $1,600. what is that???? that's another joke.

#4 I didn't stick around to do all the math regarding the 8-ball event because I forfeited my sunday morning match to catch a plane home, but I'm pretty sure 1st place was just over $2,000. that event had 200 plus players entered. I received $75 for 32-48th and I do know that each placing better only netted another $25 for a couple of rounds.

#5 In the midst of the one- pocket pro event on thursday night, they decided to conduct a calcutta for the final 64 players of the open 9-ball tourny, so understand, a man on a loud microphone, going through bids for 64 players, while the pro players are trying to concentrate on their individual matches!!!!! totally disrespectful to those players. they also did the same thing friday night, while the pro 9-ball matches we're going on as well. I know grady, who was running the 9-ball event, was totally disgusted. as a matter of fact, shannon daulton and dan levoie decided to hold their match until the calcutta was completed.


when will people having tournaments realize that true added money is money added to the total entry fee collected from each player!!! when you have greens fees or bogus registration fees, your not adding money to the purse, your collecting the added money from each player via these charges and then putting it back into the tourny. it's a stinking play on words, and false advertising to make it sound like your really adding money, when in fact your not adding crap!
if grady puts on a tournament and says he is adding $20,000, you can bet your kid's lives on the fact that $20,000 will be added to the total entry fee money collected, and there will not be any greens fee or bogus registration fee charged!!! even if he has to come from his pocket. grady has argued this same thing in the past and he is totally right!! besides, what the hell is a registration fee anyway??? collect the money, put it in the bank until the tourny happens.

I'm sure I'll receive a spirited reply from the romanos, but let them post the figures for each tournament, i.e collected entry fees, added money (joke, see above), payouts, and then do the math? I would be extremely surprised if it came to anywhere near $15,000 added!!!
 
While you're entitled to your opinion, let me point out that the ads read "added money based on full field" and after both events filled early last year I'm sure they expected full fields in all events. I agree the calcutta should not happen during the tournament matches, but that was not as bad as what happened at DCC. As far as the charge to get in, maybe that was not a good idea, but at least they're trying to do something to promote pool. I will go to every tournament they promote that I possibly can to show my support for their efforts. Instead of criticizing their efforts, maybe you could have just made some suggestions for the next event. Sam
 
Hey, was that a math pentathlon or a pool tournament? Do players out there expect to get rich finishing 48th? I strongly recommend not playing in the Tournament of Champions - they only pay 1st place (unless of course you just enjoy the competition and the beauty of the sport). Of course if your corporate sponsors need the exposure, you are going to have to suck it up and play anyway - the real bucks are in endorsements.
 
I can see where a promoter can not add all of the money if the field doesn't show up........BUT....I can't believe you had to pay to get in the door to practice for an event you are playing in....WOW!!! Then, A registration fee on top of that....That's crazy. I'd love to run an event where I'm going to add 100 dollars per player..(Based on a 200 dollar registration fee per player). You flew to this event...Sorry for you. Hope you don't play pool for a living, Could you imagine flying to an event..winning it and only getting paid 30 percent of what you hoped for.
 
satman said:
While you're entitled to your opinion, let me point out that the ads read "added money based on full field" and after both events filled early last year I'm sure they expected full fields in all events. Sam
Click to expand...

I looked at the ad and it reads as follows: " October brings the Midwest Billiard Expo/Open.

October 6th through 10th, 2004 begins 5 days of non stop pool and golf! ACTION ACTION ACTION!

The Chicagoland area once again brings the game , the players and the exhibitors. We have reformulated the venue with guaranteed $15,000.00+ ADDED (BCA Rules) and have added the following events:
etc."

No where in the ad on the website does it say "based on a full field".

I would agree with the earlier poster that it is false advertising. They may be really nice people and doing pool good but they shouldn't advertise $15000+ if they don't have it to add. It definitely is false advertising and is going to create upsets.

My suggestion for anyone promoting a tournament is simple "Deliver what you promise".

End of story.

Wayne
 
We were at the Expo and played in both of the tournaments. We thought it was really a good tournament. To the person who wrote the nasty post, you forgot to mention that there was a room that was not in the big center that was filled with like 30 tables in it that you didn't have to pay to get into practice in. You must have missed the practice room along with the hundreds of times the disclaimer was written regarding the payouts. Maybe it's time you get some glasses, it may help your pool game too!
I was happy that I got to see the pro's play for free. you didn't mention that either. I have never been to a pro tournament where it was free. If you were so unhappy why didn't you just go to the romano's and talk to them instead of making this post. They are nice people who do more than most to promote this sport and I am sure that they would have taken the time to make you happy. I think you are a sorry big looser. In this sport you are called a whiner. It is also interesting that you have never posted here but chose this tournament to try and stir up un necessary trouble.

To Wyane, They did state "based upon full field", its under schedule of events with the disclaimer. END OF STORY!
 
Busy Kitty said:
We were at the Expo and played in both of the tournaments. We thought it was really a good tournament. To the person who wrote the nasty post, you forgot to mention that there was a room that was not in the big center that was filled with like 30 tables in it that you didn't have to pay to get into practice in. You must have missed the practice room along with the hundreds of times the disclaimer was written regarding the payouts. Maybe it's time you get some glasses, it may help your pool game too!
I was happy that I got to see the pro's play for free. you didn't mention that either. I have never been to a pro tournament where it was free. If you were so unhappy why didn't you just go to the romano's and talk to them instead of making this post. They are nice people who do more than most to promote this sport and I am sure that they would have taken the time to make you happy. I think you are a sorry big looser. In this sport you are called a whiner. It is also interesting that you have never posted here but chose this tournament to try and stir up un necessary trouble.

To Wyane, They did state "based upon full field", its under schedule of events with the disclaimer. END OF STORY!
Click to expand...

Then for every advertising of it, it should say "based upon a full field". Not putting that is misleading.
 
I never said the romano's we're nice people, what I said was you should do what you say, added $ is money added after the full entry fee is tallied up, having a registration/greens fee is crap.

and know I don't expect to make $ by placing 48th, the point you missed was that the whole payout was not what was advertised! they didn't add anywhere near $15,000. especially when you have a greens fee/ reg. fee

I don't need pool to live, I have a well paying job, but I wish that promoters would do what they advertise. and as far as practicing in the other room there, it's not where I was going to be playing my tournament, plus it doesn't take away from the fact that they charged you to get into a tournament you have paid to play in, I am not under the illusion that I will make a ton of $ playing pool, but like everyone here, I love to play. but I don't like going somewhere where they don't do what they say their going to do. there was only on advertisement saying based on a full field, and that only referred to the pro 9-ball event!

HAVING GREENS FEES/REG.FEES ARE FALSE ADVERTISING AS FAR AS ADDING $ IS CONCERNED, IF THAT OFFENDS ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE ROMANO'S, I'M SORRY, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY ADD $ WHEN YOU HAVE THES FEES. PLUS THEY ONLY ADDED $790 TO THE OPEN 9-BALL TOURNY ANYWAY, EVEN HAVING A REGISTRATION FEE.
 
Once again, the word "guaranteed" has been used referencing payouts and pool players are upset about its misuse. Imagine that. Didn't promoters learn anything from the 2001 US Open?

-djb
 
Look, I too had to pay to get in to play on wednesday. You didnt even play in a tourney on wed. You never mentioned you didnt have to pay on thurs fri sat or sunday. You got in those days because you were in the tourneys those days. And it didnt matter whether you playing matches in the pactice rooms. Diamond tables play like.......diamond tables period. I thought all of the tables played great with the same speed. I was sweating corey and gabes match on sat in the open and the calcutta WAS annoying. azbilliards also has corey winning that match which he did not, gabe did and I won my sidebet. we did buy shannon in the onepocket calcutta for 350. payouts as follows.
1st 666
2nd 380
3rd 240
4th 166
shannon got 4th. we bought him early and antisipated more action. oh well.
 
When we checked in we got a program and inside of the program was the disclaimer that had all of the rules along with the payouts. They gave it to everyone and it was all over the tables. It was all over all of the info that they sent me. They have always filled these events in the past. They are some of the best promoters in the business and it is people such as you that ruin the game by trying to pick apart stuff and twist it apart. Their ads were correct and so was the payouts. If you didn't want to pay to get in on wed, then you should have just practiced in the free practice room. No one forced you to go in. You will pay more to go into the super billiards expo just to watch. and the pro events are not free there. You again forget to mention that you got to see the pros play without being charged. You want everything for nothing. It was a great event and you are a sore looser. Also while you are ranting you failed to mention that the winners got trips to the Bahamas. you see only what you want and are blinded by your greediness. They also gave out trips to the Bahamas every night to all the people who had purchased raffle tickets at the door.

The only joke on this board is the new troublemaker.
 
schon267 said:
#1 my girlfriend and I arrived on wednesday night to hit some balls only to find out after being entered in the tourny (I was in both the open 8 & 9 ball, she was in the 8 ball) that we had to pay $6 to enter the playing area!!! what a joke, we're both playing in the tournament, yet we have to pay to get in and hit balls, taking in account that we're going to funnel money into the $1 tables!!!! this is the only time I have ever paid to enter a tournament, then be charged a fee to get into the venue!!!!
Click to expand...

I was at the event playing both 8&9 ball open events. I believe the fees that you paid only lets you in the tourny area from Thursday thru Sunday. That was printed on the tag that you received when you registered at the front desk. Maybe thats why you had to pay for Wednesday....
 
Hi Folks,

I need to jump in here and say thanks to Bob and Eydie Romano and their entire staff for giving all the players an additional tournament to play in. No one was excluded. From APA entry level players to some of the best in the world, everything was there for us to see or play in.

Some chose to pay extra to watch the "pro" event from the VIP seating. Only comment I heard was "I wish there were bleachers for the other fans who wanted to watch". Only complaint. One pro event player was asked to pay the $5.00 session charge when he finished his match and wanted to watch another. Very bad. They paid about $250 to enter. They should have had free access to everything!

I made some of my expenses in the Open nine ball event. Lost to Tom McCluskey on the hill. Great individual. I rooted for him though his next three matches to the win. He appeared to be the opposite of his final opponents. Calm, thoughtful, respectful. I wish I'd have won but, he certainly deserved his victory. We need more players like him.

Lost my first eight ball match. Came through the one loss side five times till I met up with Eddie Avila. He played great. Worked his way through some really tough layouts. I was very impressed with his game.

One trueism I found in billiards. Players love to complain. Strangely, I never hear it from the winners! Oh well.

To the person who complained about the timing and volume of the auction. I agree that it was poorly timed. I'm suprised that Grady was unhappy. Some of his comments and their timing at the DCC give little reason to point fingers at others.
 
Busy Kitty said:
To Wyane, They did state "based upon full field", its under schedule of events with the disclaimer. END OF STORY!
Click to expand...


Hey Kitty-Kitty:

If you read the ad that I saw and posted then you will see that there is no mention of "based upon full field", it may have been stated elsewhere but not in this major ad.

I am entered in a $5000 added tournament in Vegas next month and it would be upsetting if I did very well and the payout wasn't as advertised. This doesnt mean the promoters are not nice people and the event isn't fun it just could be very upsetting to someone who feels they got stiffed on the payout.

Hard Times in Bellflower runs a great first Sunday of the month 9 ball tournament where they generally get a full field of 96 players for a $20 entry fee. They advertise it as $1000 added. I won it once earlier this year and I got paid $560, when I added up the payout it was something like $1000 added - 960 taken out = $40 total really added. It is still a very popular tournament and no one really complains, the pros usually end up with most of the money and a lot of pool lovers get an opportunity to play the pros for the small fee, but it would be a whole lot better if they really added the $1000.

I'm not complaining but I certainly wouldn't disagree with people who do complain because they have a very valid point. I have heard a number of top pros voicing their displeasure at different events when the added money wasn't what they were led to believe.

Wayne
 
I looked at the ad on their website and it does say guaranteed. I overlooked it because I saw in several other ads for the tournament that it was based on full fields. I still say they are doing the best they can to promote the tournaments for us. When you start into anything in life, you're not going to do it dead perfect the first time out. They have repeatedly asked me and several other people that I know of what they can do to make the tournaments better. If you talk to them in a civilized manner, they are both willing to listen to your suggestions. As far as the registration fee, the Viking tour has been doing that for long time I believe. I don't hear people complain about that, because at least they supply us with some tournaments to play in. The Romano's are trying to give us a tremendous size tournament with the options to play in not just 1 but several tournaments in one week. I've driven 5-6 hours to play in one 9-ball tournament to find out only 20 players showed and no options to play another event. So in my opinion, make suggestions, and show them some support and they will build this into a bigger and better event. And this is the first time I've seen a pro event where I didn't have to pay extra. Several years back at a Mcdermott stop, regional event, the pro players who played in the same event I was in, played their matches in a back room with 5-6 tables. I had to pay to get in to watch my next opponent play his match. So I don't feel too upset about the door charges at the Midwest Open. Sam
 
wayne said:
I'm not complaining but I certainly wouldn't disagree with people who do complain because they have a very valid point. I have heard a number of top pros voicing their displeasure at different events when the added money wasn't what they were led to believe.
Click to expand...

Hey Wayne,

I complain too when I'm not paid what I earned. I think this was different. I believe there was another reason some complained so loud. My feeling is the complaining had little to do with the event we played in and more to simply embarass the Romano's, Diamond Billiards and PlayBCA by association. I might be wrong. Some one needs to show me another reason why. As I mentioned in another post on this subject, it has been suggested the "old" BCA used reduced room rates as part of the added money for the Vegas events. If its true, I need to understand why no one has complained before.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top