North American Open Tour

[ibarra]

The successof this Hilton Tour will greatly rely on the fans who will come and see the events.

The players will come and sign up. Big money tournaments always has. But the players themselves, even a big field will not be an encouraging sight for Hilton Hotels.

What would be more enticing for Hitlon is to see spectators coming in. It's these people who will generate more business and bring greater revenue for Hilton. The players have always spend only that much. Its the huge fan turnout that will generate the greater revenue. They don't even have to stay in the hotel/ venue. Their orders of food and drinks will be enough.

If the big names come, I hope the fans and supporter of the game follow them too.

 

[cardiac kid]

According to the horse's mouth, one need not be a member of ANY pool organization to participate, which is great (IMO).

Hi JAM,

The first event is listed on the UPA Tour calender. It has always been a UPA practice to require some level of membership to participate. Do you have any idea who has the final say in this matter? I'm checking with my player rep tonight. Please let us know. Thanks.

Incidently, have you considered taking up billiard photography as a second avocation. Your travels with Keith might take you to places Diana Hoppe does not go. Earl does quite a business at some events posing with fans. Diana takes the photos and prints them out while the fan waits. From the number of posts here, Keith probably has as many fans. Just a suggestion.

 

[cardiac kid]

Manlyshot,

Where are you on this? I would have thought this subject would have brought you out. You haven't left for another forum have you?

 

[ajrack]

Here we go again

Lets see...
The Las Vegas tourney to be held...November 19+>
same time as the Atlantic City event...November 19+>

...still complaining about the way the players rack the balls>
...with a big prize fund > they are still too CHEAP to pay a few referees to solve the problem...

...well intended people still not getting it right!

 

[larrynj1]

the only way to bring in large amounts of people is to run an amateur event in conjunction with the open event. bca and apa qualifiers for vegas with a healthy cash prize on top would do it. the amateur players will not come out in force to compete with the pro's no matter how low the entry fee.
hilton's view of a success will be measured by the number of rooms booked, not by the take at the bar.vendors setting up for exhibition/sales space will add to the rooms booked by the players, and that seems to be part of the plan.
use the super billiards expo as a model for bringing out the fans in force.

 

[JAM]

Hi JAM,

The first event is listed on the UPA Tour calender. It has always been a UPA practice to require some level of membership to participate. Do you have any idea who has the final say in this matter? I'm checking with my player rep tonight. Please let us know. Thanks.

Incidently, have you considered taking up billiard photography as a second avocation. Your travels with Keith might take you to places Diana Hoppe does not go. Earl does quite a business at some events posing with fans. Diana takes the photos and prints them out while the fan waits. From the number of posts here, Keith probably has as many fans. Just a suggestion.

Cardiac Kid, the promoter of this tour told me at the Open that the promoter has "wild cards," and that Keith is welcome to any of his tournaments.

Thanks for your kind words about my pictures. You should see the ones I got before I purchased a digital camera (LOL). I couldn't compare, though, with Diana Hoppe of Pool Pics by Hoppe. She is, what they call in the industry, "a natural." She is able to capture the essence of any moment in milliseconds. I have seen some of her "secret stash" of photos, and Diana could make a small fortune if she came out with a book of them. She is, without a doubt, the best in the business (IMO), and I'm proud to call her my friend!

JAM

 

[JAM]

the only way to bring in large amounts of people is to run an amateur event in conjunction with the open event ... use the super billiards expo as a model for bringing out the fans in force.

I wholeheartedly agree with you, LarryNJ1. The Super Billiards Expo held in Valley Forge consists of a pro event, various bar-box tournaments, a trick-shot exhibition, and a whole slew of pool vendors. We are never fortunate enough to stay at either of the hotels on site at the Valley Forge Conference Center. They remain booked up a year in advance of every Super Billiards Expo. The parking lot surrounding the joint is also filled to the brim every single day.

The majority of the cash flow comes from the league and bar-box folks (IMO) because they are many in number. The pro event has a good following, but nowhere near the amount of folks as the other attractions of the Super Billiards Expo.

The pro event is limited to 64 players. If you do not get your entry fee in ahead of time, the player roster will fill up. This is a good thing because it forces procrastinating pool players to post up ahead of time and gives the promoter the opportunity to plan in advance as opposed to the day of the actual tournament. This has to be a stumbling block for most tournament promoters, not knowing who or how many players are going to show up until the players meeting.

Every pool room I go to in my neck of the woods is thriving from income derived from the social shooters and league players. The attendance at most pro events I go to is not large, sad to say, most likely because the majority of the United States has no idea who Earl Strickland or Efren Reyes is and won't pay to see them play.

Have you ever noticed that ESPN coverage of pool very rarely reveals how much the winner receives? It is because it is shameful when compared to the other sports contests on TV.

With outside monies coming in the pool world, like the Hilton, pro pool may have a chance of elevating in status because of the larger payouts. Time will tell (IMO). I applaud the efforts of Jim Dawson and the Hilton and hope to see new and better things on the horizon.

JAM

 

[cardiac kid]

The pro event is limited to 64 players. If you do not get your entry fee in ahead of time, the player roster will fill up. This is a good thing because it forces procrastinating pool players to post up ahead of time and gives the promoter the opportunity to plan in advance as opposed to the day of the actual tournament. This has to be a stumbling block for most tournament promoters, not knowing who or how many players are going to show up until te players meeting.

Originally, that was supposed to be one of the advantages of have a UPA sanction. You knew who was coming. Unfortunately, it hasn't quite worked out that way. My feeling is this Hilton thing may force the issue. If only 64 players have slots and some of the international players want to play, someone is going to have to put up or shut up!!!

On the downside, it appears that several established tournaments are going to have to compete for players. That is good for the players but bad for the promoters. Can't they pick up a phone? Mike Zuglan has a $15,000 added event in February that has been on AZ's Independent Event schedule since August. What the hell is going on? It appears to me that the board of directors at the UPA has decided that with this new series and sponsor, they will force independent promoters to sanction or face competition from a UPA event. As a full member, this sucks!!!! In the end, there will be fewer tournaments, not more.

 

[CaptainJR]

Cardiac Kid, the promoter of this tour told me at the Open that the promoter has "wild cards," and that Keith is welcome to any of his tournaments.

Thanks for your kind words about my pictures. You should see the ones I got before I purchased a digital camera (LOL). I couldn't compare, though, with Diana Hoppe of Pool Pics by Hoppe. She is, what they call in the industry, "a natural." She is able to capture the essence of any moment in milliseconds. I have seen some of her "secret stash" of photos, and Diana could make a small fortune if she came out with a book of them. She is, without a doubt, the best in the business (IMO), and I'm proud to call her my friend!

JAM

The tournament director is talking with me about setting up a picture booth at next months PA State Open 8-ball Championship. I have an Fugi S2 with Nikon glass, so taking the pictures without a flash isn't a problem. I just wondering if I can do this and still play in the event. I know I don't want to give up playing this just to make a couple dollars taking pictures.


http://www.robertsdigitography.com/RiversharksOpen/RiversharksOpen.htm

 

[Teddy Harris]

Captain JR,
I enjoyed the tribute to our soldiers around the world. Very nice. Send in the clowns was outstanding!

 

[CaptainJR]

Captain JR,
I enjoyed the tribute to our soldiers around the world. Very nice. Send in the clowns was outstanding!

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. You had to back up and search a little from the link in this thread to find that.
JR

 

[Krypto]

Good Point, but Still Not Progress

the only way to bring in large amounts of people is to run an amateur event in conjunction with the open event. bca and apa qualifiers for vegas with a healthy cash prize on top would do it. the amateur players will not come out in force to compete with the pro's no matter how low the entry fee.

Wow, been away for awhile, but nice to know somebody even read my comment. You make a good point, but I still disagree with you on several issues. Amateurs will play with Pros if the entry is low enough to reward their risk. I point to the Derby City CLassic (particularly the $75 bank pool event) as a small hint of what is possible. What I am suggesting is a pro-rated entry based on one's chances of winning. In a way, similar to a betting pool. There should also be a small prize for the top fininshing amateurs, juniors, and ladies in the event, we have to encourage these groups for the sport to grow. Trust me, every "league and bar player" I know would pay $20 or $30 for a chance to play with Earl, Jeannette, or Archer. Heck man, they would have the whole family come by to take photos and video the slaughter. As for running an amateur event with the open and pro events, that is (of course) a fine idea too. It is a proven formula for success. But why not mix my idea with yours? Couldn't a good thing like the Derby City get even better? Wouldn't people be excited to tell their story of playing with the top players in the world in a tournament? Couldn't we eventually fill a large civic center with pool players like the APA and BCA National Events?

[QUOTE=larrynj1]hilton's view of a success will be measured by the number of rooms booked, not by the take at the bar.

Forgive me. You are correct. I am just used to talking about pool halls and bars, as that is where 95% of our tournaments are held. Still my point is the same be it retail bar sales or room rentals (which, by the way, I do not think a tournament can force me or any player to stay at a certain place at a certain rate, please...)

vendors setting up for exhibition/sales space will add to the rooms booked by the players, and that seems to be part of the plan.

Absolutely!

use the super billiards expo as a model for bringing out the fans in force.[/QUOTE]

I will go with that my friend, but what about the forty dozen other big tourneys throughout the USA the rest of the year. Would you rather have 64 pros and 14 fans at these events (doing nothing for anyone), or 64 pros and 16 to 32 amateurs players with accompanying family and friends to cheer them on? Wow, maybe their friends will give it a try themselves next time? What's that? It is called growth! It is called making "Bars and Poolhalls" money. It is called having a good time, even if you don't win the darn tournament. Make it fun, and include our Junior, amateur, and lady players...