Player participation in the US, and Globally

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I am hoping to receive some informed and educated input from, INMO, some of the most passionate players in the world. I have found that reading the content here has been always been invaluable.
I have been asked to assist in drafting a business plan, and accurate participation numbers should be included.
Here's my question, and please, I would prefer that respondents attach links to current verifiable stats that would confirm their positions.
How many pool players are there in the US? How many "League" players ( VNEA, APA...)? How many businesses, who don't advertise themselves as a Pool or Billiard Room or Parlor, have a pool table?

In addition, if anyone could offer similar information for other countries, or Globally, that would be great too.

Thank you all,

G
 
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There used to be a survey for all recreational activities by the NSGA (SGMA?) or some such manufacturers association. The results for pool were reported every year in Pool & Billiards Magazine. I think it cost significant money to get the report. Maybe they still do the survey. P&B stopped reporting the results maybe 10 years ago.
 
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Bob Jewett said:
There used to be a survey for all recreational activities by the NSGA or some such manufacturers association. The results for pool were reported every year in Pool & Billiards Magazine. I think it cost significant money to get the report. Maybe they still do the survey. P&B stopped reporting the results maybe 10 years ago.
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Most of the BCA #'s are 20yrs old. Wonder how much its changed? I'm gonna msg then and see if they have recent data.
 
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Bob Jewett said:
There used to be a survey for all recreational activities by the NSGA (SGMA?) or some such manufacturers association. The results for pool were reported every year in Pool & Billiards Magazine. I think it cost significant money to get the report. Maybe they still do the survey. P&B stopped reporting the results maybe 10 years ago.
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Thanks Bob, I went to the BCA website too, but the data that was available ( even for $250.00) was from 2005. I was hoping to find more current data.
 
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I never heard of any data outside of the BCA data from 20-30 years ago. Whatever that number was at the time (maybe it was 18MM if memory serves) it was useless, IMO. While maintaining that same number, the pool halls went from packed to dead in a matter of a few years from the late 90's to the early 2000's.
 
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One data source today that might be useful is FargoRate. They show 300k players in their system. Their player sample is probably a more serious player than a survey, as their system only counts competitive games.

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Are you opening something local? Or is it a nationwide/worldwide endeavor? If local, maybe its better to go on foot to all the local establishments you can find every morning/afternoon/evening, and do a head count.
 
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iusedtoberich said:
Are you opening something local? Or is it a nationwide/worldwide endeavor? If local, maybe its better to go on foot to all the local establishments you can find every morning/afternoon/evening, and do a head count.
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Yeah for sure. Looks like these industry cats like keepin their shit close to the vest. To get good data is gonna cost you. It looks like at the end of '22 roughly 35-40million played to some extent( approx. 7mill frequent flyers) with about 500k in leagues and about 650ish million in revenue. Anything closer than that will cost $$.
 
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garczar said:
Yeah for sure. Looks like these industry cats like keepin their shit close to the vest. To get good data is gonna cost you. It looks like at the end of '22 roughly 35-40million played to some extent( approx. 7mill frequent flyers) with about 500k in leagues and about 650ish million in revenue. Anything closer than that will cost $$.
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Thanks G. Those are pretty much the numbers that I came up with. But like you, I had to cull data from numerous dated sources.
 
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iusedtoberich said:
I never heard of any data outside of the BCA data from 20-30 years ago. Whatever that number was at the time (maybe it was 18MM if memory serves) it was useless, IMO. While maintaining that same number, the pool halls went from packed to dead in a matter of a few years from the late 90's to the early 2000's.
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The Pool halls arent what they used to be but Pool has never lost its recreational value. Its still tables in Hotel's, bars and in many homes and in many cites the Pool halls are doing good because of APA.
 
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King T said:
The Pool halls arent what they used to be but Pool has never lost its recreational value. Its still tables in Hotel's, bars and in many homes and in many cites the Pool halls are doing good because of APA.
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If it wasn't for BAR TABLES and league pool the game may have died yrs ago in the U.S. I'm sorry all you 14.1-loving fossils but its true. Hopefully pro pool's resurgence will boost big-table pool but every player should be thankful that the little 'cracker boxes' exist.
 
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