Pool and Malls. Good promo?

atthecat

atthecat

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm watching a lot of streams form Asia lately where it looks like the tournaments are being played at shopping malls. Right in front of the foot traffic. At first it seems cheesy, but then it kind of makes sense. Built in crowd. People see these events for the first time.
Just curious why this doesn't happen in the US. Seems like it would only benefit the state of pool these days.
Jay....has there ever been a tournament like this in the US?
 
Not a bad idea, however... In countries like Taiwan and Philippines, there is a MUCH MUCH higher chance that the average person at the mall would have some sort of understanding of pool and know who the players are. They would be a lot more interested to stay if they know the rules to the game or the players. However, that is not the case in America. Sure many people have played a game of pool, but usually just for social gatherings (drinking) with friends. The percentage of these kind of people are much higher than American where as in Taiwan (not too sure about Philippines) people play pool for the love of the game, and want to get better. So naturally, that is why there are such huge crowds when you see these events. But it wouldn't hurt to give it a try, it would be a good way to force your everyday Joe to have a glimpse of a real game of pool. But it is just that pool is treated more as a means for drinking/partying in America, whereas in Asian countries, pool is taken much more seriously, as a sport.
 
I know the pool tournaments in Taiwan that are played in the mall don't usually charge for admission. Defeats the purpose of having it in a mall if you gotta pay to see a good match.
 
I wonder if the tournaments in Asia and the PI are better sponsored/subsidized, so the promoter doesn't have to rely on the gate as much and therefore can hold it in a mall venue with some free spectating? Perhaps the mall itself is providing the venue at minimal or no cost since in those countries a professional pool tournament is sure to increase foot traffic.

Interesting question.
 
In Taiwan I think this is how it works: The TV Station is the tournament host, and they pay for the set up and equipment and the malls let them use it because they already have huge areas dedicated for events like this. No admission fees and basically helps foot traffic in malls and keeps the crowd staying in the mall.
 
atthecat....Has it been done in the USA? Sort of.....Grand Central Station a few years back.
 
Tbeaux said:
atthecat....Has it been done in the USA? Sort of.....Grand Central Station a few years back.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah! Forgot about that. Was that the one with Davis and Sambajon?

Did they get good crowds? I don't remember.

Monte
 
If i owned a place that sold tables in a mall. I would certainly want to have a to have a table in the mall where there is a match going on. Seems a good way to sell your product and also get people interested.
 
I just got back from living in East Asia for 12 months.

Malls in Asia are on a completely different level than the US. They are by far the most comprehensive shopping centers in the world and attract consumers of every imaginable kind.

For example, at the neighborhood mall by my house you could:
1. Do you banking
2. Go grocery Shopping
3. Buy new clothes and shoes
4. Go to the pharmacy
5. Eat a numerous restaurants and food courts
6. Have walk in cosmetic surgery
7. Go to one of the two movie theaters or IMAX.
8. Go to the Bowling Alley
9. Go the the Karaoke studio
10. Shop the hundreds of Cell Phone vendors.
11. Go the the Water slide park on the roof of the mall!
12. Get tutoring in any language.
13. Play games at the internet cafe
14. Take your kids to the Carnival fun zone
15. Go to the nursery and buy some new plants and flowers
16. Get a massage
17. Go to one of the exhibition halls for a Toy, Travel, sports or Food fair
18. Get your laundry done.
19. Have t-shirts screen printed
20. Get your hair cut at one of 20 hair salons
21. Drink and listen to live music at one of the bar restaurants
22. Pay for your home internet and cable
23. Pick up take out for dinner and buy a new mattress

an these are just a few of the things...

People go to the mall for just about everything they need, and when you think about it that way, it makes sense for special events, concerts and conventions to be held at the mall as well.
Its not just a place for shopping, but a city center
 
atthecat said:
Oh yeah! Forgot about that. Was that the one with Davis and Sambajon?

Did they get good crowds? I don't remember.

Monte
Click to expand...


I wasn't there but I seem to remember at the time the crowds never showed up. They had a few die hards and an occasional passerby drop in. Oh well that's NY,NY for you......busiest place in the city and everyone in a rush to get somewhere.
 
i think we need to get guys gambling on tv ...... kinda like have 4 or 5 guys and their backers have on tv for an hour let them figure out a game and let people know a different side of the sport .... all they see is trick shots and womens pool...... i dont find it very fun when i watch womens pool knowing there is a good chance the local shortstop could beat her ..... not to bash on women
 
It is not a new idea, Matchroom Sport have been staging tournaments in malls for nearly 20 years. The World Pool Masters used to be held at Lakeside Shopping Mall on the outskirts of London.
You could watch the action free from the Upper Balconies but if you wanted a closeup view you had to sit inside the specially constructed arena which was normally full to capacity.
I t was a great way to attract new interest inside one of Europe's busiest malls
 
atthecat said:
I'm watching a lot of streams form Asia lately where it looks like the tournaments are being played at shopping malls. Right in front of the foot traffic. At first it seems cheesy, but then it kind of makes sense. Built in crowd. People see these events for the first time.
Just curious why this doesn't happen in the US. Seems like it would only benefit the state of pool these days.
Jay....has there ever been a tournament like this in the US?
Click to expand...


mosconi did exibitions in Sears for years, as did other players at dept stores. its great for pool because it exposes people to pool, and if 1 out for every 100 people get into pool as a result that equals big numbers of new players-anything to put cues in peoples hands.
 
doublej487 said:
i think we need to get guys gambling on tv ...... kinda like have 4 or 5 guys and their backers have on tv for an hour let them figure out a game and let people know a different side of the sport ....
Click to expand...

Problem is in the typical case by the time they make the game there won't be any time left for pool. :D
 
hmm. id have to disagree with you on that. relating pool and gambling on national tv would do too much for the sport. many parents would be against their kids playing the game, and many people that are against gambling will have a negative image on it too
 
sugeknight said:
I just got back from living in East Asia for 12 months.

Malls in Asia are on a completely different level than the US. They are by far the most comprehensive shopping centers in the world and attract consumers of every imaginable kind.

For example, at the neighborhood mall by my house you could:
1. Do you banking
2. Go grocery Shopping
3. Buy new clothes and shoes
4. Go to the pharmacy
5. Eat a numerous restaurants and food courts
6. Have walk in cosmetic surgery
7. Go to one of the two movie theaters or IMAX.
8. Go to the Bowling Alley
9. Go the the Karaoke studio
10. Shop the hundreds of Cell Phone vendors.
11. Go the the Water slide park on the roof of the mall!
12. Get tutoring in any language.
13. Play games at the internet cafe
14. Take your kids to the Carnival fun zone
15. Go to the nursery and buy some new plants and flowers
16. Get a massage
17. Go to one of the exhibition halls for a Toy, Travel, sports or Food fair
18. Get your laundry done.
19. Have t-shirts screen printed
20. Get your hair cut at one of 20 hair salons
21. Drink and listen to live music at one of the bar restaurants
22. Pay for your home internet and cable
23. Pick up take out for dinner and buy a new mattress

an these are just a few of the things...

People go to the mall for just about everything they need, and when you think about it that way, it makes sense for special events, concerts and conventions to be held at the mall as well.
Its not just a place for shopping, but a city center
Click to expand...
We need malls like that here in the US.
 
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