It's hard to go down this road without coming across as negative or sound like someone that sits back and complains but expects other people to step up. Just to clarify, I neither have the know how or the resources to address these issues set out below, I just want to discuss the situation, maybe gain some understanding and hopefully some optimism.
So to the point, over the last few years I have watched the pool scene in the Northwest area pretty much die a slow agonizing death. Now I am not saying we were ever the hot bed of North America but we had a steady staple of events with modest added money within driving distance from Vancouver, with entries for weekend events often topping 100 plus participants.
These days there are very few events and even fewer worthwhile attending either because of distance or the prize money is simply not able to justify the expense of travel and hotel.
The local grassroots interest in pool has equally dropped off to the point where the number of rooms has diminished considerably. Even those that are left are often empty. Not too long ago in many rooms there were often waiting lists for tables. Anyone who has been in this industry knows how vital these players are to a rooms survival, probably even more so than the serious players.
Admittedly we have always suffered from many poorly run and or ill equipped pool rooms in this area however I am not certain this is in anyway responsible for the downturn. At on point in the 90s we probably had far to many rooms to remain sustainable. Many rooms have closed and only a few remain but they also are now struggling to pay the rent and I forsee losing a few more in the near future.
Having been involved for the last 30 odd years I have seen some ebb and flow in this industry but this is probably one of the worst lows. This is a country that has produced one world snooker champion and many top 16 snooker players through the 70s and 80s but that game is in even worse shape, virtually no one even plays snooker aside from a few Chinese recreational players (We have quite a large Chinese population here in case you were not aware and snooker has made some inroads in China over the last few years).
I don't know where the turn around can come from, maybe it never will. I would be very saddened to see the last few rooms close and the game go completely extinct, where has it gone wrong or has it simply lost it's appeal, opinions ?
Thanks for taking the time to read this long post.
So to the point, over the last few years I have watched the pool scene in the Northwest area pretty much die a slow agonizing death. Now I am not saying we were ever the hot bed of North America but we had a steady staple of events with modest added money within driving distance from Vancouver, with entries for weekend events often topping 100 plus participants.
These days there are very few events and even fewer worthwhile attending either because of distance or the prize money is simply not able to justify the expense of travel and hotel.
The local grassroots interest in pool has equally dropped off to the point where the number of rooms has diminished considerably. Even those that are left are often empty. Not too long ago in many rooms there were often waiting lists for tables. Anyone who has been in this industry knows how vital these players are to a rooms survival, probably even more so than the serious players.
Admittedly we have always suffered from many poorly run and or ill equipped pool rooms in this area however I am not certain this is in anyway responsible for the downturn. At on point in the 90s we probably had far to many rooms to remain sustainable. Many rooms have closed and only a few remain but they also are now struggling to pay the rent and I forsee losing a few more in the near future.
Having been involved for the last 30 odd years I have seen some ebb and flow in this industry but this is probably one of the worst lows. This is a country that has produced one world snooker champion and many top 16 snooker players through the 70s and 80s but that game is in even worse shape, virtually no one even plays snooker aside from a few Chinese recreational players (We have quite a large Chinese population here in case you were not aware and snooker has made some inroads in China over the last few years).
I don't know where the turn around can come from, maybe it never will. I would be very saddened to see the last few rooms close and the game go completely extinct, where has it gone wrong or has it simply lost it's appeal, opinions ?
Thanks for taking the time to read this long post.
Many places in Eastern Washington still charge .25cents a game
:grin: 
