Pool is better off financially than most other sports

[iusedtoberich]

Here is a counterpoint to the viewpoint that pool has no money and can't pay its pros. This 10 minute video looks at Olympians, their financial situation, and their sport's financial situation. My 10 second summary is basically: outside of an extremely small handful of the "major sports", pool is no worse than other sports, and probably even better than many, because it offers decades of competitive play.

 

[justnum]

unlike other sports people can continue to play pool into old age.

a pool career can last a lifetime

that means a longer lasting customer base.

most athletes in other sports end career after high school or college.

 

[JAM]

The economic feasibility of playing pool professionally is the payouts are not commensurate with the cost of competing around the world, e.g., airfare, lodging, food, entry fees, miscellaneous expenses on the road.

Sadly, I just read that Snooker Champion Mark Allen has stated he has publicly declared that he's bankrupt yet has almost $4 million career earnings, and that's snooker with payouts much larger than pool.

Source: Snooker superstar declared bankruptcy and will bid farewell to the stadium indefinitely

 

[garczar]

The economic feasibility of playing pool professionally is the payouts are not commensurate with the cost of competing around the world, e.g., airfare, lodging, food, entry fees, miscellaneous expenses on the road.

Sadly, I just read that Snooker Champion Mark Allen has stated he has publicly declared that he's bankrupt yet has almost $4 million career earnings, and that's snooker with payouts much larger than pool.

Source: Snooker superstar declared bankruptcy and will bid farewell to the stadium indefinitely

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Doesn't even have to be 'around the world' play. I know some really good players that can't make ends meet just playing here in the states. There's a handful of top players that have some degree of endorsement/sponsorship income but for most its more of a hobby that pays a little bit. Can't make it only on pool.

 

[Pin]

My 10 second summary is basically: outside of an extremely small handful of the "major sports", pool is no worse than other sports, and probably even better than many, because it offers decades of competitive play.

It's a good point. I suppose because the big pro sports are so visible, it's natural to compare pool to them. But they should perhaps be considered the exception.

 

[middleofnowhere]

Here is a counterpoint to the viewpoint that pool has no money and can't pay its pros. This 10 minute video looks at Olympians, their financial situation, and their sport's financial situation. My 10 second summary is basically: outside of an extremely small handful of the "major sports", pool is no worse than other sports, and probably even better than many, because it offers decades of competitive play.

Pool is a sport played by tens of millions people around the world, none of who aspire to make a living at it. Pool is by and large an amateur sport as is track and field, gymnastics, swimming and most of the sports played in Olympic games. Never heard of a professional Shot Putter. That is not to say there is not a living to be made in the industry of any of these sports, just but not as a competitor.

 

[chefjeff]

BD's recent issue has an article on the pool biz now during the current problem.

Home sales are up, 'cept the problem with getting parts and such. That's good for the future of pool, I'd guess.

I'm betting on streaming. Especially as travel is being made more costly.


Jeff Livingston

 

[iusedtoberich]

The economic feasibility of playing pool professionally is the payouts are not commensurate with the cost of competing around the world, e.g., airfare, lodging, food, entry fees, miscellaneous expenses on the road.

Sadly, I just read that Snooker Champion Mark Allen has stated he has publicly declared that he's bankrupt yet has almost $4 million career earnings, and that's snooker with payouts much larger than pool.

Source: Snooker superstar declared bankruptcy and will bid farewell to the stadium indefinitely

View attachment 606893

That’s the same as the other sports in the video. The economy of training and competing doesn’t have a payback for any of the sports except the “major sports”.

For bankruptcy filings, I wouldn’t put much weight on that as a measure of the financial viability of sports. Look how many major sports stars file for bankruptcy. And they get paid millions per year. I think the bankruptcy filings have more to do with blowing money on stupid stuff than anything else.

 

[chefjeff]

When I was graduated from college, I had only ten bucks in my pocket, BUT NO DEBT. In today's world, that's a BIG advantage for starting a career.

That's where pool is compared to the other sports, imho.


Jeff Livingston

 

[rexus31]

The economic feasibility of playing pool professionally is the payouts are not commensurate with the cost of competing around the world, e.g., airfare, lodging, food, entry fees, miscellaneous expenses on the road.

Sadly, I just read that Snooker Champion Mark Allen has stated he has publicly declared that he's bankrupt yet has almost $4 million career earnings, and that's snooker with payouts much larger than pool.

Source: Snooker superstar declared bankruptcy and will bid farewell to the stadium indefinitely

View attachment 606893

This is an indicator of poor wealth management. You don't see Efren or Shane filing for bankruptcy protection. They are smart with their money.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Well a good friend ran a gymnastic facility for years. He threw out number of 150-200k parentS spend on a kid who make it to be top competitor in Olympics.

That is not chicken feed, plus the prospect must eat, sleep, and be 100% committed. Then ever four years on a few make the Olympics.

 

[middleofnowhere]

This is an indicator of poor wealth management. You don't see Efren or Shane filing for bankruptcy protection. They are smart with their money.

That's exactly what it is because of the infrequency of the income. It's like selling commercial real estate you might make 40 Grand on one sale but not sell anything for the next 6 months. You better know how to make that 40 Grand last till the next paycheck. It's different when you got a dependable weekly or monthly income.

 

[Cameron Smith]

I’m not sure that the financial situation of those athletes is necessarily the correct metric to measure pool against. In pool, I think a disproportionate amount of the money that it generates goes to the players prize pool when compared to other sports. As a result, we have impoverished governing bodies and associations.

I could be totally off base here, but I see other sports with similar or weaker money lists but yet they have healthier governing bodies, better production and better tv coverage. That to me signals that they allocate their money differently.

 

[jay helfert]

That's exactly what it is because of the infrequency of the income. It's like selling commercial real estate you might make 40 Grand on one sale but not sell anything for the next 6 months. You better know how to make that 40 Grand last till the next paycheck. It's different when you got a dependable weekly or monthly income.

I found this out when I had my first pool hall. I was having a conversation with a successful road man one day and he took a look around my busy poolroom and blurted out, "Nothing like having that daily money coming in every day!" I never forgot this comment. Here was a guy who had made several four and five figure scores way back in the early 70's, and he was envious of me making a few hundred a day, EVERY DAY!

 

[soyale]

Professional rollerblader here. Those boys literally risk their lives every single day for pennies on the dollar, most professionals do it for nothing or at a loss. Hard to even call the guy a professional at that point.

They have the same conversations, some claim we need to be more mainstream for advertising dollars. The top boys in our sport have to look elsewhere for income and a lot of people would like if things were different.

One point i always bring up is the yo-yo. Does anybody think the yo-yo is going to make a comeback? Is there any money in professional yo-yos?

You can be the best in the whole world at tying banana skins into decorative roses, but if there’s no audience, there’s no money.

Pocket Billiards is a fun game. Does the best pool player deserve to make more money than a teacher? Disputable. Depends i think on how much value you put on rolling balls around on a table.

Can somebody explain to me how this gentleman blowing 4 million dollars is supposed to make me feel bad for him? I have no knowledge about taxes on sports winnings. Is our thinking that he’s won so much pool he should be able to spend money without thinking; as if super-gluttony is your just rewards for excelling at your discipline.

Sports talk aside bankruptcy is a horrible experience and i wish this gentleman the best while he navigates through his new life without professional sport.

 

[justnum]

if this is market research why do pool fanatics spend so much on pool equipment.

The average 60 year old pool fan owns at least one table, multiple pool cues and attends pool events maybe a couple times a year and possibly plays tournaments.

Designing a culture around that can help business models and planning product rollouts.

its not like other sports you buy a ball and your set for life. football sells more safety equipment than footballs.

 

[garczar]

Professional rollerblader here. Those boys literally risk their lives every single day for pennies on the dollar, most professionals do it for nothing or at a loss. Hard to even call the guy a professional at that point.

They have the same conversations, some claim we need to be more mainstream for advertising dollars. The top boys in our sport have to look elsewhere for income and a lot of people would like if things were different.

One point i always bring up is the yo-yo. Does anybody think the yo-yo is going to make a comeback? Is there any money in professional yo-yos?

You can be the best in the whole world at tying banana skins into decorative roses, but if there’s no audience, there’s no money.

Pocket Billiards is a fun game. Does the best pool player deserve to make more money than a teacher? Disputable. Depends i think on how much value you put on rolling balls around on a table.

Can somebody explain to me how this gentleman blowing 4 million dollars is supposed to make me feel bad for him? I have no knowledge about taxes on sports winnings. Is our thinking that he’s won so much pool he should be able to spend money without thinking; as if super-gluttony is your just rewards for excelling at your discipline.

Sports talk aside bankruptcy is a horrible experience and i wish this gentleman the best while he navigates through his new life without professional sport.

Most likely he thought it wouldn't end and ended up spending too much and saving/investing too little.

 

[middleofnowhere]

I found this out when I had my first pool hall. I was having a conversation with a successful road man one day and he took a look around my busy poolroom and blurted out, "Nothing like having that daily money coming in every day!" I never forgot this comment. Here was a guy who had made several four and five figure scores way back in the early 70's, and he was envious of me making a few hundred a day, EVERY DAY!

You also want a dependable income that doesn't require your physical labor. In other words an athlete is one injury away from being out of business. That was always a consideration of anything I went into.

I had a customer who was a carpet installer he used to brag about how much he made per hour. Till the day came that his back went bad on him and that was it.

I always remember the line from The Hustler when Charlie says "A little 10 table room with a book on the side, I'm getting old Eddie".

 

[Geosnookery]

That’s the same as the other sports in the video. The economy of training and competing doesn’t have a payback for any of the sports except the “major sports”.

For bankruptcy filings, I wouldn’t put much weight on that as a measure of the financial viability of sports. Look how many major sports stars file for bankruptcy. And they get paid millions per year. I think the bankruptcy filings have more to do with blowing money on stupid stuff than anything else.

Mark Allen. He’s a hot head alcoholic…

However, many other top 16 Snookers are multi millionaires. Top ones like Selby and Ding make big money doing tv appearances in China.

 

[justnum]

does anyone do billiard ball restorations?