pool leagues...1st place money?

[dukeboy1977]

I just got a phone call from our team "captain" on out Tuesday pool league cause' our banquet was last night. He told me that our 1st place money was a MEASLEY $200 for 5 guys!!! That's ONLY $40 each, and I KNOW we paid ALOT more than that throughout the year. I have made the decision that playing pool leagues just isn't worth it and why should I play if what I'm going to get in return is sooo minor for being the best in that league. What did you get from leagues this year if you won or did well enough to place in the money? What a joke! I understand we weren't gonna get rich off of this, but a measley $40 a man? I expected a bit more than that!

 

[mikepage]

I just got a phone call from our team "captain" on out Tuesday pool league cause' our banquet was last night. He told me that our 1st place money was a MEASLEY $200 for 5 guys!!! That's ONLY $40 each, and I KNOW we paid ALOT more than that throughout the year. I have made the decision that playing pool leagues just isn't worth it [...]

worth it?

What pool league is "worth" is something you have to resolve for yourself. Consider that if you spend three hours every Tuesday evening flipping burgers at McDonalds for a 30-week "season," you'll get a guaranteed "payout" of over $600.

I'm pretty sure that beats any league in the country.

and why should I play if what I'm going to get in return is sooo minor for being the best in that league. What did you get from leagues this year if you won or did well enough to place in the money? What a joke! I understand we weren't gonna get rich off of this, but a measley $40 a man? I expected a bit more than that!

Why did you expect more than that? Who paid for the banquet? how much from each nightly fee was extra for payout? Your low payout isn't automatically a "joke." We need some details to make a judgment.

I don't think there are a bunch of league operators getting rich out there. Probably if your league charged a few more dollars each week to get the payout pot up there a bit, the weaker teams would not like the idea of donating to you guys.

 

[dogginda9]

I just got a phone call from our team "captain" on out Tuesday pool league cause' our banquet was last night. He told me that our 1st place money was a MEASLEY $200 for 5 guys!!! That's ONLY $40 each, and I KNOW we paid ALOT more than that throughout the year. I have made the decision that playing pool leagues just isn't worth it and why should I play if what I'm going to get in return is sooo minor for being the best in that league. What did you get from leagues this year if you won or did well enough to place in the money? What a joke! I understand we weren't gonna get rich off of this, but a measley $40 a man? I expected a bit more than that!

The cash league that I am in now pays $800 for first. 5 guys play each week. If you played all 14 weeks at $7 per night plus quarters, you will get about 1.5 times your money back if your team comes in first. 2nd will just about break even and everyone else will lose money. But, everyone seems to like the setup and the competition so the money doesn't matter. For me, the money is nice to get back if we do well, but I play because I enjoy the league. This league is semi-handicapped. It seems to me that the "scratch" leagues (no handicaps) pay a little better.
For $ reasons, maybe you should give Vegas a try next year. Play leagues to get qualified and have some fun but try the singles events for the $. The VNEA, BCA and APA all pay pretty decent chunks of change out there for singles. Just a thought.

 

[Scott Lee]

Jeff...and to add to what Mike said... Most people who play league, do so with NO expectations of getting anything back...other than a good time, playing league, during the season. The one's that EXPECT to make hundreds of dollars are playing for the wrong reason. You should stick to gambling and tournament play, where the amount of money is dictated by variables within your control. Play league because you enjoy playing (and perhaps want to challenge yourself some), and/or because you like to socialize once a week with some pool buddies...not because you are trying to make $$$! JMO

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[arsenius]

Last time my 2-man league team took first (a couple years ago since I've played leagues) we got $500 between us. I can't remember how many weeks the league lasted, but it wasn't 30 weeks.

I understand mikepage's point, it's not a job. But if I got $40 for 30 weeks I would be disappointed too.

 

[almer]

Last time my 2-man league team took first (a couple years ago since I've played leagues) we got $500 between us. I can't remember how many weeks the league lasted, but it wasn't 30 weeks.

I understand mikepage's point, it's not a job. But if I got $40 for 30 weeks I would be disappointed too.

In the league i played in we paid $18.00 per wk for 27 wks,1 out of every 2 teams wins a trip to Vegas,either vnea or bca,you chose.We won our trip 2 wks ago, i got $495.00, 2 rooms at Riv for 5 nights,entry paid for team event, i think $250.00.Where i live there are 3 leagues and they all offer the same deal,i think its okay but i hear lots of people complain ,cant satisfy everyone

 

[3RAILKICK]

In the league i played in we paid $18.00 per wk for 27 wks,1 out of every 2 teams wins a trip to Vegas,either vnea or bca,you chose.We won our trip 2 wks ago, i got $495.00, 2 rooms at Riv for 5 nights,entry paid for team event, i think $250.00.Where i live there are 3 leagues and they all offer the same deal,i think its okay but i hear lots of people complain ,cant satisfy everyone

Where is you at?

3railkick

 

[stuckart]

I've played in many different leagues. The Paradise Valley Pool league paid out $1400 for our 1st place finish. That was $7 a week for 26 weeks with 10 teams. This was split between a 5 person team. I think the last place team got $200 or $40 each.

The league I'm in now has 14 teams, we played 4 on 4 for 20 weeks. We secured 1st place last week and our estimate is to be around $1500.

If you don't like the payouts this guy is giving out, which seems extremely low, then think about starting your own league. Getting BCA sponsorship is easy. Then you can dictate how much money goes back to the players. Our league is 100% back to the players, mainly because the guy running it owns the bar and it's an in-house league. He reaps all the quarters and bar tabs.

 

[tbone1213]

I play for the same charter as Jeff, and we also won our league (different divisions). We also received $200 for 1st place.
Now, more to the point, this same league paid $500 for 1st place last year and the year before (we won those also), and had $1,600 "travel money" set aside for the VNEA in Vegas as no team went last year.
This year, there were 2 more divisions, and the "travel money" has been cut to $500.
I also play in a 4 man league (different charter) and we ended up in 4th place, and that payout for 4th place was better this year than what we got for winning.
I realized a long time ago, that leagues aren't for making money, but if you win your league, you should at least get back what you paid in.

 

[dukeboy1977]

right!

I play for the same charter as Jeff, and we also won our league (different divisions). We also received $200 for 1st place.
Now, more to the point, this same league paid $500 for 1st place last year and the year before (we won those also), and had $1,600 "travel money" set aside for the VNEA in Vegas as no team went last year.
This year, there were 2 more divisions, and the "travel money" has been cut to $500.
I also play in a 4 man league (different charter) and we ended up in 4th place, and that payout for 4th place was better this year than what we got for winning.
I realized a long time ago, that leagues aren't for making money, but if you win your league, you should at least get back what you paid in.

TAP, TAP, TAP...Great comment there Tommy, and thank you for helping me prove my point. If you win a league, you SHOULD get back at least whatcha put into it to play in the first place. The "travel money" has been cut huh? Well now...You can rest assured this will be my LAST year playing leagues cause' of this B/S. And to the guy who commented on my saying that this was a joke, YES...this is definitely not right, and whether you agree with me or not, it sure is a joke! Thanks for the responses guys, and Tommy, thanks for the info sir! I'm calling our "captain" right now cause he's not sure what the travel money is...He's gonna LOVE this! lmao

 

[AZE]

This should be on topic with OP...

Why wouldn't APA (or some league) want first place in a league event to be big money???? If John Doe just heard that some guy who can't run 4 balls just won $10,000 (and everyone else on his team won the same amount) don't you think John Doe is going to rush over to the nearest pool hall to sign up?
I think making league prize money decent winnings, where just about anyone who plays just about any speed can actually make some kind of $$ = pool can actually get some attention.

 

[u12armresl]

We won city (in our VNEA league) several times and the return was right at about $1000 for 5 guys and 1 alternate. For all the teams we had I secured a good sponsor who paid our weekly per person fee, quarters, food, and liquor, so I think that everyone was pretty pleased.

 

[randyg]

worth it?

What pool league is "worth" is something you have to resolve for yourself. Consider that if you spend three hours every Tuesday evening flipping burgers at McDonalds for a 30-week "season," you'll get a guaranteed "payout" of over $600.

I'm pretty sure that beats any league in the country.



Why did you expect more than that? Who paid for the banquet? how much from each nightly fee was extra for payout? Your low payout isn't automatically a "joke." We need some details to make a judgment.

I don't think there are a bunch of league operators getting rich out there. Probably if your league charged a few more dollars each week to get the payout pot up there a bit, the weaker teams would not like the idea of donating to you guys.

"I'm pretty sure that beats any league in the country." Many leagues have great payouts.

I wonder what they pay in vs what is paid back....SPF=randyg

 

[iba7467]

This should be on topic with OP...

Why wouldn't APA (or some league) want first place in a league event to be big money???? If John Doe just heard that some guy who can't run 4 balls just won $10,000 (and everyone else on his team won the same amount) don't you think John Doe is going to rush over to the nearest pool hall to sign up?
I think making league prize money decent winnings, where just about anyone who plays just about any speed can actually make some kind of $$ = pool can actually get some attention.

They do advertise like it's alot of money. They same over $1 million paid out at such and such national tournament. Then, after reading further you find out that this is the absolute total won spread out over at least a few thousand people and includes entry fees paid by participants in singles and side tournaments. First place for winning nationals APA pays only $15K for 9 ball and $25K for 8 ball.

This means that you are getting roughly 10.5:1 and 17.4:1 odds on your money to beat every other team in the nation. I can only speak for my local area, but league play should be considered a social time and not a monetary one.

If you don't like it, consider starting your own league as we are and paying out more money. Our four team league will payout more than our 247 APA league for a 1st place win.

 

[klockdoc]

My team does

Jeff...and to add to what Mike said... Most people who play league, do so with NO expectations of getting anything back...other than a good time, playing league, during the season. The one's that EXPECT to make hundreds of dollars are playing for the wrong reason. You should stick to gambling and tournament play, where the amount of money is dictated by variables within your control. Play league because you enjoy playing (and perhaps want to challenge yourself some), and/or because you like to socialize once a week with some pool buddies...not because you are trying to make $$$! JMO

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

We play league for the fun, relaxation, beer drinking and havinng a good time with friends, but, with every expectation of winning first in the playoffs. we are a very competitive team.

It is a local league, end of the session 1st, pays about $400.00 and 1st in the final playoffs, (one at the end of every 14 week session), pays about $7000.00 based on the number of teams. It has been higher.

The only thing that really bothers me with the league, is that if you place in the money in the playoffs, the league operator keeps your end of the session winnings. (ie; if you win 1st end of session and 1st playoffs, you only get the $7000, not $7400.

 

[mikepage]

This should be on topic with OP...

Why wouldn't APA (or some league) want first place in a league event to be big money???? If John Doe just heard that some guy who can't run 4 balls just won $10,000 (and everyone else on his team won the same amount) don't you think John Doe is going to rush over to the nearest pool hall to sign up?[..]

Will somebody finish the following equations for me?

BIG MONEY to WINNING TEAM + NO HANDICAPS = ???

BIG MONEY to WINNING TEAM + HANDICAPS = ???

 

[champ2107]

Wifes 5 man team just got paid this weekend $1000 for finishing first place out of 10 teams. She also won $50/trophy/leather jacket for top female. My masters league had $2500 payout for first and an option for another $1000 depending on whether you u wanted to use it for Vegas or take the cash, 8 team league which u are guaranteed $500 for finishing last. Its all part of a pretty big league which benefits the master league players the most there are three divisions masters/A/B maybe around 50 teams total All four A/B division winners get $1000 for first place. One master division with 8 teams and two A divisions with 20 teams total and two B divisions with 20 teams total, I believe. It costs you $10 a week each player and you get a plate of wings for the team, and play like 22 weeks. I was talking with the guy who runs the league this weekend and he told me they may make it a 4 man team next season to try and get more teams in because alot of teams have like 5 regulars and 3 spares.

 

[TheBook]

I went to a baseball game last year. Spent about $90 total. That team came in 2nd place I didn't get any money back.

It comes down to the price we pay for entertainment. Anytime you go someplace there will be a cost involved. You may think that something is free but indirectly you are paying for that privilege.

You cannot even sit in your backyard for free. The tax man sees to that.

 

[Hierovision]

1st place in the Thursday Q-Masters league (BCA rules, not sure if it's sanctioned) got close to $1000 at the end of last session with around 14 teams. My team got 2nd and ended up with about 600 something. I think 5th place got $200. I would definitely consider $200 extremely low for 1st place in a league.

 

[AZE]

I don't care about/for league. I do not play league. I understand that league is only for fun, and that's why I am not interested. I'm not complaining about league pay outs, because it doesn't in any way effect me.

I am asking a question, why wouldn't APA (or the other leagues) want to try a big pay out tournament where each player on the 1st placing team could win a few grand, with handicapping I think something like that could make pool a big thing in America, almost like poker... anyone can play, and you don't even have to be good to make $$, because they'll see some super low rated player who can't run 4 balls winning like $10k and say "hey! I can do that! I'm the best pool player I know, where do I sign up? I'd like to win some money!!!"