Popularity of Pool

[lodini]

I couldn't find the thread where someone (actually a few people) said there just isn't enough interest in the game. I did a little research and came up with this study done in 2006 and thought I would share it with you guys. I think you will all be pleasantly surprised...I think we scored pretty high actually, especially in level of participation! (well, we scored high amongst males, but not females)

 

[Jack Madden]

With ages 12 to 19 if I am reading the chart correctly. What part of the country did the poll cover?

 

[lodini]

With ages 12 to 19 if I am reading the chart correctly. What part of the country did the poll cover?

Yes, 12-19. While I didn't do the study, I can't tell you for sure, but usually research like this is done by a representative sampling. A representative sampling wouldn't be all the kids living in the same neighborhood, it would be all over I assume. Sorry, that's the best I can do!

 

[Koopa]

I don't know about the rest of the country, but I see 12 year olds in the pool hall every once in a while and 16-19 is very common on friday/saturday nights.

Great poll. It shows what I think is the most important age group for pool to target. I'm sure the 21-30 age bracket would look similar but they tend to see pool as just something to do in between pitchers of beer.

 

[cuetable]

I couldn't find the thread where someone (actually a few people) said there just isn't enough interest in the game. I did a little research and came up with this study done in 2006 and thought I would share it with you guys. I think you will all be pleasantly surprised...I think we scored pretty high actually, especially in level of participation! (well, we scored high amongst males, but not females)

Thank you very much for the data! I wish people can find more things like this...

 

[bruin70]

it doesn't mean a whole lot because the reasons for the popularity are vague. for instance, there is a high participation % in pool, and there is a high % of family tables.....that's because pool is viewed as a game to pass the time, and has no significance to serious players or the pro game at all.

there is nothing more obvious than these stats vs. how the game is treated on tv,,,how the game/accessories are sold(next to the darts and gambling accessories),,,how many rooms continue to close,,,etc etc. participation may be and have been high for years, yet probably the only familiar name to those who "participate" is "the black widow" and i'll bet they don't even know the widow's real name.

it is a deceiving stat. there are two VERY different industries..one for the aficionado/pro,,,and one for the casual weekend/league/family den/bar player. the posted stat identifies the latter. everyone who posts at azb is of the former.

 

[lodini]

it doesn't mean a whole lot because the reasons for the popularity are vague. for instance, there is a high participation % in pool, and there is a high % of family tables.....that's because pool is viewed as a game to pass the time, and has no significance to serious players or the pro game at all.

there is nothing more obvious than these stats vs. how the game is treated on tv,,,how the game/accessories are sold(next to the darts and gambling accessories),,,how many rooms continue to close,,,etc etc. participation may be and have been high for years, yet probably the only familiar name to those who "participate" is "the black widow" and i'll bet they don't even know the widow's real name.

it is a deceiving stat. there are two VERY different industries..one for the aficionado/pro,,,and one for the casual weekend/league/family den/bar player. the posted stat identifies the latter. everyone who posts at azb is of the former.

I agree there is a difference. That's why I posted it. It was in response to the many people I have heard on here who think participation is low amongst people who aren't like us. But that difference exists in all sports. I know plenty of people that play pick-up basketball games consistently each week, but could care less what is going on in the NBA. Those people are still important to the sport though.

 

[worriedbeef]

it doesn't mean a whole lot because the reasons for the popularity are vague. for instance, there is a high participation % in pool, and there is a high % of family tables.....that's because pool is viewed as a game to pass the time, and has no significance to serious players or the pro game at all.

there is nothing more obvious than these stats vs. how the game is treated on tv,,,how the game/accessories are sold(next to the darts and gambling accessories),,,how many rooms continue to close,,,etc etc. participation may be and have been high for years, yet probably the only familiar name to those who "participate" is "the black widow" and i'll bet they don't even know the widow's real name.

it is a deceiving stat. there are two VERY different industries..one for the aficionado/pro,,,and one for the casual weekend/league/family den/bar player. the posted stat identifies the latter. everyone who posts at azb is of the former.

spot on! i also think that this difference between the proper fans and and the casual player is a bigger and more significant one in pool than in other sports.

 

[JAM]

Poularity of pool when it comes to playing recreationally, as in leagues or weekly tournaments at the local pool hall, is where it's at. Professional pool lags way behind when it comes to the popularity of pool, and according to press release by the 2007 Billiard and Bowling Institute of America, pool industry members are suffering this year, mainly because of the state of the economy in the United States at the present time.

Here's a snippet entitled "From the Billiard Front":

The pool table business has long been considered the barometer for the billiard industry?s general health, and several years of declining table volume, as well as declining average ticket prices at the retail level, has both manufacturers and dealers scrambling to find solutions.

The declines in table manufacturing, down as much as 20 percent for some suppliers over the past two years, and average retail ticket price, which has also dropped as much as 20 percent over the past three years, follow several years of steady growth during which manufacturers reasonably expected annual table growth rates of 5-10 percent or more.

Speculation as to why the billiard industry has changed so dramatically in recent years runs the gamut from market saturation due to the proliferation of import models, to mass merchant warehouse distribution channel expansion, and from a decline in housing starts to the rise in gas prices.

Regardless, the industry is faced with accepting the fact that consumer purchasing has changed, and must assess ways to maintain relevance in the changing retail landscape. Today?s consumer, considered by some to be ?spoiled?, have high expectations and demands a sales experience customized to their needs. Fortunately for those in the home game room category, those customers are usually willing to pay for products offered in an innovative environment.

To meet those demands, retailers, manufacturers and distributors alike face the challenge of reevaluating their business model. Retailers may be forced to carry new import lines, expand into other related product categories, or provide additional choices on existing product. Manufacturers may have to convert from solely manufacturing to either becoming an importer or some hybrid mixing current capabilities with imported product.

The BBIA offers a forum for retailers, distributors and manufacturers to meet in a relaxed atmosphere to openly exchange ideas. The open exchange of ideas results in better solutions matching business models to customer needs. Meeting those needs is the fastest way; and longer-term, perhaps the least costly means of maximizing success. Today?s billiards? climate makes the BBIA and the opportunity for the exchange of ideas even more important in achieving every business?s goal. That goal is, of course, to make money.

The link to this article is: http://www.billiardandbowling.org/newsletter.html

BTW, I think Allen Hopkins was nominated to be last year's Service Award recipient of this organization, if memory serves me right.

JAM

 

[Donny Wessels]

The last couple years the billiard retail industry has been hurting. But I have noticed alot of pool tables on TV Shows and commercials.