Pro Player Responsibility VS Billiard Sanctioning Body Responsibility

[justnum]

Does the burden of growing the billiard industry rely on pro players or the people that govern billiard sports? Can you govern a sport, when no one wants to play it anymore?

Players are essential to the billiard industry.

Players attract fans and buyers to billiard sponsored events.

There is a need for Tournaments and sponsors to update their practices. With fewer events and lower payouts, the industry is declining.

What factors are the most important in a successful tournament for fans and players? When players and fans are happy, events can be more successful.

I bring this up because people new to billiard sports may not understand the differences between league player, tournament play and open tournament play. Its like supporters just have to show up and spend cash and lose. This is not value for people testing out if they like the billiards community.

Creating new billiard supporters is a benefit, amateur leagues create buzz. Those people support billiard rooms, and people that support amateur events and ... they are people that can make billiards industry more successful.

However those efforts are not being duplicated by more official groups in the billiard industry like the WPA.


The WPA is pursuing Olympic recognition, which is great for everyone in the billiard industry. The WPA hasn't done anything to make billiards great for people outside of the industry, meaning attracting people to try billiards.

The cost of getting into the Olympics so far has produced no results. The cost of attract new people to join billiard rooms or events is clear as seen by the success of national and local amateur events.

The WPA suffers from a lack of new ideas. The latest idea about a member license has no value to help a dying industry. Shouldn't the WPA be responsible for innovating? Or is it up to the players to promote events, to generate new fans, to create new ways to make billiards interesting, to market billiard events, to create social media for billiards fans, to be the face of billiards and ensure its success. If that is the case then the WPA's only value is in making sure players get penalized for participating in unauthorized events.

 

[336Robin]

Gave up

Does the burden of growing the billiard industry rely on pro players or the people that govern billiard sports? Can you govern a sport, when no one wants to play it anymore?

However it happened the BCA is a trade organization only.

Players are essential to the billiard industry.

Yes they are essential to keeping pool rooms open but not the Industry. There are tons of home tables.

Players attract fans and buyers to billiard sponsored events.

These also are on the decline and mostly visited by an older audience.

There is a need for Tournaments and sponsors to update their practices. With fewer events and lower payouts, the industry is declining.

The sad state of the Industry has promoters looking to the room owners for added money, this is further damaging the room owners position as its rare he makes his money back. Its a failing model.

What factors are the most important in a successful tournament for fans and players? When players and fans are happy, events can be more successful.

Find added money, the players only come for added money. The fans follow the players. IF there are fans.

I bring this up because people new to billiard sports may not understand the differences between league player, tournament play and open tournament play. Its like supporters just have to show up and spend cash and lose. This is not value for people testing out if they like the billiards community.

Creating new billiard supporters is a benefit, amateur leagues create buzz. Those people support billiard rooms, and people that support amateur events and ... they are people that can make billiards industry more successful.

However those efforts are not being duplicated by more official groups in the billiard industry like the WPA.

WPA....a sanctioning body only.


The WPA is pursuing Olympic recognition, which is great for everyone in the billiard industry. The WPA hasn't done anything to make billiards great for people outside of the industry, meaning attracting people to try billiards.

The cost of getting into the Olympics so far has produced no results. The cost of attract new people to join billiard rooms or events is clear as seen by the success of national and local amateur events.

The WPA suffers from a lack of new ideas. The latest idea about a member license has no value to help a dying industry. Shouldn't the WPA be responsible for innovating? Or is it up to the players to promote events, to generate new fans, to create new ways to make billiards interesting, to market billiard events, to create social media for billiards fans, to be the face of billiards and ensure its success. If that is the case then the WPA's only value is in making sure players get penalized for participating in unauthorized events.

The WPA has no responsibility outside of sanctioning events.

 

[justnum]

The WPA has no responsibility outside of sanctioning events.

WPA website says they govern.

Yes part of govern is to sanction events.

But if you call investing in the junior billiard league growing the sport, its doubtful. Thst is just making sure there are enough pros to fill an event, you all know what that costs.

New and great players keep tournaments alive, but that is not breaking barriers to connect with new people. Pro players do everything but regulating and sanctioning tournaments.

Can you even mention the last time WPA promoted the billiard sport?

The past few years Ive seen a cable show, several online web series, tons of social media posts from pro players. Most of which isnt even endorsed by sanctioning bodies.

This isnt anger its more upset. The relationship between player and sanctioning body is unjustified and needs changing. They are partners at equal levels, however players put in a lot more travel and fan service

 

[MahnaMahna]

You mean to tell me it's been 6 months and I still gotta see this incoherent shit?

 

[Chicagoplayer]

Article-

Does the burden of growing the billiard industry rely on pro players or the people that govern billiard sports? Can you govern a sport, when no one wants to play it anymore?

Players are essential to the billiard industry.

Players attract fans and buyers to billiard sponsored events.

There is a need for Tournaments and sponsors to update their practices. With fewer events and lower payouts, the industry is declining.

What factors are the most important in a successful tournament for fans and players? When players and fans are happy, events can be more successful.

I bring this up because people new to billiard sports may not understand the differences between league player, tournament play and open tournament play. Its like supporters just have to show up and spend cash and lose. This is not value for people testing out if they like the billiards community.

Creating new billiard supporters is a benefit, amateur leagues create buzz. Those people support billiard rooms, and people that support amateur events and ... they are people that can make billiards industry more successful.

However those efforts are not being duplicated by more official groups in the billiard industry like the WPA.


The WPA is pursuing Olympic recognition, which is great for everyone in the billiard industry. The WPA hasn't done anything to make billiards great for people outside of the industry, meaning attracting people to try billiards.

The cost of getting into the Olympics so far has produced no results. The cost of attract new people to join billiard rooms or events is clear as seen by the success of national and local amateur events.

The WPA suffers from a lack of new ideas. The latest idea about a member license has no value to help a dying industry. Shouldn't the WPA be responsible for innovating? Or is it up to the players to promote events, to generate new fans, to create new ways to make billiards interesting, to market billiard events, to create social media for billiards fans, to be the face of billiards and ensure its success. If that is the case then the WPA's only value is in making sure players get penalized for participating in unauthorized events.

Billiards Digest Article RE:WPA

http://www.billiardsdigest.com/showblogentry.php?id=290

 

[justnum]

There are many existing tournaments and events, though not WPA sanctioned.

Creation of an approved list for WPA members to participate in without any penalty needs to be released. It doesn't have to be a sanctioned event, but the WPA has to respect existing organizers that do not conflict with WPA events.

Tournament promoters and players alike are leaving it up to the WPA to make decisions that they have no right to make.

Chinese money will help billiard sports, but the main issue is the control of these decisions. There are some very capable older players that don't tour but have valuable input on how to steer the future of the WPA, but the lack of WPA interaction with touring players shows how they are endorsing events not billiard players.

Players can't speak for fear of retaliation. However players can be included in the decision process, not to influence any decisions only to have their concerns heard. Concerns like proper behavior while other people are shooting, or trading conversation at the table or other tournament specific issues that come up when international groups get together.

As for the cited article it provided sensational details about how foreign countries can finance old events. What remains to be questioned is if that financing is influencing other decisions. Such as making certain titles easier to win in certain countries.

Billiards Digest Article RE:WPA

http://www.billiardsdigest.com/showblogentry.php?id=290

 

[336Robin]

No one to say Got Pool!

There are many existing tournaments and events, though not WPA sanctioned.

Creation of an approved list for WPA members to participate in without any penalty needs to be released. It doesn't have to be a sanctioned event, but the WPA has to respect existing organizers that do not conflict with WPA events.

Tournament promoters and players alike are leaving it up to the WPA to make decisions that they have no right to make.

Chinese money will help billiard sports, but the main issue is the control of these decisions. There are some very capable older players that don't tour but have valuable input on how to steer the future of the WPA, but the lack of WPA interaction with touring players shows how they are endorsing events not billiard players.

Players can't speak for fear of retaliation. However players can be included in the decision process, not to influence any decisions only to have their concerns heard. Concerns like proper behavior while other people are shooting, or trading conversation at the table or other tournament specific issues that come up when international groups get together.

As for the cited article it provided sensational details about how foreign countries can finance old events. What remains to be questioned is if that financing is influencing other decisions. Such as making certain titles easier to win in certain countries.

It's obvious that you have just begun to wrap your mind around the problems and conundrums of the Pool world.

The truth is that if all Pro Players vanished today, tomorrow Pool would still be alive. A few tournament directors might need another side gig, but that's about it. For the few that are making money in the business, they would find something else to do and life would go right on. I doubt the affair would cause a single Pool room to close.

Things are out of kilter with the whole Pool Room---that can't afford the rent--, and the Sportsbar concept. They are way out of line and its a nearly impossible business when the bar and the food service have to support a room full of tables that aren't supporting themselves. So its really a bad way to go into the restaurant business.

It would be infinitely easier to go into the Restaurant business and those close everyday.

My advice for you, after having chased this nut for many years is worry more about where you're going to play pool and supporting that place or creating your own that does make financial sense, that could be a building you build for an outbuilding and installing a table, or one in your basement.

1. It will put you directly in touch with why pool rooms don't make financial sense and everything will make much more sense to you. In my case the money I had to throw at it in order for me to understand has probably saved me 100k dollars and years of effort that I'm glad I didn't waste.

2. You will have all the answers you need.

For people like yourself that love the game, the current situation just doesn't seem right and its not. Trust me people at higher pay grades have tried and continue to try to crack this nut.

That roadway has a lot of broken down cars on the side of it.

Its real simple Pool is made up of a lot of Mom and Pop businesses. Each has its own struggle to survive. Each has to serve their own interests. Occasionally a room finds a formula that will allow them to stay open but its rare. It occurs only when there are a demographic of players that are able to spend $30 to $50 a week in their homerooms.That will keep a pool room open. That is the only thing. Expendable money for expenses such as that by the demographic that plays Pool Leagues is not always present in that setting. Pool League players make up the bulk of the people who play pool in this day and age. The Pool League business model does not feel compelled to create their own places to play nor dole out the money that they make to keep the rooms open because they have to justify and pay for the expenses to keep their own businesses alive. They do bring people into businesses that stock pool tables. You just hope that your group is gainfully employed and they can spend $30 to $50 a week.

In a lot of places Pool has a big demographic problem. How you go about changing that is something that is up to the individual room owner because there is no one out there saying "Got Pool!" to the general public. Nor will there be at any time near in the future because you can't get many people to give you $10 a year for the good of it unless you are going to give them something back in return. This is probably at the core of the decision by the BCA to sell the pool leagues years ago. They were ahead of the curve and avoided the messy business of trying to save pool. Now they and all of us are living a self full filling prophesy depending on where you live. Pool is alive in some places and dead as a door nail in others. Pool is moving to the cities where urban professionals live, work and play. It's easy they have money to spend.