Professional Pool League Anyone?

I beg to differ fellas. These guys would become popular as the league got more popular. When the NHL, NBA, NFL or basicly any other leagues started noone was famous. If they became good 'performers' then thier fame grew. Even nowadays look at minor league hockey in Canada. Nobody knows who these kids are but 8000 people show up for the games anyways. People like the chance to watch someone grow into World Champion. Watching these players weekly on TV and then watching them go to the world championships. With this type of exposure these guys would be way more popular with the general public who don't know who Earl Strickland or Efren Reyes even are. Everyone that follows pool now knows the big name pros but the general public don't. We are trying to attract people that don't know much about pool or even know who the current world champion is. I think this type of thing could work if its done right. If you start with a few unknown's as they grow more popular the Pro's will be begging to get in. Then you will have the big name guys!

Just my 2 cents.

Ryan
 
fxskater- That is exactly what I'm talking about! We don't need the big name players, we need those that the locals love and think "he's the best player I know"! That is the talent that should be in this LEAGUE. The local spectators would have the chance to see THEIR player progress in his sport and possibly go on to the Pros or just play a Pro, that would get more people interested, I agree fxskater. This will work if we just get the right people upstairs!
Blud-Fast Larry...what do you think?

...Zim
 
Well Zim that just sounds like too much work for too little compensation. And actually I think we, the spectators, are actually better off the way things are right now. In Florida there are plenty of tours where I can go see some really good pool players and many of the top pros. And when I logged on just now I see that Mike posted news that the Florida Pro Tour is going to start up again. That is great news. I enjoyed going to those stops and watching a lot of pros. All for free. And then there is Tommy Kennedy's tour. And the Spirit Tour, and the Florida Amatuer 9-ball tour, And Kingsbay. Plenty of good tours pretty close to where I live. So I guess I will just enjoy it. Jake
 
jjinfla- I'm tatally happy for you! I mean come on, you live in FLORIDA where the weather is beautiful 90% of the year, you have Pro's and other tournaments to watch all the time in FLORIDA. What the hell are people from Mid-West, North, suppoesed to do? You can attend for FREE and only have to drive hours to watch. We have to drive for DAYS to watch, pay for lodging! If I'm going to do that, I would rather be playing or supporting my POOL TEAM!!! Tournaments like the FLORIDA TOUR aren't available everywhere in the States! And to prove my point about people are worried about money...I'll quote "I enjoyed going to those stops and watching a lot of pros. All for free." That's what you just said! How much are you willing to pay to watch those exact events?

...Zim
 
How much am I willing to pay? Don't you know that I am a typical pool player - deep pockets with short arms.

I have paid, $6; $10; $15; $20; and $37 for the Upcoming Patriot Cup. There just are not that many paid events. I like to get a reserved seat at Capone's ($10) because the seats are elevated about 6 feet and you get a good look at the tables. But I could go there and stand for free. When Fat Cats had a good monthly tournament I could watch the big boys play for free. I went there one tuesday evening to play in their weekly tournament and found Nick Varner and Danny LaVoie in a matchup so I watched them for a couple hours instead of playing. It amazed me that here was Nick Varner putting on a show and only myself and another person were watching.

When you get back home you can open your own pool room and start your own tour.

Jake
 
yes i think that would be a great thing if it worked out, it would help the game and the players, but u have to have someone with money to put it all up, i know alot of playes that would play to gt paid, hell have the time were paying to play.
 
jjinfla- That is the game plan, open my own Billiards Cafe! It wont happen for about another 15 years though. I am doing fine with running a cue and case shop for now. It sounds to me like you're willing to pay an average of $10 per event to watch higher caliber pool players strut their stuff! I think the people running these events SHOULD start charging an admission to their events!

...Zim
 
while i would never pay to watch players of the skill level you guyz are talking about, i would find it hilarious and ironic if such a league flourished. and just to show up the pros, and show them how idiotic they're acting, i might even support a game or two.

certainly with thgousands going to vegas every year, one can never tell how this idea would play out. now that i think of it,,,,for the good i hope.

one problem would be weeding out all the hustlers, a very real issue.
 
What's to Hustle? You are on a team playing in various Cities over a certain area, not playing on the road Hustling money for your Team. I too hope this is taken seriously and someone gets it started. Believe me, If I lived in the States right now, I could get about 10 people/businesses to each throw in $2,500 to come up with the TEAMS $25,000 with no problem at all! I could get sponsorship to travel and lodging and I know players who would play for free just to experience the atmosphere and they aren't Billy Bob from down the street either.

...Zim
 
Zim:

If I lived in the United State's I'd be right there with.

Maybe someone has a job for me there?

I live in Canada and would relocate to get this started


Keith Legros
 
Zims Rack said:
What's to Hustle? You are on a team playing in various Cities over a certain area, not playing on the road Hustling money for your Team.

...Zim
Click to expand...

the hustle would be to place a ringer on the team.
 
i think your misunderstanding this. There couldn't be a hustler. It's not possible in a tournament. These players would all be just about as good as any touring pro and probably most of them hustlers anyways. In a tournament every player would try thier hardest. Hustling is many things which mainly revolves around making your opponent think hes a better player than you so that he will keep betting money. In a tournament format there is no purpous for this. If Earl Strickland decided to join a team it would be fine. Hustling isnt even an issue.
 
I would think that if the Pros are NOT allowed to play so that the sport would see the upcoming players, then sure...hopefully all the teams sneak in a "ringer"! That is the purpose, IMO! To promote our cue sport, bring more players in, give those ringers the chance they deserve to be in the spot light. If a "hustler" is trying to hustle with the tournament format, more power to him...his loss in the long run! If I had $thousands of dollars to invest, you can bet that this LEAGUE is where I'd invest it. That is the honest to God truth. This would be good for the Ameteur players, Semi-Pro players and definatly the beginner player!

...Zim
 
Zims Rack

I talked to four different APA teams last night and asked if they would support such a team.

Out of the four teams (approx 25 players) only 1 guy said that he would not. He was an SL7........... so it figures

But the rest!.............well what can I say, they were so gung ho on the fact that they would be able to go to a "pool match" and support the "home team" in the game they love the most!

They want it started NOW!

Most of them were talking like they would purhase season tickets as opposed to game day tickets.

They all felt $10.00 per ticket was more than reasonable........except of course the "sour SL7"

They visualize it as being a Pro Sport that they can more relate to than say, Hockey, Football, Baseball, Basketball, etc.............because at this point in there lives they are "all about pool"

Now other things that came up were:

When questioned if they would support a tournament (like the Florida tournament) most said no.

The reason.............they(the APA players) do not "play" as individuals..............nor do they play tournaments........nor do they play nine ball.

Also they agree that the team be made of "semi - pro" or "high calibre players" that are almost at the pro level.

Now mind you I was the Tournment Director for a tournament in 2000, called "The Canadian 8 Ball Open"

Most of these same people attended my tournament which was held at a local Casino.

They still claim to have attended because first it was 8 ball.........second was that....... players in their league (and on their team) that they knew were playing in it.

I had 320 entries, it ran for 8 days.........4 pool tables.......complete with skirting around each table.......surround seating for 300..........live internet broadcasting..........billboard advertizing.........table play was broadcasted on almost every T.V. screen in the casino........the casnio sold booze.........food etc...........all done very "professional",.............so they have seen what I can do to "create" an event.

Oh yes and the attendance for 8 straight days was a packed Casino.............300 seating and upwards 150 or so standing......

There was no cover........but the casino says if we do it again they would have a cover.

It was loud.......exciting..........fresh...........and fun..........almost every day I get bugged to put on another one.........

Biggest name at this event was Stan "the Man" Tourangeau

He finished 5/6th

It was won by a local player "Felix Beardy"

Felix is now the most recognised pool player in this city because of it.

Felix also became the fan favorite after he "walked" through his bracket and over opponents on route to his win.

If there is such a thing , he is the "People's Champion" even if he is not "ranked" as the number one player in the city (usually he get's ranked third)

My point to the last bit is that the spectators decided that Felix was deserving of the opportunity that he was given (to win a championship)

The spectators all felt that when Felix won.............they won.

Much as a Bears fan would feel if the Bears won.

Having players..........teams.........etc.........represent your local community can create a self gradification when they win

Or at least have fans feeling that they "will get em'" next time

The "sell" of a team in a league format would be much similar to that.

I still feel real strong in that a league such as this would become very prosperous an I wish I lived in the United States to get it going!


Keith Legros
 
I also want to add:

If I had that event in a "banquet hall' instead of the Casino, I would have easily eclipsed 500 spectaters as many that would constantly complained that thier children were not allowed to attend because you had to be over 18 to be in the Casino.

So, although there was no cover..........it employed alot of babaysitters.........lol

Also , I am very hesitant to do another:

The Casino added = $7,000.00
the entry was $20.00 (X 320) = $6,400.00
No green fees

Total = 13,400.00

My total prize payout was $12,800.00

The cost to run the tournament was approx $5,000.00

I never advertised it as an "added event"

The advertised payouts were $12,800.00

Somewhere, someone did the math and figured that I was "ripping off" $600.00

The $600.00 was to be used for costs which I did not want to spend the money for.

Trophy, table lighting, scoreboards for single matches, oversized grid , etc.

In fact I may never put on another tournament!

Seems there isn't a "player" this side of Florida that would agree that a tournament has some costs.

Meanwhile leagues across the continent rake in Millions per year without any quams

"high end" bar table players here pay upwards to $15.00 per player , per night for 28 weeks to play league.

a normal 25 game format is used at $1.50 per plug.........and that comes out of the year end "prize fund"

at year end the league "adds" to the prize fund (which they have gotton from collecting table plugs)

The "added" $$ by the league is only a small % of the table plug money.

I have yet to run into a player who has a problem with this format?????????

But ask them for $20.00 with a chance to win their share of $12,800.00 and they "crap" all over you...........they want their share of $13,400.00!

Anyway my intinial intent was to give the Pool Community an event that they can cherish , embrase, support , and attend.

In those ways it was very rewarding.

Keith Legros
 
I have to agree with you Keith. From my observations there is a lot more interest for pool players to watch tournaments of 8 and 9 ball held by the APA/BCA,In House leagues, than to watch the Pros.

As for all the complaints about not understanding that it takes a lot of time and hard work to run a tournament and involves a lot of hidden costs you have to understand that the forte of most pool players is not math (even simple) or economics. Their understanding of net is trying to come up with the money to get their stick out of the pawn shop. Jake
 
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