Question about Derby City best nights to go

wilkamania

wilkamania

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm definitely not competing, but I wouldn't mind wandering and enjoying what's around. What would be the best nights to go? I will watch the pro tournaments, but I was wondering when would be the best nights to watch some side gambling? I was thinking about going on the 23rd and leaving on the 26th (Thurs-Sunday).

Thanks all! I went to the expo in 2014 and had a blast. Derby is also a bit closer, as I am located in Chicago and can take a day in Indianapolis along the way.

EDIT: (My booking question was answered by the hotel), so just the best nights and how to view action question here
 
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wilkamania said:
I'm definitely not competing, but I wouldn't mind wandering and enjoying what's around. What would be the best nights to go? I will watch the pro tournaments, but I was wondering when would be the best nights to watch some side gambling? I was thinking about going on the 23rd and leaving on the 26th (Thurs-Sunday).

Thanks all! I went to the expo in 2014 and had a blast. Derby is also a bit closer, as I am located in Chicago and can take a day in Indianapolis along the way.

EDIT: (My booking question was answered by the hotel), so just the best nights and how to view action question here
Click to expand...
Not easy to say. For starters, there are two action rooms, one having about ten tables, a few of which are bar boxes and the other action room has a single nine-foot table and is more likely to have the best matchups.

As the Derby nears its end, the main action tends to slow down, as once a player is eliminated from the 9ball, they can go home. That probably means that Saturday can be a quiet day in the action room, and by Sunday, the action room might be closed. Still, Thursday and Friday tend to be hopping in this action room.

In the single table action room run by Ray Hansen, known as Big Truck, there can be good matches all week, but the best ones are often late at night and into the wee hours of the morning. Unless you want to watch from outside the door, you need to buy a seat. Matches tend to occur with just a few hours of notice, however, so you really need to keep advised of what's coming up.

Like Efren Reyes, you'll need to "get lucky" if you are going to catch the best action matches.
 
straightline said:
Any place to practice there?
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Unless you like to practice incredibly late at night or incredibly early in the morning, it's not easy to find practice opportunities at Derby City. There can be empty tables in the tournament room but generally not while tournament play is in progress. There is occasionally a free table in the action room, too.
 
wilkamania said:
I'm definitely not competing, but I wouldn't mind wandering and enjoying what's around. What would be the best nights to go? I will watch the pro tournaments, but I was wondering when would be the best nights to watch some side gambling? I was thinking about going on the 23rd and leaving on the 26th (Thurs-Sunday).

Thanks all! I went to the expo in 2014 and had a blast. Derby is also a bit closer, as I am located in Chicago and can take a day in Indianapolis along the way.

EDIT: (My booking question was answered by the hotel), so just the best nights and how to view action question here
Click to expand...
I'm planning on heading down as well this year to check it out, not sure which days yet, but plan on a couple, heading from up on the Chain in Fox lake.
 
sjm said:
Unless you want to watch from outside the door, you need to buy a seat. Matches tend to occur with just a few hours of notice, however, so you really need to keep advised of what's coming up.
Click to expand...
Is the seat to the action room different from the VIP Event pass seats? How do you buy a seat for that?
 
wilkamania said:
Is the seat to the action room different from the VIP Event pass seats? How do you buy a seat for that?
Click to expand...
Yes, it's a different seat from the one in the arena and it must be purchased separately. As the Derby nears, you'll see at least one thread telling you how to proceed if interested.
 
sjm said:
Unless you like to practice incredibly late at night or incredibly early in the morning, it's not easy to find practice opportunities at Derby City. There can be empty tables in the tournament room but generally not while tournament play is in progress. There is occasionally a free table in the action room, too.
Click to expand...
Thanks. It's not likely I'll ever go :D but it's good to know you don't have to be an adolescent to try the tables. :ROFLMAO:
 
wilkamania said:
... when would be the best nights to watch some side gambling? I was thinking about going on the 23rd and leaving on the 26th (Thurs-Sunday). ...
Click to expand...
I think Thursday through Sunday should be about the best. The action is a little hard to predict. I've seen major matches right at the start.

I assume you will drive back on Monday. The finals don't start until 12:30 on the 26th, so those might not be done until late.

It's convenient to stay at the Horseshoe, but I would stay in New Albany if I had a car. More food options and somewhat cheaper. It's 15 to 20 minutes to drive. The hotel seems to have lowered their rates for the weekend from the last time I looked, and they are waiving the resort fee, so the total cost with tax is $142 per night. The hotels in New Albany are about $100 and you get something like breakfast.
 
sjm said:
Not easy to say. For starters, there are two action rooms, one having about ten tables, a few of which are bar boxes and the other action room has a single nine-foot table and is more likely to have the best matchups.

As the Derby nears its end, the main action tends to slow down, as once a player is eliminated from the 9ball, they can go home. That probably means that Saturday can be a quiet day in the action room, and by Sunday, the action room might be closed. Still, Thursday and Friday tend to be hopping in this action room.

In the single table action room run by Ray Hansen, known as Big Truck, there can be good matches all week, but the best ones are often late at night and into the wee hours of the morning. Unless you want to watch from outside the door, you need to buy a seat. Matches tend to occur with just a few hours of notice, however, so you really need to keep advised of what's coming up.

Like Efren Reyes, you'll need to "get lucky" if you are going to catch the best action matches.
Click to expand...
Or do like Lassiter.... in the play/tournament area he'd ....close his eyes and li$ten.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I think Thursday through Sunday should be about the best. The action is a little hard to predict. I've seen major matches right at the start.

I assume you will drive back on Monday. The finals don't start until 12:30 on the 26th, so those might not be done until late.

It's convenient to stay at the Horseshoe, but I would stay in New Albany if I had a car. More food options and somewhat cheaper. It's 15 to 20 minutes to drive. The hotel seems to have lowered their rates for the weekend from the last time I looked, and they are waiving the resort fee, so the total cost with tax is $142 per night. The hotels in New Albany are about $100 and you get something like breakfast.
Click to expand...
The food options in New Albany are surprisingly very good for such a small town.
 
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