Question for gamers: linking pool and gaming

PhilosopherKing

PhilosopherKing

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if pool rooms had a maybe or maybe not incentive-rich area dedicated to gaming, would it get people in the door?

would people eventually wander onto the tables?

do these places exist in other spaces, or is gaming from home part and parcel?

could be a good way to get the youth in and the alcohol out or rooms.

any thoughts?
 
Why would you want to get alcohol ou of pool rooms, surely it's a key income stream for virtually all pool halls?
 
Perhaps our youths parents should destroy their children's video game consoles and games. Then they can point out to their children that there is a REAL world out there & that they should go join it.
 
Lol. There is very little 'gamblin' at pool these days. The top players won't bet their own $$$, looking for 'stake horses ' to 'bet high'. Of course, they all want to be paid, win or lose. It's a joke. There are a few patches of gambling around, but it's few and it's usually 'cheap'. Space for pool rooms cost so much that they need 'Booze' to make money, plus league play or they go under. I hear it's better in the south, but, gambling has ALWAYS been better in the south!
If I hit the Lotto, I'll open a 'REAL' pool room. Thinking of calling it " BET-IT-UP-BILLIARDS. Pool time is free if you're gamblin. Chairs are $20 an hour. No food, no booze, no jukebox, just pool and maybe some ole style pinball.
Pushout forever!
ps
there would be tables with 21oz wool on them,for us ole guys. Only pushout allow on those.
 
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PhilosopherKing said:
to get kids and teens in

change the game's image

battle deep-seated stigma
Click to expand...

But they'd all shut down wouldn't they?

I make the assumption that serving alcoholic drinks are probably one of the few profitable revenue streams for pool hall operators.

Over here in the UK for what it's worth (and mainland Europe is generally the same) kids (or those under the legal drinking age which is typically 16-18) can go into pubs, bars and pool halls, all of which serve alcohol and play pool. Sometimes they have to be with someone over 18, but not always, the only condition of course is that they can't buy alcohol.

Even with that in mind many tables are disappearing, but take away alcohol licenses and they'd be gone already!

That aside, which should there be any negative stigma attached to a venue purely because it serves alcohol, what about restaurants?
 
PhilosopherKing said:
to get kids and teens in

change the game's image

battle deep-seated stigma
Click to expand...
Kids now a WAY too lazy to put in time to play pool. Add to that there is no money it compared to poker and the prospects for the next gen. of pool players is pretty bad. Hate to be so negative but i gotta call it like i see it.
 
Gaming centers can't make it around my area.

No pool rooms without booze.

Make a million/ start with 2m.
 
Bank it said:
Perhaps our youths parents should destroy their children's video game consoles and games. Then they can point out to their children that there is a REAL world out there & that they should go join it.
Click to expand...


Haha, good luck with that. Some 14 year olds are making more a year playing video games than SVB does playing pool.
 
When I was a kid we had a "gameroom/poolhall" where I lived. Not games like the kids play today but actual arcade games. They had a lot of foosball tables too, 4 bar tables, 9 9 footers, and a 10 ft snooker table. They held foosball and pool tournaments almost daily. Lots of kids filled that room from mid afternoon until closing. No booze were served. But just about any drug you wanted could be obtained there. It was without a doubt the wildest pool hall I have ever played at regularly and I was just a kid.

In my teens and 20's I played at a classy place in a college town. This place was cool. It was a pool hall with 9 footers, bar tables, and a snooker table. Plus they had a full bar and grill with a dining area. They had weekly tournaments to and there was a little bit of action daily with some decent players. A steady golf game was usually going on the snooker table but there was never any trouble. And quite a few college kids used to come in who were not regulars... both boys and girls with friends and on dates. Businessmen used to come in after work and hang out at the bar. A lot of car salesmen. And even younger kids were in there sometimes.


Obviously the place with the booze was a much cleaner place with much better quality of people and a much better image. The booze brought in a ton of money too I'm sure.


One thing that both places had going for them was employees who were outgoing and friendly. I've been to some pool halls where the atmosphere is dead. Those placard had nothing but hardcores in them: I like the action in places like that but I can't stand to hang out there daily.The only time I'm going there is when I'm wanting to play pool. When I'm done I'm gone from those places. Not so with the two mentioned before, I could hang out and socialize in both of those atmospheres. I think making a poolhall a social environment is key to steady business and I think it all begins with the right employees. A good friendly staff kind of sets the tone of the environment. The place needs to feel like a second home sand who wants a home that is kind of depressing?
 
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PhilosopherKing said:
if pool rooms had a maybe or maybe not incentive-rich area dedicated to gaming, would it get people in the door?

would people eventually wander onto the tables?

do these places exist in other spaces, or is gaming from home part and parcel?

could be a good way to get the youth in and the alcohol out or rooms.

any thoughts?
Click to expand...

PK,
I have two elementary aged kids and monthly I get bombarded by flyers that organizations and local businesses give to the school to be sent home with my kids. You name it and they have a summer camp, junior program, free lessons or some event to get them interested.

I have never understood why the vast majority of pool halls and leagues don't try to capitalize on junior leagues during the weekends or over summer break. Seems like the 11am to 3pm is generally a slow time for most pool halls why not try and fill those with some sort of junior programs.

While the elementary and middle aged kids would be a tough sell I think the high school aged kids would a good target market. This is where many kids are not able to participate in team sports through their school (only so many allowed on a team).

It also confuses me why the APA doesn't allow junior players to participate in regular league play on weekends. I understand the issues with having minors in bars / pool halls during a night weekday league but a simple weekend daytime exception shouldn't be that hard to implement. With the added benefit of cultivating your future customer base.
 
Honestly if game rooms were a more local thing you would probably see people play pool on there breaks and that. I know South Korea is a huge mecha for game cafes and huge lan parties so who knows maybe.

But don't sit and berate videogames without just cause, Pro gamers play something like 12 to 15 hours a day be it call of duty or league of legends. That's more of reason why they don't play pool they just cant fit it in to a schedule.
 
My favorite pool hall years ago had an Arcade section, about 20 of them, I always saw them end up getting a table later on.

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
 
SandFox said:
But don't sit and berate videogames without just cause, Pro gamers play something like 12 to 15 hours a day be it call of duty or league of legends. That's more of reason why they don't play pool they just cant fit it in to a schedule.
Click to expand...

I have friends and used to be part of the esports scene, specifically fighting games. Trust me, it's not because they can't fit it into their schedules, it's because you can make more money playing videogames as a pro than you would as a pro in pool. And truth be told, pro gamers are some of the most anti social/socially awkward people you will ever meet. Trust me, I've experienced it before.

As for the getting more youth into pool halls? this argument always comes up. The only answer so far that makes sense is having a Sunday kids only hours. No alcohol and have someone in the room to teach fundamentals and other things. The problem is no one really wants to do that because some owners just look at it as lost revenue.

If you ask me, the YMCA's/YWCA's should have something of a pool/billiards program, just like they do with boxing and other activities. It seems to work but do we have the dedicated teachers?
 
Positively Ralf said:
I have friends and used to be part of the esports scene, specifically fighting games. Trust me, it's not because they can't fit it into their schedules, it's because you can make more money playing videogames as a pro than you would as a pro in pool. And truth be told, pro gamers are some of the most anti social/socially awkward people you will ever meet. Trust me, I've experienced it before.

As for the getting more youth into pool halls? this argument always comes up. The only answer so far that makes sense is having a Sunday kids only hours. No alcohol and have someone in the room to teach fundamentals and other things. The problem is no one really wants to do that because some owners just look at it as lost revenue.

If you ask me, the YMCA's/YWCA's should have something of a pool/billiards program, just like they do with boxing and other activities. It seems to work but do we have the dedicated teachers?
Click to expand...


I learned to bang-em at the Y....... It was pretty seedy.(1966-ish).
 
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