Rumor New Professional Tour in the works with TV sponsors?

TxBullDog

TxBullDog

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Some buzz lately in some regional tournaments and pool halls about a new professional tour in the negotiating stages with TV sponsors? Has anybody been involved or have real information or hands on insight if this is true? I heard rumors about a salary guaranteed for top 50 players per year based on points/ratings and several other interesting ideas to help improve the pool image? Curious if anybody has any legit verified information?
Found this on Rodney Morris Facebook also...?
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I haven't heard anything and would need more than rumors of rumors.

I've seen many organizations try to go too big too fast. Salaries for the top 50? That would cost millions of dollars. That's a pretty big investment for a sponsor to make without any evidence of any type of return. I'm skeptical.

My hopes for pool are organizations like Matchroom that make incremental improvements. Acquire the US Open rights. Run additional events one by one. This is the way to grow. Swinging for the fences before you get going has lead to nothing. JMHO.
 
Tin Man said:
I haven't heard anything and would need more than rumors of rumors.

I've seen many organizations try to go too big too fast. Salaries for the top 50? That would cost millions of dollars. That's a pretty big investment for a sponsor to make without any evidence of any type of return. I'm skeptical.

My hopes for pool are organizations like Matchroom that make incremental improvements. Acquire the US Open rights. Run additional events one by one. This is the way to grow. Swinging for the fences before you get going has lead to nothing. JMHO.
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Much truth here, and Bonus Ball seems the best recent example of an organization committing too many funds before establishing the validity of their business model. Slow and steady wins the race.
 
The problem with live pool on tv is the networks like to have an event that fits nicely into a given time slot. MLB is the lone exception.

That's why pool in the past has been recorded matches used as filler - and why they don't pay the pool players much.
 
Tin Man said:
I haven't heard anything and would need more than rumors of rumors.

I've seen many organizations try to go too big too fast. Salaries for the top 50? That would cost millions of dollars. That's a pretty big investment for a sponsor to make without any evidence of any type of return. I'm skeptical.

My hopes for pool are organizations like Matchroom that make incremental improvements. Acquire the US Open rights. Run additional events one by one. This is the way to grow. Swinging for the fences before you get going has lead to nothing. JMHO.
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And to be fair, acquiring the US Open and the World 9-ball, and starting this new Championship League Pool event, over the past two years, as well as maintaining the Mosconi Cup, Master’s, and doubles World Cup, is pretty damn good for being incremental.
 
TxBullDog said:
Some buzz lately in some regional tournaments and pool halls about a new professional tour in the negotiating stages with TV sponsors? Has anybody been involved or have real information or hands on insight if this is true? I heard rumors about a salary guaranteed for top 50 players per year based on points/ratings and several other interesting ideas to help improve the pool image? Curious if anybody has any legit verified information?
Click to expand...

There is a "Predator Men's US Pro Tour" showing on the WPA calendar for later in the year with four stops. They appear to piggy back on and/or be CSI events: the AZ state championships, Diamond Vegas (prior to Predator WPA 10 Ball), and MI state championships with a fourth event in Puerto Rico.
 
What would be cool is if they took the Shows on FS1 with bowling and switched the game to pool instead. Crowds, good players, Characters like the guy with the crazy afro...decent announcers etc..
 
Joe_Jaguar said:
There is a "Predator Men's US Pro Tour" showing on the WPA calendar for later in the year with four stops. They appear to piggy back on and/or be CSI events: the AZ state championships, Diamond Vegas (prior to Predator WPA 10 Ball), and MI state championships with a fourth event in Puerto Rico.
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I guess Shane won’t be playing in that tour:)
 
Four WPA ranking events added to pool's calendar is a big deal. Guess we'll be hearing more about this soon. I'm guessing that State Championship events carrying WPA ranking points is unprecedented, but I like what I'm hearing.

A place on the WPA calendar is a big deal when it comes to attracting an elite field, as those players operating under the WPA umbrella won't be permitted to play in a pool event over those same dates. Of course, there's always the danger that some of them may play in a competing Chinese 8-ball event, but let's hope that option isn't in play.

I'm encouraged.
 
sjm said:
Four WPA ranking events added to pool's calendar is a big deal. Guess we'll be hearing more about this soon. I'm guessing that State Championship events carrying WPA ranking points is unprecedented, but I like what I'm hearing.

A place on the WPA calendar is a big deal when it comes to attracting an elite field, as those players operating under the WPA umbrella won't be permitted to play in a pool event over those same dates. Of course, there's always the danger that some of them may play in a competing Chinese 8-ball event, but let's hope that option isn't in play.

I'm encouraged.
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That's good news, I wish the WPA wouldn't punish players for not playing an event but instead make their events a must attend type of tournament. Not playing would cost a player valuable points and exposure for their sponsors. Players are in a tough position due to the fact there isn't a lot of money in the sport yet but hoping with Matchroom and other promoters such as Predator will change things. We need a product (pro tour) to sell to outside sponsors and investors.
 
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It wouldn't be the state championships carrying the points. Looks like they are being held in conjunction with the state events being played. Someone posted the schedule for the MI event (don't know where that is online), and here is the similarly scheduled AZ CSI event:
AZChamp.jpg
 
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