Read it and weep. Hopefully an Asian sponsor will pick it up.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/05082008/58/snooker-facing-financial-crisis.html
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/05082008/58/snooker-facing-financial-crisis.html
Snooker taking a dive.
- Thread starter mnorwood
- Start date
Sounds like they're okay with plenty of money in the bank. Besides, most snooker players don't really care about the money. They wouldn't care if the world championship only has a 100k in prize money, they'd still play!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7546380.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7546380.stm
Snooker isn't of course in as healthy a state than it was at its peak in Britain, but the loss of those two major sponsors is just due to the economic climate in Britain and around the world.
Even some major golf and tennis events in Britain have just announced the loss of their sponsors too. It's just a sign of the times I guess.
Best wishes.
Alan.
Even some major golf and tennis events in Britain have just announced the loss of their sponsors too. It's just a sign of the times I guess.
Best wishes.
Alan.
Hey guys 
From what I breifly read from the link posted above, it looks like the WPBSA have done a good thing by buiolding up a reserve bankroll, just in case, but the question I wonder is, how long will that ?4M last, esapecially with the prize payouts that are given at top level snooker tournaments.
I would imagine that there wouldn't be any problem of there being sponsors for any of the Asian or Middle Eastern events, but for the UK events, I'm not so optomistic at the moment, purely because of the fact that alot of pool and snooker clubs are closing left and right.
The major hinderences for in the UK are;-
1. The Gov't ban of smoking in public places has been a major problem to start with, because it means alot of players have stopped going to shoot snooker or pool as often as they may have done before because they can't have a smoke whilst playing, (which is particularly annoying during winter) which in turn means that players aren't getting the full value for their table time, and unfortunately there ain't no room owners that can afford to give a few extra minutes of free table time to let customers pop outside for a smoke.
2. The cost of living here is extortionate at best, both for the everyday guy on the street and for buisness owners because utillity bills are more expensive, the cost of proprty rent and/or rates has gone up too, which means that in order for a buisness' to stay open, the owner has gotta bump their prices up to try and keep up with the bills and make enough profit to make it worth while.
3. The banning of tobacco advertising and sponsorship of sporting events in 2001(?) had pretty much put a nail in the sponsorship coffin for alot of various sports in the UK and not just snooker.
4. There isn't as strong an interest appeal in snooker in the UK nowadays because the game as lost alot of it's entertainment value because there aren't any "Characters" in the game compared to what there used to be and so, alot of the general public who used to happily watch snooker for hours, don't watch it as much anymore because it's not looked on being as entertaining as it used to be.
I really hope that new sponsors will be found to help breathe some new life into snooker, but at the moment, I can't help feel that it's going to be easier said than done, but certainly not impossible
JMHO from how it looks from this side of the Atlantic
Willie
From what I breifly read from the link posted above, it looks like the WPBSA have done a good thing by buiolding up a reserve bankroll, just in case, but the question I wonder is, how long will that ?4M last, esapecially with the prize payouts that are given at top level snooker tournaments.
I would imagine that there wouldn't be any problem of there being sponsors for any of the Asian or Middle Eastern events, but for the UK events, I'm not so optomistic at the moment, purely because of the fact that alot of pool and snooker clubs are closing left and right.
The major hinderences for in the UK are;-
1. The Gov't ban of smoking in public places has been a major problem to start with, because it means alot of players have stopped going to shoot snooker or pool as often as they may have done before because they can't have a smoke whilst playing, (which is particularly annoying during winter) which in turn means that players aren't getting the full value for their table time, and unfortunately there ain't no room owners that can afford to give a few extra minutes of free table time to let customers pop outside for a smoke.
2. The cost of living here is extortionate at best, both for the everyday guy on the street and for buisness owners because utillity bills are more expensive, the cost of proprty rent and/or rates has gone up too, which means that in order for a buisness' to stay open, the owner has gotta bump their prices up to try and keep up with the bills and make enough profit to make it worth while.
3. The banning of tobacco advertising and sponsorship of sporting events in 2001(?) had pretty much put a nail in the sponsorship coffin for alot of various sports in the UK and not just snooker.
4. There isn't as strong an interest appeal in snooker in the UK nowadays because the game as lost alot of it's entertainment value because there aren't any "Characters" in the game compared to what there used to be and so, alot of the general public who used to happily watch snooker for hours, don't watch it as much anymore because it's not looked on being as entertaining as it used to be.
I really hope that new sponsors will be found to help breathe some new life into snooker, but at the moment, I can't help feel that it's going to be easier said than done, but certainly not impossible
JMHO from how it looks from this side of the Atlantic
Willie
TheWizard said:Hey guys
From what I breifly read from the link posted above, it looks like the WPBSA have done a good thing by buiolding up a reserve bankroll, just in case, but the question I wonder is, how long will that ?4M last, esapecially with the prize payouts that are given at top level snooker tournaments.
I would imagine that there wouldn't be any problem of there being sponsors for any of the Asian or Middle Eastern events, but for the UK events, I'm not so optomistic at the moment, purely because of the fact that alot of pool and snooker clubs are closing left and right.
The major hinderences for in the UK are;-
1. The Gov't ban of smoking in public places has been a major problem to start with, because it means alot of players have stopped going to shoot snooker or pool as often as they may have done before because they can't have a smoke whilst playing, (which is particularly annoying during winter) which in turn means that players aren't getting the full value for their table time, and unfortunately there ain't no room owners that can afford to give a few extra minutes of free table time to let customers pop outside for a smoke.
2. The cost of living here is extortionate at best, both for the everyday guy on the street and for buisness owners because utillity bills are more expensive, the cost of proprty rent and/or rates has gone up too, which means that in order for a buisness' to stay open, the owner has gotta bump their prices up to try and keep up with the bills and make enough profit to make it worth while.
3. The banning of tobacco advertising and sponsorship of sporting events in 2001(?) had pretty much put a nail in the sponsorship coffin for alot of various sports in the UK and not just snooker.
4. There isn't as strong an interest appeal in snooker in the UK nowadays because the game as lost alot of it's entertainment value because there aren't any "Characters" in the game compared to what there used to be and so, alot of the general public who used to happily watch snooker for hours, don't watch it as much anymore because it's not looked on being as entertaining as it used to be.
I really hope that new sponsors will be found to help breathe some new life into snooker, but at the moment, I can't help feel that it's going to be easier said than done, but certainly not impossible
JMHO from how it looks from this side of the Atlantic
Willie
i have not been involved with snooker for 3 years but where did you read about 4 million in the bank? and if there is 4 mil they get approx 5 mil a year in bbc rights so when was the balance taken at the start of season before they pay out 1.5 for the world etc? they used to pay out 4 or 5 million a year in prizemoney so 4 mil wont go too far but im suprised they have that much in reserve
Here is a copy and paste from the bbc news link posted above by drsnooker
Walker denies snooker cash crisis
"Sir Rodney Walker says snooker will cope with the withdrawal of two of its main sponsors, insisting it does not herald a "crisis" for the game.
World Championship sponsors 888.com are quitting their five-year deal after three years and Saga Insurance will no longer back the Wembley Masters.
But Walker, chairman of World Snooker and the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, is unfazed.
"It's a disappointment but not a shock, not a blow," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
The withdrawal of 888.com and Saga Insurance is being estimated to come at a cost of ?1.5m to the game, with snooker's governing body (the WPBSA) saying the companies blame the "current economic climate" for their decisions.
But Walker is adamant that snooker has put in place a contingency plan.
"We've known about it for four weeks but, despite that, we did announce only two weeks ago that the prize money for 2008/09 would be increased by ?250,000," he said.
>>>>"The reason it's a disappointment and not a crisis, is that over the last four years we have built up the reserves of World Snooker to in excess of ?4m. <<<<
"You build up reserves for situations such as this."
He also insisted that commercial opportunities for snooker are growing.
"I'm confident we will replace both sponsors," he said. "They've both had fundamental changes in the ways their businesses operate.
"We have three new tournaments in China, and they want a fourth, and we'll be announcing a new tournament in the Middle East next week."
Willie
Walker denies snooker cash crisis
"Sir Rodney Walker says snooker will cope with the withdrawal of two of its main sponsors, insisting it does not herald a "crisis" for the game.
World Championship sponsors 888.com are quitting their five-year deal after three years and Saga Insurance will no longer back the Wembley Masters.
But Walker, chairman of World Snooker and the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, is unfazed.
"It's a disappointment but not a shock, not a blow," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
The withdrawal of 888.com and Saga Insurance is being estimated to come at a cost of ?1.5m to the game, with snooker's governing body (the WPBSA) saying the companies blame the "current economic climate" for their decisions.
But Walker is adamant that snooker has put in place a contingency plan.
"We've known about it for four weeks but, despite that, we did announce only two weeks ago that the prize money for 2008/09 would be increased by ?250,000," he said.
>>>>"The reason it's a disappointment and not a crisis, is that over the last four years we have built up the reserves of World Snooker to in excess of ?4m. <<<<
"You build up reserves for situations such as this."
He also insisted that commercial opportunities for snooker are growing.
"I'm confident we will replace both sponsors," he said. "They've both had fundamental changes in the ways their businesses operate.
"We have three new tournaments in China, and they want a fourth, and we'll be announcing a new tournament in the Middle East next week."
Willie
TheWizard said:Here is a copy and paste from the bbc news link posted above by drsnooker
Walker denies snooker cash crisis
"Sir Rodney Walker says snooker will cope with the withdrawal of two of its main sponsors, insisting it does not herald a "crisis" for the game.
World Championship sponsors 888.com are quitting their five-year deal after three years and Saga Insurance will no longer back the Wembley Masters.
But Walker, chairman of World Snooker and the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, is unfazed.
"It's a disappointment but not a shock, not a blow," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
The withdrawal of 888.com and Saga Insurance is being estimated to come at a cost of ?1.5m to the game, with snooker's governing body (the WPBSA) saying the companies blame the "current economic climate" for their decisions.
But Walker is adamant that snooker has put in place a contingency plan.
"We've known about it for four weeks but, despite that, we did announce only two weeks ago that the prize money for 2008/09 would be increased by ?250,000," he said.
>>>>"The reason it's a disappointment and not a crisis, is that over the last four years we have built up the reserves of World Snooker to in excess of ?4m. <<<<
"You build up reserves for situations such as this."
He also insisted that commercial opportunities for snooker are growing.
"I'm confident we will replace both sponsors," he said. "They've both had fundamental changes in the ways their businesses operate.
"We have three new tournaments in China, and they want a fourth, and we'll be announcing a new tournament in the Middle East next week."
Willie
oh i looked at ther other link mmm i guess im a glass half full type of person. funny how prizemoney has been down alot for 5 years now yet he thinks there is no crisis probably cause he is earning a greast living lol. when almost all snooker pros are vocally dissapointed with the game even though they dont say so in public.
they should close the game up again to only 32 pros with a 16 in and out every year so that at least pros that are not ranked in the top 8 can earn a reasonable living. even run multi qualifiers for 16 players every tournament at prestatyn to play against top 16/32. i mean it is obvious the game needs to be cut back
walker has no idea like most board room people and is out of touch with his members ideas, comps in china has crap money with more than a few players dont wont to play in, the game cannot support so many pros sometimes you cant please everyone but some players ranked out of 30 or 40 in world would scream if they closed the game again, but i think that is the only way to get some respectability and pride in snooker and be able to earn a little financial security if you choose to play fulltime
really wsa board has had no idea for decades on how to run snooker another idea i said 10 years ago at a meeting was to run pot black again but they messed it up. there are a lot of regular players in the uk they could run mini qualifiers in many locations thru out uk at local snooker centres 1 frame only. whittle it down to 64 players you will get quite a few un heard of players make it thru. then take those 64 and play at a venue 1 frame only it wont take to long? or take them to there facliity at prestatyn whittle it down to 32 or in a studio record it and then delay it over a few months the public would love to see a 1 frame pressure situation especially when you get some unheard of player against a top pro and they will get thru with 1 frame and reasonably money. that is about the only new idea that will get new viewers in uk