cardiac kid said:Hi Barbara,
I did do the math. Besides the 900 in the Open 9 Ball, there are 250 players in the seniors, about 250 in the womens, I'm not sure about the juniors. Lets say about 100. Allen also ran the TAP Tournament last year with 200 plus separate entries. If we say roughly 1500 entries at an average of $25, thats thirty seventy fifty large. It doesn't cost that much to rent 120 tables for a week. Did you count the income from the "challenge" tables downstairs? They are going twenty four hours a day for five days at a dollar a game! With the number of rooms booked at the hotel by the players, retailers and visitors, the expo halls must be either free or very minimal cost. If you count display booth rentals, there is lots of profit built in. Enough to reward the top players with higher payouts, percentage wise. You may also calculate the number of players who win one or two matches and must stay two nights without cashing. Others, like myself, stayed until Sunday. I made some profit, but with 1000 entries, not enough!
Regardless, without Allen and Dawn's efforts, there would be NO billiard event. I accepted the payout I received last year and the years before. I'm returning this year. I'm also looking at making reservations for next years event now! Yes, I'm a typical player who likes to bitch. No noise, no grease!
There were less than 900 entries in the Open tournament and Allen has nothing to do with the TAP tournament. And you really have to take into consideration the rental of 120 Diamond Smart tables that you don't have to feed quarters to. And they're set up with lights an such - hiring the people to do it. Plus the rental of the whole friggin convention center. Have you ever sat down at one of the tables on the sidelines to sweat a match? Do you know that the "large" tables rent for $50 per day? The smaller ones in the playing area for for $25. Hey! The Expo Center wants to make a profit, too!
Dawn and Allen go through a lot of work on this thing. It's year-round planning. I know, I've been on their staff for 6 years now.
Barbara