Supporting the IPT on a local basis.

[Snapshot9]

I got to wondering how many of you out there are trying to support the IPT on a local basis. Here is what I have done so far:

I talk to room owners about the IPT, send emails when I can to room owners and my Pool friends about tournaments, payouts, plans, websites. I make sure to bring it up when I go play at their place, usually at weekly tournaments, discuss the tour, players, results, etc..

I talked to James Walden when he and Caleb Moore were up here for a weekend. I told him all about it, and that he should get into a qualifier.
Well, he did, down at Magoos in Tulsa, won it, and played in Vegas.

Within the last month or so, I played in a tournament with Steve Rector, which Steve won, and I told him all about the IPT, the events coming up, about the 2007 tour card event, and that 2007 tour members would make $100,000 a year guaranteed. Well, Steve just won the qualifier down at Magoos in Tulsa. I also told Steve about the Pool forums, and what is available over the net, and he is thinking about getting a computer.
I told I would help him with it if he wanted me too, and get him going on one.

Now, I don't know if I was the instrumental person that helped make up their minds to give it a go, I would like to think I was, but I do know 2 of my friends are now going to be a part of the IPT where they may not have otherwise, and they will be making some money doing what they love to do, so that makes me feel good.

The IPT is exciting, and sharing that with your friends and other players is both interesting and fun. Kind of gets the 'buzz' going. And now that they have live matches on, and a video library, well that's peaks a lot
of players interest. And, one result that might happen is that we end up
with many new posters that will contribute to the forum with many more interesting topics to discuss.

I am a member of the IPT website, watched live matches of Reno, and some of the video library matches (still am), and to me, the membership
is well worth it. Now, I am looking for a friend or two to spilt a gross of the IPT chaulk with me.

So, that is what I have done on a local basis. What are you doing locally to support the IPT.

 

[Gerry]

I think you're on the right path there Scott. Some people I have talked to feel the IPT is "out of touch" for them, thus paying little attention to it. A friend of mine was mentioning to make it long term, the IPT needs to get into the local scene with lower dollar "satelite" events at your local pool room, to get you entry to a $2000 qualifyer. He also changed my mind about he $2000 qualifyers. I thought is wass crazy at first, then I was informed one of the qualifyers only had 3 friggin players, and the winner gets a 2007 IPT tour card?! where the hell was I? sheesh.

Gerry

 

[pooltchr]

I think you're on the right path there Scott. Some people I have talked to feel the IPT is "out of touch" for them, thus paying little attention to it. A friend of mine was mentioning to make it long term, the IPT needs to get into the local scene with lower dollar "satelite" events at your local pool room, to get you entry to a $2000 qualifyer. He also changed my mind about he $2000 qualifyers. I thought is wass crazy at first, then I was informed one of the qualifyers only had 3 friggin players, and the winner gets a 2007 IPT tour card?! where the hell was I? sheesh.

Gerry

NOt quite true. The top two winners in the qualifiers get air fare and hotel as well as entry into a tournament where the top 50 finishers will get their tour card. Still, not a bad deal.

As for smaller local tournaments, any room can hold a mini-qualifier and make the prize a paid entry into one of the qualifiers. I would love to see more of them being held.
Steve

 

[jjinfla]

I wonder how many IPT players have actively tried to get people to join the club as KT asked them to do?

I would think that the players on the tour would push for the pool room owners to join the club, then the room owners could have forms to sign up more members. The pool rooms could also show the matches on a big screen. Don't know if there are any legal implications to do this. I imagine it is okay as long as they do not charge to watch it.

Jake

 

[Gerry]

NOt quite true. The top two winners in the qualifiers get air fare and hotel as well as entry into a tournament where the top 50 finishers will get their tour card. Still, not a bad deal.

As for smaller local tournaments, any room can hold a mini-qualifier and make the prize a paid entry into one of the qualifiers. I would love to see more of them being held.
Steve

So, I have to pay $2000 entry, place in the top 2 of THAT qualifyer, then that allows me to play in the "top 50 get a card thing"......and how many players are going to be in the "top 50 get a card thing"? sounds like one of those pyramid things where you end up with your wrists duct taped to your anckles, but I might try it none the less!

You know, thinking about it, thats a hell of a lot of money from all those qualifyers......

Gerry

 

[ceebee]

I think you're on the right path there Scott. Some people I have talked to feel the IPT is "out of touch" for them, thus paying little attention to it. A friend of mine was mentioning to make it long term, the IPT needs to get into the local scene with lower dollar "satelite" events at your local pool room, to get you entry to a $2000 qualifyer. He also changed my mind about he $2000 qualifyers. I thought is wass crazy at first, then I was informed one of the qualifyers only had 3 friggin players, and the winner gets a 2007 IPT tour card?! where the hell was I? sheesh.

Gerry

I sent Deno a letter about this very thing. I suggested the 200 Players play smaller Pro-Ams Tournaments around the country, when a Major wasn't being held. If 4 players were scheduled to play at a specified Pool Room, that would be 50 Pool Rooms around the USA having a Satellite Tournament every week.

The Pool Room could use several formats 8-Man Pro-Am, plus 4 Pro Ring game, 4 Pro Round Robin & so on....

Presenting a show, & allowing the wannabees to participate, might garner some real interest among fans. The IPT could sell merchandise (books, DVD's, shirts caps & etc) just like other sports. The Pool Players would also get used to paying admittance to watch a match.

I also think the local Room Owners ought to invite the newspapers & TV stations to cover the Tournaments. This alone would go a long way toward getting our sport into the limelight.

 

[pooltchr]

.....and how many players are going to be in the "top 50 get a card thing"?
Gerry

Well, with 100 qualifiers, and 2 advancing from each, that would be 200. Add to that the 50 or so who lose their tour card based on their standings at the end of 2006, and you are probably looking at somewhere around 250-275....so roughly 1 out of 5 will get a tour card. All of this is pretty well explained at the IPT web site www.internationalpooltour.com
Steve

 

[jjinfla]

So basically the top 50 at the Wynn in December will win a tour card which is worth a minimum of $100,000.

The bottom 50 or so from the current IPT card holders can enter and pay an entry fee of $199. Most likely they will all enter even if they have no chance, just for the pure entertainment value. Who knows, they may get in stroke and win a card. Look at all the people who enter the US Open and go two and out. Is it $500 wasted? Or do they get $500 worth of entertainment out of it.


Jake