Table Rates

[premiumbilliard]

Despite everyone I know trying to talk me out of it, I bought a pool hall that has been in business for 20 years. After spending more than twice my budgeted amount on tables, equipment, and renovations, I am trying to get a handle on what I should charge for the level of room that I have. Anyone out there wanna chime in and discuss rates with me? Here is where I am at.

I have 10 Brunswick Gold Crown III's that I completely rebuilt including refinishing all wood, powder coating all metal parts, rebuilding and calibrating of the rails including Artemis rubber (all done by the boys at Advanced Billiards Solutions Bobby Deturk, Pat O'Donnell, and Mark Gregory), and new Simonis 860 HR. Also known as: "Super Crowns", or "Diamondizing a Brunswick"

2 Gabriels Imperator heated Billiards tables.

8 Brand new Diamond Pro Am 7' bar boxes.

I am trying to come up with a price that makes the customers feel like they are getting their money's worth and at the same time start paying off all the money that I sank into the tables. Along with all the top notch tables I have put in all new carpet, stools, tables, chairs, paint, and restaurant equipment. Here is what I'm thinking for rates:

Pool Tables:
1 - $5
2 - $9
3 - $12
4 - $14

Carom Tables
1 - $6
2 - $11
3 - $15
4 - $18

All day rate 10 am to 6 pm $10, for the pool tables only, no carom included.

We also just got Pool House Manager, so I am planning on developing a rewards program for the regulars, or a "players club". Some sort of frequent flyer program that tracks via swipe cards and rewards people for spending their time and money in my pool hall.

Do these rates seem reasonable for the equipment and environment I am providing? We are open now and everyone is loving all the tables, but I hear some grumbles of the carom rates being steep.

What is everyone else charging????

 

[Y2k7JK]

Sounds like you have made quite an investment! You'll have a great place, and I hope I works out great for you! My bar has 6 - 8 ft and 2 - 9 ft, not gold crowns, and it's 6/hr after 7 pm. Open to 7 it is half price, single person playing is half price all the time. This is in Fayetteville, Arkansas (college town). Best of luck to you!

 

[manwon]

Despite everyone I know trying to talk me out of it, I bought a pool hall that has been in business for 20 years. After spending more than twice my budgeted amount on tables, equipment, and renovations, I am trying to get a handle on what I should charge for the level of room that I have. Anyone out there wanna chime in and discuss rates with me? Here is where I am at.

I have 10 Brunswick Gold Crown III's that I completely rebuilt including refinishing all wood, powder coating all metal parts, rebuilding and calibrating of the rails including Artemis rubber (all done by the boys at Advanced Billiards Solutions Bobby Deturk, Pat O'Donnell, and Mark Gregory), and new Simonis 860 HR.

2 Gabriels Imperator heated Billiards tables.

8 Brand new Diamond Pro Am 7' bar boxes.

I am trying to come up with a price that makes the customers feel like they are getting their money's worth and at the same time start paying off all the money that I sank into the tables. Along with all the top notch tables I have put in all new carpet, stools, tables, chairs, paint, and restaurant equipment. Here is what I'm thinking for rates:

Pool Tables:
1 - $5
2 - $9
3 - $12
4 - $14

Carom Tables
1 - $6
2 - $11
3 - $15
4 - $18

All day rate 10 am to 6 pm $10, for the pool tables only, no carom included.

We also just got Pool House Manager, so I am planning on developing a rewards program for the regulars, or a "players club". Some sort of frequent flyer program that tracks via swipe cards and rewards people for spending their time and money in my pool hall.

Do these rates seem reasonable for the equipment and environment I am providing? We are open now and everyone is loving all the tables, but I hear some grumbles of the carom rates being steep.

What is everyone else charging????

The price for pool will vary a great deal, it is always based upon the local economy where the pool hall is located.

Here in Lakewood, Washington I charge the following:

12:30 pm until 6 pm $3 per hour for 1 person or $5 per hour for 2 or more players.

After 6 pm until close I charge $6 per hour for 1 person, or $10 per hour for 2 or more players.

I also have a monthly membership that covers unlimited play from 12:30 pm until 6 pm, 7 days a week for $60 per month.

 

[Wags]

Congrats on your room! Hope you have a waiting list and full league play every night of the week.

What are rooms near you charging? I would think that would be your best indicator.

I don't know your location but even if you have to go to a nearby city to find out what they are charging, at least you have an indicator.

Knowing that, you can then decide how much better your room is and charge additional $$.

What were the prices of the previous owner? Are you tapping into the same customer base? Big market area - small market area?

I've seen current pricing from $2/hour/player to $20/hour for the table. As stated earlier, alot is what the market will bear.

 

[ARROWCRUSHER]

The price for pool will vary a great deal, it is always based upon the local economy where the pool hall is located.

Here in Lakewood, Washington I charge the following:

12:30 pm until 6 pm $3 per hour for 1 person or $5 per hour for 2 or more players.

After 6 pm until close I charge $6 per hour for 1 person, or $10 per hour for 2 or more players.

I also have a monthly membership that covers unlimited play from 12:30 pm until 6 pm, 7 days a week for $60 per month.

I wish they had a monthly membership like this where I play out of. I tried to get them to do this for us guys that are there and give them most of their buisness but the owner would not. This is a bowling alley with 8 gold crowns. And his thought is the bowling is his bread and butter. But alot of us guys are going in there and dropping $50 to $100 a week some weeks. They dont even brush the tables I take care of that for the most part, but if they dont work something out soon or give me some table time for my efforts Im going to make a drive of 30 miles to play everyday just not to give him anymore of my money. But I think the OPS. prices are good and pretty average....<< ED

 

[pulldapin]

Aloha,
I recall RKC and The Reverand re-did a room and suggested offsetting table time with food and beverage sales, as this from what I understand is where most of the sales are made. Try a search in the mechanics section. I believe the name of the place was Skip and Jans or something like that.
I visited Sal Butera's a month or so ago, great place and great tables by the way, and he was charging something like a flat rate of $12/hr/table in the evenings, for 9' pro ams done by RKC. Well worth the price from this patron's point of view.

Mahalo and best of luck,
Carl

 

[cueandcushion]

Your prices seem really fair. We are at $3.60 per hour/ per person. We are open 15-17 hours a day with up to 12 specials going on at various times for different groups. Military, students, kids, regular players, etc. Many times at $1.80 per hour. But regardless of what you invested, people still play based on rates. If you have the best tables in town lots of people will leave to save a dollar. Just the nature of pool. Good luck with your room!

 

[nksmfamjp]

Price has everything to do with what the market will bear. First of all, I would keep the balls at the tables and charge an entry fee to the playing area. Non-players would be given a red drink coaster or something to help track them. When they play, they pay for their time.

Price:
Start high and then back off. I'm thinking $6-$8 per player per hour peak...fri and sat nights.
Off-peak $4-5 per player/per hr...sun - Thurs after 600p.
Day rate $2 per hr til 6p...

IMO, the fri and sat night price is danger pay. That is when you are most likely to have non-players in there over drinking showing off their scoop jump skills, if you know what I mean. 90% of your headache will come from those times, so the rate should be high.


When changing ownership, you could offer 50% off on pool rates and then try to guess how to change rates and hour blocks to keep tables full. I would avoid free pool, but you could do a play open to 6p for $5 or something.

The reason for this method of fees is I think you want players to see themselves as individuals playing as opposed to having a table locked up. Encourage people to intermingle.

Then, at some point when your place is known, you need adjust to keep your tables full and charge a full rate.

 

[premiumbilliard]

Don't get me wrong

After reading my initial post I realize that I sound like a whiny little bit*# that regrets doing this. Just to clear it up, I spent twice my budget because I wanted to make sure that i did it right, spared no expense, and gave all the customers the best equipment, and provide everyone with the best experience.
Please keep the rate feedback coming, I love hearing from both the room owners and the players. I know that I can't make 100% of the customers happy 100% of the time, but I am trying to come up with a system that comes close.
Keep the comments rolling!

 

[manwon]

After reading my initial post I realize that I sound like a whiny little bit*# that regrets doing this. Just to clear it up, I spent twice my budget because I wanted to make sure that i did it right, spared no expense, and gave all the customers the best equipment, and provide everyone with the best experience.
Please keep the rate feedback coming, I love hearing from both the room owners and the players. I know that I can't make 100% of the customers happy 100% of the time, but I am trying to come up with a system that comes close.
Keep the comments rolling!

Work in a Monthly membership or something like it you will never have all your tables rented all the time, and these memberships can pick up some slack. The people who buy them will bring others with them, who will pay your normal rates, they will also buy other things while they playing, but most importantly you are giving something back to your regulars and that go's along way.

I would also recommend that you set up a Pro-shop where you at least do basic cue repairs. There is good money in this and it also makes it convenient for those who frequent your room, along with the fact that it will also bring others just looking for repair work to be done. If you have leagues, APA - BCA this will be a huge hit, most league players are on a tight time schedule, so by getting simple repairs done while they playing league will save them time.

They will also buy a great deal of merchandise, Cues, cases, and accessories, and again having everything they need within reach is a win win situation for everyone concerned.

Here in Washington State, we are allowed to sell Beer and still keep the room all ages. I recently started a APA junior's league, in fact it runs every Saturday starting at 1:00 pm, it has been nothing but a hit since we started it, presently we have 5 teams with 24 kids, and already by next session that will grow to at least 8 teams if not 10. I know in the Mid-west and on the East Coast this is nothing new, but out here it was never done before and man I think I have found a truly un-tapped market. I am selling cues, cases and everything else as fast as I can fill the shelves. If you can have one I would suggest it, I truly believe that it is also a Win Win situation.

Good Luck with your room.