The U.S. Pro Pool Tour

[mnorwood]

Just want to take a moment to thank everybody (with one exception) for their feedback on here. I don't profess to have all the answers. I'm just like most of you, wanting to see professional pool have a higher standing in the sports firmament. I am certain that a pro tour is doable, based on my previous experience. It just would take a lot of work and a lot of organization.

The truth is that I'm not anxious to take this one on at this time. I'd rather sit back at home and write books or work on TV shows or maybe just do one or two special events. But I also believe that I'm well qualified to operate such a tour if it were possible to get one funded. If an interested party or parties came along and wanted to create a pro pool tour, I would get onboard, just like I offered to do with Trudeau years ago. But I quickly figured out he was up to something that was not all kosher, so I backed off.

I would be quite willing to play a role in making a pro tour a reality in this country. I don't have to run the show or even handle the money. Like all of you, making money and living well is important to me, but money does not run me! I already have enough for all my needs, and have worked for little or nothing at many events just to help out. Ask Greg Sullivan how much he pays me for running the events I do at DCC sometime. You might be surprised.

It is true that I have gambled extensively in my life, both winning and losing. But I pride myself on being an honest gambler. I pay off when I lose and expect to be paid when I win. I'm not in this to take anyone's money. My goal would be to do something to further our sport. Sure, I would like to make a buck as much as the next guy. But an honest one! I have always been willing to work hard for my money. Let me tell you that running a pool room seven days a week, 14 hours a day, 365 days a year is no piece of cake. And I've done it for several years in a row, with only a few days off once in a while.

To answer one more question, it could definitely be done with less money. Smaller events like maybe 100K each and/or fewer events are all a possibility. I just happen to think that to make it work and to be a credible pro tour, the events have to be on a par with other professional sports or at least close. 50K is not a big amount for first place, but it's not chopped liver either. I'd personally like to see half million dollar purses and 100K for first, but that is not realistic either. To me two million is the magic number, enough to create several "major" events and not too much to raise.

And yes, I agree that would not carry us beyond the first year. I would suggest that another million would be necessary to have a second year on this tour. For a major corporate sponsor that is not a of of money. What they would get in return is national publicity for a period of time. A two year commitment would be a great test of how feasible it all is from a sponsors point of view.

My only purpose in starting this thread is to point out that it could be done if funding were available. Where that funding would come from I couldn't say at this time. It's good to have this dialogue as a starting point. EVERYTHING begins with an idea!

Just as a gag for the first tournament when its time for the check presentation you could have a hot chick come out in a tight fitting fedex tshirt and hat to explain that the TD forgot the check book and the money would be sent ASAP via Fedex.

On a serious note I think your idea is great. I believe at some point some rich pool enthusiast is going to put together a successful tour and I wouldn't be surprised if its you that runs it.

 

[catpool9]

The US Pro Tour

Yes, it could be done! I just thought the time was right to put this out there. There is no reason why a successful professional pool tour can not be accomplished, other than a serious lack of funding. Such a tour would be a huge shot in the arm for our sport and all the people (players, manufacturers, dealers etc.) who are a part of it.

And guess what, I know just the guy who can make it happen. :smile:
All I need is two million. That's right, I said TWO MILLION dollars! With that amount of money I could and would produce a high profile eight city tour in major U.S. cities across the country during a four month time frame. Call it a "season" if you will.

All these events would have a guaranteed $200,000 purse with $50,000 going to the winner each week! The likelihood of television and other major media coverage would be highly likely for such a tour. Too bad that the "leaders" of our industry have no interest in funding such a tour, even though it would only make their respective businesses grow.

I not only know how to produce such a tour (securing locations, staff, equipment, PR, advertising etc.), I know how to make it an ongoing entity in the sports firmament. Will it ever happen? Doubtful. I don't have the money to do it and the people who could raise the money don't appear to be too interested. Call it pie in the sky or whatever, but I just want you to know such a thing is possible with the proper funding. How would it change the future of pool in America and the world is anyone's guess. I guess we'd just have to do it and see what happens. But in my opinion it's one gamble that could pay off big time!

Would we make money initially on this tour? NO! Could we make money on this tour eventually? YES! I see the income from the first year at maybe one million total, so there is some return on investment. How much value could you place on increased sales of product for table manufacturers, cue makers, room owners, and other related billiard businesses? I'm guessing it amounts to much more than two million dollars. Maybe more like ten to twenty million, even in the first year. Putting professional pool on the map, so to speak, has to be a good thing for all parties concerned.

For me it's a dream long overdue. I don't have too many more years where I have the energy to take on such a task. But I still would given the opportunity.

Man there's got tobe a rich Tycoon somewhere that would take intrest in this venture, I certainly hope so, but at least when your talking something UP it sometimes passes the right ones ears,, and sometimes goes down, meaning , it works!


"The US Pro Pool Tour" got a nice ring to it!, hope it goes!:smile:


David Harcrow

 

[Avathar]

If we want pool become more public, why should we wait for TV to make it public?

My suggestion to raise funds would be more work, but less complicated....

All we need is a bunch of tables (including a cloth maker and someone to be able to install maybe 10-16 tables in a blink), a country wide moving/transport company...
Instead of staying in hotels or pool halls, lets go to public... go to the huge malls, play in the middle of a shopping crowd on a Saturday, have the shops of the mall be a sponsor or the mall owning companys...

use local radio and TV for promotion... if you can get a few sponsors and an entry fee of maybe 20-100 Bucks, the events shoudl be worth a couple of thousand dollars... not too much...

if you get enough attention and some pros enter the "tour", maybe invite TV to report it in the sports news...
and if you invite the mosconi crowd, you sure WILL get attention...

even better would be an open air tour in the "pedestrian areas" city centers as we have them in Europe...

have side events like "challange the pro", maybe to a set to 2 where you enter a small amoutn of money (maybe $10) and if you loose the money enters a jackpot...

and a nine ball shoot out cup on a non tapped table where you get a house cue and a run out jackpot will be available...

get the spectactors involved, have it all done on a table raised on a theatre stage with all electronic sales companies showing the matches on their exhibition TVs, after every 3 games played have a short advertisment session, where "Esprit" or "Marks and Spencer" have some models show their products, have some flat screen TVs sponsored by some electronic shop hung in different placs of the mall, so you can watch the main game on the stage (including the guys playing for the jackpots)...

I am kinda sure, that this kind if promotion event could raise attention, if you get it far enough to get around the country (no matter if it is Germany or the US) at least twice...

of course this kindof event needs a lot of tuning to go leaps and bounce, but it surely will cost less for a start...

The main thing would be to create attention to pool and have some cool pros like the Hatchetman, Earl and some guys like Darren or Karl and maybe some "son in law guy" like Toasty to draw attention of the crowd to see these guys on a main event
I do like the idea of Jasmine, Jeanette and the likes draw special attention, too, maybe

 

[poke&hope]

US pro tour

Thanks Rorywayne you made my day. I hate to say it but you are right. Sometimes the truth is negative.