Theoretical tournament idea

[bdorman]

Let's say that a private investor, who also happened to be an avid pool nut decided he was fed up with the lack of progression in our great sport, and decided to do a privately funded, legit pro tour.

12 events (one per month for 11 months, and then a season finale)
Double elimination 10-ball, race to 15 winners, 11 losers

$250 entry

The first 11 events GUARANTEE payouts at
1. $100,000
2. $50,000
3. $25,000
(this money is money added on top of what the tournament itself generated)

and the final event is limited to the top 32 finishers in all of the events
no entry fee, and 1st place payout is $2million


Would this save pool, or even matter after the season was over?

just curious

The hypothetical benefactor is into the project for a minimum of $3,573,000 based on a 128-player field at each event (except the final round which is no-entry-fee anyway) plus prize money for 2nd, 3rd place in the finals. This is prize fund expenses only, so you need to add in the costs of venue, tables, staff, etc.

This not the only country where pool is played and that kind of cash would spark world wide attention, so yes it could start something big. If the international community gets a buzz and more players stay or move here for the tour, that could make a difference in the way our players here address the game.

As far as marketing pool to the general public, its not that expensive, its all about the social media and creating a idea.

If someone had the money and love of the game it could be done.

I agree it would be cool to get international players to make the US a must-do on their tournament schedule. But if int'l players are winning a large share of the prize money, what good does that do for US players (i.e. how does it grow the local talent)?

Social media and "buzz" are indeed cheap. They are also a crapshoot -- actually your odds are far, far better at the craps table.

If someone had the money and love of the game, it could be tried. Success is never a done deal.

Actually, if I had a $3million budget I'd organize one $1million match, race to whatever can be finished in one hour. I'd choose the two players based on ability, personality and interesting backstory -- SVB vs. Earl is the first that comes to mind.

Budget another $500,000 to run it on ESPN (yes, you can buy program time on cable networks), plus $100,000 to cover first-rate production.

The remaining $1.4 million would be spent on marketing the Million Dollar Match of the Century.

IMHO it makes no sense to piddle away $5million over the course of a year. Much better to focus your resources and efforts on one $3million event.

 

[lost]

from a prize money perspective it would generate massive interest and attract the world's best for all events as did the IPT

the scenario is "too" hypothetical though, as mentioned, wealthy investors have been around forever, nobody is in a rush to pump money into this game

there is no long term sustainable business model in today's market that could lend itself to some startup charity money

the type of recurring revenue required could only come from advertising and tv deals and possibly gambling and the government has done a fine job killing gambling and advertising from the few willing to spend previously..i.e. alchol and tobbacco

Wealthy investors want a return on their investment. That's how they got wealthy. Do you see a large chain of pool halls being built anywhere? Brunswick many years ago had lots of pool halls....but they were built inside bowling alleys. That's the closest pool ever came...and Brunswick closed almost all of them and is getting out of even the bowling business.

Charities have better things to raise money for than pool halls.

 

[King T]

I agree it would be cool to get international players to make the US a must-do on their tournament schedule. But if int'l players are winning a large share of the prize money, what good does that do for US players (i.e. how does it grow the local talent)?

Social media and "buzz" are indeed cheap. They are also a crapshoot -- actually your odds are far, far better at the craps table.

If someone had the money and love of the game, it could be tried. Success is never a done deal.

[/QUOTE]

Its clear that the international players are going to be winning a big portion of the prize fund, Busty, Efren, Dennis O, Appelton, Chang, Hu, etc.., they will get theres and the USA public wants to see them play. SVB will represent and he will get his too, but its all we got, if no one trys it, its a shame because the game aint going no were any other way.