Theoretical tournament idea

nineballsafety8

nineballsafety8

6ft 5" 285, hits 'em hard
Silver Member
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
 
nineballsafety8 said:
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
Click to expand...

If the promotional budget isn't as heavy as the payouts or if promotion of the tour was lacking, then yes it would just disappear without trace... :thumbup:
 
nineballsafety8 said:
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
Click to expand...

The only way is to have tournament broadcast to the public (TV) to get viewers hence rich sponsors! or do it Vegas style!
 
nineballsafety8 said:
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
Click to expand...

Theoretically with that much prize money, players would show up. However realistily, where is the money coming from? There are a ton of billionaries and multi hundred million dollar net worth folks that have been for a while, I don't see them putting free money into any billiard sport. It's not an "investment", it's charity.

You may as well ask "if someone wanted to give away 100,000 and you paid $250 would you show up to try to get it?".
 
Since there's no plan to market it to the broad public (playing and non-playing) it wouldn't move the needle at all.

Some pros would make extra money that year; the promoter would lose all his money; and things would go back to normal. Without LOTS more viewers, there are no big sponsorship dollars (I'm assuming that your imaginary benefactor isn't willing to lose money year after year).

"Marketing it to the broad public" simply costs waaaayyyy more than the pool industry can afford. $10 million just to get started.

The only doable way to build pool is from the ground up. Local leagues, social-fun play, youth programs, charity tournaments, free lessons. When you can't afford to buy your way into a market, you've got to build it player-by-player.

Just like a $10,000 cue isn't going to make me an "A" player, pool can't just buy it's way to popularity.
 
What is the rate of return are you offering to your potential investors? What is your business model to generate revenue?
 
It was not a revenue generating idea, it was essentially structured charity for the players, just to light a fire, and motivate people to start their own tournaments. Just get some more money into the players pockets.
It was not a long range solution, I was simply asking internally whether it would help the community. I am fully aware that marketing, sponsorship and media coverage is what will make money as a mainstream sport. My question was, if such a tournament were to happen, would it breath life back into the players?
 
nineballsafety8 said:
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
Click to expand...

Where would you find an "investor" that hates his money that much?
 
nineballsafety8 said:
It was not a revenue generating idea, it was essentially structured charity for the players, just to light a fire, and motivate people to start their own tournaments. Just get some more money into the players pockets.
It was not a long range solution, I was simply asking internally whether it would help the community. I am fully aware that marketing, sponsorship and media coverage is what will make money as a mainstream sport. My question was, if such a tournament were to happen, would it breath life back into the players?
Click to expand...

In that case, sure. But it's like giving a starving man a fish.
 
Give me the money and I'll get it started - I've already got the plans, just need to put them on paper and get it started. :thumbup:
 
nineballsafety8 said:
It was not a revenue generating idea, it was essentially structured charity for the players, just to light a fire, and motivate people to start their own tournaments. Just get some more money into the players pockets.
It was not a long range solution, I was simply asking internally whether it would help the community. I am fully aware that marketing, sponsorship and media coverage is what will make money as a mainstream sport. My question was, if such a tournament were to happen, would it breath life back into the players?
Click to expand...

YES - Until the final 10 Ball is sunk and the winner receives their check. Then, it's back to normal...
I've got a better idea. Why not give me the money and save all those pro players all that time to chase a golden egg? :thumbup:
 
Bella Don't Cry said:
Damn - you beat me to it... :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I've actually come up with what I feel is a viable solution. Of course, I like money, too. :D I may try to create the thing myself or could end up pulling from some established resources. It would probably take a couple of years to get rolling, maybe less.
 
Its not that easy to say...,

bdorman said:
Since there's no plan to market it to the broad public (playing and non-playing) it wouldn't move the needle at all.


"Marketing it to the broad public" simply costs waaaayyyy more than the pool industry can afford. $10 million just to get started.

The only doable way to build pool is from the ground up. Local leagues, social-fun play, youth programs, charity tournaments, free lessons. When you can't afford to buy your way into a market, you've got to build it player-by-player.

.
Click to expand...

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.
 
King T said:
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.
Click to expand...

Trudeau tried something similar and actually had a little meat to it. Simply throwing money in the game and expecting it to fix all of the problems won't work. There are buzzes created all the time. They don't work because they're not attached to anything sustainable.

People know about pool, people enjoy playing, but nobody seems to acknowledge the problems that keep it limited in reach and profitability.
 
I agree..., for the most part

Banks said:
Trudeau tried something similar and actually had a little meat to it. Simply throwing money in the game and expecting it to fix all of the problems won't work. There are buzzes created all the time. They don't work because they're not attached to anything sustainable.

People know about pool, people enjoy playing, but nobody seems to acknowledge the problems that keep it limited in reach and profitability.
Click to expand...

Trudeau is a thief, not sure way he got involved with pool, but I would love to know the real reason if you could get him to tell the truth?

As far as something ''sustainable" the game is still being played all over the world and at a very high level everywhere but here? Funding the Pro's is not so much about them as it is marketing to the APA and BCA level players, the people that paly local and regional tournaments. Keeping them engaged and motivated to play better.

Yea it would be great if pool looked like it did in the days of Willie vs Fats, but that aint the way it is. It still can be put in a better state with some well managed cash for the Pro's and a direct push for more young players from all backgrounds.
 
King T said:
Trudeau is a thief, not sure way he got involved with pool, but I would love to know the real reason if you could get him to tell the truth?

As far as something ''sustainable" the game is still being played all over the world and at a very high level everywhere but here? Funding the Pro's is not so much about them as it is marketing to the APA and BCA level players, the people that paly local and regional tournaments. Keeping them engaged and motivated to play better.

Yea it would be great if pool looked like it did in the days of Willie vs Fats, but that aint the way it is. It still can be put in a better state with some well managed cash for the Pro's and a direct push for more young players from all backgrounds.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know what Trudeau is, but I was just using that example to show that you can't just throw money at something and figure it to fix itself.

If pool is sustainable outside of the U.S., it really doesn't matter to 99% of the people on this forum. We're talking about the U.S. here. Other places can support it, etc, but we don't get that kind of funding. It also doesn't mean "funding the pros" as much as it means creating an opportunity for them. You also don't need to motivate people to play better, you just need to keep them involved and interested. If Jim Beam is out there knocking balls into the rail daily, who cares if he improves as long as he's having fun doing it? He may, but the machine itself really doesn't care.
 
nineballsafety8 said:
It was not a revenue generating idea, it was essentially structured charity for the players, just to light a fire, and motivate people to start their own tournaments. Just get some more money into the players pockets.
It was not a long range solution, I was simply asking internally whether it would help the community. I am fully aware that marketing, sponsorship and media coverage is what will make money as a mainstream sport. My question was, if such a tournament were to happen, would it breath life back into the players?
Click to expand...

I definitely think it would. If someone had that much money, they could likely also pay for it be broadcast on ESPN and be advertised, which would definitely help a lot.
 
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
 
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