Time For Tournaments to be in a central local?

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
I really think it's overdue for promoters of the big tournaments to give some thought about having them in central states. The cost to players to travel, lodge, and food going to Vegas where the majority of them are held has to be hurting the players that can't afford it and the promoters not getting the amount of players they should be getting hurts them.

You have the US Bar Table Championships, APA, BCA, TAP, to name just a few that the players from the East Coast have costs so high that half can't go. Even the WPBA should have a central local for ALL their tournaments. I'm not the brightest star in the pool world, so maybe I'm missing something. If I am, would a promoter be kind enough to enlighten me?
 
Johnnyt said:
I really think it's overdue for promoters of the big tournaments to give some thought about having them in central states. The cost to players to travel, lodge, and food going to Vegas where the majority of them are held has to be hurting the players that can't afford it and the promoters not getting the amount of players they should be getting hurts them.

You have the US Bar Table Championships, APA, BCA, TAP, to name just a few that the players from the East Coast have costs so high that half can't go. Even the WPBA should have a central local for ALL their tournaments. I'm not the brightest star in the pool world, so maybe I'm missing something. If I am, would a promoter be kind enough to enlighten me?
Click to expand...
Hotel, rent a car, and so on kick backs. You have no idea. My sister-in-law does conventions and it can be tens of thousands of dollars. The promoter would lose money if they had it in some no where town.
 
macguy said:
Hotel, rent a car, and so on kick backs. You have no idea. My sister-in-law does conventions and it can be tens of thousands of dollars. The promoter would lose money if they had it in some no where town.
Click to expand...

Well that's all well and good, but if this economy stays the way it is or gets worse, I hope they can draw enough players from CA, AZ, and NV. Johnnyt
 
Tunica Ms and Memphis Tn are pretty central with descent weather and other attractions as well , not to mention plenty of accomodations and great hospitality.
 
One of the troubles is finding a venue to host that large of tournament. Not many Hotels are equipped to set up 300+ pool tables. Plus drop their rack rate.

In years gone by, the BCA National Tournament used to move from City to City every year. Once they settled in Las Vegas the Tournament became a HUGE success.....SPF=randyg
 
hotel rooms

I would think most cities would have problems providing enough hotel rooms for 5-7000 people for 10 days within a reasonable disance to the venue

Lucky
 
Johnnyt said:
Well that's all well and good, but if this economy stays the way it is or gets worse, I hope they can draw enough players from CA, AZ, and NV. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

No matter what it would be worse somewhere else. If they can't draw the players then they fold the tent and forget about it.
 
kansas city, omaha, denver,chicago, etc etc. Somehow i think these byroad "towns" could support a few players. i like the idea, although i doubt it will happen. there's a lot of opportunity in the midwest, and the motivation would be there-money. i guess if all you do is fly over the midwest from coast to coast, it's hard to see what's in the middle. wasn't johnston city in the midwest?(sarcasm allowed)
 
Lebanon, Kansas - Geographic Center of the 48 States
Geographic Center of the Contiguous United States is located just north and west of Lebanon, KS, adjacent to a pasture and overseen by a friendly-if-nonplussed herd of cows. The Center is a small grass patch containing a 10 ft. high stone podium and flagpole, on which U.S. and Kansas flags fly. A small plaque on the podium informs visitors that a government geographic survey in 1898(?) established this spot as the center of the continental U.S. A picnic table allows you to contemplate the the equilibrium of your surroundings. Nearby is a tiny hut, the Chapel at the Center, which invites you to pray (a bible is provided at the altar; it was open to the book of Revelation when we visited) and sign the guestbook. Souvenirs, a sign informs you, are available back down the road in the town of Lebanon. [B Bergevin, 01/12/2003]


The chapel at the center sounds like a good idea. After all, a LOT of prayer goes on at pool tounaments...;)
 
Johnnyt said:
I really think it's overdue for promoters of the big tournaments to give some thought about having them in central states. The cost to players to travel, lodge, and food going to Vegas where the majority of them are held has to be hurting the players that can't afford it and the promoters not getting the amount of players they should be getting hurts them.

You have the US Bar Table Championships, APA, BCA, TAP, to name just a few that the players from the East Coast have costs so high that half can't go. Even the WPBA should have a central local for ALL their tournaments. I'm not the brightest star in the pool world, so maybe I'm missing something. If I am, would a promoter be kind enough to enlighten me?
Click to expand...

I agree. South texas would be perfect. Maybe like Houston:thumbup:

and that includes the derby:eek:
 
If you look at where most events are located it is because the host venue either adds money, is geographically desirable to the promoter (Derby City), or gives the promoter a deal on rooms/convention space. An example is that if you move the Reno events from the Sands, the Derby from Harrah's or the BCAPL Nationals from Vegas you have to find venues with open dates, enough space, and the killer....money to put in.

I fly all over the US and it costs roughly the same (within a $100 or so) for airline travel to anywhere any substantial distance away. So it really makes no difference whether you fly to KC, Florida or Texas. It all costs the same anyway unless you happen to live in the local area.

One good thing about Vegas in this economy is that the days of cheap rooms are back. You can get rooms at the Sahara for under $30 a night among other deals and a ticket here costs the same as a ticket anywhere pretty much.

I like the different venues personally and think going to the same place, wherever it is, every month or so would get pretty boring.

All that said TAR has been looking at creating/using a venue in Vegas to make the challenge matches easier to produce. Travel really does eat up money and for small things like we do with only a couple of players it makes sense to just fly guys into a central spot. Large events are a different story though.

Another example is that if you put the SBE in Louisville I doubt you would get the same traffic because so many people are within driving distance
on the east coast. Just like if you move Derby to Philly I dont think you would get 400 bank pool players. Embrace the diversity LOL.
 
I travel all over the US all the time.

When it comes to booking a flight, reserving a room, and renting a car, Vegas is the cheapest place there is.
 
What the hell is bank pool?....and where the F$^k is my cheese steak? :)

seriously, I keep getting these offers in the mail to fly down to FLA for like $140 round trip! not a bad deal these days, but I'm still not gonna win the weekly tourny down at Capones to pay the travel fees!

this is a good thread, maybe we can all come up with ideas to get our great game on the proverbial map again!
 
thats cost a finger

Johnnyt said:
OK, OK, I was wrong. I can admit it. :p. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

we gootta taka finger or two toooo make thangs rite!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????? good thang yousa nurseee yuss cans stop tha bloood!!!!!!
 
Last edited:
What is central to some, is not to many. I like being able to travel to new and different places, anyway. And ditto on what Justin said about travel costs. They're roughly the same from wherever you're travelling.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top