Ultimate Pool $

[u12armresl]

Someone locally said there were almost 200 teams.

From looking at the brackets it appears there were 51 8 ball teams and 20 10 ball teams.
Anyone else have different numbers?

They kept adding divisions and things like legends, doubles, Jack and Jill, etc. but overall they had to have taken a HUGE bath on this.

Additionally, they were advertising that if you didn't win your way for a trip to the Grand Nationals, you could buy in at $2850 a team.

Also numerous posts about starting matches really late and telling people they need to be around for when their match is ready.

Not sure how long they are funded for, and I don't view them as the IPT, but to try and overthrow Valley/BCA, and APA probably isn't going to happen.

What are your thoughts on the financial aspect, potential growth, etc.

 

[Magictrat007]

People in my city really like it so I think it could take off but time will tell. A lot of people are saying they like it more than APA and a lot of people in APA are saying they’re going to UPL. and I don’t plan either one so my opinion is unbiased.

 

[u12armresl]

People in my city really like it so I think it could take off but time will tell. A lot of people are saying they like it more than APA and a lot of people in APA are saying they’re going to UPL. and I don’t plan either one so my opinion is unbiased.

I played in 2 sessions.

Slop anything including the 8 ball bites, but as you saw with the GN finals, at the level it takes to get to the finals, slop doesn't rear its head.

 

[Johnson]

I enjoy all the different formats with the singles and scotch doubles, don't really care to watch women's singles but I do like the mixed pairs. The league format makes no sense and I could careless about it, they need to have their own UP USA ball sets and the timer needs to be visible on the screens at ALL times on the tv table for the player as well as the viewer it adds to the drama. The formats for US vs UK are endless and need to be utilized, they could also have blind draw partners. Also would love to see actual SPEED POOL and get Tony Drago and all the fastest players in it and it needs to be well thought out on the format! Stick with 8 ball and maybe have a yearly 9b or 10b championship! They really need to add an event somewhere in Ohio!!!

Surely Brunswick is paying out the ying yang for sponsorship to launch their own bar tables or have UP be the beta testers which is odd in a live $ tourney format. They were regularly having 3k viewers on the live stream which is a LOT for pro pool. I don't really care about the league but surely they are building up the league to be in house and get Brunswick tables on site for their ODD partnership. I look forward to more events and hope the league/Brunswick flourishes to bring more events/exposure.

 

[Willymakaball]

I joined UPL, It take a bit of time to adjust to the shot clock, the slop, is frustrating but I'll take one if needed, don't get home a 1am , Played APA, will not play it again after quailfing for Vegas And team would not take me , my APA was a 9 in 9 ball at the time. UPL is fun. But from what I see most APA player are not liking it, UPL has some of the better players where I am at.

 

[Jerry R]

Someone locally said there were almost 200 teams.

From looking at the brackets it appears there were 51 8 ball teams and 20 10 ball teams.
Anyone else have different numbers?

They kept adding divisions and things like legends, doubles, Jack and Jill, etc. but overall they had to have taken a HUGE bath on this.

Additionally, they were advertising that if you didn't win your way for a trip to the Grand Nationals, you could buy in at $2850 a team.

Also numerous posts about starting matches really late and telling people they need to be around for when their match is ready.

Not sure how long they are funded for, and I don't view them as the IPT, but to try and overthrow Valley/BCA, and APA probably isn't going to happen.

What are your thoughts on the financial aspect, potential growth, etc.

Looks like the 8 ball has 52 teams. Groups A through M had 4 teams each.

Grand Finals

2025 UPL GRAND FINALS | Fixtures, results, league tables, competitions and live scoring. Powered by RackEmApp.com

league.ultimatepoolusa.com

For whatever this is worth they had 720 players there. Not sure how that breaks down into different teams and events.

2025 UPL GRAND FINALS

2025 UPL GRAND FINALS | Fixtures, results, league tables, competitions and live scoring. Powered by RackEmApp.com

league.ultimatepoolusa.com

Based on the commercials they run in their breaks and the numbers of ads and banners I'm guessing they'll be just fine. One of the few pool events I've seen that had advertisers/sponsors from outside of the industry.

I played it last summer. I really hope someone starts up a league closer to me. I really enjoyed it. Just not enough to commit to a 220 mile round trip drive in a MN winter.

I think they will do fine and continue to grow.

 

[u12armresl]

Looks like the 8 ball has 52 teams. Groups A through M had 4 teams each.

Grand Finals

2025 UPL GRAND FINALS | Fixtures, results, league tables, competitions and live scoring. Powered by RackEmApp.com

league.ultimatepoolusa.com

For whatever this is worth they had 720 players there. Not sure how that breaks down into different teams and events.

2025 UPL GRAND FINALS

2025 UPL GRAND FINALS | Fixtures, results, league tables, competitions and live scoring. Powered by RackEmApp.com

league.ultimatepoolusa.com

Based on the commercials they run in their breaks and the numbers of ads and banners I'm guessing they'll be just fine. One of the few pool events I've seen that had advertisers/sponsors from outside of the industry.

I played it last summer. I really hope someone starts up a league closer to me. I really enjoyed it. Just not enough to commit to a 220 mile round trip drive in a MN winter.

I think they will do fine and continue to grow.

The bread and butter was supposed to be the team events. They added so many events between legends, seniors, juniors, womens, open, league, that the number seems right, but 51 teams is really really small for a national event.

 

[FrankieD]

I have yet to see a Chicagoland Ultimate Pool League. I am hoping that changes.

 

[easy-e]

The bread and butter was supposed to be the team events. They added so many events between legends, seniors, juniors, womens, open, league, that the number seems right, but 51 teams is really really small for a national event.

They had so few because the teams had to complete a full season before being eligible. So many of their areas are new so they didn’t have time. Next year I bet they get at least triple the amount of teams, if not more. Loads of new cities are signing up!

 

[fuggles]

The bread and butter was supposed to be the team events. They added so many events between legends, seniors, juniors, womens, open, league, that the number seems right, but 51 teams is really really small for a national event.

I don't know how many teams they had. Lets say it was 51 8 ball teams. They paid $100K to the winner. And $450K in total. What are you compaining about?

APA has what? 1200 8 ball teams and they pay what?

 

[jay helfert]

Anybody know what kind of money it took to attract all these older legends. AKA prize money

 

[easy-e]

Anybody know what kind of money it took to attract all these older legends. AKA prize money

My guess would be not much. I'm not privy to any type of "appearance fee", but I would guess all of the players signed up and foot the bill themselves. This is a tour where guys like Tommy Kennedy and Nick Varner can still do well on!