US Open 9Ball Moving

lfigueroa

lfigueroa

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm not one much for 9ball, but I'm kinda surprised no one has brought up for discussion that, according to BD, BB is moving the 9Ball Open from the Chesapeake Conference Center down the road to the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center.

It appears the major issue for the new tournament venue will be fitting the tournament into three separate ballrooms vs one large space and that seating in the new venue's Grand Ballroom will only accommodate 250 fans vs the 700 the finals typically draw.

I've never been but the 9Ball Open was on my "bucket list" so I kinda feel I've missed out. Whadda you guys think of the move?

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
I'm not one much for 9ball, but I'm kinda surprised no one has brought up for discussion that, according to BD, BB is moving the 9Ball Open from the Chesapeake Conference Center down the road to the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center.

It appears the major issue for the new tournament venue will be fitting the tournament into three separate ballrooms vs one large space and that seating in the new venue's Grand Ballroom will only accommodate 250 fans vs the 700 the finals typically draw.

I've never been but the 9Ball Open was on my "bucket list" so I kinda feel I've missed out. Whadda you guys think of the move?

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

It's another end of an Era so to speak. The Chesapeake Convention Center became synonymous with the US Open. It stands alone on the property with no other buildings around it, just a medium sized building where ALL the action was. It was cozy and laid out well.

I am sure some will miss it. I had some good shows there and saw a lot of great pool. Met a lot of good people.

I am sure the hotel will be ok as well but once you get used to a place it's hard to have the same romantic attachment.
 
I've never been to the Open, which is unforgiveable given how close it is to where I reside. I do, however, like that it will be closer - within walking distance - to Barry's pool room, where the late night action occurs. I gotta get there this year - damn any professional conferences that typically interfere! :cool:
 
I am planning on going this year.

Just like with the DCC, I seem to be 1 year late, and go the first year in a new location. I have only great experiences with the Derby though, so not too worried :-)
 
JB Cases said:
It's another end of an Era so to speak. The Chesapeake Convention Center became synonymous with the US Open. It stands alone on the property with no other buildings around it, just a medium sized building where ALL the action was. It was cozy and laid out well.

I am sure some will miss it. I had some good shows there and saw a lot of great pool. Met a lot of good people.

I am sure the hotel will be ok as well but once you get used to a place it's hard to have the same romantic attachment.
Click to expand...
I'm sick.....i've been to the US Open every year it's been held at the Convention Center and I can't imagine the US Open being somewhere else. If there ever was a perfect place for a big 9 ball tournament that place is it! There has to be a good reason for moving the tournament, but i'm still sick about this news.

James
 
First the press release about if it BB can afford to run the US Open.

Now talk about moving the event to a smaller location.

BB is scaling back on the event. If he had done this a few years ago while the recession was swinging big I'd have no problem.

It seems the ABP regulations are taking a bite out of his capital spending budget.

Investors will be frightened by his recent moves.
 
I'm going to re-check those Mayan predictions, but so far 2012 is proving to be the year of dramatic change for pool in the US. Look at what has happened so far for 2012

Allen Hopkin's Super Billiard Expo at Valley Forge will be in a new convention center

This is the last year BCA Nationals in Las Vegas will be held at the Riviera

Now, news of the US Open 9-ball moving.
 
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Didn't the Open used to be at the Holiday Inn for a little bit?

I might be confusing that location w/ another tournament though.
 
I have yet to go to the open myself. I have a friend that has been every year for a long time and he really enjoys it.

I will make it out there eventually, as of yet the timing hasn't been good.

Lou, the positive thing for guys like us (open virgins) is that we have nothing to compare the current venue with. I know the derby at EW had a completely different air to it. I'm sure the open will be that way also, but I will be oblivious to the past.
 
lfigueroa said:
I'm not one much for 9ball, but I'm kinda surprised no one has brought up for discussion that, according to BD, BB is moving the 9Ball Open from the Chesapeake Conference Center down the road to the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center.

It appears the major issue for the new tournament venue will be fitting the tournament into three separate ballrooms vs one large space and that seating in the new venue's Grand Ballroom will only accommodate 250 fans vs the 700 the finals typically draw.

I've never been but the 9Ball Open was on my "bucket list" so I kinda feel I've missed out. Whadda you guys think of the move?

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

I'm curious myself due to the three ballrooms being used. I wonder how it will affect reserved seats. I've had VIP reserved seats two of the three times I've been so far. I really enjoyed the tournament at the Conference Center.
 
5th? Location ...

... I think this will be the 5th location to host the open...

I can not name them all (Q Masters, the hotel near the convention center, a hotel down the road from the convention center, The convention center)

I believe it has been at the Convention Center since '97...

Earl is the only person to win one at each location...

(Mr. Mills can name them ALL ... as he is the current US OPEN TRIVA Champ! -- crowned in 2010 and barred from further events ;-)


Any way not the first time location has changed...
 
lfigueroa said:
I'm not one much for 9ball, but I'm kinda surprised no one has brought up for discussion that, according to BD, BB is moving the 9Ball Open from the Chesapeake Conference Center down the road to the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center.

It appears the major issue for the new tournament venue will be fitting the tournament into three separate ballrooms vs one large space and that seating in the new venue's Grand Ballroom will only accommodate 250 fans vs the 700 the finals typically draw.


Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

Where did you get this "3 room 250" info? Is that 250 people per room which totals 750? I'd sure hope so... Does anyone know if there will be 16 tables or ? I can't envision that us spectators that have been to the convention center are going to be pleased only being able to view a third of the field at a time.

16 tables at the Convention Center was great. When a match got tight or something extra exciting occurred we could easily move seats to catch it closer up. Now, that becomes difficult to impossible. :(

I hope there are ample hotel options as well. Dropping $43 a night for a double with efficiency that was a football field length away was a HUGE convenience.

Someone told me Q Masters is like 2 blocks away from the Holiday Inn. That's about the only good thing I can see at this point...
 
I know of 4 places its been held. QMasters, Holiday Inn Convention Center, Va Beach Pavillion and the Chesapeake Convention Center.
 
I have been for the last several years and I really didn't care for the convention center... I am hoping a change to the ballrooms at the Holiday in will give it more of the executive west derby days feel.....

As far changing I think it's the right move since Barry will now add more cash to the event per his recent press release....

I would have went even further and had days 1-2 at QMasters and then moved to the Holiday Inn to save even more on the event... There is almost zero spectator attendance the first 2 days....
 
5th location

I know of 4 places its been held. QMasters, Holiday Inn Convention Center, Va Beach Pavillion and the Chesapeake Convention Center.
Click to expand...

yes I believe that is all of them ... and this would be the 5th location...

Earl won 2 ('97 and 2000) at the convention center and 1 at each of the other 3...
 
JB Cases said:
It's another end of an Era so to speak. The Chesapeake Convention Center became synonymous with the US Open. It stands alone on the property with no other buildings around it, just a medium sized building where ALL the action was. It was cozy and laid out well.

I am sure some will miss it. I had some good shows there and saw a lot of great pool. Met a lot of good people.

I am sure the hotel will be ok as well but once you get used to a place it's hard to have the same romantic attachment.
Click to expand...


I think we all make the mistake of believing good things will go on forever.

Lou Figueroa
 
ctyhntr said:
I'm going to re-check those Mayan predictions, but so far 2012 is proving to be the year of dramatic change for pool in the US. Look at what has happened so far for 2012

Allen Hopkin's Super Billiard Expo at Valley Forge will be in a new convention center

This is the last year BCA Nationals in Las Vegas will be held at the Riviera

Now, news of the US Open 9-ball moving.
Click to expand...


lol.

Lou Figueroa
part Mayan
 
brandoncook26 said:
I have yet to go to the open myself. I have a friend that has been every year for a long time and he really enjoys it.

I will make it out there eventually, as of yet the timing hasn't been good.

Lou, the positive thing for guys like us (open virgins) is that we have nothing to compare the current venue with. I know the derby at EW had a completely different air to it. I'm sure the open will be that way also, but I will be oblivious to the past.
Click to expand...


Brandon -- I know you're right, but now we'll never be able to talk about how great the event was the the Chesapeake like the old timers.

Lou Figueroa
 
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