US Open Suggestions.........

[The Renfro]

Posted this at the end of another thread but I thought I would repost it to see what other ideas the community can come up with. I apologize to anyone who finds offense with starting a new thread with posts from another....




The draw the first few days of the tourney is a pretty low and would be a sunk cost..

I would think that if Barry held the first 3 days at QMasters he could cut his overhead substantially and it would not impact his overall business opportunity cost by using the tournament room. He has 70+ tables and the players that play in the back room will likely be there watching the tournament. This might also lead to more action in the main room after and before matches.... It would give it more of the Derby feel since any woofing can be immediately handled and the main room will be a HUGE action room for sweaters at the tourney without the drive usually required...

I'd say get rid of the free entry fees except for the prior year's winner and runner up...... No reduced entry for early pay.... Reduced entry for amateurs would be fine to me tho since you have to have some cannon fodder.

Seed the tournament like he has been doing but put a bounty on a seeded player..... $500 to anyone who knocks one of the 10-12 seeded players into the losers bracket first round.... We all love upsets and underdogs.... Also gives the underdog an extra motivation for bringing the A-game.... We have heard many lesser players complain about seeding not allowing them a chance at an easy draw and being able to maybe back into the money so this should shut them up........

Give AWAY tickets on the radio.... The morning shows are always wanting freebies they can toss out to caller number 7... If you want a big crowd the best way to get one is to start with a small crowd....... Give some to a charity and let them sell them and keep the profits..... Woohooo a crowd with a healthy dose of GOOD P.R. if ya clue the media in!!!!

Allow exhibitions/free clinics in the halls of the convention center... I know Barry doesn't like anything going on outside of the tournament room at the convention center as he thinks this will detract from the gate and people will remain outside watching, but this is the farthest from the truth... If they come to the convention center they are going to watch the tournament at some point...

 

[JAM]

I like your suggestions, some of which are new and innovative.

I'm not so sure about the advantage of holding the Open at Q-Masters the first few days. I think the logistics would make that a problem for a variety of reasons. The first few days of the Open may be difficult for those who work 9-to-5 jobs to attend. Sometimes folks wait for the last three or four days to come to the Open when things start narrowing down to the best players of that week competing.

I love the $500 bounty on anybody who defeats a seeded player.

Barry does contact the media, and they have had ESPN Radio giving away free tickets live on the air, as well as newspaper journalists writing up a snippet of the tournament in the local paper.

The exhibits and/or lessons, of course, is a great idea at any pool happening.

I do believe that Barry Behrman, et al., have a lot of extras that go on, which some may not be aware of, but I notice them when I'm there, like the red roses for the ladies. That's what makes Barry's Open special for Barry. There's a story behind the red roses. Of course, he doesn't have to give away the roses, but he does it because it brings him and the lady recipients a little joy.

Barry has been doing the Open long enough that I'm pretty sure he's probably weighed the pros and cons of trying various new approaches and eliminating others. One thing for sure, he's got experience in putting on a big event. I think if he could arrange for the top four to get half up front and half within 30 days, it might solve some issues, but I'm just a railbird looking in from the outside.

I'm pulling for Barry to keep it going, as most others are, too! :smile:

I also hope the ABP is able to realize that working together is a heck of a lot better than a boycott. There's no sense to shoot one's self in the foot trying to get a point across. :embarrassed2:

If the ABP really wanted to do what's best for their livelihood, they would engage in a give-and-take with the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship promoter and come with an end result that satisfies both sides. That's how professionals conduct themselves in business dealings, with an emphasis on the word "professionals."

 

[JAM]

Billiards Digest Publisher Mike Panozzo's brilliant twist of words captures the entire situation just right. It's worthy of reading, just to enjoy the descriptions he portrays, like the "unreasonable bullies" of the ABP with their "saber-rattling," and maybe "armed guards would be on site to watch over the booty."

Here's a portion of the article for a fun read: ...In the end, the players came across looking like unreasonable bullies, when in fact they have been victims in the past and are simply trying to avoid the same result.

It’s all in the presentation.

Behrman, meanwhile, comes across looking like the victim in this fight. The truth is that, despite his genuine love of the sport and its pros, Behrman is notorious for coming up short on his promises. If he needs to set less lofty goals to ensure full payout at the event’s conclusion, then he should do so.

What makes this an entirely fruitless exercise top to bottom, of course, is that everyone in pool knows that the players will show up like clockwork come October. Behrman will insist that this year will, indeed, be different and will publicly profess his love of the players.

My suggestion is that this year both sides hire armed guards. Behrman’s should watch over the prize purse, and the ABP’s should keep watch over Behrman!

Source: FROM THE PUBLISHER -- August: Like ‘Real’ Sports [Retrieved 30 July 2011]