What Can Be Done To Improve The Derby City Classic

JoeyA said:
... My suggestion in this post is to make the tournament double elimination and get rid of the buy back. ...
Double elimination is a really bad idea because you have about 20 rounds. That's a killer if you want to do one pocket in three days.

I think a better solution is a format we have used in this area: a bunch of single-elimination mini-tournaments of 8 or 16 players. The winner from each mini-tournament goes onto the finals board, and the rest of the players are free to buy back into another mini-tournament. Once you start in your mini-tournament, you play straight through. The minis would take two days and the single-elimination finals (32 or 64?) would be the only thing on the third day of each tournament. Scheduling would be very simple and I think there would be far fewer forfeits due to schedule misunderstandings.
 
av84fun said:
I'm sure I am missing something...but it seems to me that scheduling has been complicated far more by fact that tables/players dedicated to 1 hole, for example, can't be playing in 9 ball at the same time.

Whenever I've asked about when the next 9 ball draw is going to be, I am told that they have to wait for tables/players to free up from the 1 hole tournament.

Players are asked to exercise their buy back option promptly after a defeat and MUST do so before the next draw.

As noted above, the next draw cannot take place until those entered in 1 pocket have concluded whatever match they are in so I just don't see how the buy back option is the bottleneck...but again, I may well be missing something.

In the meantime, I would imagine that numerous players enter for the thrill of it and for the memories. Many of those wouldn't enter at all if they had to pay a higher rate for double elimination up front.

Some might make the case that "good riddance" let the bangers stay home but it is important for tournaments to turn a profit for the promoters..or their wouldn't be any tournaments so we have to be careful what they wish for along those lines.

Certainly Diamond has data on what percentage of 1 loss players exercise their buy back option that they might want to share here.



Regards,
Jim

Jim, there's lots of room for debate in this thread but I doubt that the "banger's" are worried about having to pay for a double elimination fee. The cost for the hotel, transportation, food and of course the loss of wages are FAR greater concerns than the difference in cost between Single Elimination w/buyback availability vs. Double Elimination, especially when you only have to play in ONE DISCIPLINE. There are apparently enough of us banger's out here to keep the tournament going even if a few do drop out because they have to spend an extra $75.00. There may be some pizzing and moaning but the bottom line is people come to the DCC for the fun and when you come to have fun, another $75 shouldn't stop many. The vocal cheap guys may voice their opinions rather strongly and it may appear that they won't come but their howl is just to keep the costs down and it won't affect whether they come or not.

The banger's are the ones with jobs so they can afford a few more bucks than those who choose not to have a regular job. If it is going to make the tournament run more smoothly, I am for DE. Besides, it would be nice to know how many dollars in entry fees are taken in, in total.

JoeyA
 
Da Poet said:
It's a supply and demand thing. If they can't increase the supply of tables, and the demand keeps growing, the prices will go up. Moving this to a place like the Expo Center, might have it's drawbacks, but it might be the only way this thing can keep up with it's growing popularity without drastic price increases.

Unfortunately, the only way I think it can improve is to relocate to a larger venue and add more tables.

One guy said he wouldn't go to the EXPO Center because there is a minimum cost for parking EVERYDAY. I think he said $10.00 It all adds up.

Why should the prices go up? Because they can? :mad:
JoeyA
 
Dcc Buyback

storke said:
they tournament should be best 2 out of 3 race format no double elimanation and no buy back. this way the best player that match will win.

I HAVE SUGGESTED THE LAST 3-4 YEARS TO PERMIT BUY BACKS BE PAID BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT BEGINS TO AVOID THE WAITING FOR RESULTS AND THEN STANDING IN LINE TO DO WHAT YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO DO 3 MONTHS EARLIER. THIS YEAR IT WAS CONSIDERED BUT PROGRAMMING LIMITATIONS PREVENTED IT FROM BEING ACTIVATED THIS YEAR. DOUBLE LOSS ELIMINATION WOULD ALSO REMOVE THIS TIME CONSUMING ISSUE BUT THEN MIGHT RAISE AN ECONOMIC ISSUE. THE BEAUTY OF THIS TOURNAMENT IS THE SHORT RACES PERMIT THE AVERAGE JOE TO BEAT A MUCH BETTER PLAYER WITH THE BETTER PLAYER STILL REMAINING IN THE TOURNAMENT.
 
With me being there as a vendor i would like to see them get all the bar table players back with the pros. It really cut down on a lot of traffic for the vendors and all sales were way off from what they had been so everyone said.
 
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I think the buy back is a good idea. I just wish when they got down to the last 2 or 3 matches they would go ahead and put both players name in and do the draw. 90 % of the good players are going to buy back anyway. I think this would speed up things. At least they could get the other matches going and work around the ones they are waiting on. (JMHO)
 
Joe Koontz said:
I have played in the DCC banks for the past 5 years. It is a fantastic experience.

However, I would love to see it become double elimination or at the very least, have matches scheduled by time if possible. It is very hard to plan around your matches when you don't really know when you are playing.

Even if the format does not change, I will continue to play as long as the good Lord allows me to..

Peace, JBK
The problem is not the buy back option. Even if you have double elimination you still cant schedule any matches other than the first ones of the day. The reason being is some bank matched takes 20 minutes while other take 3 or 4 hours! With 450 players and only 30 tables that is only 60 people who will have their match "scheduled" and then the rest still have to wait until the match is over. I agree with you in the fact i have played 5 years and the process should improve, but, i love the format and with the schedule in your room i dont think it is problem enought to change the format.

Changing the format only mean now they can schedule 2 sets of matches instead of one which will not help.
 
My main problem every year hasn't been mentioned yet = Not nearly enough tables in the gambling/action room......Myself, and many guys that I've talked to, will have a free couple of hours in the afternoon or evening, match up with somebody, and then can't get a table to play on ! - It's really aggravating.
 
Practice tables?

Charge a decent fee and let players practice on a set of tables not involved in the tourny. Also having the Gabriels 3-Cushion tables available would be nice. This is the only chance many players get to play on Gabriels or Diamonds. If there are people waiting just have a 30 minute time limit and charge a fee that will make the expenses of having them available. $15/ hour or so?

All goes back to having a bigger venue. As much as I love the location and set up of the Executive West. It can be DOUBLE the size and probably would not be large enough for DCC. Diamond has created the ultimate Pool Monster in this event.
 
JoeyA said:
OK, here is a thread where you can offer positive suggestions to improve the quality of the DCC experience.

Please make only one sincere suggestion per post.

My suggestion in this post is to make the tournament double elimination and get rid of the buy back.

This could help improve the scheduling which is far more than a serious inconvenience.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS????
One suggestion per post please..............(you might even put the gist of it in the title section of your post to make it easier to find)

JoeyA

If it aint broke dont fix it. Leave the tournament alone. Its by far the best tourney going.
Side issues for me are the vendors cramped into the hallway and side rooms. I would like to see this layed out better and Many more vendors. I saw less cues than last year, probably cause cueaddicts didn't turn up.
The action room should be renamed the methane room...pewww.
 
misterpoole said:
If it ain't broke don't fix it. ...
I agree with that in general, but many, including me, think the scheduling is broken. It is the main source of complaints that I've heard. The semi-chaos causes lots of problems.
 
Having never been its tough to comment on the scheduling and so forth.
However listening to the stories as well as seeing video and pictures it appears that the character and layout of the location adds MUCH to the overall flavor of the event.
Going to a large "big box" environment could hurt the overall feel and style of the event.

I know I was surprised when I forst saw pictures of the venues and I thought that it looked neat to have the different areas and sections within one common ground.
Its tough to get that feel in a location like a convention center because the convention centers job is to keep it generic.
I just wonder if the promotion team would be able to add character to a plain box.


I didnt realize that this was the last year at the current location. I would have liked to have gone. If it changes venues to a big box then IMO the
event will NEVER be the same.
 
av84fun said:
I'm sure I am missing something...but it seems to me that scheduling has been complicated far more by fact that tables/players dedicated to 1 hole, for example, can't be playing in 9 ball at the same time.

Whenever I've asked about when the next 9 ball draw is going to be, I am told that they have to wait for tables/players to free up from the 1 hole tournament.

Players are asked to exercise their buy back option promptly after a defeat and MUST do so before the next draw.

As noted above, the next draw cannot take place until those entered in 1 pocket have concluded whatever match they are in so I just don't see how the buy back option is the bottleneck...but again, I may well be missing something.

In the meantime, I would imagine that numerous players enter for the thrill of it and for the memories. Many of those wouldn't enter at all if they had to pay a higher rate for double elimination up front.

Some might make the case that "good riddance" let the bangers stay home but it is important for tournaments to turn a profit for the promoters..or their wouldn't be any tournaments so we have to be careful what they wish for along those lines.

Certainly Diamond has data on what percentage of 1 loss players exercise their buy back option that they might want to share here.



Regards,
Jim

You know, the scheduling must be a nightmare for Scott and his crew. The only thing predictable is that there are going to be a boatload of players and only so many tables. It sounds to me as if they do one hel of a job to keep it going as smoothly as they do.

I think it is a given that with this many players, there are going to be issues and a lot of ASAP answers to those issues.
 
Did anyone notice there were less tables this year. More people each year but less tables??? There were 2 less tables in the main room (in front of tournament desk) 1 less in the chapel, and 2 less in the drinkwater room (next to the restaurant). Anyone know why?
 
Tim5000 said:
Did anyone notice there were less tables this year. More people each year but less tables??? There were 2 less tables in the main room (in front of tournament desk) 1 less in the chapel, and 2 less in the drinkwater room (next to the restaurant). Anyone know why?


You're like Rainman with that memory :D :D
 
I asked Greg about moving and he said he didnt know yet .The center across the street might not let him stay open all night ?Theres the room issue also .you just run upstairs and nap at the center ? It needs to be in a hotel ? He didnt like the Casino idea .He wants pool money to stay in pool .
 
Tim5000 said:
Did anyone notice there were less tables this year. More people each year but less tables??? There were 2 less tables in the main room (in front of tournament desk) 1 less in the chapel, and 2 less in the drinkwater room (next to the restaurant). Anyone know why?


And there was less hookers this year, why was that ?....maybe because there was a big salesmans convention in another part of town ? - I wouldn't blame the 'working girls', those conventioneers have more money/expense accounts to spend than us poolplayers......:p
 
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