What makes a Tournament Great?

StormHotRod300

BigSexy
Silver Member
Ok, i have been wanting to put together a regular tournament at the pool hall i play at, and i have ideas for what i would like to do for the tournament but what you would like to do and what you should do to make people want to play in it, is two different things.

Obviously one of the problems i face is, I would like for the tournament to be on 9ft tables, BUT, the pool hall only has 6 of them. And has 13 - 7ft tables, which is a option but i would rather have it on the 9ft tables.

Format would be DE race to 9 and finals to 13.

Entry fee, probably 50$ with 10$ green fee.

Now does a Set First place payout make the tournament more catchy?

Like if you say you'll have a guaranteed first place payout of 2,000$
Instead of what alot of places do is the 250-500$ added per 16 or 32players.

Or would it be better to do like a guaranteed first place payout w/32 players or 64 players.

there would be a calcutta.


Now i bring this up because i hear alot about people raving about how good or great a tournament is and that people flock to play in it, like Derby City, which has obviously been around for a long time.

And then i hear about Tournaments like Glass City, which seems to be going blaaaaa, because of the hotel rates and being charged this and that, and the crappy food, and crappy benches that people had to sit on in the ROOM that people played in.

Now obviously i have thought about having a tournament like this held every couple months, 3 or 4, or even doing it every other month, and having something like points added for every match win you have, and then having top player seeding in the brackets. And also having a year ending big tournament, too.

Well i am open for comments, i will say the pool hall does have pool hall food, but has local restaurants in walking distance like Denny's and Bob Evans, and fast food places too. So its not like your going to be racked for food cost.

dave
 
StormHotRod300 said:
Ok, i have been wanting to put together a regular tournament at the pool hall i play at, and i have ideas for what i would like to do for the tournament but what you would like to do and what you should do to make people want to play in it, is two different things.

Obviously one of the problems i face is, I would like for the tournament to be on 9ft tables, BUT, the pool hall only has 6 of them. And has 13 - 7ft tables, which is a option but i would rather have it on the 9ft tables.

Format would be DE race to 9 and finals to 13.

Entry fee, probably 50$ with 10$ green fee.

Now does a Set First place payout make the tournament more catchy?

Like if you say you'll have a guaranteed first place payout of 2,000$
Instead of what alot of places do is the 250-500$ added per 16 or 32players.

Or would it be better to do like a guaranteed first place payout w/32 players or 64 players.

there would be a calcutta.


Now i bring this up because i hear alot about people raving about how good or great a tournament is and that people flock to play in it, like Derby City, which has obviously been around for a long time.

And then i hear about Tournaments like Glass City, which seems to be going blaaaaa, because of the hotel rates and being charged this and that, and the crappy food, and crappy benches that people had to sit on in the ROOM that people played in.

Now obviously i have thought about having a tournament like this held every couple months, 3 or 4, or even doing it every other month, and having something like points added for every match win you have, and then having top player seeding in the brackets. And also having a year ending big tournament, too.

Well i am open for comments, i will say the pool hall does have pool hall food, but has local restaurants in walking distance like Denny's and Bob Evans, and fast food places too. So its not like your going to be racked for food cost.

dave


If you have a limited number of tables you can play single elimination to 16 players. re-draw and play double elimination for the money rounds. Please forget the greens fees. Any time you bring breathing bodies in the pool room it's is a good thing. They need to just consider it advertising and stop complaining they are losing business. If that's the case don't have the tournament if they don't want to.
 
The best tournys are the ones with great players, and action...

paying out deeper in the field will help bring players that can't win, but want to play, and maybe cash.

Also, having an action table for guys to match up on if they get knocked out helps keep people around after they lose.

free coffee, and a close by Chinese food place is always a winner IMHO


Gerry
 
First of all do you have enoug quality players that is willing to pay 60 bucks to play??? if you dont think so , you might want to drop your fee to 30-40 bucks to try and draw locals, or shortstops, as we call them,startof at a med price and see what the draw is the you might have a big tourny 1 a month or somthing , just dont forget your locals , they are your regulars, and deserve ,respect they are the ones that come in everyday, and help pay the light bill. that is the way i run mine STICK
 
Formula for a great tournament 10 things

1)non-smoking
2)good highly recognized players
3)good money adds and high payouts
4)action between tournament play
5)Calcutta
6)smoothly operated tournament/director
7)good food
8)multi events
9)location
10)powerball winner handing out $1000 checks to crowd
 
Ok, to answer some of the statements and idea's and questions you guys have here i go.

As for having enough tables, thats a yes, they have 30tables, 13 7ft and 6 9ft the rest is either 8ft or 3C tables. Now i was thinking run the tournament on the 7ft tables and then when you get to the final 16 people, we could switch to the 9ft tables.

For the green fee i think all the places i have gone to for a tournament has them, because they hafta somehow re-coop the lost table time. Expecially if they could have rented that table for 4 or 5 hrs @8$ per hour while the tournament was going.

As for getting enough good players for a 40-50$ tournament that isnt a problem expecially when theres a calcutta. I would be advertising atleast a month or so in advance and sending out flyers to other pool halls too, and asking if they have any flyers to send my way.

Yes theres a chinese place right next door too lol.

As for payouts, it kinda depends on how many players, but something like top 8 or 12 places. Also maybe doing a last chance tournament for guys who went 2 n out.


But besides that i dont have much more i could add or say

dave
 
First off I have Zero Experience Organizing Pool Tournaments but know from other thing I have been involved in what People come for.

Vendor Area, like Cuemaker, and Accessories Suppliers with Displays & Sales.

Possibly a Few Raffle Prize where all who enter get a FREE Raffle ticket for a Small Group of Prizes.

A System of Handicap where you are not matched 1 on 1 with Almost Pro level Players

Great Cash, and or Merchandise Prizes in proportion to Entry FEES, so it is not just the Promoter going home with a Big Grin.
 
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