What to do with no pool room?

[Wags]

I posted a poll earlier to find out the AZer's frequency of going to the pool room. The rounded off results are kind of amazing to me.

30% go to rooms 5 to 7 days/wk

22% go to rooms 3 to 4 days/wk

only 38.5% go 1 and 2 days/wk (I suppose that coincides with days off from work)

and astoundingly enough, 9% never even go to rooms.

I always had an illusion that the AZ crowd was more hard core, but guess I was wrong.

The number of rooms in the U.S. has dropped 30% between 2004 and 2010. There are a number of reasons for this that have been well documented on the Room Owners Forum.

All in all, what is going to happen when your room closes? Not only for you but for our sport?

Seems to me that without pool rooms there will be no pool. It also seems painfully clear to me that the big guns in the pool industry don't care enough about this very real situation to force a call to action.

This is happening and this is real.

For me, I'll join a men's club..oh, there aren't any, and have a smoke...opps, can't do that in Minnesota, maybe go to a bar once in awhile...doggone, most of those are closed that used to NOT have loud music and a bar table.

Sheesh, I don't know what I'll do.

 

[Secaucus Fats]

Pool will survive but the business will evolve. IMO, a smaller venue, housing 8 to 10 9ft Diamond Smart tables, and around six dartboards, in conjunction with a sports bar, and a good kitchen, would be the way to go if you want to make money as an owner. Not too big, not too small.

Beyond the flat screen TV's, a place like I envision, would have to feel warm, friendly, comfortable, and inviting to all. It would not be marketed as a 'pool hall' but rather as a very nice neighborhood watering hole that happens to have a great kitchen, and well maintained top quality 9ft Smart tables. I'd pay particular attention to food and beverage sales as those are the lifeblood of the business. Of course it should host Pool and Dart leagues, karaoke, weekly tournaments, open mic night. The idea is to have something for everyone so you can get 'em in the door.

I believe this concept would lead to more places to play and bring more folks into the game. Every decent urban neighborhood could have its own 'home room'. Each would need a very friendly and polite staff, and an absolute zero tolerance for knuckleheads and on premises drug sales or usage.

 

[gunzby]

I was at the pool hall today and every table was in use including two bar tables and a 5x10 snooker table which comes to 16 tables I think. Granted it was tournament night, but the tables are typically full regardless of tournament night.

I usually go in 2 days a week because of work. If I'm in there more than that it's because I have no work to do which stresses me out, but that also means that I will be there 5 days that week

Other pool halls around me are also typically full so long as they meet certain criteria. The terms are: they have 9 foot tables, well maintained equipment, care about their customers and don't charge out the yin yang. The phrase "If you build it....they will come" comes to mind here in NC.

 

[Johnnyt]

With the economy and the price per sq ft for table space you will see less and less poolrooms and most of the ones that will be left will have more 7' tables than 9' tables. Johnnyt

 

[Shortside K]

its all over...

With the economy and the price per sq ft for table space you will see less and less poolrooms and most of the ones that will be left will have more 7' tables than 9' tables. Johnnyt

If this happens, why bother? Pool will be a joke.

 

[mrsmith1976]

I would go insane...

If this happens, why bother? Pool will be a joke.

If that happened I would turn into one of the old guys talking about how good pool "used" to be on 9 foot tables. Bar boxes are definately for bangers and bar owners.

(I am waiting for all the "You can play my friend some on the barbox then" crowd to show up with stacks of cash any minute...)

 

[realkingcobra]

I posted a poll earlier to find out the AZer's frequency of going to the pool room. The rounded off results are kind of amazing to me.

30% go to rooms 5 to 7 days/wk

22% go to rooms 3 to 4 days/wk

only 38.5% go 1 and 2 days/wk (I suppose that coincides with days off from work)

and astoundingly enough, 9% never even go to rooms.

I always had an illusion that the AZ crowd was more hard core, but guess I was wrong.

The number of rooms in the U.S. has dropped 30% between 2004 and 2010. There are a number of reasons for this that have been well documented on the Room Owners Forum.

All in all, what is going to happen when your room closes? Not only for you but for our sport?

Seems to me that without pool rooms there will be no pool. It also seems painfully clear to me that the big guns in the pool industry don't care enough about this very real situation to force a call to action.

This is happening and this is real.

For me, I'll join a men's club..oh, there aren't any, and have a smoke...opps, can't do that in Minnesota, maybe go to a bar once in awhile...doggone, most of those are closed that used to NOT have loud music and a bar table.

Sheesh, I don't know what I'll do.

Are you completly over looking the fact that rooms OPEN almost daily in this country as well? I've said it before, I guess I have to say it again...MOST rooms close...because the ownership didn't do enough to stay in business. LAST years business plan don't work for next years customers...they want more, expect more...for their money. Good example is going to the movies, no one wants to go see a movie in a run down theater, with nasty bathrooms, old chairs, and only one person working the counter for your refreshments...that's why THEY go out of business too!

Glen

 

[lfigueroa]

I posted a poll earlier to find out the AZer's frequency of going to the pool room. The rounded off results are kind of amazing to me.

30% go to rooms 5 to 7 days/wk

22% go to rooms 3 to 4 days/wk

only 38.5% go 1 and 2 days/wk (I suppose that coincides with days off from work)

and astoundingly enough, 9% never even go to rooms.

I always had an illusion that the AZ crowd was more hard core, but guess I was wrong.

The number of rooms in the U.S. has dropped 30% between 2004 and 2010. There are a number of reasons for this that have been well documented on the Room Owners Forum.

All in all, what is going to happen when your room closes? Not only for you but for our sport?

Seems to me that without pool rooms there will be no pool. It also seems painfully clear to me that the big guns in the pool industry don't care enough about this very real situation to force a call to action.

This is happening and this is real.

For me, I'll join a men's club..oh, there aren't any, and have a smoke...opps, can't do that in Minnesota, maybe go to a bar once in awhile...doggone, most of those are closed that used to NOT have loud music and a bar table.

Sheesh, I don't know what I'll do.

A friend of mine up in Michigan got himself a small space in an industrial area. Put a desk and computer in against one wall for "an office" (tax break) and uses the rest of the room for a 9' table, lights, min-frig, etc. On a monthly basis, costs him less than table time at a pool room.

Lou Figueroa
thinkin'
about it

 

[justadub]

A friend of mine up in Michigan got himself a small space in an industrial area. Put a desk and computer in against one wall for "an office" (tax break) and uses the rest of the room for a 9' table, lights, min-frig, etc. On a monthly basis, costs him less than table time at a pool room.

Lou Figueroa
thinkin'
about it

I understand the concept of being able to play as much as you want, whenever you want. And a fixed cost, as well.

I just don't think I would like to play alone, or with just one or two friends, all the time. I would miss the social aspect of it all. Seeing people, laughing and having fun together. As well as playing pool.

That's just me.

 

[lfigueroa]

I understand the concept of being able to play as much as you want, whenever you want. And a fixed cost, as well.

I just don't think I would like to play alone, or with just one or two friends, all the time. I would miss the social aspect of it all. Seeing people, laughing and having fun together. As well as playing pool.

That's just me.

I totally get that. I think their are some folks for whom pool plays an important social function. But there are some of us that enjoy the solitary trudge up the mountain the game can offer and, while I agree it's less than ideal, don't mind being locked away pounding balls.

Lou Figueroa

 

[ctyhntr]

This did happen, 7' bar tables taking over. Turning lemons into lemonade, two gentlemen got together and formed the APA; 8-ball rules for 7' bar tables. Now, APA pool leagues 265 thousand strong.

If this happens, why bother? Pool will be a joke.

 

[Black-Balled]

I totally get that. I think their are some folks for whom pool plays an important social function. But there are some of us that enjoy the solitary trudge up the mountain the game can offer and, while I agree it's less than ideal, don't mind being locked away pounding balls.

Lou Figueroa

Life could be worse, eh?!

 

[glengarets]

Life gets in the way man. I would love to go to pool rooms more often. But the overall price at the end of the night kills me. Id much rather stay at home and play on my own table then go and spend more money than i absolutely have to.

 

[Mr. Wiggles]

Diversify

Absolutely pool is struggling. It's not going to get better. The older pool rooms are not going to save themselves, their going to give up. They probably just limp along and certainly don't want to invest more money to reinvent themselves. This will be done by new rooms that are more than just pool rooms. They will offer more than just pool. We have AAA Billiards in Okc. And they don't have FOOD! Best tables in town, even a 3 cushion table! No beer! He sells supplies and services tables and is a cue maker and that keeps his head above water. I love big tables but rooms are moving to bar boxes to accommodate more league pool. Which makes more money, a 9ft.With no one playing or a pay table taking in quarters. It's about the bottom line. The future of pool is like lots of other things. It lays in the hands of a younger generation getting involved in the game. Much like hunting. We introduced five younger hunters this year and that's just in our family! Support your local pool room, start playing in more tourneys, introduce someone to the game.

 

[Wags]

Absolutely pool is struggling. It's not going to get better. The older pool rooms are not going to save themselves, their going to give up. They probably just limp along and certainly don't want to invest more money to reinvent themselves. This will be done by new rooms that are more than just pool rooms. They will offer more than just pool. We have AAA Billiards in Okc. And they don't have FOOD! Best tables in town, even a 3 cushion table! No beer! He sells supplies and services tables and is a cue maker and that keeps his head above water. I love big tables but rooms are moving to bar boxes to accommodate more league pool. Which makes more money, a 9ft.With no one playing or a pay table taking in quarters. It's about the bottom line. The future of pool is like lots of other things. It lays in the hands of a younger generation getting involved in the game. Much like hunting. We introduced five younger hunters this year and that's just in our family! Support your local pool room, start playing in more tourneys, introduce someone to the game.

Mr. Wiggles, you speak volumes. Support the Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) and its mission to introduce the younger generation to the game (gentle prod for the BEF and sponsors to move them in that direction).

Yes, rooms that don't update will go out of business.
I don't know that someone with enough of a downpayment is willing to invest in the "new" room. There are much better opportunities with a greater return in a more stable environment. But...I hope so.

You aren't a pool room unless you have a 9 footer. Saying that means that the Twin Cities are now down to just 3 rooms. That's 6 or 7 less than 3 years ago. Thank heavens your room owner has other revenue streams but... with the downturn in pool and all the pool supply places on the internet, I'm sure his supplies and cue sales have taken a turn also. Thank heavens he can do tables. I would think that that will be okay for awhile.

I like the idea of getting 8 to 10 of the "guys" together and renting some space for a couple of tables. Right now space is cheap and tables are cheap. I don't see that changing.

Of course, I would only consider that when there are NO 9 foot rooms. Until then, being retired has its previleges, 6 days a week at my home room, teaching and playing. You just gotta love the click of the balls, the sound of the pocket, the toungues a-wagging and of course, the game.

 

[btoneill]

This did happen, 7' bar tables taking over. Turning lemons into lemonade, two gentlemen got together and formed the APA; 8-ball rules for 7' bar tables. Now, APA pool leagues 265 thousand strong.

Actually, they had a press release this month that in 2010 they had 270k people playing APA leagues this year.

Brian

 

[gunzby]

It's strange to hear these stories because pool is doing great here in NC. Heck even had a new room open (150 n Out in Mooresville) and where it is isn't cheap by any means at all and they are doing great too.

One room around me is surviving, but not doing great. This room also doesn't meet the criteria I listed in my previous post for one that does well. They have busted up balls, the rail rubbers are loose on all the tables and they never clean the tables so it looks like you've been fingerbanging a smurf (pardon my language). Because of this no one goes there anymore.