what would you do darts vs. lounge sitting area

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6pocketbilliars

6pocketsbilliards
I am a soon to be owner of a new pool hall. We are trying to make some final decisions. A little background about my place. We are going to have 16 7ft and 6 9ft Diamond pool tables. I want to have a nice sitting area off to the side in an empty space we have and my partner wants to do darts. I welcome any suggestions.
 
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6pocketbilliars said:
I am a soon to be owner of a new pool hall. We are trying to make some final decisions. A little background about my place. We are going to have 16 6ft and 6 9ft Diamond pool tables. I want to have a nice sitting area off to the side in an empty space we have and my partner wants to do darts. I welcome any suggestions.
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SIX FOOT TABLES? Or 3.5' x 7.0' Bar Boxes? Dart Players are Drinkers, so think about BEER SALES to Dart Players.
 
Depends...

Where are you located? Do they play darts around there? Are there leagues? Is your partner talking soft darts or real darts? Darts can draw in non-pool business, but it depends. College kids seem to like darts in a casual way, too...I've never seen lounge/conversation pit areas do anything for business in a pool room...maybe a row of diner booths for folks that just want to come in and drink/socialize?
 
My opinion is that if I sold alcohol and food, I'd do the lounge area, if not, I'd do the darts. But that's just me. I often wish I had more seating area for the people that want to have a beer and a burger, but are not up for a game of pool. I never wish I had darts, (which I don't), though your area might be different than mine in that regard. Either way, good luck with your venture.
 
Dead space

Empty space is dead space. If you have the room for dart boards, you should put them in. Pool players don't generally spend money. They drink water, tea, or cokes and might eat something at your place if the food is good. Dart players, on the other hand, will get hammered on beer and eat your food whether it's good or not. As obnoxious as they can be, their money may actually save your room during a slow period. Just my opinion...
 
miscrewed1989 said:
...Dart players, on the other hand, will get hammered on beer and eat your food whether it's good or not. As obnoxious as they can be, ...
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Obnoxious??? LMAO
Dart players spend $$$, drink a Lot of beer and love to socialize even while playing -
much unlike prima donna pool players that b1tch about everything and need a sterile environment.
Different game - different crowd.

Anyway, there's no revenue in seating areas. Depending on ther available space you could have an
amusement operator bring in at least 2 coin-op boards (preferably Galaxy G2 models). You split the
coin drop and they do the maintenance. If the boards don't get much use you can have them removed
and do something else. If they do well then you could put your own boards in and get all the coin drop.
Alternately you could use the extra space for a pro shop area if you want to keep things strictly pool.

Most of the dart league bars around here have 2 boards so if you decide to put in darts thru an
amusement operator (they typically run the leagues and can answer all your questions) ask them
about adding your location.
 
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If you community supports darts, then you should put in dart. Like pool and anything else, you have to get people involved or the dart boards will just sit there. The good thing about darts is they don't take up that much space (unlike a pool table). As someone else said, dart players are drinkers.
 
Yes...

Yes, I am a poolplayer. Yes, dart players get on my nerves. Yes, I like to play in a reasonably quiet environment. That being said, I understand that poolplayers alone will not keep a room/bar open. I understand if it were not for the dart players & the APA, I probably would not have a place to play at all. Does that make them any less annoying? No. But it's a price that must be payed to have a place to play. I have seen WAY more barfights over a $5 blind draw dart tournament than I have over ANY pool action in the bar where I play. Is that standard? I can't speak for the whole country, but it seems logical that where there are more beer sales, the chance for beligerence is higher. Just something to think about when opening a room/bar. Having a good, diplomatic bouncer on hand will usually curb any minor temper flare ups. But if the sales are high enough, the cost of paying a bouncer should be easily covered.
Again, my advice was for the dart boards, not against them. Pool and darts are 2 totally different games with 2 totally different crowds. Trouble can arise from either. It's the nature of the business. It all depends on how well you can keep your patrons under control while still allowing them to have a good time. In the bar business, the customer is NOT always right. JMO
 
Since the dart players and the pool players dont get along, price the pool table time according to how close they are to the dart boards. Right next to them, $1 an hour. Farthest away, $10.00 and hour. You will quickly find out the demographics of your room.

Cater to who brings you the most income per square foot.

Square footage is the demon that dooms most places.
 
Darts break constantly

DART PLAYERS CONSTANTLY ARE SPENDING MONEY ON NEW TIPS, SHAFTS,FLIGHT ETC. EVERY WEEK. tHERE IS A GOOD PROFIT MARGIN ON DART SUPPLIES AND IN OUR SHOP I WOULD SEE THE SAME DART PEOPLE COMING IN EVERY WEEK SPENDING $10-$20 DOLLARS ON REPLACEMENT ITEMS, WHERE AS POOL PLAYERS NEVER SPENT MUCH AFTER THEIR INITIAL CUE AND CASE PURCHASE.
YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE THE DART BOARDS OUT AND HAVE THE COUCHES PUT IN

PS
WOMEN PLAY DARTS!!!ALOT MORE THAN PLAY POOL, IF THE WOMEN COME TO YOUR PLACE THE MEN WILL FOLLOW

JMO

GOOD LUCK
GORDON
 
dart players spend alot of money!!!!! I would suggest that you get you some dart boards.

A few Questions to ask yourself:
-is there a big enough fanbase of darts?
-how many other places have the dart leagues/tourneys and so on?
-can you compete with the comp with the amount of dartboards you can put in?
-are you going to be able to match there pot in there tourney every time?

Darts and pool down/upsides:
-Dartplayers think because they spend the most screw the pool players get out my way.
-you can have a dart league every night of the week.
-you must have the dart players away from the pool action because it will create a conflict. put them where the pool players dont play.
-what you do for one you must do for the other or will create conflict money added wise
-dart players are quick to say bye!!! and move onto next location but normally can get them back slowly but surely
-the pool players will only put up with their rowdiness for so long
-yes darters do get rowdy and yes they do get obnoxious but you must control it as owner from it conflicting you pool playing or it will create conflict read my story below........

I am a pool player never cared for darts in my area tourneys were ok but not enough action $5 a game is high for a fair game they would bet more here but only if they had stone cold nuts. but the only thing that kills me about the dart players is if your shooting they (80% of them here in memphis) will walk and stand put their hand on table and all that while shooting no big deal thats ok until you do it to the (right imo) wrong person thats playing 1k set. and he decides when they have there big tournament next month to go buy an air horn and a laserlight and mess with them with the laser light almost all night and then in the finals blows an air horn right by the best team in the finals and causes them to lose and then the next big tourney decides to walk up and down every dart board looking for his contact for about an hour lol.

he shouldnt have done it to that extent except to the people who did it to them. but remember to try and keep them seperated or put signs up where and when not to walk.
 
The math for coin-op dartboards -
2 player Cricket @ .75 per game per player = $1.50
4 games per hour = $6.00
Add a conservative 2 beers per player @ $3 ea = $12

Revenue per hr for 1 dartboard ($6 + $12) = $18

picture.php
 
cueandcushion said:
Since the dart players and the pool players dont get along, price the pool table time according to how close they are to the dart boards. Right next to them, $1 an hour. Farthest away, $10.00 and hour. You will quickly find out the demographics of your room.

Cater to who brings you the most income per square foot.

Square footage is the demon that dooms most places.
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I think I will open up a Dart Hall.

I will have 500 dart boards with one bar box right in the middle
 
Yes

Yes! That barbox would be a great place for the dart players to set their beer and the cloth would soak up the spillage, lol!!
 
Dartman said:
The math for coin-op dartboards -
2 player Cricket @ .75 per game per player = $1.50
4 games per hour = $6.00
Add a conservative 2 beers per player @ $3 ea = $12

Revenue per hr for 1 dartboard ($6 + $12) = $18

picture.php
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Rick- there was one very important thing that would be missing from an alley like that in my area.....there are ashtrays on the tables with cigarettes in them.
What is the experience with the dart players when there is no smoking? Same as pool?
 
doitforthegame said:
Rick- there was one very important thing that would be missing from an alley like that in my area.....there are ashtrays on the tables with cigarettes in them.
What is the experience with the dart players when there is no smoking? Same as pool?
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They piss and complain - but still play.
 
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