What's the best city for pool?

VIProfessor

VIProfessor

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Here's a question for AZland. What's the best city/state for pool in terms of the following criteria, listed in no particular order:

A. Places to play
B. Availability of good players
C. Tournaments
D. Action
E. Instructional resources
F. Cost of living

I'm really looking forward to seeing your responses.

VIProfessor
 
From what I hear, Florida probably has the strongest field of players who call it home.
 
xidica said:
I'm soon to move to Houston, heard there were some player's there.
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i was there all last week. i didnt see any big names but the overall play was very good. if you find the right place there is alot of action.
 
I've been around and played some of the best pool in

Texas

Houston and Dallas specifically but SA isn't too bad. I've always had good competative action in Dallas.
 
Bishop said:
I've been around and played some of the best pool in

Texas

Houston and Dallas specifically but SA isn't too bad. I've always had good competative action in Dallas.
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Bishop, you know Fred Gardner?
 
xidica said:
Bishop, you know Fred Gardner?
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Sorry I can't say I do. These aren't my regular stomping grounds as I live in Corpus but I will atest to having great action with good pool people in those areas.

The thing I enjoyed most about Dallas was the people. My last action there if I remember correctly is a Clicks north of Downtown. Real billiard enthusiants not just guys there for a night out. I make my way to Dallas a few times a year for Cowboy games and its great everytime I go.
 
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I've traveled for work and pleasure to most of the major cities in the US several times (thousands of poolrooms).

The strongest area that you will ever find is Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida without a doubt. Even if you are a big whale you won't make much more than a ripple in those waters...............

:D
 
Yah, I'd say that's about right. The I-4 corridor from St. Pete/Tampa through to Orlando is dangerous for someone who is not fully aware of how many good players are around.

Even the shortstops around here are capable of snapping off STRONG weekend tournaments once in a while.

I mean, look at it this way.. Richie Orem was considered a good player, but still only in the strong shortstop range before he won the Sands. He ran a set out from the break on Tommy Kennedy, but still probably was consistently only in the 5th-12th range in the Florida Pro events.

LOTS of good players in this area. (I live about 1 hour from Orlando, Tampa, and Spring Hill. I'm pretty much dead center in the hotbed.)

Russ
 
Russ Chewning said:
Yah, I'd say that's about right. The I-4 corridor from St. Pete/Tampa through to Orlando is dangerous for someone who is not fully aware of how many good players are around.

Even the shortstops around here are capable of snapping off STRONG weekend tournaments once in a while.

I mean, look at it this way.. Richie Orem was considered a good player, but still only in the strong shortstop range before he won the Sands. He ran a set out from the break on Tommy Kennedy, but still probably was consistently only in the 5th-12th range in the Florida Pro events.

LOTS of good players in this area. (I live about 1 hour from Orlando, Tampa, and Spring Hill. I'm pretty much dead center in the hotbed.)

Russ
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So out of the towns in the hotbed area, which is the best to live in regarding things like cost of living and quality of life?
 
VIProfessor said:
So out of the towns in the hotbed area, which is the best to live in regarding things like cost of living and quality of life?
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Welllllll.. Let's put it this way.

Tampa? EXPENSIVE
Orlando? EXPENSIVE
Spring Hill? Not expensive, but also a fair ways away from Tampa, St. Pete, and Orlando.

I live in Lakeland, which is equidistant from all three, something of a rural town, and pool is not nearly as big in this county as those areas. That being said, it's close to everywhere in the hotbed, and not too expensive.

My 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom house with two car garage (being renovated as a pool room soon) runs about $180,000 nowadays, whereas similar houses in Tampa/Orlando/St. Pete run in the $280,000 range.

Lakeland is definitely not a party town. That's what Ybor City near Tampa is for. From Lakeland, I have been to The Improv (comedy club) in both Orlando and Tampa, saw Chris Tucker, and I am close to Disney World, Busch Gardens, Sea World, etc for the kids...

Russ
 
the Chicagoland area used to be right up there towards the top of the list years ago but since i haven't traveled around much in the last 8 or so years, i'm not sure what other areas have a great draw for players. i'm sure there a some good ones out there.
 
Russ Chewning said:
Welllllll.. Let's put it this way.

Tampa? EXPENSIVE
Orlando? EXPENSIVE
Spring Hill? Not expensive, but also a fair ways away from Tampa, St. Pete, and Orlando.

I live in Lakeland, which is equidistant from all three

My 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom house with two car garage (being renovated as a pool room soon) runs about $180,000 nowadays, whereas similar houses in Tampa/Orlando/St. Pete run in the $280,000 range.

Russ
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Tampa Bay is the best by far!!!
I have a home in Tennesse and also frequently travel to Tampa Bay area.

I was the former roomate of Rich Orem and and can say from experience that a good short stop can make a decent living playing local tournaments and small to medium cash games!
1)A small two bedroom apartment will run somewhere between 600-750 a month. Split between two people is very inexpensive!
2)Quality of life there is excellent! The ocean,parks,theme parks,and some of the best meals I have ever eaten are a short drive away!
3)There are several top players there current and old school also! Rodney Morris,Tony Crosby,Rich Orem, Earl stickland,Will Bilbrey,Rob Seaz,Donnie Mills,Ray Martin,Wade Crane,Buddy HAll,....etc... Some of which are very good teaching pros!!!
4)Until you reach an offical pro status the Kings Bays Amateur tour offers a great source for income as well as small action! Weekly tournaments are in abundance there. Almost somewhere every night of the week has a tournament paying between $100 to $300 range. Larger touraments from the Florida pro tour running during the winter months offer a chance to compete for larger stacks of cash!
5)There are so many good poolhalls! Strokers in Palm Harbor, Capones in Spring Hill, Fatsos in Tampa, Hammerheads in NewPort Richey,CM's in Largo,Family Billiards in Clearwater, Barons in Sarasota,Stixs in Tarpon. and this is only a few! Most have all 9ft tables.
6) oh and something else ITS 75 DEGREES IN THE WINTER TIME!!!!!!!
I'm Just saying, thats my two cents!!!
Kevin
 
VIProfessor said:
Here's a question for AZland. What's the best city/state for pool in terms of the following criteria, listed in no particular order:

A. Places to play
B. Availability of good players
C. Tournaments
D. Action
E. Instructional resources
F. Cost of living

I'm really looking forward to seeing your responses.

VIProfessor
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The best City for pool is any City that has no other form of Gambling and allows it's pool rooms to stay open 24/365.:D

Have a nice day !!!!!!

Manwon
 
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