Where are they now? The WPBA Players
- Thread starter Johnnyt
- Start date
So far that is all. Johnnyt
can someone explain?
Why does the WPBA website only list 2 events and the WPA website list 6-7 events for the year?
http://www.wpa-pool.com/index.asp?content=cal2010
Why does the WPBA website only list 2 events and the WPA website list 6-7 events for the year?
http://www.wpa-pool.com/index.asp?content=cal2010
I'll hazard a guess and say the reason is because the WPBA only has 2 events and the WPA has 6 or 7 events.
Fred <~~~ seems that simiple
OK, poorly phrased. The WPBA site lists 2 events, however on the WPA calendar they have 6-7 WPBA stops listed.
The WPA is actually listing "WPBA Tour Stop" 6 times that i see with everything but the dates " to be determined". The WPA main reason for existence imo is to schedule events so that conflicts are minimized.
I guess that is what they are doing-alloting time slots-The rest is up to the WPBA which right now consists of the President (Jeanette for all intents and purposes) and 2 Board members I believe. A skeleton staff at best.
I believe BRUNSWICK was lost and they used to pay PLENTY for their sponsorship agreement-approaching 7 fiigures i was told by an ex board member (who bs'd me apparently-why dude?). That is a big loss to make up which they did somehow LAST year (WTG Melissa!) but this year seems to be a problem. Diamond has/may step up to some degree. We shall see.
Edit- ive been convinced that the sponsorship by Brunswick was no where near 7 figures ever.
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Well how much is the actual site license fee that they seemed to only be able to get from the (Indian) casinos? During one of the streams or posting threads one of the pros said the venue decides on what to charge for admission and they keep it. If that is the case couldn't they just rent a ballroom/hotel conference facility IN a major metro area and collect their own admission and be able to offset costs by the presumably increased crowds (with some actual advertising)? Or is the site fee really that high? For one thing I think it is ridiculous that there are players who have qualified to play in the tour events and then are not allowed because of age to actually play at the venue.
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We don't know.
Where'd you find that? Last i knew Barry said the ladies COULD NOT play this year but next year maybe.
Thats not a tour, thats a hobbie. A damn shame is what it is. ESPN is no bargine to do biz with, I knew a boxing promoter that they owed a couple million too, he got his $$$ years later and then had to chop it up with the lawyers. Dont think that ESPN are good guys for a moment-they suck on all levels, I wouldnt do biz with them at all. I saw the shit they pulled on the boxing show, we had 4 show's a year. Nine or ten of which 4 were ESPN in the begginning they paid us for the shows, then they wanted us to pay them for the show's. It went back and forth for 4 years and he finally stopped the show, it ran for about 10 years. I was talking to Dana White about it, this was before Dana blew up and got huge, ever see UFC on ESPN? I went to dinner with Dana a few times and told him what was up, I owned a radio show for boxing that turned into a boxing/MMA show, i pulled out 2 years ago when I stopped making $$$, Dana blew up, Fatboy toppled over. LOL
Back to pool biz(sorry)
Who know's what the girls are doing? Jasmine is winning 4 gold metals and is about to embarass alot of men real soon, man she can play. I hope she plays in lots of mens events. I think all events should be open to the girls. As for the others I honestly dont know, giving lessions, house pro jobs. It sure is a shame that they have busted their tail's for years to play at the level they do to have 2 events in a year. I suppose they will announce more stops if they come avaliable.
The real question is not what the players are doing, but what the hell are the promoters doing or not doing??? Is it because of ESPN(Fatboys guess) wont be realistic, or the economy(losing sponsors), or lack of public interest. A chain is only strong as its weakest link, I want to know who or whats the weakest link!!!!!
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IMO there are too many cooks in the kitchen (board members). They need one person to represent the players and two others, one that has run a company and has a proven track record as a pool promotor. The third to run the rest of the tour resposibilities. Again JMI.
If the tour is to continue it will be with an angel promotor or much smaller purses. Johnnyt
If the tour is to continue it will be with an angel promotor or much smaller purses. Johnnyt
The really unfortunate thing is if ESPN would really get behind the tour, put up some serious money and show it live they could have a big hit on their hands. By going cheap they are cheating themselves along with the ladies.
Hadnt heard that but who is in if that's the case? I think he still is in as the President's Message is "coming soon" according to the WPBA site.
The real question is not what the players are doing, but what the hell are the promoters doing or not doing??? Is it because of ESPN(Fatboys guess) wont be realistic, or the economy(losing sponsors), or lack of public interest. A chain is only strong as its weakest link, I want to know who or whats the weakest link!!!!![/QUOTE]
I can tell you it's got nothing to do with ESPN - They've always been highly enthusiastic about the WPBA. Many Indian Gaming Casino's are hurting right now and yes they've been the main Site supporters and yes a venue pays a hefty Site Fee to host a WPBA event which is why they keep the gate (ticket sales for the layman) among other incentives.
Here's the basic chain - The WPBA has commercial units to offer the sites and sponsors which are all negotiated as part of contracts (with other incentives too) Without those units, there is very little incentive to pay the kind of site fee's the WPBA requires. The Site/Sponsor fee's go towards paying the player's prize fund, the WPBA's production costs (in order to give ESPN a final product ready for airing) and day to day operating costs - when one leg of this beast fails, it can all fail. Sure, the WPBA could go back to having smaller non-televised events in billiard rooms (although the rooms would still have to pay a site fee but reduced by comparison to televised events). The prize funds would be smaller, and perhaps the field would be too. The Sponsors would have less incentive to pay more for sponsorship and the WPBA takes a major step backwards into the stone age.
In 1993 at the very first WPBA event I played in at the Bicycle Club in Los Angeles, the total prize fund for the entire event was $25,000. Last year, the average prize fund was nearly 4 times that amount. Why? Because of ESPN and the opportunities for incentives they've offered the WPBA over the years. Anyway, that's how I feel about that
The WPBA has a great product - it's players. Player's of all types - Smart, Funny, Beautiful, Talented, Humorous (Think Julie Kelly whom I adore!).... the variety is stunning. But what really can that offer a non-industry company? Kudo's to Jeanette for the way she's marketed herself over the years but she is truly the exception to the rule. Allison, Kelly, Jasmin, Sarah, they've all stepped up and are pushing the boundaries best they can but in the end, unless a major non-industry sponsor comes in because they believe in the sport, it will never grow beyond what it is now. I'd like to see small steps - partnerships with major hotel chains, car rental services, shoe companies, make up companies, clothing, hell even deodorant companies (never let'm see you sweat eh?) that offer discounts or incentives to purchase their products with high profile players in commercials and advertisements would be fantastic! Just the association with major brands (or even regional one's) would be a step in the right direction.
It can happen, but there's one big problem right now (ok several but those have to do with the people involved not the issues discussed here)..... The economy! Let's be real - How many corporations, mid/small businesses and even us as individuals have cut back on extraneous expenses? I know I have. Fun Money just ain't there right now.
The WPBA has a great product - it's players. Those will hopefully remain constant and the organization will weather the storms its facing (the storm clouds that are being driven by both people and the economy) -
Ah well, we'll see what happens... in the meantime, there's always gardening!
xoxoxo
Anne
I can tell you it's got nothing to do with ESPN - They've always been highly enthusiastic about the WPBA. Many Indian Gaming Casino's are hurting right now and yes they've been the main Site supporters and yes a venue pays a hefty Site Fee to host a WPBA event which is why they keep the gate (ticket sales for the layman) among other incentives.
Here's the basic chain - The WPBA has commercial units to offer the sites and sponsors which are all negotiated as part of contracts (with other incentives too) Without those units, there is very little incentive to pay the kind of site fee's the WPBA requires. The Site/Sponsor fee's go towards paying the player's prize fund, the WPBA's production costs (in order to give ESPN a final product ready for airing) and day to day operating costs - when one leg of this beast fails, it can all fail. Sure, the WPBA could go back to having smaller non-televised events in billiard rooms (although the rooms would still have to pay a site fee but reduced by comparison to televised events). The prize funds would be smaller, and perhaps the field would be too. The Sponsors would have less incentive to pay more for sponsorship and the WPBA takes a major step backwards into the stone age.
In 1993 at the very first WPBA event I played in at the Bicycle Club in Los Angeles, the total prize fund for the entire event was $25,000. Last year, the average prize fund was nearly 4 times that amount. Why? Because of ESPN and the opportunities for incentives they've offered the WPBA over the years. Anyway, that's how I feel about that
The WPBA has a great product - it's players. Player's of all types - Smart, Funny, Beautiful, Talented, Humorous (Think Julie Kelly whom I adore!).... the variety is stunning. But what really can that offer a non-industry company? Kudo's to Jeanette for the way she's marketed herself over the years but she is truly the exception to the rule. Allison, Kelly, Jasmin, Sarah, they've all stepped up and are pushing the boundaries best they can but in the end, unless a major non-industry sponsor comes in because they believe in the sport, it will never grow beyond what it is now. I'd like to see small steps - partnerships with major hotel chains, car rental services, shoe companies, make up companies, clothing, hell even deodorant companies (never let'm see you sweat eh?) that offer discounts or incentives to purchase their products with high profile players in commercials and advertisements would be fantastic! Just the association with major brands (or even regional one's) would be a step in the right direction.
It can happen, but there's one big problem right now (ok several but those have to do with the people involved not the issues discussed here)..... The economy! Let's be real - How many corporations, mid/small businesses and even us as individuals have cut back on extraneous expenses? I know I have. Fun Money just ain't there right now.
The WPBA has a great product - it's players. Those will hopefully remain constant and the organization will weather the storms its facing (the storm clouds that are being driven by both people and the economy) -
Ah well, we'll see what happens... in the meantime, there's always gardening!
xoxoxo
Anne