Where?

[JAM]

Pool tournaments come in many sizes in this day and age. Thank goodness for regional tours, like the Viking and Mike Janis, as an example, who keep pool alive for players of all caliber. The pool leagues are an excellent vehicle for pool enthusiasts to enjoy the sport, and in fact, this is where the masses are. Here in my neck of the woods, we have a $20-entry-fee 9-ball tournament just about every day of the week.

I have attended a variety of tournaments, from $100 first-place prize to $500,000 first-place prize, and the locations of these events vary.

Personally, I never did like a casino environment like Las Vegas because I felt there were too many distractions, taking away from the main event. Plus, you have to walk about 2 miles like a mountain goat to and from the room where the tournament is held. Oh, my aching feet, just thinking about it.

I do very much like the convention center-type venue, like where the U.S. Open is held, i.e., Super Billiards Expo in Valley Forge, the Chesapeake Convention Center, and IPT King of the Hill Shootout at the Orlando Convention Center. Everything is under one roof, which is the way I like it.

The hotels can also provide a nice setting, like the Glass City Open at the Radisson in Toledo, Ohio, or the Executive West Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. One year at the DCC, I never left the hotel, and at the end of the event, as we were getting ready to depart, my car battery was dead.

I have also experienced some excellent pool room tournaments. Comet Billiards in Parsippany, New Jersey, is beautiful example of a player's pool room, with the high ceilings and plenty of space between the tables for the players to strut their stuff.

I'm sure MANY AzBilliards' members have attended quite a few tournaments, with some being more memorable than others. If you can think of OTHER ideal venue sites, please feel free to elaborate. I'm just curious as to what venues are conducive to pool, pros and cons.

We have the best diversity of readers on this forum, and as such, I would be interested in hearing from others.

JAM

 

[JAM]

One reason why I initiated this poll is because of the notorious low turnouts at pool events.

The majority of the audience at events that I attend is made up of pool players, friends and families of pool players, and some locals.

I was hoping to learn if the venue site itself might be a determining factor as to whether one would attend a pool event or not.

PLEASE VOTE, dag nab it!

JAM

 

[selftaut]

JAM, as a player I enjoy the tourneys in the pool rooms more than any other. I enjoy meeting the people in the biz and supporting their efforts. Also I like the stories and history of the rooms. From a spectator standpoint, the convention centers are probably the best bet for a good seating arrangement and comfortable spacing.

My vote - pool rooms.

 

[m.libre10]

pool room

I think we should support the pool hall owners as they are also supporting us in a lot of ways.

 

[JAM]

JAM, as a player I enjoy the tourneys in the pool rooms more than any other. I enjoy meeting the people in the biz and supporting their efforts. Also I like the stories and history of the rooms. From a spectator standpoint, the convention centers are probably the best bet for a good seating arrangement and comfortable spacing.

My vote - pool rooms.

I agree with the pool rooms, too. They are cozy and comfortable, and you can see the players up front and close. Between matches, it is fun to mingle with everyone. It's like one big pool party!

My biggest beef with pool rooms is SEATING. I have attended some tournaments where I roamed the perimeter of the pool room like a refugee throughout the event because there was NEVER a vacant seat. I'm too old to stand on my feet for 8-plus hours in a day.

JAM

 

[JAM]

I think we should support the pool hall owners as they are also supporting us in a lot of ways.

You are correct. Pool room owners are investing their facilities, thus losing their normal income during pool events.

Many times, they will host pool tournaments for regional tours, with the sole benefit being they want to provide a nice event for their locals to enjoy.

Several of my FAVORITE pool rooms for tournaments are: The Golden Cue in Albany, Salt City Billiards in Syracuse, Snookers in Providence, Fast Eddie's in Goldsboro, and Q-Masters in Norfolk!

JAM

 

[Rich R.]

Jen, obviously, the local and regional tournaments must be held in pool rooms, because of the tables. I highly recommend pool rooms with good food. To some, a bar is important, but I don't think it is mandatory. A room in my area, with no alcohol, runs some of the best regional tournaments in the Mid-Atlantic area.

When it comes to major pro tournaments, I prefer they be held in hotels, with all of the necessary facilities, such as a bar and restaraunt. Convention centers are also great, as long as a hotel is attached or within walking distance, as at the U.S. Open.

One of the most enjoyable tournaments I ever attended was the Capital City Classic, in 2001 or 2002, held at a hotel in the Washington, DC area.
Jen, I think you may remember that one.

 

[whitewolf]

You are correct. Pool room owners are investing their facilities, thus losing their normal income during pool events.

My biggest beef with pool rooms is SEATING. I have attended some tournaments where I roamed the perimeter of the pool room like a refugee throughout the event because there was NEVER a vacant seat. I'm too old to stand on my feet for 8-plus hours in a day.

JAM

I think that pool rooms make up the table time in food and beverages, don't you? Plus, it may bring in new pool players in the leagues. I don't think that they are sacrificing that much.

I didn't attend the straight pool tournament in Annapolis because I heard you couldn't get a seat. But on the upside to that, where else can you get so close to the players? I liked Champions because you could usually get a seat, but they are selling off their franchises.

I voted casinos, hotels next, so that spouses can take off during the 'boring' pool tournaments , leaving us in peace to watch to our hearts content.

 

[JAM]

Jen, obviously, the local and regional tournaments must be held in pool rooms, because of the tables. I highly recommend pool rooms with good food. To some, a bar is important, but I don't think it is mandatory. A room in my area, with no alcohol, runs some of the best regional tournaments in the Mid-Atlantic area.

I agree. Good food is a must. I do not enjoy having to choose from blood mud foods like fried cheese sticks and double-fried French fries.

Some pool rooms provide a "special" menu for pool events. I will never, ever forget attending a Joss event at Salt City Billiards in Syracuse, where the owner made some ambrosial Tortellini Soup. Me and Jim Rempe sat down on the offs, shared a bowl of this homemade soup, and engaged in some great conversation. What a cool tournament! By the way, Jim played well that tournament and defeated Karen Corr in the finals.

When it comes to major pro tournaments, I prefer they be held in hotels, with all of the necessary facilities, such as a bar and restaraunt. Convention centers are also great, as long as a hotel is attached or within walking distance, as at the U.S. Open.

I agree, 100 percent. Who wants to have to venture out in search of food and other necessities. When everything is under one roof, it is so convenient. For the players, it is nice to be able to go up to your room and relax between matches.

This is one feature which I do not enjoy about Super Billiards Expo. The majority of hotel rooms at the convention center are reserved for exhibitors, and the THOUSANDS of pool players must lodge at nearby hotels. Now, there are a lot of nearby hotels, but the parking at the convention center sucks. If you have a match scheduled at a certain time, you must leave a few hours in advance and pray that you get a parking place in the adjacent parking lot. We got there 2 hours in advance one time, and Keith almost got forfeited because of parking problems and standing in lines to get in the joint. It is nice when you have a hotel room at the facility to go to between rounds and rest. Parking is a bummer at SBE.

One of the most enjoyable tournaments I ever attended was the Capital City Classic, in 2001 or 2002, held at a hotel in the Washington, DC area.
Jen, I think you may remember that one.

LOL! Once upon a time, there was a court reporter who worked 24/7 on the front lines, in the trenches, on Capitol Hill. Today, she can be seen sitting on the rail, sweating billiard games across the Nation.

Boy, what a difference a few years can make!

JAM

 

[JAM]

I think that pool rooms make up the table time in food and beverages, don't you? Plus, it may bring in new pool players in the leagues. I don't think that they are sacrificing that much.

I think it depends on the pool room. I hate to say this -- and me and mine are the STRONG EXCEPTION to the rule -- but pool rooms don't receive a lot of income from pool players at events because most of them drink water and may not eat too much while they are in competition.

Some pool rooms provided ADDED MONIES to events, too, like 1-, 2-, and $3,000. It takes a lot of hot dogs and fried cheese sticks to make up those thousands.

I didn't attend the straight pool tournament in Annapolis because I heard you couldn't get a seat. But on the upside to that, where else can you get so close to the players? I liked Champions because you could usually get a seat, but they are selling off their franchises.

It is a very nice pool room with a family-type atmosphere. The tournament are well run, and last time I went, I brought my own fold-a-chair, just in case. The equipment is well-maintained, and this owner does provided added monies into events. He's one of the good guys in my book!

I voted casinos, hotels next, so that spouses can take off during the 'boring' pool tournaments , leaving us in peace to watch to our hearts content.

There's many people who agree with your choice, I am sure. I just don't like all the walking at casinos. I believe that sometimes, I have walked 10 miles or more in a day at these pool events. There's never any pool action, as most will run to the table games and other distractions. Plus, the expenses at casinos are heavy. JMHO, FWIW!

JAM

 

[JAM]

Wow, the options of Hotels and Pool Rooms are in the lead in this poll so far.

Take notice, pool promoters and tournament coordinators!

Considering the audiences are not heavy at pool tournaments, to include Vegas casino environments, this should be, IMHO, a determining factor for pool tournament venue site selection.

JAM

 

[JAM]

Please VOTE on this blind poll. Since this is a BLIND poll, nobody can see your name.

This is just an excuse to BUMP!

JAM

 

[kevin s]

Please VOTE on this blind poll. Since this is a BLIND poll, nobody can see your name.

This is just an excuse to BUMP!

JAM

I like poolrooms best! Some action tables and tournament matches at the same time.

 

[JAM]

I like poolrooms best! Some action tables and tournament matches at the same time.

There's a pool room in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, which has separate rooms with pool tables. I went to a few tournaments there, and it was GREAT, just like you state. The tournament finals were in one room, and there was ACTION in another. Guess which pool table drew the largest crowd?

JAM

 

[JimS]

Large tournaments can't be held in pool rooms or I'd prefer the rooms to all other venues. I liked the tournaments held in St Charles Il at Pheasant Run convention center/resort. I also love sweating the events held in local ph's. I can't really vote for just one. I want to vote for all of them depending on the event and I'll go whereever I can go to watch.

 

[Mike Templeton]

Hi Jam,

I had to put a vote in for Convention Centers over Hotels for only one reason. Every successful tournament at a hotel outgrows the venue.

The first couple of years I attended the Derby (if you remember the year that Keith played Alex), the tournament was perfect. You could see the best tournament players and gamblers in the world. $10,000 - $40,000 sets were going on, as well as 9-ball and one pocket games for well over $1,000 per game. And like you said, you never had to leave the hotel. Big table action was downstairs. Bar table action was upstairs.

Now, the Derby (as great as it still is), isn't nearly as much fun as it was those first couple of years. It has outgrown itself. If you want to play bar table tournaments or see bar table action, you have to put on your coat and walk the 1/4 mile across the street in blizzard conditions. The seating there isn't good, and it's almost like it's not part of the same tournament that is going on at the Executive West.

If you want action, it's not in the main tournament area any longer. There's a special room for gambling that is way too small. If you go there to watch, you rarely can find a seat. There's a chance that you will have to brush by players betting high stakes, and you can't see all of the action tables.

And my favorite part of the Derby is the woofing and matching up. It used to all take place in the main hall outside the tournament area, or someplace close to there. If you missed the first couple of minutes of a woofing match, word spread quickly enough that you could get within earshot in just a couple of minutes. Now, with all the different rooms, you have to be lucky enough to be where the talk starts or you miss the pre-game negotiations.

Now, with the straight pool and talk of league playoffs... I just think that the tournament has outgrown the venue.

Convention centers at least provide room for growth. But there are no rooms where you can duck in for a nap or shower between matches. The more I think about it, casinos may be the best venue. At least rooms are at the tournament site, even if there are other distractions. I don't know. Hopefully other will offer insight to get the tournaments at the best locations for all involved.

Mike