Which Seats Are Best??

mosconiac

Job+Wife+Child=No Stroke
Silver Member
The VIP tickets are being sold on-line now so the question is...is it worth the extra $$$ for TV seats?

For anyone that has been to the DCC before, is it better to sit a few rows up in the cheaper seats to get a better look at the tables? That was the case when I used to go to the US Open.

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I've been there for the past 5 years. I personally don't think it's worth the extra $$$ to pay to get the VIP seating. I usually just stand around beyond the seating and save some cash.
 
mosconiac said:
No one has ever been to the DCC that can help me out????

'Sconiac,
Well, about ALL of us have been to the DCC; but your question is a little difficult to answer without us knowing a lot about YOU.

The television table (to which these VIP seats belong) is the site of just one match at a time (usually a good one) - there are 40 or so other tables with matches going on at the same time (not to mention the 24 hour matches in the action room AWAY from the tournament venue; which makes excellent viewing for free). Many people prefer to just mosey around and catch what looks good.

The "VIP seats" are a work in progress. Two years ago a "VIP" seat just meant a rail seat anywhere in the venue (and special "TV VIP" seats were just for the rail seats on the television table). Last year they started assigning special "TV-VIP" seats for the television table, that took up the rail and the first 2 rows of the bleachers. This year it looks like they will all be assigned seats around the television table.

I will say that there are DEFINITE viewing problems with the seating around the television table. The set has 4 or 6 pillars that can REALLY screw up your vision if you are along the rail on the side. The seated contestants are a problem for the spectators on the rail sides and for MANY people in the side bleachers. Your best bet is in the bleachers at the headrail end of the table, at least you can see something when the mechanical elevated camera and the 2 walking cameramen aren't in your way.

Most of the AZB'ers are competing in one of the events - thereby gaining general admission viewing tickets for the entire tournament. It is hard for them to justify extra expense to watch the television table matches (which are broadcast to the hotel rooms on closed circuit tv, and broadcast to the main venue room on big screen projection).

The first 2 years I had tickets for the television table rail seats, I probably would not do that ever again (but it's kind of cool seeing yourself on a bunch of Accu-Stats video's).

P.S. - this is a complicated issue, best decided by the individual spectator AFTER attending a DCC or two - and THAT'S the reason no one has spent all the time necessary to explain things.

P.P.S. - last year I won the AZB room raffle and PLAYED on the television table with Efren Reyes as my partner, against Jeanette Lee and mthornto. Perhaps you should save the money, and enter the AZB Celebrity Tournament raffles instead.:)
 
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Thanks for the detailed response. I'll try to take it all in and make a good decision.

Congrats on winning the raffle. I'd love to be able to say I shared a table with those greats! See you in the AZB room.
 
Williebetmore said:
'Sconiac,

I will say that there are DEFINITE viewing problems with the seating around the television table. The set has 4 or 6 pillars that can REALLY screw up your vision if you are along the rail on the side. The seated contestants are a problem for the spectators on the rail sides and for MANY people in the side bleachers. Your best bet is in the bleachers at the headrail end of the table, at least you can see something when the mechanical elevated camera and the 2 walking cameramen aren't in your way.

The first 2 years I had tickets for the television table rail seats, I probably would not do that ever again (but it's kind of cool seeing yourself on a bunch of Accu-Stats video's)

As the producer of the of the TV programming at the DCC I would like to clarify the comments above for those interested in attending the DCC and securing seats in the BCn TV Arena. This Arena and the production that takes place is the most viewer-friendly environment you'll find anywhere in professional televised pool. Everything we do is done with the live audience in mind. And I must say, the DCC crowd is by far, without a doubt, the best.

There are no cameras in the sight lines of any seats. The elevated remote control cameras are positioned at each side pocket, approximately 10 feet from the side pocket and do not obstruct the view of that table in any way. If you are seated in the back row of each side section, you may have an obstructed view of the players face if he is standing on the opposite side of the table. Unfortunately, you'll have to lean to one side or the other. The main camera is at the foot end of the table or the open end of the Arena on the seating chart

Also, we do not have roaming cameramen. When a match is in play, the Arena is occupied solely by the players and the tournament director alone. In the case of the Ring Games, the players are seated within the Arena and they will obstruct the view of lower level seating. However, you are closer to the action than anywhere else in the entire tournament, sometimes we think maybe too close. We do not control the seating, but we have discussed these issues with the promoter and made recommendations.

Besides seeing yourself on Accu-Stats videos you will also be seen nationwide on several broadcast networks and live on the Internet.

Thanks for your participation.
 
Mosconiac,
Rob's post is right on; I'm sorry if I gave you a negative impression of the venue. I DEFINITELY agree with Rob that it is first class, and better than most; sorry if I did not give credit where credit is due (I wrote the post hurriedly at work, since no one was answering your question - I am DEFINITELY no expert in this area, Rob definitely is). The DCC is a veritable orgy of pool; and with so many options for viewing it is definitely difficult to decide where to spend your time.

The only ways to improve on the current setup would be to lower the table into a "pit", put the players seats against the back wall (where they would not interfere with viewing; but that would probably lower production value), and get rid of the silver posts; now that would be AWESOME (but of course, probably not practical).

P.S. - I thought I remembered roaming cameramen from a few years ago, but may have been thinking about Peoria. Sorry.
 
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