Why isn't there one major Pro Pool Tour?

60inchcueguy

60inchcueguy

I buy 60" cues!
Silver Member
I'm new to the pool scene and would like to know why there isn't one major pool tour like the PGA in golf?

I would think that if the US had one major tour open to international players as well, and they had about 4 majors to go along with regular tour stops around the US that it would do well.
 
Ohplayer said:
I'm new to the pool scene and would like to know why there isn't one major pool tour like the PGA in golf?

I would think that if the US had one major tour open to international players as well, and they had about 4 majors to go along with regular tour stops around the US that it would do well.
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Wish it were so, Ohplayer, but this idea has been tried several times and hasn't had major success to date. :(

JAM
 
Ohplayer said:
Is there anywhere that has the history of pool tours listed so I can read up on it?
Thanks
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This Discussion Forum would be a good place to start. Searching for the word "tour" would get too many responses, but there are some excellent threads that you can read up on about the history of American pool tours.

I can't think of all the names offhand. Maybe some of the other veteran posters will help.

Get prepared for a lot of reading! :p

JAM
 
I think the last one that even came close to success was the Camel Pro Tour. Although they had some problems, the big issue came when government regulations regarding tobacco company advertising forced RJR to choose between Pool and NASCAR. Now that they are no longer involved with NASCAR, we can always hope they return to the Pool world.
Steve
 
Ohplayer said:
I'm new to the pool scene and would like to know why there isn't one major pool tour like the PGA in golf?
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Because pool in the US is not capable of drawing large TV crowds, right now. It has been tried time and time again...to no avail. Someday something may spark a change, but I don't see it happening in the near future.

Something like "Friends" or "The 70s Show" where the gang hangs out at a pool hall. That might put pool on the map. But whatever it will take hasn't been tried yet.
 
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pooltchr said:
... Now that they are no longer involved with NASCAR, we can always hope [Camel will] return to the Pool world. ...
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I'm startled that you didn't mention the PBTA, Don Mackey, and the $800,000 damage award against Camel. I think that issue was much, much larger than any government interference in advertizing. Recently someone posted a link to a discussion of advertizing through sports events and the PBTA/Camel example was the poster child of what to avoid. And then there's the IPT.
 
Good point. I'm sure that was a major factor. A spokesman from RJR told me that they were only allowed to sponsor one sport...but given all the problems going on at the time, that might have just been the official corporate reason.

From what I know about the IPT, I think that was just a totally underfunded and mis-managed fiasco.

Steve
 
Ohplayer said:
I'm new to the pool scene and would like to know why there isn't one major pool tour like the PGA in golf?
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You mean you haven't heard of the IPT?
 
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