Why so few at the Qualifiers?

Roy Steffensen

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
If I am correct, 35 players has signed up this weekend, and 43 last weekend.

Many of you will think that the mainreason for this is the checks. I am not.

There are about 900 members visiting this forum each day, a lot of them are probably regulars as me, bernie, The One and so on. I can imagine that most of these members are visiting other threads and do not even visit the IPT-forum, because they aren't that interested about it. Maybe they want to buy cues, or have questions to the pros or issues that belongs in the main forum.

I haven't read anything about the checks on other forums, and haven't seen anything about it in articles on poolsites as AZB, Billiardsdigest, Pro9, Insidepool or whatsoever.

So I guess that there isn't many people that actually knows about the missing checks.

For example in Norway, I actually know the Norwegians who are regular visitors of AZB. They are all from Oslo, and there is just no talk about the IPT and checks in Oslo on the two poolhalls. I think it is like this all over Europe and the world.

I believe that the mainreason for so few entries at the qualifiers are the price.

The UN has said that Norway is the richest country in the world, and that it is the best country to live in. (Weird, because the beer costs 10 $ on restaurants!!!) The average monthly salary, after tax, are about 2 000 $

So I can imagine why there are no one from for example Ukraina playing, where one monthly salary, without tax, is 200 $...

In for example Scandinavia, (Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway) only maybe between 10 and 15 players in each country believe that they can qualify, on a good day. When they then need to put up a monthly salary too, just to try, I think that's just to much to ask for. And when there are qualifiers in Sweden and Norway at the same time, there will be few players on the qualifiers too...

With 500 $ entry-fee, I guess there would be 30 - 60 players on many of these qualifiers. Even I would give it a shot!

What do you guys think?
 
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Roy Steffensen said:
With 500 $ entry-fee, I guess there would be 30 - 60 players on many of these qualifiers. Even I would give it a shot!

What do you guys think?
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Yes I agree!

Noodles
 
The entry fee is too high. They should take a page from poker and do mini-qualifiers with lower entry fees.
 
I'm pretty sure most of the players in North America that would consider playing in a qualifier are aware of the problem with the cheques even if they don't visit AZB. Info travels pretty well on the grapevine.

Some players might be getting ready for the US Open and figure that there are still quite a few qualifiers after the Open is over. If they win some money at the Open that will help pay their entry fee as well.
 
Keith Buck said:
Some players might be getting ready for the US Open and figure that there are still quite a few qualifiers after the Open is over. If they win some money at the Open that will help pay their entry fee as well.
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And in Europe players might have prepared for the Eurotour and hopes to win money to pay for qualifiers too!
 
Roy Steffensen said:
I believe that the mainreason for so few entries at the qualifiers are the price.
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You hit the nail right on the head. Its the same reason they are not selling many DVD's. Everything is overpriced. Bigger prize funds are passed along to the fans in the same way high salaries in baseball and basketball affect ticket and merchandise prices.
 
The Pool grapevine is very strong. I believe players from all over know there is an existing problem with payouts. And yes, $2,000 is a lot of cash to only have a chance to qualify. And then to have the expense on top of it to travel to the US to play. Not a cheap date.

I wouldn't back someone in this spot.
 
jay helfert said:
And then to have the expense on top of it to travel to the US to play.QUOTE]

They are covering flights and hotel for the qualifiers.

However, it is in Las Vegas, so it will be an expencive trip anyway :rolleyes:
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I wonder if the IPT folks are relying on the revenues from this current round of qualifiers to pay off the Reno prizes? I thought of making the analogy to "Ponzi scheme" or "robbing Peter to pay Paul", but that would be uncalled for and poor form on my part.:rolleyes: Have these thoughs crossed anyone elses mind?

I do hope the players get their prizes from Reno as stated and that the IPT juggernaut rolls gloriously on!



Martin


jay helfert said:
The Pool grapevine is very strong. I believe players from all over know there is an existing problem with payouts. And yes, $2,000 is a lot of cash to only have a chance to qualify. And then to have the expense on top of it to travel to the US to play. Not a cheap date.

I wouldn't back someone in this spot.
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In the world of PR, damage control is a big issue, and with the internet the challenges are especially great.

They've dropped the ball here and it's costing them a bunch in qualifier revenues I suspect.

It ain't easy to do what they've done so far, so I can understand mistakes. But these days PR has to address the fact that much of the communication from 'influencers' comes via the internet and discussion boards such as this one. If the PR company or staff they are using isn't familiar with that, nor this community, then it will be to the cost of the IPT.

At 2k a pop, just a smidgeon of doubt will turn a lot away.

Only time will tell at this point. Let's hope the IPT is getting things in order and will release a prompt clarification of guarantees moving ahead.

Colin
 
Colin Colenso said:
In the world of PR, damage control is a big issue, and with the internet the challenges are especially great.

They've dropped the ball here and it's costing them a bunch in qualifier revenues I suspect.

It ain't easy to do what they've done so far, so I can understand mistakes. But these days PR has to address the fact that much of the communication from 'influencers' comes via the internet and discussion boards such as this one. If the PR company or staff they are using isn't familiar with that, nor this community, then it will be to the cost of the IPT.

At 2k a pop, just a smidgeon of doubt will turn a lot away.

Only time will tell at this point. Let's hope the IPT is getting things in order and will release a prompt clarification of guarantees moving ahead.

Colin
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You're right, Colin, and each member has their sphere of influence with other pool players. If we have a smidgeon of doubt, then it isn't easy to recommend that a friend put up their money, knowing how hard it was for them to come up with the entry (unless they already had a free one), so it would benefit the IPT to address everyone's unsettling questions, rather than just wait for the checks to arrive, IMO.
 
Sure the lack of checks makes some think twice, but even if the players were paid at the tournament I think the turnout at the qualifiers would be close to the same. The amount of players who have a real shot at winning a tour card is not as large as you would think. These players have seen the competition and they have to take all the expenses into account, and think about their odds of winning.

In the long run the qualifiers are going to draw the same people, and next year they will even be smaller.
 
straybullet said:
You hit the nail right on the head. Its the same reason they are not selling many DVD's. Everything is overpriced. Bigger prize funds are passed along to the fans in the same way high salaries in baseball and basketball affect ticket and merchandise prices.
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This the reason why I can't wait for a Taipan businessman to handle the tour. Most Chinese businessmen go for less price more customers approach to business.
 
Colin Colenso said:
In the world of PR, damage control is a big issue, and with the internet the challenges are especially great.

They've dropped the ball here and it's costing them a bunch in qualifier revenues I suspect.

It ain't easy to do what they've done so far, so I can understand mistakes. But these days PR has to address the fact that much of the communication from 'influencers' comes via the internet and discussion boards such as this one. If the PR company or staff they are using isn't familiar with that, nor this community, then it will be to the cost of the IPT.

At 2k a pop, just a smidgeon of doubt will turn a lot away.

Only time will tell at this point. Let's hope the IPT is getting things in order and will release a prompt clarification of guarantees moving ahead.

Colin
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Within the billiard community when one player sees a concern then its similar to a multi level marketing situation, word travels quickly. I knew lack of communication on the IPT's part with would result in less turnout for qualifiers, its too logical. For the sport/game I hope it all works itself out.
 
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