Will there ever be a Pro Tour Again?

Anybody else like to weigh in on the ORIGINAL question?

I find it very hard to believe that in the one place I should be able to find POOL FANS, I can't get more interest in this thread. Golfers have the PGA tour, bowlers have the PBA but we pool players have no PRO TOUR to watch and keep track of....very sad....
 
If there is one

Mark Griffin said:
To answer the question;

Yes, it might happen.
But not like many would think.

Mark Griffin
Click to expand...
Here's one of the people who will hopefully have major input. Of course, where are you going to find a spot on that full plate of yours, Mark? Hope You Are Well.

Carl
 
David Marcus said:
I am just wondering if there are any plans in the works by any group or organization to put together a pro tour, tv coverage, something to elevate the sport to the level it deserves to be at. I know Bonus Ball is on the horizon, but I just don't see it having a huge appeal....jmho.
The time is right for a BIG sponsor to step up and do the right thing for the game!

Any thoughts or info...???
Click to expand...

I'd say there are always plans "in the works" by most everyone who tries to make a living in the pool world. We would all like to find that magic thing that will bring millions of fans to pool.

You see, it's FANS that drive it all. Fans not only follow the sport, but also patronize the sport and it's advertisers. Golf is on TV because millions not only watch it, but patronize the advertisers. Just try to buy some air time during a major golf event. You'll quickly realize that it's expensive for a reason. It works! Commercials during major sporting events pay off. When it pays off to spend 100k on a pool commercial, I'll be right there finding the money to do it. Until then, we keep doing what we can do to help keep pool alive and maybe at least break even on our sponsorship of events and players.

A long those same lines, OB Cues sponsored players just took 2 events at the Derby City Classic. Corey won the one pocket and Alex won the 9 ball.

Show us your support by liking our facebook page.
www.facebook.com/obcues

Thanks!
 
After watching the semis and finals for 9 ball last night at the DCC, I think the Pay per view model could work for a pro tour. As for the tour itself, I would make it similar to the PGA Tour. Have a regular season where the players earn points and the players with the most points at the end of the season playoff for the tour championship.

But as one person mentioned earlier, pool needs an official association if it is ever going to be taken seriously.
 
msubilliards said:
After watching the semis and finals for 9 ball last night at the DCC, I think the Pay per view model could work for a pro tour. As for the tour itself, I would make it similar to the PGA Tour. Have a regular season where the players earn points and the players with the most points at the end of the season playoff for the tour championship.

But as one person mentioned earlier, pool needs an official association if it is ever going to be taken seriously.
Click to expand...

What makes you think PPV could work? I'm not talking about working enough to turn a profit for the owners, I'm talking as far as widespread success other games/sports enjoy.
 
RBC said:
I'd say there are always plans "in the works" by most everyone who tries to make a living in the pool world. We would all like to find that magic thing that will bring millions of fans to pool.

You see, it's FANS that drive it all. Fans not only follow the sport, but also patronize the sport and it's advertisers. Golf is on TV because millions not only watch it, but patronize the advertisers. Just try to buy some air time during a major golf event. You'll quickly realize that it's expensive for a reason. It works! Commercials during major sporting events pay off. When it pays off to spend 100k on a pool commercial, I'll be right there finding the money to do it. Until then, we keep doing what we can do to help keep pool alive and maybe at least break even on our sponsorship of events and players.

A long those same lines, OB Cues sponsored players just took 2 events at the Derby City Classic. Corey won the one pocket and Alex won the 9 ball.

Show us your support by liking our facebook page.
www.facebook.com/obcues

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Good post. Hopefully this will open the eyes of people who think pool just needs sponsors to sink money into it.

Serious question: (though I understand if you wish not to comment)

Do you see actual returns/profits in your sponsorship of players, or do you simply do it to help out the players/pool?

Basically, do you think people buy OB products because Corey and Alex use them, or do you think your sales would be the same with no pro sponsorship?
 
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David Marcus said:
I am just wondering if there are any plans in the works by any group or organization to put together a pro tour, tv coverage, something to elevate the sport to the level it deserves to be at. I know Bonus Ball is on the horizon, but I just don't see it having a huge appeal....jmho.
The time is right for a BIG sponsor to step up and do the right thing for the game!

Any thoughts or info...???
Click to expand...

WHAT BIG sponsor would you be talking about?? Brunswick could care less.... Diamond, Simonis, and Aramith are in.

IF someone was seriously looking for a sponsor(and haven't already), alcohol seems like an obvious choice.
 
Maybe if vegas got involved with online gambling for the major tournaments it would give pool a spark. If the public was more interested, then the sponsors would be more interested.
 
vapoolplayer said:
What makes you think PPV could work? I'm not talking about working enough to turn a profit for the owners, I'm talking as far as widespread success other games/sports enjoy.
Click to expand...

A profit for the owners would be a start.....LOL...

I'm glad that TAR ect. exists, but when it is all said and done, I don't know that they make a heck of alot of money...
 
Anyone have any ideas how to add "chance" or "spontaneity" to pool?

Examples:

Poker: X player has 98% to win a hand, but the one card needed shows up. Crowd goes wild.

Baseball: double plays and grand slams

Football: interceptions and Hail Marys

Etc Etc

Pool has none of these types of situations and honestly I can't think of any way to incorporate these types of things into pool.(though i haven't put much thought into it)

Thes are the types of things that keep fans watching, how can pool get some of that, or can it at all?
 
vapoolplayer said:
Anyone have any ideas how to add "chance" or "spontaneity" to pool?

Examples:

Poker: X player has 98% to win a hand, but the one card needed shows up. Crowd goes wild.

Baseball: double plays and grand slams

Football: interceptions and Hail Marys

Etc Etc

Pool has none of these types of situations and honestly I can't think of any way to incorporate these types of things into pool.(though i haven't put much thought into it)

Thes are the types of things that keep fans watching, how can pool get some of that, or can it at all?
Click to expand...

:bash:

Pool needs more players like Earl. Be vocal, make faces and threats like WWE syle.

And please...get a professional commentator that know pool. Not like Eva's husband. What an embarrassment to the sport!
 
poolguy4u said:
:bash:

Pool needs more players like Earl. Be vocal, make faces and threats like WWE syle.

And please...get a professional commentator that know pool. Not like Eva's husband. What an embarrassment to the sport!
Click to expand...

Still though, WWE even though scripted has surprise entrances, endings, etc etc.

Even with a ton of "earls" theres still a lack of surprise and "chance" to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

I personally believe pool itself is simply not capable of captivating large general audiences. The sheer mechanics of the game require too much "perfection" in the balls, table, playing environment, etc. There just isn't any way to induce the "action" that audiences want to see.

Sure, years ago audiences loved Mosconi and the like, but the world was a different place then. People enjoyed calmness and simplistic things. Nowadays its drama and action people crave.
 
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vapoolplayer said:
Still though, WWE even though scripted has surprise entrances, endings, etc etc.

Even with a ton of "earls" theres still a lack of surprise and "chance" to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
Click to expand...

:shakehead:

OH...I disagree. You just never know what Earl will say or do.

That is just too good of an act!:)
 
poolguy4u said:
:shakehead:

OH...I disagree. You just never know what Earl will say or do.

That is just too good of an act!:)
Click to expand...

You never know what he will say......but you absolutely know what he will do on a pool table. Nothing he says will change the layout of the balls, the way he makes them, and the fact that NOTHING will happen to change the way the match is played until its no longer his turn at the table.
 
David Marcus said:
I find it very hard to believe that in the one place I should be able to find POOL FANS, I can't get more interest in this thread. Golfers have the PGA tour, bowlers have the PBA but we pool players have no PRO TOUR to watch and keep track of....very sad....
Click to expand...

This is the reason people in the pool industry doesn't sponsor pro pool. Why should they when amatuers care nothing about them. If you notice most league players can't even name a pro pool player. Look at the people right here on this site that has no use for top players, much less be a fan!
 
backplaying said:
This is the reason people in the pool industry doesn't sponsor pro pool. Why should they when amatuers care nothing about them. If you notice most league players can't even name a pro pool player. Look at the people right here on this site that has no use for top players, much less be a fan!
Click to expand...

Believe you are incorrect on a couple of points. First, ask most any APA player who is a "pro" player? Bet they'll tell you Jeanette Lee. Perhaps none of those same players could tell you who Efren is. Or where he comes from. Or what his nickname is. They are bombarded by APA literature featuring Jeanette's face. She is the "Black Widow"!!!!

Second, some of us regulars on AZ do have virtually no use for some of the "pro" players. So happy to see CJ, Stevie, John Schmidt, Keither and a couple others frequently stopping by our forums and giving "inside" information and hints. In my view, it takes balls to face the invisible minority experts on the game and keep coming back. Respecting individual "pro" players and not caring about a "pro" tour are two different sides of a many sided object. It also does not mean myself and others are not fans of the game.

Lyn
 
vapoolplayer said:
Good post. Hopefully this will open the eyes of people who think pool just needs sponsors to sink money into it.

Serious question: (though I understand if you wish not to comment)

Do you see actual returns/profits in your sponsorship of players, or do you simply do it to help out the players/pool?

Basically, do you think people buy OB products because Corey and Alex use them, or do you think your sales would be the same with no pro sponsorship?
Click to expand...

Sorry for the late reply. I've been working all day and just got back home.

Even though I would be hard pressed to prove that we actually profit from sponsoring Corey and Alex, I do believe that it's valuable to our company. Certainly, we do sell some cues and shafts directly because of our sponsorship. The question is how many. What I can tell you is that we are growing very quickly, and they are a part of that.
 
anyone want to "take one for the team?

backplaying said:
This is the reason people in the pool industry doesn't sponsor pro pool. Why should they when amatuers care nothing about them. If you notice most league players can't even name a pro pool player. Look at the people right here on this site that has no use for top players, much less be a fan!
Click to expand...

I think we can get tremendous ratings with a well promoted "Pool Match to the Death".....anyone want to "take one for the team?" ;)

28995627.jpg
 
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