9-Ball
Topic: Short Memories.

I know what you mean, pooljedi, but the reason why the BPPPA aren't getting 100+ players at the moment is for various reasons that have already been mentioned, but the main reason is because of all the events being played in Manchester, which means that alot of players that are further south, are out a pocket load in travelling costs, before they pay their entrance fee or hit a ball, and currently, the prize payouts wouldn't cover their expences if they did go, because there is only so much tournament entrance fees and prize payouts, can cover.

I have said it once before and I'll say it again, the choice to have Manchester as the only Rileys Sponsored Club location for all events, instead of somewhere more central, like Solihull or Leicester, is the very thing that made alot of players, from London, etc, to not make the journey to a tour event, simply because of the travelling time involved and the cost of fuel (We all know who to thank for that!) and so, because of where the location of the events, it's just simply too much to ask players on the south coast to constantly travel 100's of miles each time for a tour event, that doesn't offer much return on the expences.

We all know that it's a disgrace that Rileys pulled out their sponsorship, but I think that the problem with Rileys is, they didn't like having to keep their tables in good condition when the EPT events were being played, basically Rileys is like any other big company, they love taking money, but hate having to spend any of it on giving the customers their money's worth.

I think that it would be an idea to have a directory on pro9, of all clubs that have american pool tables (Excluding clubs with only Snooker or Reds & Yellows tables), throughout the UK, Ireland, so that it would be possible to try and locate various independant clubs that have a reasonable amount of tables to hold a decent UK Tour event, ok you may not have the luxury of having a bar or hot food, but if you were getting good tables to play on and a good range of various locations to play in, would it really matter?

I too would love to see 100+ players at each event, but I feel that it will take some seriously hard work, but I think that it would be worth while and I feel that if we can all work together on this, then surely we're bound to get somewhere at least

Lets all try and work our way through this, I think that we owe it to ourselves, not just as pool players, but as people who love the sport that we play

Willie

I agree with The Wizard's comments about all the events being played in Manchester.

For me personally it's not a case of boycotting the tour but simply that I can't afford to keep travelling the 240 miles to Manchester. I'm sure I'm not the only one!

I second a club directory. Are you listening Big Man? Riley's clubs needn't be included as they have their own website which lists all of them. A section on each clubs profile could carry constructive members' comments about playing, lounge facilities etc and would be very helpful to anyone looking for a club in an area they are visiting.

The best run club in the UK IMO is independently run and that just about sums it up.

@ Pool Ace and you had to put up with me in the car.

On 2007-06-26 12:24 , DaveMc Wrote:

It is definitely a good idea to have some sort of directory, but i'd argue the point with you DaveMc about Rileys not being included, the rileys website may list where the clubs are situated and how many tables they have, but there is nowhere on there where club members can comment on the facilities.

Surely it is the members/players views that matter about the club not the Rileys view so their own website is a waste of time in assessing a clubs facilities?!

I'll agree about that one on there needing to be a decent non Rileys club that is dedicated to the cause of promoting American pool and taking it forward...

If i can put a decent business plan together i'd consider getting one here in Lichfield as it's a nice city and there's plenty of parking/hotels/things to do etc... And biggest advantage is that there is no other pool/snooker club in Lichfield which is crazy to think why on earth not?!?

There is a prime location that may possibly be up for rent soon where a kwik save has just shut down and it's right in the centre of the town and very spacious.

If it was available and feasible i'd love to have/see a set up involving 15-20 Brunswicks with the best balls/cloth that are really looked after in a club that has a strict code of practice that doesn't allow for Rif Raf with a no-nonsense policy. Also i'd love to see a dedicated match table area with static seating around it and cameras too that could broadcast the footage around the club onto other TV's for other members to watch or even maybe feed online?

Alongside the american tables i guess you'd have to have 3 English Pool tables and at least 2 Snooker Tables to keep everyone happy and who know's maybe a dedicated table for 3 cusion too?

If such a club did exist i think it would be very easy to build up a successful business and reputation and would possibly even attract some euro players to play over here again too?

Sounds too good to be true i know but i think a club of this magnitude could easily exist somewhere (not just here in Lichfield) and if ends look like they would meet i'd seriously consider setting it up. Just depends on getting the right property venue.

Idea...

To get things started off why don't all members of this site start a donation to get such a place up and running? the devils playground, they can even use next seasons BPPPA membership fees LOL

I've actually been giving that some consideration myself but obviously in coventry as opposed to lichfield.

I have my redundancy from work at the end of august (48 working days away!) and running a pool club would be exactly what i would like to do. Almost exactly like yours The_man but maybe a few more english tables as coventry has a strong english pool scene.

Unfortunately the capital required to set this up is huge, and it is a massive risk with established competition, there are two rileys clubs in coventry (one half decent, one awful), as well as an independant club called reds, which has 6 snooker tables, 10 english pool, and 1 american pool. There are also a handful of independant snooker clubs.

I've not given up hope yet though!

i love your optimisim but i think rileys know the market place and realise that the riff raff pay the bills !!

i looked at it when a large building came up in preston near mway ect

but when you do the maths it wud be unlikley to be viable without the drinkers and eaters on a daily basis

rent rates utilities ect ect ect £10k per month minimum

thats 66 hours per day of table time to breakeven (its a lot i promise you)

if you think like a pool player its a great plan but think like a business man and its a bancruptcy waiting to happen IMO

Hey guys

Does anyone know if The Pool Pit in Havant, is still going, or has it been closed down?... I remember when Cuesports magazine, was still Pot Black magazine, and they had shown some logos and ads of clubs that were up and running at the time, like the Side Pocket, in Spalding, Minnesota Fats in High Wicombe (Unsure of correct spelling), as well as the Sportsbowl complexes, that have american pool tables as well as the bowling lanes, etc, or another club where I played my first UKAPA event, Hustlers in Bolton, which had 17 tables, and was newly opened, when I was there, I believe and they also had another club based in Dudley as well, are all these clubs still going, and if so, why hasn't there been any tour events played at them, but if not, what happened to them?

There's more to american pool, than a Riley's club and I believe that there are other clubs out there, that would happily give the fascilities to hold a good quality tour event in there club, and I'm sure that they have a few locals that would like to enter too

Surely we can do something to try and get the level of competition back up again

Willie

I have looked at the in's and outs of rif raf pooljedi and by means of having a strict policy it doesn't mean that they can't come in. But they will be going OUT if they didn't abide by the rules and don't respect the club! Once a firm ground is set i'm sure you wouldn't have a problem in educating people around to the policy/ies that could keep a club running to a high quality for all.
    Also like i said there is no current Snooker or Pool clubs around Lichfield at present so i'm sure there would be a fair whack of people interested to have a drink and a game espcially at the lunchtime period when the town is thriving with people.

Wizard - do some magic and make it happen - please!!

Ah yes, that club in Dudley was Hustlers.

I think it's still open although it did have a spell of shutting down and re-opening again a few times.

Only thing is the last time i played there they had totally messed things up by installing cheap wooley cloths on all the 9-ball tables so i didn't bother playing in their local Monday comps again after that really.

I'm sure that they would probably consider running a big event there but they'd have to get the tables sorted out again.

Ah they also had a habbit of barring people like joe90 when he made his opinions known about the place too lol

He's now sold his cues from what i have heard?
Where are you joe90, fear not i should have a table up and going at home soon! You should start going to the comps again !

the-man i have no idea where lithfield is i was just trying to look at the figures

you do what you want with your own money and im sure you will look at it more deeply before you spend

i would love this type of club but only if i was a customer not the backer

Lichfield is a City right in the middle mate... about 20miles South of Stafford.

It has good access for Trains from London etc good transport from road access and plenty of night life

Like i said if i can find a suibtable property i will defo look into it as i have a few people that may be willing to go in shares.

That's if the Dreaded Rileys don't get in there 1st thou!

Thanks expertfluke lol, I don't know about being able to work any magic, but what I am trying to do and would like to do, is to first of all, get an idea of how many independant american pool clubs are still up and running, and how many american pool tables they got, etc, once we can establish this, then there is no reason why players in that area, couldn't post on here and/or find out if these clubs are still open, and if they would be interested on having a pro 9ball event there, with the possibility of being a potentail regular tour stop

what I'm basically thinking of here is, we all know how much that Rileys slurps, and we all know that they don't give a darn about what the pool players want, and so, why not give the independant clubs a chance to see what they can do, clubs like MIckey Flynns, who have some of the best tables and fascilities around, as well as the many other independant clubs that are dotted around, including Styx in Kirkaldy, and the new rooms that have opened not so long ago in Edinburgh, etc, we all know how good Doug's tour was, because he didn't just rely on Rileys or any particular chain of clubs, he went to the best clubs that he could find, and that were willing to work with the tour and the players, and I think that in order to get the BPPA or any mens american pool tour to a good standard, he have to get back to the point that the clubs were a good standard and were willing to work with the players and I feel that if we can get that part sorted out first, then we can look at resetting the tour, possible new ranking system, spots in bigger level events like the WPM, WPC, DCC, etc

Lets get the ground work sorted out first and see how it pans out, and then take it from there, but I feel that this is something that EVERYONE on here, should take part in, ESPECIALLY those who have been willing to complain about how things are now, the way I see it is, if you have enough time to complain, then you have enough time to get off your butt and do something about it.

Willie

I tell ya what, you lot really need to wake up and look at reality.

Oh and by the way, as someone brought up the one off players license, are you all aware that the £20 doesn't go into the prize pot - so where does it go i wonder.

Right then be quick, which one of you is gonna defend the bpppa spending the money.

Are you looking to play in better events?, if so, then think about trying to make things better, instead of looking to criticise someone else for trying.

Willie

On 2007-06-26 14:37 , 412-414 Wrote:

wow what money!!
have you seen the accounts already can you post them on here so we can all see the evidence of fraud

ok then i join your club. "bpppa ra ra ra". Its so wonderful and nothing at all is wrong.

On 2007-06-26 14:53 , pooljedi Wrote:

My info comes from a very reliable person - if the info is wrong i will apologise - but i'm sure its not.

On 2007-06-26 15:20 , 412-414 Wrote:

I don't think anyone posting here is a member of that club, or that naive. Things rarely are black and white though, with regards to anything in life. There are shades of grey at times you know.