Ideas to grow MOMA state mens masters

[BrianHaffner]

I talked to quite a few masters players about this and the main reasons I was told why they didn't play State this year was because they didn't want to pay $125 entry fee to play the against some of the best players in the nation. The other reason I heard from some top players and the reason I didn't go not only the money but so few people in the tournament it wouldn't have felt like a true state title. So hear are some things I think might help get more players.

1st- $50 entry fee instead of $125 I think more players would be willing to play and you would end up with close to the same prize found players that think they have a chance to win could either put extra money in a side pot for player that makes it the farthest or do a calcutta on the side.

2nd - I know alot of players say they don't care about trophies but I think thats a bounch of crap I have played on a lot of teams and everyone was happy to get trophies. I would like to see really big trophies or better yet a really cool trophy that you can only get for winning a state masters championship. I also want to see nice jackets for 1st again the year I finally won state was the year they quit giving out nice jackets and I was very disapointed don't say you don't like jackets because I have seen plenty of you past champions wearing them and yes I am jealous.

I just want to see the state championship grow back to what it used to be I remember 50 to 100 people watching the finals match and you played more for the pride of winning state then for the money there are other touraments out there for that. I feel with all the handicap touraments out there why pay $125 entry fee to play even up with MN best when you can pay alot less to play a handicap tournament and get spotted one or two games from the same players.

If you have any other ideas to get state back to were it should be please post some ideas .

[BrianHaffner]

Forgot most important thing get Wayne back running the tournament he care about the players and he listens to what players want.

[Josh]

Good Stuff Brian!!

I think there is a big problem with the way these are run. On the advert they say they start at 9 am on Thursday. Well they didn't start it at that time after they figured out the brackets, but that's an instant DQ for me. I think if they could move to a more player friendly model where the last match of the day will be played at 11 pm and the first match of the next day would be at 10 am or even 12 pm. I'm not sure how many people care, but for me if I know I might have to play until 2 in the morning and then be there at 8 or 10 and know I have to play all day it's a pretty big turn off for me. I don't understand how a friday night tourney with more people can finish in a night, even with the races a little shorter. This is more teams, but the idea that you have to keep people there for at least two days is ridiculous and pushes times back and causes more problems.

I know this year they started the AA/Masters teams at 8pm/10pm when they could have made it 6pm/8pm instead. Giving the players 2 hours extra sleep downtime for the night. Better still they could have let people get knocked out on the first day and not started the next day until 12pm or 1pm. How much money are they really making having people come back at 8am and getting knocked out right away, do they really stay all day because you made them get up early and come for a second day?

[jwa]

Brian, I agree with you about the lowered entry fee. I am listed as a master on most lists but I wouldn't be considered a favorite to cash in any event. From my view, I am not likely to play if I have to pay $125 AND take a day off work. In reality I am laying 3-4 times the entry fee to play in a tournament that I only give myself a small chance of cashing at best. In poker terms, the pot odds aren't there. If I didn't have to take off work I would play in every one. The fields would be bigger by having Masters singles start Friday night or Saturday morning but then you have a conflict with the Team events. A possible solution would be to do the masters events backwards. Start the team Masters event Friday night and make sure it is finished by Saturday night. Then have the Masters singles event start on Sunday and crank it out in 1 day. By then most of the lower division teams will be done and there will be plenty of tables open.

Another idea is to open up (Masters singles only) to anybody, regardless of sanctioning. If people from Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Canada or the Dakotas that aren't already MOMA sanctioned want to make a trip to play, let them in. Charge them a reasonable "sanctioning fee" on top of the entry. Also, take onsite entries on a "space available" basis. Fill out a chart with TBAs and let people buy into the tournament to fill those spots. If you have 28 signed up then you can take 4 extras on a TBA to make a full 32 for example. Just keep it limited to whatever size chart you originally draw up (16/32/64 etc...)

[BrianHaffner]

For the last couple years I have tried to get MOMA to let us start a league that only qualified you for Masters a league that you shot four matches one Saturday a month. This league would allow you to pick up players from anywhere in Minnesota or surrounding states I feel like a lot of players don't have enough Masters players in their area to put a team together that they feel like they can compete with at state with. I was told the reason they wouldn't let us start a league like this was because they felt that the bars that sponsored the teams would want people in the bar every week. I tried to explain to them that we could still move the league from one bar to the other every month. Right now league takes about an hour and half but if you had say eight teams playing at one bar four matches they would have people in their bar for at least six hours and if you get that many good players in one spot there is bound to be some gambling after league is over. Also a lot of the players will be from too far away to drive home so they would stay and party or shoot pool at the bar they are at.

I would like to see this league be held in the central part of Minnesota like St. Cloud mainly because I am tired of driving an hour and 15 min. to get qualified for state tournaments LOL. Just kidding I feel like a central location would draw more people into the league and we could possibly get the state tournament back to what it used to be.

[TCo]

If it smells like crap and looks like crap, chances are it is crap. That is a load of crap.

Think of Brian’s example of 1 Saturday, 4 rounds or 4 nights, 1 round. I personally am NOT likely to be there for a meal on a Tuesday night than if I’m there for a longer period of time on a Saturday.

I think the rule states to be eligible to play you need a certain amount of “nights” rather than matches. Wording changed likely because they heard from owners within leagues that had teams playing 2-fers.

Bar owners wouldn’t want to pay a sanction fee and have NO one there either. Simple option: If you play 2-fers, offer the option to have players responsible for a percentage of the sanction.

Not considering suggestions from people that WOULD participate IF this condition existed is short sighted at best.

I think there is a thread where it’s stated the MOMA tournament is all about giving back to the players and they lose money just by putting it on. Magnanimous BS.

What’s wrong with, “Brian, it sounds like a great idea, but the sanctioning fee would still need to be paid. If you can make it work, great work”. ...maybe a thank you for figuring out how to increase their bottom line would be too much to ask for.

WE ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS
WE FINANCE YOUR BUSINESSES
WE FINANCE YOUR LEAGUES
WE FINANCE YOUR JOBS

START LISTENING!! There is a forest just past those trees!!

[BrianHaffner]

Tony! I guess I was thinking that you would have one pool hall sanction around eight teams instead of having eight teams in the pool hall for about 2 hours on a week night witch comes to 8 hours a month. you would have eight teams in your pool hall on one saturday a month for atleast 8 hours to shoot the same 4 matches. And I strongly believe people would spend more money on a saturday after they are done shooting league then they would on a week day because believe it or not some master players do have jobs lol.

Not to mention if one match takes longer then the rest it will set all the matches behind keeping everyone in the pool hall longer.

Tony I know you have been around the buisness side of pool alot more then me so I respect what you have to say about this subject.

[Josh]

Obviously for some limited successes here and there the industry has been a failure. We need ideas outside the box and I think Brian is on to some good ideas.