Are we having online champs anytime soon??

[Jav1000]

Over the past month I have been attending events and talking to players at length, in the Vic market, and it is abundantly clear that things need to change. (In saying that VIC is a market that is showing growth over the past two months).

I suggest you also talk to players who no longer play as their reasons may be different to those who still play.

Online particpation does not grow any prize pools and revenue from this side of our program is minimal.

That might be the case but when players stop playing at venues because of financial restraints, time etc. giving them an online option would at least keep them active within the organisation.

SA is in recession, the decline of in venue particpation is a result of this. Also our games have a perception of a 'forced spend' and a night out at poker can cost anywhere between $30 and $50. This needs to be changed.

In the venues that I play, the largest numbers are from venues that make it easy to stamp up. Once people attend a venue, most will spend money well after they've been fully stamped up, but there's the pressure to be stamped up before you start playing. Not everyone can get there early enough to do this. There have been times I didn't turn up cause I was running late and I already had dinner and to stamp up was just gonna be too hard at certain venues.

There is a lot to be done to turn the industry around, and our leagues. We are working on this and developing games and regions as we speak.

That might be the case but this needs to be communicated to players cause that is not how it's being perceived. I can tell you that most players think 888PL/FHG are only interested in promoting the Main Event.

[BigBlkTriton]

Thanks Garth. I do unsterstand whats been happening in the past 12 months and your aim with the ME and are glad to see that you are back focusing on the local scene some more. You may or may not know that i have been pushing the guys here in SA to give me and others more to play for and have told them what im looking for. In short ive suggested something similar the the APL pro series which they have monthly. The guys have been upfront with me and have told me the hurdles and restictions which we have but i think its worth a shot. I do relise it would be on a much smaller scale which hopefully could build to something more.

My thoughts have been to hold a game at least on a monthly basis with a higher buyin than any of the CBI possible with an extra charge towards an end of season game, i had in mind at least $60 $50/$10. Winners of these games gain entry to the tourney while others could buyin at $200 for example. An obtainable target could be something like a package or packages to say Aussie Millions event 1, which i must add benny the cunt Mc enjoyed so much, could even be a local cas event if it had to be the case. I really couldnt see why we couldnt generate 3 2k AM event 1 packages though, from 6-8 games we could generate around $2k with say 20 other runners buying in at $200 would be another $4k, $6k all up making the tourney a one in 10, quite attractve. I really think something like this could work, it would give the players who dont really bother to play venues a reason to have a really good game against some of the more serious players. I myself would really love the challenge because im sure it would bring together Adelaides best FHG players the ones i really what to battle on the felt. If it was marketed right at a central venue on the right day/time i could see 50 plus runners make the effort to the monthlys aswell as the end of season game.

tI would be great to see a team of SA players represent us on a larger scale somewhere and give them the opportunity to excel, off the top of my head i can think of these 50 guns easily.

[bennymacca]

a monthly higher buyin game for the more serious players could work well. maybe include it as part of the day where the monthly winners final is also played. that way there is no more organising of venues.

even if it was for cash with the option of main event bucks that would be awesome.

[wabbit999]

These special game held at Cows in Jan got a great turn out

[bennymacca]

that was a $30 buyin i think

would be great if they had a $100 one. might bring some of those back to the pub who are "poker players" first and entertainment seekers second.

[Garth Kay]

Guys,

You can speak to Steve and Russ about some of my plans as I have sent them some new event briefs.

I am addressing every single one of your ideas but here is a brief synopsis:

1.) TOP GUN INVITATIONAL
Buy in $100 - $150
T20,000 start stack with 25 minute blinds

Invite only event - to be invited you must be top 25/50 on the state LDB, top 5/10 on a regional, venue winner or won x games in a season.

The idea behind this is to bring the best of the best of our League members and to put their money where their mouth is.

2.) GLADIATOR SERIES

Name will change but we will designate a month where a series of events will be held, each weekend will see a different format of NLHE tournament.

o Lightly Armed Battle – A series of three turbo tournaments hosted on one day.
Players do not have to play in all three turbos if they don’t want to.
o Heavy Weapons – A Megastack event hosted on one day
o Factional War – Teams of four battle it out on the felt
o Duo Battle – Partners event; based on timing of past events we may host two on one day.
o Single Battle – fifth week event with the top 64/128 on points would battle it out heads up.
Each heads up battle would be the best of three.
o Whenever a tournament reaches heads up we would move to EPL Mix/Match rules
Best of three – players start with stacks they have when they arrived at heads up, if a third game is required both players will start with equal stacks.

All of these events will be a buy in event ranging from $10 - $50; 10% of each events prize pool will go to leaderboard prizes and this prize pool will be awarded to the 5/10 best performers over the season.

** Obviously the point systems is yet to be designed but it will be fairly basic.

Hope that whet's some of your appetite - I have plenty more up my sleeve that I am looking to present over the next quarter.

[bennymacca]

1.) TOP GUN INVITATIONAL
Buy in $100 - $150
T20,000 start stack with 25 minute blinds

Invite only event - to be invited you must be top 25/50 on the state LDB, top 5/10 on a regional, venue winner or won x games in a season, or host a pub poker podcast

FYP

seriously though, this sounds really good, and would definitely get me back up to a venue at least once a week to play, if i could play in something like this.

do you ever think a $50 regular weekly game could work? or a monthly $150 open event?

[BigBlkTriton]

Those idea both look good. But

The first isnt really what im after, the top guns under those qualifaction criteria is already decided in the monthly winners games and the semis. My suggestion was aimed at 'The Players' as benny the cunt put it, guys like himself the ones who dont play venues very often and arnt really interested in the semi's ect.

The second sounds interesting but im not sure having to play 5 weekends in a month would attract enough people knowing they must commit for the whole of the series.

I really think my ideas has merit, ive been thinking alot about it and are quite jealous of the opportunities NSW have with their pro opens.

Given time and some commitment you could grow my idea, maybe not to their level, but to something like 10 AM event 1 reps and an AM main event rep from here, the following year.

We could have a AM event 1 package a month with a increase to the buyin and numbers which would generate an end of season game for the AM ME.

I loved the chances that were on offer here 2 years ago, obvious reasons why, but i feel the reason they didnt attract solid numbers was they were all too close together thus limiting peoples BI ability. I think my idea would also be good for the other states other than NSW to also represent at the next level.

Garth you once talked about making this your aim. I know there are alot of players in both leagues here that want to play at that level. This idea would do nothing to hurt the main event qualifiers as im seeing these players as the hardcore still playing and those lost to the league wanting only serious good structured game time.

Im sure from people ive talked to and the ones ive got to know 'The Players' that this is more what we are looking for and if you were one of us in SA i know you would be too.

[BigBlkTriton]

By the way Garth ive already considered the alternative which is not playing at all like alot of others and making my own assult on the AM. I just think it would be something for the league and 'The Players' it seem to work for APL NSW so not really my idea just a modified version for little old SA.

[John Miller]

*sigh*