The decision to stage all four UK PTC events at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester next season makes sense for several reasons.
Firstly, the SWSA is a first class facility run by snooker-loving people who have literally built it from scratch.
Second, the SWSA will pay a fee to World Snooker to stage the events, thus swelling the association’s coffers.
Third, they have more tables than the World Snooker venue in Sheffield, so there will not be the horrible logjam where matches are going on at midnight.
Fourth, there are facilities for paying spectators, including a first class arena.
These events will therefore feel more like proper tournaments for players and snooker fans alike.
The biggest reason.
ReplyDeleteMany fans can actually watch now.
http://www.justgiving.com/shaun-murphy147 This is Shaun Murphy's page for the Sheffield half marathon, please sponsor him as it's supporting the Paul Hunter Foundation. I have!
ReplyDeleteYup, makes sense. Even at Crondon park theres a strange feeling when a player makes a good shot and there's no applause. Almost feels like the volume is broken.
ReplyDeleteThe whole justification of being a professional is that the best players attract paying spectators.
There was something in Clive Everton's book about the 1990s, and how the WPBSA tried to commission a purpose-built facility to be used for qualifiers (huge amounts were wasted and the costs of were such that it would have bankrupted the WPBSA).
ReplyDeleteTherefore it is pretty incredible that someone has taken the initiative and built this out of their own pocket.
My only gripe is that they need to get a proper set built around the table in the main arena - they are the only thing that stops it looking like a proper venue.
Its really a great news. Now it will be more interesting and entertaining.
ReplyDeleteGreat! I think I might go to Gloucester for my hols!
ReplyDeleteDave any idea why the uk ptc's have been reduced from 6 events to 4 events ?.also will these events be replaced with other tournaments next season ?,or will we have 2 less tournaments on the calendar.i thought hearn was supposed to be adding events not cutting them !
ReplyDeletekildare cueman said...
ReplyDeleteThe whole justification of being a professional is that the best players attract paying spectators.
8:47 AM
i dont hold that opinion at all.
will these events at Gloucester be covered on Eurosport?
ReplyDeleteThey won't be on Eurosport but will be streamed on liveworldsnooker.tv.
ReplyDeleteMany players felt there were too many British PTCs and they weren't doing much to take snooker forward, unlike the European ones. So the money saved by scrapping 2 will be put into the prize funds of the 6 in Europe.
You've got to laugh at how the Academy are paying World Snooker though, since don't World Snooker usually have to hire the venues? I don't know how Barry Hearn has worked that one!
ReplyDeleteno carom mention :(
ReplyDeleteSo any word for any new events to replace these ? or any more events in the pipeline to add to the provisional calendar ?
ReplyDelete2.pm. if you dont have paying spectators, how can you get paid? and if you cant get paid how can you be professional.
ReplyDeleteTrevorp, is there not enough ptcs for you?
it was the word justification i disagreed with
ReplyDeleteimho you dont have to have people wanting to pay to want you to merit being a professional.
wd dave on bagging the ws wcQ commentary
ReplyDelete8.38 i asked will there be any new tournaments replacing the two scrapped events on the calendar.did i mention replacing them with ptcs ?.ah no is the answer.
ReplyDeleteIs Ronnie going to China?
ReplyDeleteTrevor
ReplyDelete838 ?
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteIs Ronnie going to China?
3:13 PM
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does simon cowell wear hipsters?