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Author Topic: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money  (Read 9510 times)

avabob

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Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« on: July 24, 2014, 12:21:28 PM »
Just checked the USBC site and looked up my winnings.  I know they were down 2500 teams this year, but the payoff was terrible.  I got $95 for 1929 all events.  $260 overall with cashes in everything.  Some of the side events ( super senior mulligan, and senior events ) had as many entries as last season, but payoff was 20% lower.

I made more money in a local handicap tournament with a $20 per event entry. 
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northface28

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #16 on: August 25, 2014, 12:09:02 PM »
Quote from: milorafferty on August 25, 2014, 12:05:42 PM
Quote from: northface28 on August 25, 2014, 12:01:53 PM


I would return $2.19 to the sender.

Actually, he did something even better. He had it framed.  ;D

LOL, I thought you were going to say he tried to cash it at the next years tourney.
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milorafferty

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #17 on: August 25, 2014, 12:20:20 PM »
Quote from: northface28 on August 25, 2014, 12:09:02 PM
Quote from: milorafferty on August 25, 2014, 12:05:42 PM
Quote from: northface28 on August 25, 2014, 12:01:53 PM


I would return $2.19 to the sender.

Actually, he did something even better. He had it framed.  ;D

LOL, I thought you were going to say he tried to cash it at the next years tourney.

That would be funny!

Or send it back to them as part of the entry fee for the next tournament.


The frame check is really funny though, he included a picture of one of his buddies dressed in a suit (like a tournament official) handing him the check. Both have huge s***-eating grins on their faces.
« Last Edit: August 25, 2014, 12:22:21 PM by milorafferty »
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BowlingTourney

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #18 on: August 25, 2014, 06:54:09 PM »
1977 in 2005 was good for $915 and an 88th place finish. 1974 this year was good for $167 and a 522nd place finish. As was said...2500 less teams yet an equivalent series was 434 places worse in less than a decade.

Scores, talent, lanes....whatever the combination it is not good.I am pretty sure though that those 12,500 fewer bowlers were probably 85% bowlers that were not eagle chasers. Put all of that together and you end up with crappy checks for decent series.

Each year does stand on its own. I am hoping just getting out of Reno will toughen them up a bit as I seem to place higher when the scores are lower.  8)
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luv2C10falll

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #19 on: August 25, 2014, 08:22:09 PM »
Just subsidize that like I did, at the blackjack tables.To the tune of almost 1500$

Sweeet !!
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avabob

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #20 on: August 26, 2014, 03:18:54 PM »
Good point Tourney.  The best players aren't dropping out, but the donators are.  We have seen the same thing in Mega Buck tournaments over the years.  High Rollers get less than half as many entries as a few years ago, but the competition is just as tough, making it a lot harder to make money in Vegas. 
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Joe Cool

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #21 on: September 05, 2014, 10:34:55 AM »
Quote from: avabob on August 26, 2014, 03:18:54 PM
Good point Tourney.  The best players aren't dropping out, but the donators are.  We have seen the same thing in Mega Buck tournaments over the years.  High Rollers get less than half as many entries as a few years ago, but the competition is just as tough, making it a lot harder to make money in Vegas. 

That's what happens when the donators take people's advice and stay home.  I've warned of this for years and said this is exactly why they need to do something to keep those people coming.  Everyone thought I was crazy.
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northface28

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #22 on: September 05, 2014, 11:22:53 AM »
Quote from: Joe Cool on September 05, 2014, 10:34:55 AM
Quote from: avabob on August 26, 2014, 03:18:54 PM
Good point Tourney.  The best players aren't dropping out, but the donators are.  We have seen the same thing in Mega Buck tournaments over the years.  High Rollers get less than half as many entries as a few years ago, but the competition is just as tough, making it a lot harder to make money in Vegas. 

That's what happens when the donators take people's advice and stay home.  I've warned of this for years and said this is exactly why they need to do something to keep those people coming.  Everyone thought I was crazy.

Nope, its easier is to laugh at the "donators" and then when the money dries up cry and whine, yep, that sounds about right.
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avabob

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #23 on: September 05, 2014, 11:42:33 AM »
Not sure anything can be done about these types of decreases in participation.  One thing seems obvious.  Not that many people quitting the game because it is too easy for them, but people are quitting because it is too easy for the other guy. 

When you think about it, it is amazing that the national tournament has maintained the level of participation it has in a scratch format.
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northface28

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #24 on: September 05, 2014, 11:45:56 AM »
Quote from: avabob on September 05, 2014, 11:42:33 AM
Not sure anything can be done about these types of decreases in participation.  One thing seems obvious.  Not that many people quitting the game because it is too easy for them, but people are quitting because it is too easy for the other guy. 

When you think about it, it is amazing that the national tournament has maintained the level of participation it has in a scratch format.

Excellent point.
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #25 on: September 05, 2014, 12:38:49 PM »
Quote from: avabob on September 05, 2014, 11:42:33 AM
Not sure anything can be done about these types of decreases in participation.  One thing seems obvious.  Not that many people quitting the game because it is too easy for them, but people are quitting because it is too easy for the other guy. 

When you think about it, it is amazing that the national tournament has maintained the level of participation it has in a scratch format.


Another thought on the drop in participation - could it be more due to the aging bowling population?  Most of the leagues I see here, there are more seniors (55+) than there are under 35's.  Maybe it is just more bowlers either dying or too ill to make the Open trip.

Again, it could just be this area, but most of the Open team or squad organizers are seniors.  If they are unable to take on the task of putting teams together, it might not get done.

« Last Edit: September 05, 2014, 12:42:51 PM by MI 2 AZ »
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avabob

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #26 on: October 28, 2014, 09:24:59 PM »
Aging of the USBC participants is unfortunately the signs of a game on its death bed from a competitive standpoint.  Just as troubling as the drop in younger participants is the drop in quality of those participants.  In case nobody noticed it took a higher score to cash in the optional senior singles and all events than it did in the regular events for the past two seasons.  Conclusion, a lot of good seniors are still bowling, but not only are the younger groups down, but the talent pool is not as deep either. 
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Anybody else surprised at the drop in prize money
« Reply #27 on: October 29, 2014, 02:57:17 AM »
Quote from: avabob on October 28, 2014, 09:24:59 PM
Aging of the USBC participants is unfortunately the signs of a game on its death bed from a competitive standpoint.  Just as troubling as the drop in younger participants is the drop in quality of those participants.  In case nobody noticed it took a higher score to cash in the optional senior singles and all events than it did in the regular events for the past two seasons.  Conclusion, a lot of good seniors are still bowling, but not only are the younger groups down, but the talent pool is not as deep either. 

Could it just be in the case of the optional senior scores that most of the participants would be higher average bowlers (because it is optional) and the cutoff would not be as low due to the lower number of participants? 

While there are not a lot of younger bowlers around here, many of them are high average bowlers.  They may not go to the USBC Open due to economic reasons - it is not cheap and a lot of them have lower wage jobs.  They are more likely to go to the local or state tournaments which are more economical for them. 
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