When Fortune Gives Way to Fame
For a long time there has been a debate as to whether top level professionals and regular tournament professionals play the game for money or for fame. Some will claim that their motivation is to turn a profit, while others will outright admit that their motivation is to gain more exposure. Greg Raymer has been quoted as saying that one of the driving decisions as to whether he will play a tournament is whether the event is a televised event.
This year’s Main Event of the United States Poker Championship I think can make a strong argument as to the motivations of players. For over a decade, the USPC has been televised by ESPN. The USPC is a staple of late night TV on the various ESPN networks. After the 2007 USPC, ESPN decided not to renew their contract with Trump and the USPC. What happened as a result? The enrollment is down by 68%.
Last year’s USPC Main Event drew 164 players. This year’s event drew 52. The number was actually at 50 but the Taj let two players register past the closing of registration. A few players, including Antonio Esfandiari decided not to play as a result of the low attendance. The top prize for this event is still over $200,000 players since the Taj uses structure that pay fewer places. In the end, the masses made it abundantly clear that no TV equals no attendance.
Arguments regarding the failing economy were also floated as possible reasons for the reduction in attendance. I agree that it may have been a contributing factor, but if that was the only factor, I still think the event would have drawn around 100 players. Even the non-televised WPT events are drawing better than that.
With the number of choices that players have regarding large buy-in tournaments, events like the USPC are going to have to make adjustments to draw players in. If I were the Taj, I would work towards getting some type of television coverage for next year. I wouldn’t care if the event was going to play on Fox Sports Net. They need to do something to draw in the players. If a new TV deal doesn’t materialize, don’t be surprised if the USPC decides to lower the Main Event buy-in next year.
For those of you wondering why this would be any different than playing in a preliminary of the World Series of Poker, one must remember that a WSOP preliminary is still a bracelet event. While not televised, winning a bracelet is a huge deal, even if it’s a Lowball or Razz bracelet. That type of win can be a life changer for many pros or affirmation for already established pros.
In the end, players must realize that the landscape of poker at the professional level has changed. Television exposure and endorsement deals are what every pro strives for. For many, this is a huge motivating factor. Fame and fortune has given way to fame. It is not what poker is all about, but in many ways, it is what poker has become.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
