Wheres the crowds??

[alex_5525]

is it me or does the venue in glasgow seem deserted??

because if i had a ticket and was able to have time off college i would go!

[spike]

It sure is. Apparently there was a football match on earlier which may explain why it was quite empty earlier this afternoon, but it looks to be just as empty tonight..

[ferret]

Yeah Celtic were playing Rangers, alot of the time you find the 1st and 2nd rounds are quite quiet but after that I am sure it will be a packed venue.

To me the better time to attend is the first two wounds as you get to see alot more players in action than going to the later stages.

[decwes]

no crowd no sponsor it is looking depressingly ominous for the future of the game

[qc2]

it's quite sad to see a venue so empty despite whatever else is going on in town. if it's a case of the early rounds being this way, let's hope something is done next year to encourage more bums on seats

[johnno147]

ive been watching snooker for a long time, and this is possibly the smallest crowd in a decent sized arena for quite a bit.

Perhaps this event needs to be made cheaper if ticket prices are too high during the recession or even the grand prix should be moved back to the guild hall in Preston?

Before Ryan Day had 2 147 attempts and there was hardly any noise at all!

it could be said that the fans are coming to see the big names such as ronnie and their local hero such as higgins/hendry as it is better value for money.

in all, this is not a good portrayal of snooker on terrestrial television.

[alex_5525]

ive been watching snooker for a long time, and this is possibly the smallest crowd in a decent sized arena for quite a bit.

Perhaps this event needs to be made cheaper if ticket prices are too high during the recession or even the grand prix should be moved back to the guild hall in Preston?

Before Ryan Day had 2 147 attempts and there was hardly any noise at all!

it could be said that the fans are coming to see the big names such as ronnie and their local hero such as higgins/hendry as it is better value for money.

in all, this is not a good portrayal of snooker on terrestrial television.

naaa tickets arnt too high priced, but yh i agree with u, if theres 2 attempts at a 147 the noise should be unbelieveable!, the ref should actually be telling the crowd to shut up lol

maybe when ronnie plays on tuesday there will be more

[alex_5525]

OH COME ON, this is just a **** take now, theres liike 5 people in the audience, if theres anyone from TSF who lives in glasgow who isnt there then im tellin u now, get your a**es down there!!!!lol

perhaps tickets should be free to people in the town

[RocketRoy1983]

Yes a poor show indeed. I would be there but from changing jobs and going from weekly to monthly pay again it just wasnt possible. Hoping to see some decent numbers soon.

[dannyd0g]

I remember the first round matches at the Grand prix being nearly all packed out when it was held in Preston. Its been the same every year since then thats its been held in Scotland, yet they insist repeating the same mistake again year after year.

Does their logic go - lets move the Grand Prix from the Guild Hall Preston where its always well supported and generates a good atmosphere for the players, to deserted venues in Aberdeen or Glasgow.

Is there a method to their madness ?:confused:

[Alex0paul]

I remember the first round matches at the Grand prix being nearly all packed out when it was held in Preston. Its been the same every year since then thats its been held in Scotland, yet they insist repeating the same mistake again year after year.

Does their logic go - lets move the Grand Prix from the Guild Hall Preston where its always well supported and generates a good atmosphere for the players, to deserted venues in Aberdeen or Glasgow.

Is there a method to their madness ?:confused:

Its cheaper. They probably don't make too much from ticket sales anyway so whatever venue they can hold it in for as little money they'll do that.

[tonyb]

It was absolutely awful, horrendous even, watching that tonight with one man and his dog in the audience and the depressing atmosphere that is getting to the players. Glasgow is a big place and yet there are less than 50 spectators in the hall. We just have to accept the UK public are tired of snooker. Most of the snooker clubs where I'm from (Newcastle) have closed and the league has shrank 80% recently.
These are NOT good signs for the sport:(

[imy147]

The attendances have been very poor so far, it can only get better. I'm sure they will all crawl out to watch Ronnie on Tuesday but it really is a shame that the locals aren't making any effort to watch the rest of the matches.

I know it's the early stages and the Old Firm game was on, but the evening session was pretty empty too.

Scotland has been a hotbed for snooker over the years, but if they are losing interest, then maybe the event should be brought back to the North West of England where the crowds will be out in force!

[crosnooker]

no doubt, it's time for big change's in snooker. obiously that wpbsa need serious reconstruction, because this is becoming ridiculous. this season there is only 5 tournaments plus wc and masters, in time when snooker have biggest ever popularity outside uk. they introduce this season pro challenge series, that nobody watch and there is no interest from top players to play. if this continue, we gonna have in couple of years only tournaments in china and wc in sheffield :(

[jonplayer]

I was gutted and a bit surprised to see about 10 people watching Ding play Stevens, both of them looked like they didn't wnat to be there. Ding had a 147 attempt too, the atmosphere was like playing in an empty room. These are not good signs for the future.
Does anyone else think that the boring critical pointless comentary of Thorne and co. might be something to do with why no one is tuning in?
I had to watch it with the sound off yesterday and I love watching snooker (well used too). I don't know whats going on.
What do you all think about making the dress code less formal? They do like they come from a old western saloon.

[Monique]

I was gutted and a bit surprised to see about 10 people watching Ding play Stevens, both of them looked like they didn't wnat to be there. Ding had a 147 attempt too, the atmosphere was like playing in an empty room. These are not good signs for the future.
Does anyone else think that the boring critical pointless comentary of Thorne and co. might be something to do with why no one is tuning in?
I had to watch it with the sound off yesterday and I love watching snooker (well used too). I don't know whats going on.
What do you all think about making the dress code less formal? They do like they come from a old western saloon.

I don't think it has anything to do with the commentary. And the dress code is only a detail. Fact is that people don't see the point to come to rather gloomy venues when they can better watch on telly in the comfort of their rooms.
Ronnie got a lot of stick in January for his tirade about the state of the game not the product, not the players ... the way events are run and the consequences thereof. But he is right even if he's not the best at expressing it in polically acceptable form and maybe not the one with the most "right" to express it. The events need glamour and atmosphere to give people reasons and desire to go there and live it "in the flesh" and to motivate players to be really up for it.
Some will tell me all that counts is professionalism and play for ranking points and that show and artistery have nothing to do in it. Well yes, then play it all in Prestatyn. And the game will soon die for good by lack of resources. Get real people.

[kellie-text]

Ive always been a fan of the BBC commentary team (except Thorne) but I think they need freshening up a bit now - they just seem to come out with the same things all the time.

As full time commentators i'd have Dennis Taylor, Clive, Steve Davis, Terry Griffiths and Neal Foulds. I think Virgo has become a bore.

[jonplayer]

I don't think it has anything to do with the commentary. And the dress code is only a detail. Fact is that people don't see the point to come to rather gloomy venues when they can better watch on telly in the comfort of their rooms.
Ronnie got a lot of stick in January for his tirade about the state of the game not the product, not the players ... the way events are run and the consequences thereof. But he is right even if he's not the best at expressing it in polically acceptable form and maybe not the one with the most "right" to express it. The events need glamour and atmosphere to give people reasons and desire to go there and live it "in the flesh" and to motivate players to be really up for it.
Some will tell me all that counts is professionalism and play for ranking points and that show and artistery have nothing to do in it. Well yes, then play it all in Prestatyn. And the game will soon die for good by lack of resources. Get real people.

I agree with you that the WPBSA is a complete joke at running the tour and the sport at all levels. But for me commentary is an issue, commentators should be a bit lively and fun to listen to, not drab and critical.
What does "Get real people" mean? people are on here expressing their opinion just like you are.

[superaussie]

Ive always been a fan of the BBC commentary team (except Thorne) but I think they need freshening up a bit now - they just seem to come out with the same things all the time.

As full time commentators i'd have Dennis Taylor, Clive, Steve Davis, Terry Griffiths and Neal Foulds. I think Virgo has become a bore.


i agree tayor is the worst its the same al the time for example

its make your mind up time

he wins the first frame to lead 1-0

talk about stating the obvious

:cool:

[Monique]

"Get real people" was meant at those who all went "Shame on him" when Ronnie expressed his views in January ... most of them not having even listened properly to what he said but going by distorted and out of context excerpts by tabloids or hearsay.
It had nothing to do with your specific comment. Sorry if you felt "attacked", it was not my intention.

[Templeton Peck]

Despite what they say about snooker being popular in Scotland it isn't. It's a waste of time holding the event there. They would be better off shifting the Grand Prix to Dublin now they have axed the NI trophy. The turnouts in Ireland are always higher than what you get in Scotland and Wales and you have the added bonus of an extra tournament outside the UK.

[jaguarf1]

I watched it on TV yesterday and thought - "This is Bahrain No. 2".

[superaussie]

I watched it on TV yesterday and thought - "This is Bahrain No. 2".

lets hope its a good omen for robbo :cool:

[jonplayer]

I see. No hard feelings. Good point.

[matoski]

Day vs Cope was a mouthwatering match for any snooker fan, but the arena was empty. There is no excuse for a city with couple of milions inhabitants not to fill such a small arena. Are there real snooker fans left?

[dannyd0g]

It will be interesting to see if Hendry's appearance this afternoon pulls a decent crowd in. You would expect and hope it would do so.

If it doesnt, they need to abandon all future plans for holding events in Scotland immediately. Empty venues will turn TV viewers off.

If the move to these out-of-the-way venues is all about saving money, then that is a short term approach that isnt really in anyones interests except the bean counters responsible for this seasons finances. Much better to invest in well supported venues that will make snooker look good on the TV.

[Cossie]

Back to Preston I say, or Manchester or Liverpool where we have great venues, great transport links and are starved of ranking tournaments! Are you listening WPBSA (couldn`t run a bath:mad:l)

[ja.]

im sorry its my fault. i was busy the first two days, travelling round scotland but i'll come to the venue today, i promise :D

[speedyturtle]

And this was the main reason why some people wanted more tournaments in china, you cant have tournaments here if there isnt enough fans to watch it, its sad but its the truth.

SPEEDY
enjoy

[matoski]

And this was the main reason why some people wanted more tournaments in china, you cant have tournaments here if there isnt enough fans to watch it, its sad but its the truth.

SPEEDY
enjoy

I must say that the venues in China are empty as well, unless Ding or Liang is involved.

[Monique]

I must say that the venues in China are empty as well, unless Ding or Liang is involved.

No they aren't ... well not in the big tournaments. But the venues are often very big and the front row seats are totally out of reach of the average chinese wallet. And those are the ones that show on telly.

[dantuck_7]

If it was obvious that tickets weren't being sold why weren't cheaper prices promoted, say £1 per session for kids. Evening sessions only during the week of course, we don't want any playing truant.

[Monique]

If it was obvious that tickets weren't being sold why weren't cheaper prices promoted, say £1 per session for kids. Evening sessions only during the week of course, we don't want any playing truant.

Well yesterday afternoon only 30 tickets were sold (according to DH) ... at 10£ which isn't really expensive. I don't think the prize explains it.
Given that some non UK members from this board and some non UK members from ROS forum are there for the GP (so paying for flights and hotels aswell) ... you then wonder how many Glaswegian came to watch it and why :eek:
Are those stories about cheap Scotts really true? (teasing guys ;))

[pat39]

If I had the choice I would rather watch the early rounds of a ranking event over the Premier League but the PL seems to play in front of packed houses week after week so what are the organisers doing differently. It can't just be because they have O'Sullivan, Higgins or Hendry etc playing almost every week.

[Monique]

If I had the choice I would rather watch the early rounds of a ranking event over the Premier League but the PL seems to play in front of packed houses week after week so what are the organisers doing differently. It can't just be because they have O'Sullivan, Higgins or Hendry etc playing almost every week.

Simple answer: they make it fun. And the players love it. Everything is done so that they can be relaxed and feel welcome.

[noel]

Here's a good sounding thought!



Give It Away RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

What I've got you've got to give it to your mamma
What I've got you've got to give it to your pappa
What I've got you've got to give it to your daughter
You do a little dance and then you drink a little water

What I've got you've got to get it put it in you
What I've got you've got to get it put it in you
What I've got you've got to get it put it in you
Reeling with the feeling don't stop continue

Realize I don't want to be a miser
Confide w/sly you'll be the wiser
Young blood is the lovin' upriser
How come everybody wanna keep it like the kaiser

Give it away give it away give it away give it away
now [x 3]

[chorus]
I can't tell if I'm a kingpin or a pauper

Greedy little people in a sea of distress
Keep your more to receive your less
Unimpressed by material excess
Love is free love me say hell yes

I'm a low brow but I rock a little know how
No time for the piggies or the hoosegow
Get smart get down with the pow wow
Never been a better time than right now
_________________________________

Empty seats at a tournament?
Even bloody crack dealers are smart enough to give it up til their "clients" are hooked.


=o\

Noel

[Le Ball Sack]

Whats will the metal girders dont remeber them in the past?

[mstone]

they shouldn't have it in Scotland then have it in the south

[RocketRoy1983]

I believe Scotland is a great place to hold a ranking event but its just disappointing to see such low turn outs.

[CueAntW147]

There are a few factors that come into play with snooker........its obviously still popular by how many members we have on TSF for a start.
I also know lots of people that love playing the game but don't like watching it on TV or at a venue.
There are people i know who love to watch it on TV but wouldn't go to a venue to watch it as many would consider it better to view from home ( it sort of started out as a made for tv sport from the days of pot black )

Sadly this doesn't put bums on seats & make it a commercial proposition to sponsors or help players in an empty venue.
From personal experience even in the glory years of the 80's early 90's the venues weren't always packed in the early rounds, always better in the later stages which are usually the weekend when people more realistically have the chance to go....depending on work commitments etc. & i'm sure that will be the case as the week progresses here.

Looking at the bigger picture snooker clubs are closing but so are many other businesses thats not just a lack of interest in snooker but a reflection on the state of the UK in general at the moment.

Decent well looked after snooker clubs are still packed which is a good sign, i don't have the answers to how things can improve i do think the games not got the characters it once had, not trying to re live the Alex Higgins era ( although i'd like to ) but people who had no interest in snooker really would still turn up just to see him play, he created interest.

We need to generate interest now almost like great snooker isn't enough we have great players now but i don't think we have the characters and that makes a big difference in terms of bums on seats, but maybe the interest needs to be generated in another way to attract a new audience.

No doubt some area's of the UK are better than others at promoting events & have the venues, and some have a better snooker following than others ......so these need picking out, i'm sure the players themselves will know where these places are, Wembley & Sheffield spring to mind.......but there are others, some not even tryed yet.

Jimmy White winning the World Title would make it popular ( its unlikely to happen i know ) but proves the point if there are people we care about in it or feel we can relate to it makes it popular..........& people like things that are popular its a talking point, much like football, x factor, coronation street etc

Graeme Dott winning the World Title did nothing for the sport ( no dis-respect ) many wouldn't know who he is........which makes a big difference.

I for one wouldn't want to see our great game decending into a non entity & lots of negative talk will only makes things worse, i'm sure there are ways & means to make things better .....we just need to find them............

[tabbfan]

Some of us glaswegians do have 2 work you know - saying that i don't get paid 4 another 2weeks so couldnae get tickets but the intention was 2take the week off n go along seeing the bus goes from my door 2the kelvin hall lol :) may be tonight - n as 4 free tickets 4locals i came up wi that yin when i realised i couldnae go but its a brilliant idea hehe

[dpdubai]

Like other TSF members Im dissapointed to see a poor show supporting the boys at the Kelvin Hall.

Living in Glasgow myself I made it a priority, when I found out the event was being held here I got my tickets as soon as they went on sale.

Unfortunately I do have to work midday and I'm not made of money so I'll have to settle with lending my support for all quarter final sessions and all final sessions on sunday. I've been looking forward to this for ages and counting down the days to see my first live snooker ranking event.

At the end of the day I believe Scots deserve the opportunity to see the greatest players in the world compete on our doorstep. I just hope Scotland get behind the Grand Prix as it goes on.

[Monique]

Well the random draw has seen to it that the tournament will lose one of John Higgins or Ronnie O'Sullivan in last 16 (if ROS makes it today of course). Great! That surely will improve the attendance over the whole week! Also this will induce a big bias on the rankings if the "survivor" goes the distance, either Higgins will build an almost impossible to catch advantage or ROS will close up or even pass past him. In both case is unfair as they should normally never meet before the semis ...

What a stupid thing to do!

[dannyd0g]

Well the random draw has seen to it that the tournament will lose one of John Higgins or Ronnie O'Sullivan in last 16 (if ROS makes it today of course). Great! That surely will improve the attendance over the whole week! Also this will induce a big bias on the rankings if the "survivor" goes the distance, either Higgins will build an almost impossible to catch advantage or ROS will close up or even pass past him. In both case is unfair as they should normally never meet before the semis ...

What a stupid thing to do!

Thats what can happen with random draws - you could get all the best players drawn against each other early on, and a final with the likes of Barry Pinches Vs Mark Davis.

[Mal]

Thats what can happen with random draws - you could get all the best players drawn against each other early on, and a final with the likes of Barry Pinches Vs Mark Davis.

You won't get a final like that with a random draw - uinless there are plenty of shocks, which will happen in all tournaments. That's like saying the FA Cup final will be between Barnet and Colchester (all due respect to players/teams!)

The big players may be drawn against each other, but that adds something to it, but there are enough big players in the game that they will still get through. Plenty of tournaments, one of Higgins / O'Sullivan don't make the quarters. At least, you are guaranteed one will be there. In a standard tournament, with the shocks in first round, the way could be open in one half for a non seeded player to get through, such as Swail, Dale, Walden, Harold, Wenbo, Cope, Higginson in last couple of years.

Let's not forget there was no random draw in the first round - there was a draw but same as any tournament in that top 16 kept apart and rest is a draw. Likewise in any tournament there will be shock results.

Looking at last 16 draws, even with all the shocks, we could have the following 8 quarter finalists:
Walden,
O'Sullivan/Higgins,
Allen
Hendry
Ebdon
Perry
Maguire
Robertson/Doherty

That would be a very strong QF line up!

[noel]

I can see Ja and April Madness are in their "I Heart Snooker" T-seats.



=o)

Noel

[Migtsf]

Looking at last 16 draws, even with all the shocks, we could have the following 8 quarter finalists:
Walden,
O'Sullivan/Higgins,
Allen
Hendry
Ebdon
Perry
Maguire
Robertson/Doherty

That would be a very strong QF line up!

It doesn’t matter what outcome the draw produces. Even with a rigid draw, you can end up with a strong line up or a weak one. The thing with the random draw is it isn’t fair, but if people enjoy watching balls coming out of a bag so much, maybe they could broadcast the draws for the other tournaments too, because, except for the WC, the draws are partially random in those too.

[Mal]

It's not so much the draw itself as not knowing who you are going to meet in the next round and planning the path of the tournament. As I said before, it is fair because everyone goes in the same 'hat.' Yes, people work to earn their rankings, but we've had other threads about how hard it can be for players coming through the ranks.

With random draws, you'll have the odd big match up - it was only a 1 in 15 chance (or about 7%) that it would be Ronnie vs Higgins.

[Migtsf]

The random draw is such a bad idea that the outcome can be just the same as if the draw wasn’t random, but with all the trouble and all the inconveniences it has, like viewers not knowing when players are going to play and not being able to plan a visit to the venue in advance.

[Mal]

The random draw is such a bad idea that the outcome can be just the same as if the draw wasn’t random, but with all the trouble and all the inconveniences it has, like viewers not knowing when players are going to play and not being able to plan a visit to the venue in advance.

Now, that point about viewers or spectators I do agree with - Having said that, attendance has been poor at the weekend and although it is only one of two different days in last 16 and it will be the same day for QF.

(of course if you had arraneged to see Selby, Murphy etc in 2nd round, your plans would have failed, but to reiterate, your point on planning if you have a favourite is applicable.

[foolsgold]

It's embarrassing to see so few people there. It's made even more evident when a frame is won almost to the sound of tumbleweed.

While watching Allen and McCulloch play in front of a woefully depleted audience, I couldn't help thinking that Willie and John's claim that Preston's Guild Hall is 'one of the best snooker venues in the world' was a massive hint to the snooker authorities.

But as a Prestonian myself I suppose I would say that, wouldn't I?

[The Statman]

The random draw is such a bad idea that the outcome can be just the same as if the draw wasn’t random, but with all the trouble and all the inconveniences it has, like viewers not knowing when players are going to play and not being able to plan a visit to the venue in advance.Yes, the answer to that last point is, of course, to have the random draw for each round – but do it before the tournament. The draw-sheet can then be relisted so that the relevant path can be followed through the grid.

But that, of course, would defeat the object of the surprise factor of not knowing who'll play whom.

(Of course, the random draw aspect should not have affected the first round attendance figures.)

[Templeton Peck]

Preston Guild Hall was always far busier than this - you sometimes had trouble finding a a decent seat on the opening Sunday afternoon. Weekday afternoons are always a bit quiet for the early rounds, but the low numbers on the opening weekend isn't a good sign. A decent turnout for the Hendry match and O'Sullivan today but Preston Guild Hall would have been packed to the rafters for Ronnie's match. I suspect the move to Scotland might have been the BBC's idea since they have to cover so many events in Scotland, and bumping up their Scotland quota with loads of afternoon hours of snooker is an easy way of doing it.

[cannibal man@WSS]

the grand prix being in glasgow and aberdeen has not been good.:(:(
crowds have been pretty poor when i was watching it this year.:(

also there seems to be a lot of noise for some reason.

im surprised the crowds are not better considering the GP has been held in scotland the 2 yrs.
and considering they have players like higgins,hendry,maguire,and graeme dott.

if the crowds don't improve bring it back to preston or at least have it in different venues around england,
a bit like the UK championship which has been in a few differnt venues over the couple of yrs.
and the crowds have been pretty good.
__________________
Originally posted at Http://forum.theworldseriesofsnooker.co.uk