Nhc format 2013 suggestion

[TEJASKIDD]

If the NTRA goes to the new format (next year) as proposed earlier this summer, then I think that the TOP 10 tour points leaders for that season should get exempt from the first round and fast tracked directly to the final day of 80 (or more).

[JimG]

If the NTRA goes to the new format (next year) as proposed earlier this summer, then I think that the TOP 10 tour points leaders for that season should get exempt from the first round and fast tracked directly to the final day of 80 (or more).

Interesting idea. Why not make it the top 20 point leaders get exempt and increase the final day from 80 to 100?

Jim

[SPIKE]

I agree !!!!!

[Mayo]

Dennis,

That is an interesting idea. It could most certainly enhance participation in the tour. I will bring it up with the committee.

Mayo

[Iceman]

I would venture to say that such an idea would definitely boost tournament participation in the last few months of the year!

Dan W.

[herlman]

I also like the idea. It would really make it worthwhile for Tour members to keep playing late in the year. Many players would never be more that a couple of top tournament finishes away from advancing right into the final day with guaranteed money. This would also make up a bit for the lack of prize money for all but the top three finishers on the Tour. I am not sure though whether the race book at Treasure Island holds many more than 80.


Paul Shurman

[David-LV]

I also like the idea. It would really make it worthwhile for Tour members to keep playing late in the year. Many players would never be more that a couple of top tournament finishes away from advancing right into the final day with guaranteed money. This would also make up a bit for the lack of prize money for all but the top three finishers on the Tour. I am not sure though whether the race book at Treasure Island holds many more than 80.


Paul Shurman

100 people playing horses at Treasure Island will be a very tight squeeze.


Sports Books
Treasure Island Race and Sports Book
3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 894-7111
(800) 288-7206
Map it



Treasure Island Race and Sports Book Details

Hours of operation: Open daily, 8 a.m. - completion of events. Extended hours during football season.
Payment options: Cash and casino chips.
Location: In the northeast corner of the main casino floor inside the Treasure Island.
Type of betting offered: Daily lines (straight point line bets, money lines and totals) for major and some minor sports, futures, propositions, first half and halftime lines, parlay cards and pari-mutuel racing.
Number of televisions: 80
Big screens: 11.
Largest TV: 14 foot by 9 foot.
Food and drinks: Cocktails are complimentary to players. Food is available at Canter's Deli, which is located adjacent to the Race and Sports Book.
Seating: 42 seats on the sports side, 80 seats on the race side.
Race and sports book director / manager: Trudy Smuin.
Lines posted: Usually by 9 a.m. Noon on Monday for football lines.
Line originator: Corporate.
Betting service offered: Pay-by-mail.
Comps and specials: Customers can earn points for their bets by joining the Sporting Club, which in turn can be used for comps.

__________
David-LV

[Mayo]

As I posted previously, I really like Dennis's idea and am going to take up it with the committee and Keith in our next discussion.

As far as the event moving back to the race book. I doubt very seriously that will happen (wishful thinking for some). The TI (or any other casino) is not going to the expense to put on the event in a ballroom for 2 days and then split the field and move part of them back to the race book. Not going to happen. Any of us who have ever been to Vegas and played in this or any other event can easily see the administrative nightmare this would be.

Many did not like the idea of the event growing from 300 to 500 players, however the NTRA chose to do it in an attempt to increase the purse. That being said, the event will probably never be in a race book again. Bringing that discussion up is more than likely a complete waste of time.

Mayo

[Jorge]

With the current Tour structure and proliferation of on-line tournaments offering little or no prize $ filling the Tour schedule, I would be opposed to fast-tracking the top Tour finishers to a "final table" (whatever that turns out to be). There are already a bunch of people this year who have already qualified pursuing a top 5 Tour finish buying multiple entries in contests like NHCQualify, BCQualify, and HorseTourneys. Those without the deep pockets and/or time to play in all these tournaments really would have little chance at a top 10 finish in the 2012 "Tour" (under current Tour structure).

Maybe there's a way to re-structure the Tour and Tour scoring that would give more Tour members a realistic chance at a top finish. Here are a few suggestions I've heard from fellow Tour members over the last couple of years:

- Superqualfiers (majors, possibly regional or online) with increased/weighted Tour points
- A max of 2 scores can be counted from any site/venue
- Scale points for top 5 finishes in any given contest based on # of participants (currently 3000 points for a 1st in a 30 player contest and 3000 points for 1st in a 1500 player contest)

I'm glad TejasKidd posted his original idea as I hope there can be some healthy discussion about next year's Tour and the 2013 NHC before final decisions are made.

[km]

I agree with Jorge. On one hand the top10 Tour leaders should be rewarded, but NOT to get a headstart at the finals, which is an entirely new contest and should begin from scratch with all players having equal opportunity at the outset.

Give the Tour leaders preferential seating, an upgraded suite, free meals, etc., but the when the contest begins, everyone there should have an equal shot at the final round.

[attytess]

I'd like to chime in and agree with Jorge & KM in not wanting Tour point leaders to somehow "bypass" the 1st two days of a tournament and immediately report to the money round. I also don't like the idea of someone playing in tournaments all year round with multiple entries, and then at the end of the year, he or she gets admission to the NHC merely by affording to play alot ( and in theory, never even winning an actual entry from the numerous tournaments they participated in?) Maybe I'm not understanding something here, if so, somebody help me out.

[herlman]

The issue has to do with making the Tour worthwhile to play after one has qualified. Right now, it really isn't. With only top three finishers on the tour receiving significant money ( $75,000, $25,000, $15,000 and no more automatic spots for the following year's NHC) it is not really worth playing unless you, by skill or chance, find yourself near the top of the leaderboard. In thoery, and perhaps reality, you could finish second or third on the tour and still lose money when considering the costs of entry fee, travel, etc. We would all like people to keep playing throughout the entire year. It makes for more competitive, more enjoyable contests. It also helps boost the prize pools, especially for contests being held late in the year. The venues also want to see players have a reason to play the entire year. So you would love to find a way to make it worthwhile for players to keep playing, without making the NTRA take out of the NHC prize pool to compensate them. That is why the suggestion from Tejaskidd was very interesting to me. Yes it is possible that putting people through to the final round might be too much compensation, but I think that the idea has merit and can be fiddled with and discussed. I do not think free meals or seating upgrades has enough appeal for people to spend thousand of dollars playing contests. Money, baby....money...that's what they want. And while yes, there is a tournament at the end of the year for the top 100 giving away 15 slots for the following year...that's not enough incentive either. First of all, the threshhold for the top 100 won't be that difficult to attain for regular players. And although it would certainly be nice to qualify for the NHC a year ahead of time, with 500 slots available, most core tour players aren't that concerned about qualifying the following year.


Paul Shurman

[Ride That Pony]

This topic prompted me to move from lurker to making my first ever post. I am very concerned about the thought that we need to find ways to make the Tour appealing to folks year round. I am not a big fan of the Tour. I hope that it exists to enhance contest play and the NHC. That is my understanding. If the few people that have time and resources to compete on the Tour are given an advantage like this in the NHC it will turn off the 99% of other players who feel they are operating at a disadvantage from the get-go. Once the NHC starts, it should be a level playing field. The weekend warrior that qualified on his single shot at the local track should have the same opportunity to win as the veteran Tour players. I started off as a weekend warrior and do not think I would have come to love contest play if I was playing at a disadvantage over others with more time or resources.

Now that I've made my first post, maybe I'll stick around. I enjoy the news I get from you folks.

Ride That Pony (aka Trey)

[dehere]

Being able to bypass the first two days and jumping in on day three is way, way too much of a bonus. Not only is it an incredible advantage not having to get there on one's merits but it is doubly unfair to have 20 "fresh" handicappers coming in against 80 dog tired competitors.

[bdownes]

+1 with Dehere and Trey. U don't give the leaders of the player of the year race in poker more of a chance to win the main event than everyone else and that is what u are doing here.