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Post by littlepeople on Oct 24, 2007 7:29:46 GMT -5
Buffalo Labatt Bubble hockey tournament at Pearl street brew pub tonight at 7:00. Next dates are 11/1 and 11/15. Win a cooler- etc. -typical bar swag. Maybe Sabre's tickets too. See you there.
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Post by JG on Oct 26, 2007 14:47:23 GMT -5
Bubble Hockey at a brewpub ;D??? I'd never leave! Any chance of them hosting something with multiple tables on a weekend??? Myself and a few others might make the trip. Brewpub and bubble - be still my heart (and get ready, my liver!!!)
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Post by littlepeople on Oct 29, 2007 7:28:48 GMT -5
The bar pulled the plug on this. Yes like everthing else it was cancelled. There was a dispute between the bar and the beer distributor that puts the bubble events on. I will let you know if anything comes up.
JG- I have the contact info for the beer distributor if you want to ask them any questions. They do not return any of my emails, phone calls. I guess they are just tired of hearing from me. Maybe a new voice would change there minds.
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Post by JG on Oct 29, 2007 12:46:41 GMT -5
Too bad - I share your frustration. No trip to Buffalo for me and the boys... In my "How to Save Bubble Hockey" rant (it is coming - soon...) I'll bring up possible ways to get around these beer distributors and still promote the world of the bubble at the local watering hole. It will be a 10 point plan to "Bubble On." Coming soon...
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Post by airjerd on Oct 29, 2007 17:39:54 GMT -5
i will be awaiting this post
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Post by TonynUtah on Oct 30, 2007 13:14:54 GMT -5
It sure would be great to hear something about the St.Louis nationals! Whether it will happen, not or if there will be any other tournament plans for the next 12 months. I feel that if we had a major event to build around, we could begin to develop interest again! I know we could have had that happen with the KONE event - and in fact I was trying to make the trip, but was guarded against purchasing non-refundable tickets to Boston. Turns out that I saved myself some money by not buying those tickets. But my point is, that if we have a tournament that will definitely occur, than we might be able to drum up more interest. I also think we should go back to out subjective ranking by region (putting aside the old NABHA method) so that we can invite some good spirited competive juices as regions or playing groups can challenge others. Speculate who would win etc. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what JG has to say about the re-emergence plan for bubble hockey. Chow TOny
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Post by Tardy23 on Oct 30, 2007 15:30:57 GMT -5
The last word I heard was that the St. Louis tourney is probably going to happen but that the staff was busy gearing up for the opening of the NHL season so they had not worked on it too much. As for a National Event helping to boost interest, I think that is optimistic at best. One of the biggest problems with a National Event or even the KONE or SJ/Del Val Tourneys is that it attracts many of the same people over and over again. There are no advertising dollars behind it (like AB had) and at the end of the day the average player does not want to come to an event and spend 3+ hours playing a game where they have little to no chance of winning. To them getting your A$$ handed to you on a regular basis is not fun and who can argue with that? Truth is, even with the AB promotion they had issues with the players that ended up in the finals, often it was the same guys which is why they changed the rules. I don't want to jump the gun on JG's theories as to how to save the game but I can tell you that even his league (as he will tell you) has struggled to get a steady amount of players on a weekly/bi-weekly basis. Although the number of players involved is up the average number of players attending on any given night is way down. He has had an influx of new players who have showed up over the last 2 league sessions and at his last tourney and they are all amazed that there are people around who like to play and they ALL say, "this is the best, we will be back" and "I've got a few buddies and they will be with me the next time".......Guess what? We never hear from them again. I hope it was not because they did not like the crowd but I'm sure it was because as I said above, nobody has fun devoting time playing a game when you are getting your A$$ kicked. I know it was not the crowd because every player is a decent person or JG would not allow them to attend, after all it's his house and why let one person ruin it for everyone? Bottom line fellas, the Bubble community is not as large as some may think and although you have members here that check in from time to time most people have other priorities, family, jobs, other hobbies and the like. Heck, I have two games in my home and I can't tell you the last time I played them. I think if the Bubble interest is to grow there would need to be local tourneys that were for the average to beginner players only (NO RINGERS, to the best you could tell). This would spark interest and hopefully not scare the average to beginner player away. After all the games were played maybe some of the better players could show off their skills to anyone who wanted to watch / learn. Now you have their attention and they have some things they can work on. Maybe then they would return for the next event. Just my .02
[glow=red,2,300]CHEERS ![/glow]
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Post by TonynUtah on Oct 30, 2007 17:19:41 GMT -5
I agree completely with what you have said Tardy. My thought about the national tourney was simply so that top players could get rejuvinated. But you are completely right about the new players not looking to get their backside handed to them against top players. In fact, in my last tournament here in Utah, I didn't even play, and there seemed to be even more enthusiam as more players felt they had a shot at winning. I think the beginner tournaments and then either higher level leagues and then training sessions run by top players might do alot toward getting newer players up quickly and then letting the novices get their juices going.
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Post by bubbleal on Oct 31, 2007 7:45:05 GMT -5
I know i haven't been involved lately, but i think the big problem is that we have a older crowd, who have few free weekends/money along with family and other commitments. I think there should be 1 big event a year and the people who want to keep it going must make real effort to attend this event, and get our league out there. If people have little time i find it hard to find someone ready to promote a rookie event. just a thought al
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Post by Tardy23 on Oct 31, 2007 9:09:42 GMT -5
Tony and Al, I agree in part with both of you. Having tourneys where the avg. player feels they have a chance to win is exactly what is needed to "grow" the interest in Bubble Hockey again. And Al just reiterated what I posted earlier which is that most people have other commitments with jobs, family and other interests so it is hard to find the time for playing Bubble Hockey. BUT, if anyone is wondering how to spark more interest I feel that amateur tourney is the way to go. Let those guys feel better about themselves and their game when they walk away from a Tourney instead of feeling demoralized and MAYBE...just MAYBE they will be willing to come back for the next one. I agree that a National is good for the existing crowd but if you look at the number of people that attended you will see that once again it was many of the same faces as usual and I'm willing to bet the beginner players who attended last year (if there were any) won't be back. Al, I agree that if time is an issue for people it will be hard to get someone to promote a "rookie event" but if the idea is the spark interest then I think someone needs to step up. Tony, I like the fact that you did not play in the last tourney you held. I'm sure that the feeling was that since you were not playing certain people got a boost of confidence and a thought that they could win it. I think all this discussion is good because ideas are being exchanged and maybe a combination of these ideas will result in something good coming out of this and and influx of new players.
[glow=red,2,300]CHEERS ![/glow]
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Post by airjerd on Nov 4, 2007 22:23:00 GMT -5
I'm sure people have already tried to write letters to budlight??? that seems like it may be the only way to get the bubble going again
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Post by littlepeople on Nov 5, 2007 8:37:55 GMT -5
Oh the bud light thing. I have emailed all the top guys at AB. Even Tim Murphy, the guy who created it. They won't run this promo again, at least not in our life times. I am surprised that Labatt's picked it up in the Buffalo area. They actually went and purchased there own games. They could have just used the BL ones, they work out of the same facility. I have not heard about any more bubble events in the Buffalo area. The beer distributor no longer returns my emails or phone calls. If anyone in the buffalo area wants the "contact info" for these guys please let me know. Maybe they will respond to a new name.
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Post by TonynUtah on Nov 6, 2007 13:28:07 GMT -5
Hey, maybe we ought to think out of the box for a while. Why would a promoter have to be a beer company? What about companies like Pepsi, Hersheys, Ben & Jerrry's etc. Let me share a quick story with you. Years ago, before the NABHA & IBHF, when I was running tournaments in UTah with only a minor awareness of the NEngland guys, I spoke with Easton apparel. THey had a new product called the Z-Bubble stick. I asked them if they would be interested in a big promotion (Z-Bubble and Bubble hockey). Within 2 weeks I had a call back from their international marketing director & guess what, he was intersted. Problem was I only had 1 game at the time and they were only willing to promote, give prizes etc. but not buy any of the games (understandable cosidering they really didn't have a need for the game). So we had to end our talks at that. NOw I don't have his contact info anymore, but that is just an example of resouces we might turn to for this idea. If we could do something like this with a major organization, we could have small feeder tournaments run by us to prep and feed into that sort of major event(s). Definitely worth looking at anyway! Oh,and by the way, I did get in contact with the St.Louis Blues recently. There is some question as to whether they will even hold the last (3rd)event this march. Intersting huh! But I guess we haven't given them much to be excited about here in the bubble hockey community. Anyway, just some thoughts from your buddy out here in the west. Tony
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craigcole5
Full Member
St. Louis Bubble Hockey Player/Rep
Posts: 80
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Post by craigcole5 on Nov 6, 2007 14:05:53 GMT -5
Tony and others, I made contact with major vendors when we tried to do the NABHA organization and though I received replies back from a majority of them, I received no interest from any of them. My list included: Pepsi, Hershey, Coke, Power Bar, Mountain Dew, Amp, Red Bull, Snickers, and Hooters, just to name a few. We could try again at the beginning of the year before the fiscal year, to try to catch companies before their new budgets come out. Maybe they can fit some extra benefits into the works.
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Post by lance10jl on Nov 7, 2007 10:25:45 GMT -5
After hockey last night I noticed signs Advertising: "Bubble Hockey with Scott Metcalfe, the Rochester Amerk's Great... From 6-8 With Great Specials from Labatt and The Blue Girls Giving away prices... Don't miss out take on a great old game... We're Bringing it back." Dates: November 2, 16, 30 @ TC Hooligans in Webster, NY Dates: November 9, 23 @ TC Hooligans in Greece, NY www.tchooligans.com/He has a Labatt blue bubble table that he brings to the bars, usually isn't any kind of tournament or anything, but it is a start. Bubble, Beer, and Babes (does it get better?)
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