View Full Version : Snooker The Future.
Dub13
10-07-2008, 01:22 PM
I just heard the other day that my local Snooker club is to close,this got me thinking about the future of the sport here.I fear for the future of the great game both at a local level and at the top of the game.Clubs are closing all the time,years ago within 1/4 mile of O'Connell St you could play in a load of places...The Mint, Pierrot, Home of Billiards, Cosmo, Langans.
At the top end the game itself is struggling, prize funds a fraction of those 15 years ago, the lack of sponsorship since tobacco was ousted out, the patchy BBC coverage, ITV long given up, Sky effectively giving up on it (except for the Prem League).
If darts can make a come back why not snooker...?The thing that really goes against snooker is the amount of air time it takes up on TV.This must put off alot of TV stations.
It looks like Snooker may be a dying game on its last legs,I do hope I am proving wrong but the snooker authorities don't seem to be doing a thing.
darts is a piss up to watch and has a great atmosphere. snooker is boring even to a golfer unless your playing. i enjoy playing it myself but hate watching it
Martin88
10-07-2008, 02:33 PM
i enjoy playing it myself but hate watching it
I'd be much the same myself. It's a bit of craic with the lads the odd time but I'd find it hard to watch.
travis
10-07-2008, 02:48 PM
I think all the good characters are gone from snooker these days, your Alex Higgins,Jimmy Whites and Willie Thorns, they were all colorful players to watch back then. These days there's just no one to get excited about playing apart from Ronnie O'Sullivan but he can be a bit of a scumbag at times.
They should televise more ladies snooker and have them wear mini skirts maybe, I might get back watching then.
I think all the good characters are gone from snooker these days, your Alex Higgins,Jimmy Whites and Willie Thorns, they were all colorful players to watch back then. These days there's just no one to get excited about playing apart from Ronnie O'Sullivan but he can be a bit of a scumbag at times.
They should televise more ladies snooker and have them wear mini skirts maybe, I might get back watching then.
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
SUPERFAN
10-07-2008, 03:19 PM
The Mint
Jaysus,some bogey fcukers used to hang around that place at night...
used to love the Pierrot Club,would go in there most Weekends mostly for pool but also for the odd Game of Snooker.
there used to be a great Snooker Hall up our way called Breakers,it had about 6 Full Sized Tables and at one time it did a Roaring Trade.all the Lads used to Hang out there for Hours on end.
there's still one Club up beside me,Cross Guns Snooker,it's been there for Years.i Think Ned Kelly's has a few Full Size Tables as well...
STEVE1978
10-07-2008, 03:25 PM
Ah neds, was super yeah. Raphaels in lucan, or d leisureplex d only 2 i can think of that are still goin. Anyone remember Dr quirkys?? think they had fullsize tables, is it still there?
paddypower111
10-07-2008, 05:07 PM
SNOOKER me balls = boring end of story. rather watch paint dry:D
I used to be an avid snooker player for years, especially when i was younger, even reaching a 127 break...but that's all past me now...all the local clubs have closed...the Tallaght leisure centre, Kusanta, even the Belgard...I even heard that the Spawell is closing in the near future?
The reality shows have gazumped all the air time due to the length of the frames...
Pool seems to be to have taken over, especially 9ball, which was always more popular in the americas, philippines and chinese taipei...a game to which i still regularly play and enjoy...even sky sports continues to broadcast the sport...
callyno3
11-07-2008, 08:58 AM
Snooker has been in decline for about 10 years here in cork where it has all but disappeared except for the city clubs. I used to play a little bit but was crap compared to pool. the bigger table just got me .
Yeah, theres feck all charachters left in the professional game. They should bring back drinking at the matches!!!!!
Raphaels in lucan is closed now I think, i used to head there every saturday. Played in the mint a good bit aswell as a teenager those were the days
vodkacolly
11-07-2008, 06:32 PM
I used to watch it years ago and would enjoy the different characters play each other but now they are all like robots (Ronnie o'S aside) and the one bit of variation in the game is gone. Its been on the slide for years and was made obvious when Jasons in Ranelagh closed.
James
11-07-2008, 07:23 PM
If you look at current growth sports such as Darts, UFC, Speedway and Rugby League they are all stadium/arena sports that promote in game interaction with the contestants. With Snooker spectators are expected to sit in relative silence and show support to the players by clapping. I personally enjoy watching Snooker and so do most of my mates but people these days want to have a bit of a laugh and a pint when they pay into watch a sport, especially young adults. Theres nothing wrong with this its just that Snooker is suffering because of it. They need Sky or someone like that to come in and pump money into the game like they have with some of the sports I mentioned above or else the game is going to be lost to the Far East.
Perhaps they need to do adjust the form of the sport like the ICC has with Cricket and 20/20.
Kiltyred
04-08-2008, 10:30 PM
darts is a piss up to watch and has a great atmosphere. snooker is boring even to a golfer unless your playing. i enjoy playing it myself but hate watching it
Agreed, I've been a big Darts fan all my life, but only watch snooker on a need to view basis. Darts is much more exciting and critically, it's faster.
Kiltyred
04-08-2008, 10:37 PM
Perhaps they need to do adjust the form of the sport like the ICC has with Cricket and 20/20.
Yeah
but how can you adjust a snooker match? Unless they try a 7s snooker or something with say 7 reds instead of 15.
Dub13
05-08-2008, 03:49 PM
Yeah
but how can you adjust a snooker match? Unless they try a 7s snooker or something with say 7 reds instead of 15.
The Pot Black tournament is back (single-frame matches) and makes great TV.I am not sure when its on but look out for it.
Kiltyred
12-08-2008, 02:46 PM
The Pot Black tournament is back (single-frame matches) and makes great TV.I am not sure when its on but look out for it.
Yeah saw it last year. That alone won't save snooker though.
Dub13
12-08-2008, 02:47 PM
Yeah saw it last year. That alone won't save snooker though.
No but it makes for very good TV.
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