Don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of playing beer pong for big money. With prize pools of $65,000 and $100,000 for the World Series of Beer Pong and the Masters of Beer Pong, respectively, there are some amazing opportunities to win some big money playing pong.
I may be in the minority, but I think that these big beer pong tournaments should be the exception, not the norm. Somewhere along the line, tournament organizers throughout the country decided that we needed big money tournaments and big money tournaments only. It’s as if someone decided that if we weren’t playing for at least $1,000, there’s no point.
I can understand why the top players want big money tournaments. They’ve got a chance to win. For someone like a Pop or a Kessler or a Ross Hampton, flying across the country for a weekend of pong is a sound investment. They’ve likely already won a bid, and whether they win or lose the big tournament, they’ll probably at least make enough to recoup their investment. But for others like myself, what’s the point?
When I first started playing beer pong, it wasn’t the money that attracted me to the game. I’m sure I’m not alone, because a lot of the players that started around the time that I did are still playing, too, and there wasn’t any money to be made back then. It was the community and the aspect of competition that drew us in and kept us engaged. Sure, we all get older and priorities and responsibilities change, but none of us picked up a pong ball for the first time with the hopes of cashing in for big money. We wanted to drink and have fun with our friends.
It seems that throughout the country, beer pong tournaments need to be a “Best Of” or take place in a ballroom to be worth our while. I’m tired of playing beer pong in the same ballrooms with the same overpriced drinks, stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing else to do.
I’ve been saying for years that tournament and league organizers need to cater to the new players, not the “elite” players to survive. Sure, $5,000 prize pools are awesome, but you’re also charging quadruple the entry fee plus travel expenses for multiple-day tournaments. The new, casual player isn’t going to make that investment, and if he does he will likely get throttled so badly in competition he won’t be coming back.
I can only speak for my local area, but at least in Maryland, it seemed that as the prize money increased over the last few years, the tournaments became fewer and fewer in between and the loyal players stopped coming. A big prize isn’t worth it to someone who knows they have no chance of winning. It’s no fun to come to a tournament and go 0-2.
Having more tournaments with less prize money is a win-win. More people get to play, and even if those top players decide that a $100 isn’t worth their time, the five casual teams that sign up knowing they have a better chance to have fun and win something will more than cover the cost of losing those top teams. Parity is rampant in professional sports because it works, beer pong is no different.
If you look at the beer pong communities that are thriving, it’s no surprise. Places like Lehigh Valley are attracting over 100 teams a week by having several small tournaments. They aren’t holding them in small hotel ballrooms, but in local bars, with local players, for modest cash prizes and drink specials. These are the players that are going to keep playing and become the next great players.
Hey Jeff. Thanks for the shout out. We work really hard to accomplish what you talk about in this article. So far, so good. It’s only been 18 months though, so hardly a long running thing. We just want to post a point of clarification for people out there that are curious as to what we are doing.
We get 100 teams a night around two days a week, with around 375 each week. That’s running 16 events, 7 days a week, using slightly modified BPong rules. Not giving those numbers to be a jerk about it. Just wanted to illustrate the point that the casual player is who we need to focus on. If they decide to make the jump to a more serious player, we will help them along the way. Thanks again for the mention.
Yes, we are a bar will join BPong and buy equipment, but my concern is if tall players can lean over and make the cups does the game need an update? Longer table?
Anyway I would like to also know what the “slightly modified rules” Lehigh uses.
We are more about fun than money, but we will offer cash prizes, etc.
Ron
Send us a message. [email protected]. We can talk. Hope to hear from you soon!
I’m just getting into WSOBP but I’ve played pong for years now. I built a “beer pong training facility” in my back yard after my wife made me move the pong table out of the dining room. I live in Tennessee and I’m to the point to where I’m trying to find bars that’ll support me in throwing a beer pong tourney. I vote for reaching out to the newer players and leaving the big cash prizes for Vegas. WSOBP I love you and can not wait for the pleasure to play the big dogs Jan. 2014!!
I agree with brandon. I live in south texas (laredo) and beer pong seems to be non existent here except for house parties. There is only one bar in laredo that has beer pong weekly but just for fun.