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StumbleWorld Series of Poker looks ahead to 2010
With 60,875 players this year, plans are in place to accommodate more
WSOP/Harrah's
The $8.5 million grand prize of the World Series of Poker.
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.
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Despite the economic downturn that World Series of Poker officials figured would decrease registration numbers in 2009, the tournament enjoyed another record-setting year.
In the series’ 57 events this summer, a total of 60,875 players participated. That’s an increase of more than 2,000 registrations from a year ago — and nearly 57,000 more than competed only nine years ago.
As officials plan for the 2010 World Series of Poker and beyond, they are still looking to expand.
“We expect to find a way to increase participation,” World Series of Poker spokesman Seth Palansky said. “But I don’t think you’ll see the record growth you have since 2000.”
Palansky said much was learned from this year’s World Series. While the numbers dropped for higher buy-in events — such as the $10,000 Main Event — they exploded for the cheaper events.
For example, the $1,000 No Limit Hold ‘Em event drew more than 6,000 entrants. Palansky said next year’s schedule would reflect the success of the lower buy-in events.
“Price yourselves right and the people will come,” Palansky said. “We do expect to offer a better variety of buy-ins to meet the demands of the marketplace.”
Palansky and his team are also making preparations to avoid the shutouts that occurred on the fourth starting day of the Main Event this year. Hundreds of players were turned away when the tournament reached its daily capacity of 2,809 players.
Part of the problem was one of the four starting dates landed on the Fourth of July, which predictably attracted the fewest numbers of entrants. In 2010, Palansky said, there will be no poker played on the holiday.
The Main Event will either start after the Fourth of July or take a break for the day. Additional plans are also being made to accommodate more players.
“We hope to address it somewhat with an expanded footprint for this year, which means more poker tables so we can have more players,” Palansky said. “But it’s more important to make it abundantly clear to register in plenty of time.”
The World Series of Poker staff is moving forward with its plans without Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack, who resigned last week. Pollack created the position of commissioner in 2005 when he felt the tournament needed to be represented by a public face.
The tournament will now revert back to operating without a commissioner.
“There’s no plans to replace the commissioner role, nor do we feel that there’s a void there,” Palansky said. “We feel that the brand has grown and the staff that has been here throughout is here and ready.”
ESPN will be along for the ride as well. The World Series of Poker and the network signed a contract in August that runs through 2017.
The Main Event continues to draw strong ratings, as 2.1 million viewers watched this year’s final table when Joe Cada won the gold bracelet.
“There seems to be more and better understanding of all that this sport has to offer,” said George McNeilly, ESPN’s senior director of communications on a teleconference.
And with that understanding, perhaps more players than ever will sign up in 2010.
That’s what Palansky is hoping for. If 2009 was any indication, it should happen.
“I think the staggering thing is how resilient the poker community was in relation to the global economy,” Palansky said. “We did prepare for a down year in the number of participants, based on how the economy was. We thought that it would have a bigger impact on us than it did.”
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Long live the W.S.O.P. Can't wait until next year.
do you really think those poker-pukes care about the fourth of july
Hmmmm!!!! These Guys of the WSOP might be regular people with Logical Ideas.
I have recently commented on several articles about the Gamming Industry here in Las Vegas about how they could Draw more people here and I rang the same tune Mr.Palansky just said in this article.Price Yourselves Right and People Will Come.Sounds like this group knows how to keep going and find ways to draw people to their venue.Then they plan to make changes to accomodate more players.That sounds like better customer service.These folks need to patten these ideas and sell them to the Las Vegas Casinos.Oh! That's right the Casino Execs are not smart enough to even figure that out on their own.
Mr.Palansky,you and your staff need to be hired to operate some of the strip casinos here in Vegas.You guys could single handily start helping this economy.
Then the WSOP Staff feels it doesn't need a top chief also. That you all have built a working relationship as a team to operate such large events without one person at the helm,I commend the WSOP staff for their smart decissions and desire to suceed and acknowledge what works in tough economic times.
I am not a poker player at all but I do enjoy watching it on TV from time to time or watch at the casinos from a distance.
I will definately support the WSOP more by watching on TV to help boost their ratings.
The comments by Mr.Palansky are the most intelligent I have heard since I moved to Las Vegas 10 months ago.WSOP staff keep up the good work and Ideas
hey the pukes are playing against each other.why should the casinos' have any interest in them.there was a reason why all of the poker rooms in town closed.they werent cost effective. the space was better used for other purposes.
its pure insanity. Betting millions on the whim of how cards come out.
Quit tryng to connect math with poker. The math you need is 4th grade math at highest and thats all. These are crazy gamblers trying to justify why they bet millions on a 20% chance of winning. They try to turn make themselves up to be some math savants.
Cada is one of worst poker player seen on TV. Jerry Yang was brilliant compared to him. Cada had no strategy other than to get lucky. And he did. Over and over and over. Poker is Gambliing. There is no poker pro. You can call yourself pro if you can see the others card 100% of the time and win the pot before the river everytime. Seen anyone do that? Not likely. Thats why poker is gambling.