Forums

Cancelled: Live Event

• 2,840 Posts

  Thu, Sep 25 2014 11:41 AM

  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we had to cancel the live event that was scheduled for December.  There was just not enough interest in the event to justify it.  What we did find is that a lot of players have a interest in meeting other WGT players and/or watching them play the game. So we are going to focus on more virtual events.  We will be rolling out our Twitch initiative next week.  If any players have interest in this let me know, and I will get you the Twitch guide early. 

  We also heard that players don't want to travel so far in the US and from Europe, so we're going to encourage WGT players to hold their own smaller regional events, like a golf outing, happy hour or meet-up, that WGT will help promote and support by sending them free stuff, and see how that goes.  Which is one reason I am doing the In person get together in NY/NJ.  I am hoping we can get 10-15 players.

  On a interesting note, we are going to have the Top 4 TL in the Virtual Tour steam their final rounds on Twitch in December.  This will be a great way for players all around the world to see them going for the prize.

  Our virtual event to crown the 2014 Virtual Tour champions will be Dec 2-14. The Top 70 players in each tier (Pro thru Tour Legend) will qualify based on their Virtual Tour season standings. Part 1 of the Championship involves 2 single-play stroke-play rounds with the Top 70 in each tier sharing the 500,000 credit purse. Part 2 is only for the Top 4 Tour Legends from Part 1, who must also stream their final round on Twitch in order to share the 500,000 credit purse, with 250,000 credits going to the 1^st place Tour Legend, a value of $2,500.
  
  While Golf Channel won't be co-hosting the WGT LIVE event in Dec, they're still covering the Virtual Tour online and interviewing the Tour Legend winners from the Virtual Tour majors in Sep and Nov, as well as the Virtual Tour Championship in Dec, so great exposure.

   

  Sooooooooo any questions players have please post them here.  I will try and get answers for as many of them as possible. 

   

  - WGTdbloshoe

   

• fmagnets 3,640 Posts

  Thu, Sep 25 2014 1:22 PM

  Disappointing. The interest from spectators was there. The interest from potential participants was there. There were just too many questions unanswered by WGT preventing any kind of commitment at this early stage. Who would buy a ticket (at such an extortionate price!) without knowing which 4 TLs will be turning up? Which TLs could commit to an expensive trip without knowing if they would actually be invited, how much notice they would get, and if their expenses would be covered? 

  It would not have taken much to make the last two VT events 2 week events instead of month-long ones buying a whole extra month to properly organise the Live Final and allow people time to make reasonably priced travel arrangements. 

• 2,840 Posts

  Thu, Sep 25 2014 1:57 PM

  fmagnets:

  Disappointing. The interest from spectators was there. The interest from potential participants was there. There were just too many questions unanswered by WGT preventing any kind of commitment at this early stage. Who would buy a ticket (at such an extortionate price!) without knowing which 4 TLs will be turning up? Which TLs could commit to an expensive trip without knowing if they would actually be invited, how much notice they would get, and if their expenses would be covered? 

  It would not have taken much to make the last two VT events 2 week events instead of month-long ones buying a whole extra month to properly organise the Live Final and allow people time to make reasonably priced travel arrangements. 

  I feel you.  I was looking forward to this event.  I think a event like this will happen at some point in the future.  I know everyone here appreciates all the feedback players gave.

   

  - WGTdbloshoe

• fmagnets 3,640 Posts

  Thu, Sep 25 2014 2:27 PM

  Is it possible to say whether the 'lack of interest' was from sponsors, Golf Channel, Golf Channel viewers, ticket sales, or perhaps views expressed by some of the potential finalists? Or for 'interest', should we read 'forethought'?

• 2,840 Posts

  Thu, Sep 25 2014 2:33 PM

  fmagnets:

  Is it possible to say whether the 'lack of interest' was from sponsors, Golf Channel, Golf Channel viewers, ticket sales, or perhaps views expressed by some of the potential finalists? Or for 'interest', should we read 'forethought'?

  No one signed up to attend and it didn't look like anyone was going to based on the responses we got. So we decided to focus our efforts on different ideas.

   

  - WGTdbloshoe

• MichaelStroke 2,066 Posts

  Thu, Sep 25 2014 2:36 PM

  I think when he means "interest", he means financial interest.  As FM suggested, I'm betting that sponsors are probably not kicking up the bucks, but I'm also guessing that people aren't going to drive/fly long distances, get motels for several days, and pay expensive ticket prices to watch "experts" click a mouse.  If watching actual golf is considered dull, watching e-golf has to be like paint drying, outside of a few hardcore warriors.

  It will generate moral support, but as far as people going that extra mile...I just don't see it happening.

• chris2345 528 Posts

  Thu, Sep 25 2014 2:40 PM

  Very  surprising  considering  there's 1+ or is it  2+ million members here.

  Guess the people speak not the stats.

  Or not as the case may be.....

• EasyEdward 13,507 Posts

  Thu, Sep 25 2014 2:45 PM

  Shoe:

  The idea of regional gatherings is a good one. I live in Oregon so I would go to one in Portland or Seattle, maybe even San Francisco. Would I go to one in Florida – nope.

  The problem I see in organizing a smaller regional event – say it was decided that the US Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington) could be a nice regional event.  Further, let us assume I wanted to organize one for the Pacific Northwest. My problem is I have no clue who the active WGT players are that are close by who might attend and also have no way to contact them.   [Not all of us are Forum Junkies].    

  So let’s keep it hypothetical and say that I discuss organizing an event in Portland with WGT. We decide that we will have you be the guest from WGT.  The plan might be a meet and greet, a brief Q&A from you, social time together and have it at a site where everyone could bring their laptops to play Alt-Shot, Match Play or whatever around tables. While others observe.  The event would be held say “sometime in early December.”

  How would I organize such an event?   I only know 5 members that are near Portland.  

  (Remember, I never give a problem without a solution).

  Once WGT has an organizer and a plan figured out for a regional event and works out the details instead of using the Forums - WGT puts the event in their news pop ups (like the: Help your CC move up in levels -  Buy a pass).

  Same as always - have a close button but also have a button that says “[I am interested put me on your e-mail list]”

  WGT then creates an e-mail account for the event that WGT and the organizer can access and can give updated information about the event to prospective attendees.

  Just an idea.

  Ed

• Spammage 694 Posts

  Thu, Sep 25 2014 2:45 PM

  WGTdbloshoe:

  with 250,000 credits going to the 1^st place Tour Legend, a value of $2,500

  - WGTdbloshoe

   

  With $250 gift cards at 165,000 the value of the winnings for this person would be $378.xx.  

• 2,840 Posts

  Thu, Sep 25 2014 2:52 PM

  Ed,

   

  Portland or Florida will be my next stop.  So I will keep you in mind.  We are more then happy to help with players finding others in your area.  We can send out targeted emails to players who are in the area.  I think after I do the one in NY/NJ I personally will have a better idea of how this will work. I think we would definitely need a point person in the area who wants to kind of run things once everyone is there.

  I don't know if you have seen this thread yet, but it is a decent start.

  http://www.wgt.com/forums/t/259685.aspx

   

  - WGTdbloshoe