The Horseshoe Council Bluffs in Iowa (across the river from Omaha) is holding their first "real" BJT on 7/25/08 - Prize Pool is $175,000 with $100,000 for first. I say "real" because their only other tournament was for the now defunct Millionaire Maker years ago. I was told that if they get enough support for this event then more tournaments will follow. I posted the details on the Calendar. However, there are 3 issues that may stop BJTers from attending.
1) The prize pool is $175,000 and they are looking for 300 players. If they get that 300 then the EV is $583. However, I personally doubt they will get that 300 given their location and the fact that the entry fee is $1,000. But don't let the entry fee scare you. They will reduce the fee based on your play at any Harrah's properties. Also, free hotel rooms and a $125 travel reimbursement may also be available when they consider your recorded pay at (again) any Harrah's properties. As a side note, the Horseshoe-Tunica runs a $250,000 tournament with $1,000 entry fee. Normally they get about 175 fully comped high rollers and 50 to 75 paid entries. So I'm guessing Council Bluffs attendance (given their location) will be around 150 to 200 which brings the EV up to a more reasonable level.
2) The format is typical Tunica format: 2 rounds of accumulation followed by the semi-final table. I know many on this site don't like accumulation format but considering the prize money, I think it's worth a shot.
3) Location.
The MID-WEST has been a desert as far as large money tournaments are concerned. If any members here can see their way past the drawbacks I detailed, this is an opportunity to show the casinos that support for large money tournaments does exist in the MID-WEST. The ball is our court.
1) The prize pool is $175,000 and they are looking for 300 players. If they get that 300 then the EV is $583. However, I personally doubt they will get that 300 given their location and the fact that the entry fee is $1,000. But don't let the entry fee scare you. They will reduce the fee based on your play at any Harrah's properties. Also, free hotel rooms and a $125 travel reimbursement may also be available when they consider your recorded pay at (again) any Harrah's properties. As a side note, the Horseshoe-Tunica runs a $250,000 tournament with $1,000 entry fee. Normally they get about 175 fully comped high rollers and 50 to 75 paid entries. So I'm guessing Council Bluffs attendance (given their location) will be around 150 to 200 which brings the EV up to a more reasonable level.
2) The format is typical Tunica format: 2 rounds of accumulation followed by the semi-final table. I know many on this site don't like accumulation format but considering the prize money, I think it's worth a shot.
3) Location.
The MID-WEST has been a desert as far as large money tournaments are concerned. If any members here can see their way past the drawbacks I detailed, this is an opportunity to show the casinos that support for large money tournaments does exist in the MID-WEST. The ball is our court.
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. The real question is how much over 60 will they get so that the prize pool stays at or close to the $175,000 advertised. EV is awfully hard to guesstimate on this event but I figure if a player can get an entry for $700 or less then the EV should be reasonable - maybe not positive but reasonable. Time will tell.