APAT Season Two Sponsorship

[TightEnd]

London, August 3rd, 2007 –The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (“APAT”) today announced that Season Two of its critically acclaimed tour will feature close to 70 live events and be headline sponsored by leading UK sports betting and poker operator, Blue Square.

The agreement with Blue Square will generate close to $200,000 in sponsorship; more than double APAT’s Season One budget, and be returned to players in GUKPT and WSOP event entry packages, added prize money in live and online events and in the removal of player registration fees at all live APAT events.

With the addition of a Regional Championship series, extended National Championship series and World Amateur Championship Festival; APAT is a world leader in the provision of low cost, high quality, sponsored poker tournaments.

Played in a wide array of dedicated premium casinos across the United Kingdom, APAT Regional events will reward leading players with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, ranking points and seats at APAT National Championship events.  APAT members will compete for 6 x GUKPT packages, 3 x GUKPT Grand Final packages and 3 x World Series of Poker main event packages in addition to Championship Cups and Medals under the Blue Square sponsorship.

The highlight of the season will be the 2008 World Championship of Amateur Poker which will take place at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino in London and be extended across several days to include Omaha, Heads Up and Stud events, in addition to the World Amateur Poker Championship main event.  The winner of the main event will receive an expenses paid entry to the $10,000 Championship event at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Also added to the National Championship schedule are a UK Forum Challenge, International Team Challenge and APAT Masters; which will enable APAT’s amateur members to play with professionals for the first time.

For more information, players should read the detailed briefing at www.apat.com.

For further information about APAT please go to www.apat.com or contact Media Director Richard Prew on 07887 987044 or on media@apat.com.

[totalise]

whats the latest on the olympics, will blue square, along with APAT, make a dedicated effort to break through the barrier on this all important subject?

[TightEnd]

Gold medals for service to APAT PR all round

[bobby1]

Congrats on the success of APAT and heres to a great second season.

[dik9]

Before I ask tighty, i am really sorry for probably sounding down on ApaT again, (sorry  )

The sponsorship sounds great, but isn't this turning into a bigger cash cow now. All members have now got to switch over to Blue Sq. ? Another sponsorship deal next year?

Won't the ASSOCIATION suffer, with the current climate of casinos and their attitude, not hinder a universal standard, Grosvenor might conform, but the other chains certainly wont??

Sorry, just had to ask 

[Bainn]

Indeed, some exciting news there Tighty, I am really looking forward to season 2.

[Graham C]

70 live events?

Great news for APAT, hopefully I'll be able to play in more of the events next season. 

Good work guys

[matt674]

The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (“APAT”) today announced that Season Two of its critically acclaimed tour will feature close to 70 live events

70 live events but the majority are regional chip chucking contests - £20 buy ins with 30 minute clocks and 2500 chips?

which will enable APAT’s amateur members to play with professionals for the first time.

So basically the smaller buy in tourneys at the GUKPT events?

Without meaning to sound cynical but it sounds like the APAT has become the undercard to the GUKPT, like the nationwide tour is to the PGA tour in American golf

[TightEnd]

The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (“APAT”) today announced that Season Two of its critically acclaimed tour will feature close to 70 live events

70 live events but the majority are regional chip chucking contests - £20 buy ins with 30 minute clocks and 2500 chips?

which will enable APAT’s amateur members to play with professionals for the first time.

So basically the smaller buy in tourneys at the GUKPT events?

Without meaning to sound cynical but it sounds like the APAT has become the undercard to the GUKPT, like the nationwide tour is to the PGA tour in American golf

that structure for a £20 comp is far better than you'd get for many small local comps....and a huge number of players are put off from playing "chip chucking" rebuy fests as we know...it allows for the possibility for more players to play their way into national events too rather than risk being restricted from playing by capacity concerns in the UK


an undercard to GUKPT? far from it. The Masters has its own added value, and the chance for a wider range of players to participate in APAT events. It will be a seperate event from any GUKPT week.

[TightEnd]

Before I ask tighty, i am really sorry for probably sounding down on ApaT again, (sorry  )

The sponsorship sounds great, but isn't this turning into a bigger cash cow now. All members have now got to switch over to Blue Sq. ? Another sponsorship deal next year?

Won't the ASSOCIATION suffer, with the current climate of casinos and their attitude, not hinder a universal standard, Grosvenor might conform, but the other chains certainly wont??

Sorry, just had to ask 

no problem dik9

I've asked Des for his thoughts too

PokerStars were a terrific sponsor for us Season One,but we believe Blue Square offer us a great deal. Not only the large amount of added value but also the access to their venues. As for Season Three, who knows.

Also you will have noticed that all exisiting APAT Members are being offered free membership for Season Two, hardly the act of a cash cow, being a "cash cow" is not what this is about at all!

In terms of conformity, well aside from Grosvenor we have both national chains and independent venues keen to host events for us, and they have indicated they will operate to APAT rules as all the venues did in Season One

Its a step forward on a long path towards uniformity

[action man]

The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (“APAT”) today announced that Season Two of its critically acclaimed tour will feature close to 70 live events

70 live events but the majority are regional chip chucking contests - £20 buy ins with 30 minute clocks and 2500 chips?

which will enable APAT’s amateur members to play with professionals for the first time.

So basically the smaller buy in tourneys at the GUKPT events?

Without meaning to sound cynical but it sounds like the APAT has become the undercard to the GUKPT, like the nationwide tour is to the PGA tour in American golf

it is though mate, apat is for amatuers only.gukpt is for amatuers and pro's

[DesD]

The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (“APAT”) today announced that Season Two of its critically acclaimed tour will feature close to 70 live events

70 live events but the majority are regional chip chucking contests - £20 buy ins with 30 minute clocks and 2500 chips?

which will enable APAT’s amateur members to play with professionals for the first time.

So basically the smaller buy in tourneys at the GUKPT events?

Without meaning to sound cynical but it sounds like the APAT has become the undercard to the GUKPT, like the nationwide tour is to the PGA tour in American golf

it is though mate, apat is for amatuers only.gukpt is for amatuers and pro's

APAT is no longer strictly for amateur's only and it is our intention to have a signficant added prize pool for the APAT Masters, in additon to a WSOP main event entry package.  As always, APAT will be judged on results.

[Karabiner]

How will the 7pm clickfest operate please ?

Will it be emailing one's name and address, or online payment straight away ?

[TightEnd]

How will the 7pm clickfest operate please ?

Will it be emailing one's name and address, or online payment straight away ?

Payment straight away

[DesD]

Before I ask tighty, i am really sorry for probably sounding down on ApaT again, (sorry  )

The sponsorship sounds great, but isn't this turning into a bigger cash cow now. All members have now got to switch over to Blue Sq. ? Another sponsorship deal next year?

Won't the ASSOCIATION suffer, with the current climate of casinos and their attitude, not hinder a universal standard, Grosvenor might conform, but the other chains certainly wont??

Sorry, just had to ask 

Richard, you do need to step back.

No other organisation in poker has represented its members as well as APAT has in Seaon One, and this is set to improve dramatically in Season Two.  We have a very strong relationship at board level with the major casino chains.  Witness our announcement, which announced both Grosvenor and DTD hosting APAT events, with APAT standardised rules, no registration fee, added value, low risk buy ins, all dealer dealt and in premium venues.  Grosvenor and DTD in the same announcement.  Now despite the obvious responses, that is progress.

Cash cow?  I'm not going to get into that with you.  In my opinion it is a disgraceful comment and once again seeks to undermine the results that APAT is achieving for its members.  Nobody has drawn a penny from APAT ever.

Switching sponsors annually?  From day one APAT was positioned as a commercial vehicle and utilises that strength to do first class deals on behalf of our members.  The value of this deal is as signed off and announced yesterday.  APAT will not earn one penny from players now choosing to sign up for a Blue Square account, or will not lose one penny of its sponsorship value if players choose to not sign up. 

Will we suffer from the current climate within the industry?  I don't think so, but we are the only organisation in the UK trying to do something about it.  I'm an advocate of change and APAT will work very hard with the casino chains to bring about positive change for the benefit of our members.

There are those, who are not members, who will moan from the sidelines.  That's life and APAT has proved itself enough to not need to justify ourselves again and again.  But feel free to name one other organisation in poker, who has done so much for their members, and has actively cut off their membership revenue income for the further benefit of members (despite enormous growth plans in Season Two), and who has brought the significant change for our members that APAT has to date.  And further beneficial announcements will follow in due course.

I do believe you are one of the good guys Richard, but I think you just do not get APAT.  And that is fair enough, we will agree to differ.  But please take on board that a lot of people do get it and benefit in many ways from it.