APAT Season Two Sponsorship

[tikay]

I think the effort put in and results achieved by APAT and its organisers for season 2 is outstanding and will benifit most members. Obviously changes often do not suit everyone and i am sure that any constructive criticism or views expressing concerns will be heard and responded to in APAT's usual positive manner.
For me the change from Pokerstars to Blue Square appears a positive one and will give added value in many areas.

The regional qualifier system will introduce a more cost effective local entry into the National Championship. The possible challenge here is that the 11 casinos do not serve all areas of the UK effectively, Scotland being a large area for only one casino? But i am sure that more venues will come on board as the season/seasons progress. Although the 2,500 chips and 30 minute blinds are not the usual APAT format, they are practical for a one day regional qualifier.
Having the regional qualifiers on the same day in each region will restrict the possible extra regional points scoring in say the Southern region where 4 casinos are available.

Limiting the individual points scoring to twenty events with only 5 live ensures that players cannot dominate the points from specialising in live or online, a mix of results will be required to win.

The addition of events like the WCOAP in London, the APAT Forum Challenge, the APAT International Team Challenge all add value and interest to current and future APAT members.

Introducing the professional membership is interesting and will create a healthy debate from current APAT members, perhaps some current members already qualify for this new position already?

Apat is growing bigger and stronger under good management and along with the members elected representatives will raise the bar for amateur poker players everywhere.

  

The possible challenge here is that the 11 casinos do not serve all areas of the UK effectively, Scotland being a large area for only one casino?

Yes, Scotland had exercised our minds considerably, but there are very few suitable Venues in Scotland. However, there are at least 2 new Venues now available, or available soon, & these are in our thinking.

[booder]

Does this mean that I get to play?

 

[boldie]

When does the season start?

I'll definetly be signing up this season

Bloody foreigners...

[DesD]

Does this mean that I get to play?

It will be great to see you at an APAT event Tom and our amateurs will benefit from sitting down with more experienced players also.

[Karabiner]

I can't find Monday's satellite on BSq's site, is it not there yet or am I being techno-duncy again ?

[kinboshi]

I can't find Monday's satellite on BSq's site, is it not there yet or am I being techno-duncy again ?

Don't think it's there yet.

[TightEnd]

I can't find Monday's satellite on BSq's site, is it not there yet or am I being techno-duncy again ?

no its not there yet.

It will be in good time.

Hopefully

[DesD]

are you saying that you haven't got any affiliation deal?

That is correct.  There is absolutely no affiliation deal between Blue Square and APAT.  Rank, through Blue Square and Grosvenor have put their money up and committed to sponsoring APAT throughout Season Two.  I applaud them for that.  And I hope they do tremendously well from the deal.  As a result, APAT members will be able to play several tournaments at Grosvenor's finest venues free of charge throughout next year.  They will do so to APAT rules and with sensible structures and with added value prize pools.  

What a great time to be a recreational poker player.  

And can I add that Dusk Till Dawn were similarly generous in their negotiations with APAT, and they to have waived player registration fees for APAT events, and will effectively run them at a loss.  

Rank is a multi billion pound company and the people over there, and the likes of Simon Trumper and team are nobody's fools.  The appreciate that if they incentivise APAT members into their venues, then longer term they will recoup their investments through player acquisition, increased loyalty and added publicity.  And APAT has been smart enough to negotiate superb player focussed deals with these businesses.  

Now here is the thing.  What could APAT achieve for players as a whole, if players joined APAT en bloc?  The answer, within reason - almost anything.  APAT is a conduit to pull the players together and negotiate with the casinos in a professonal and reasonable way.  We have something to offer them, and they have something to offer us also.  I laid this vision out twelve months ago and to be fair one or two 'friends of APAT' laughed us out of court.  Well, one year on, APAT are proven do'ers and our members are benefiting.  To jump on the bandwagon I would suggest everyone joins up and lets see what we can achieve together for Season Three.

But the questioning of motives etc, is redundant now.  We know what we are doing.  Trust us, join us and the industry will become much more player focussed.

[Karabiner]

I can't find Monday's satellite on BSq's site, is it not there yet or am I being techno-duncy again ?

no its not there yet.

It will be in good time.

Hopefully

Good, because I don't seem to be much good at clickfests 

[DesD]

Ugly was maybe not the best word but it is very muddy, so much there i was wondering why?
Why not just keep the existing format with extra events?

I guess the addition of the Regional events is there primarily to ensure we can offer more players a good game.  I did some numbers a couple of weeks ago that suggested we will offer somewhere in the region of 6,500 live seats in Season Two, compared to 2,000 in Season One.   Additional events like the Team Challenge will add a lot of interest for players who are in the thirties and forties in the rankings, but still possibly in with a chance of being selected for this event.  There is undoubtedly a lot there, but I truely expect that members will on average play two or three Regionals as they are local, and maybe one or two Nationals over a season, where costs are greater.  So really we have tried to give more choice. 

[DesD]

I can't find Monday's satellite on BSq's site, is it not there yet or am I being techno-duncy again ?

no its not there yet.

It will be in good time.

Hopefully

Yes, it has been briefed and should appear early on Monday.  I expect some teething problems with account registrations, etc on Monday.  I hope that this will not be the case, but I would be tempted to register for the event at least an hour or so before it kicks off, particularly if anyone is opening a new account.  This is a serious investment for Blue Square so I am confident they will do everything within their power to ensure APAT members experience a smooth process.

[boldie]

Like Robert asked..when does season two start? No point in me signing up this season, ya see?

[TightEnd]

Like Robert asked..when does season two start? No point in me signing up this season, ya see?

1st event in October

Unlike Season 1, dates and venues etc will be laid out in advance

[boldie]

Like Robert asked..when does season two start? No point in me signing up this season, ya see?

1st event in October

Unlike Season 1, dates and venues etc will be laid out in advance

cheers tighty..I'll make sure I'm signed up before then

[Robert HM]

I can't find Monday's satellite on BSq's site, is it not there yet or am I being techno-duncy again ?

no its not there yet.

It will be in good time.

Hopefully

What sat? To where? Where can I read about this and other comps?