We are off to Dublin this weekend. A few people have asked me what the score is with who buys-in/gets what etc. Basically, I have allocated a pool of money for Chubbs, Aces, Nick and me to promote DTD around the poker circuit before DTD opens. The total cost of our tour is about £160,000 inc buy-ins and expenses. If we make a loss between the 4 of us, I stand it. If we make a profit, it gets split on the basis of who has won most prize money. So far, we have won £27,000, and spent £26,000, so no great bonuses here! This will be the first time we wear the DTD merchandise, Adam from www.shuffleupshirts.com has done these for us, and he's bring the stuff round today.
Here's a few things that have happened with DTD since I last posted:
1. We have offered Ben Mayhew (sundaypm on BP) a job to work for Chubbs on the DTD Poker Tour. This is 12 main events from around Sept 2007 - August 2007 and we will be taking a group of DTD players with us (hopefully 15+ players each trip). These will be all 7 EPTS, WPT Paris, WPT 5 Diamonds, WPT Final Bellagio, The WSOP, Amsterdamn Masterclassics. His job will be to look after the players, a bit like Jonathan Rabb does for Blue Square, and Rory for Betfair.
2. We expect our Gaming Licence hearing to be in July, and the club to open December 1st 2006. Our lawyers are 90% confident we will get through.
3. DTD will initially open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturday and Sundays, until we can recruit enough high quality staff and train them. We will hold 8 tournements per week (each night will have a small (£25-50 freezouts) and a larger (£100-£250) freezout. We will do no re-buy events. We will have 42 tournaments tables, 15 cash & STT tables, and 10 tables in a separate area for Day 2 of main events.
4. DTD will hold 4 festivals in 2007. Every single event will be sponsered by DTD's online card room and will have ADDED PRIZE MONEY. We will have no third party sponsership and keep everything "in house".
5. DTD will only host third party tournaments if their sponsor agrees to add a % of money (not decided yet) to the prize pool. This elimates the possibility of hosting some of the moest presigious tournamants, but we have to remember why we set DTD up and stick to our values.
6. DTD's online poker room has been delayed for the time being. There is no rush in getting tied into someone, we don't open till December 1st, so better to take our time. We have a very strong bargaining position and should make sure we get the best deal for the players in terms of £ and quality of software, there is a balance, or course.
7. DTD will try and tie up a some sort of deal before we open with Blondepoker to use their forum, a bit like 425 do, and look at ways we can work together for the benefit of both sets of members. We need a place where we can debate DTD and get contructive comments (dont bother positing IFM....lol).
8. The DTD web site will be ready by the end of May 2006. You will be able to join the club online from this site. Hopefully we will have a link from Blondepoker to our site.
9. The refurbishment of the DTD Club has been delayed due to the fact we need further approval to build additional floor on top of the methane site which the building is based on. This additional floor would huse the VIP Suite, TV Studio, Corporate Lounge and Day 2 Tournamant area. there is not a problem, it can be done, we just need to go through a bit of red tape. From a design point of view, this Club will be amazing, and hopefully not empty when it opens!
10. The club will operate a cashless system. Each members cash balance will be registered on their card, so they can buy into comps, play cash games, eat and drink by just usung this card. You will of couse be able to reserve your seat for a comp online, but not part with the cash until you arrive.
This is a few snippets of what is happening. I'm gonna post about the live club rather than details about the DTD online card room until TK gives me a green light to talk about both.
Hopefully see some of you in Dublin, I made 2 finals in Luton and made a loss, had to give 50% of one to Nick, and did a deal with Bad Girl for 50% of another when I busted her and felt bad. Nevermind, maybe I'll make a few quid on the Blondepoker card room, anyone fancies a game of heads-up PM me.
