In one of their final acts prior to selling the company, the people running the World Poker Tour decided what the dwindling poker economy in the United States really needed was a $10K tournament in Lawrenceburg, IN (population 4791).

Questions for those who have ever been to the Hollywood Casino (formerly the Argosy Casino):

1. How is the hotel?
2. How are the restaurants?
3. Is there anywhere else to stay/eat other than the Hollywood Casino?
4. The casino is less than 20 minutes from the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati airport, are there shuttles/cabs/whatever available for reasonable prices such that you don't need to rent a car?
5. How many local players (Cincinnati is the closest city) can we reasonably expect to show up?
6. Educated guesses for field size?

Thanks.

Starting this week, they're running three $125 tournaments every week that are each guaranteeing a $10k seat.


Looking at their "Fall Classic" from November here's what attendance was like:

$270 NL (two day 1's)- 661
$270 Stud - 35
$270 NL Ladies - 46
$925 NL - 17
$270 Seniors - 103
$270 PLH/PLO - 50
$450 NL - 58
$270 O8 - 64
$270 NL - 132
$450 NL Deepstack - 161
$1390 NL - 17
$2800 NL - 10
$270 NL - 70

i went down there for some other poker event they were running.. a 500 got like 45 people and I asked how many people they expected for the main and the lady said " we expect alot beause people will use they're vouchers to get in the tourney". I think the main event then was 3k.. Don't expect much.. It'll be realllly soft but not sure its worth it considreing there will be < 80 players I would think. They did such an awful job promoting it and im sure they will do the same with this one.

I think this is actually in March:

http://www.worldpokertour.com/Shared...oker_Open.aspx

I can't find a schedule of the "18 different events" scheduled 3/5/10 - 3/24/10. Anybody know anything?

Yeah, it is, my bad, could a mod change the OP to 3/20-3/24? Thanks.

Will it be televised regardless of size? If so it basically creates an overlay for anyone who wants to play.

Not a very big one, though.

For people on the fringe of a deal as it is it would be bigger and it would be good for those attempting to solidify themselves for a deal. Was just a thought. I gotta think this will get mid 100s no? People will come out for it I assume.

I went to the University of Dayton, about an 1 hr north of here and have been to the casino before and have driven through law for years and years. My friend Dan actually dealt there for awhile before he decided to just play. I've been there a few times.

I highly reccommend, if you're going to go, to find a place in cinci or northern Kentucky to stay. Lawrenceburg is like a sprouting suburban place amidst the redneckian hills of the that area in Kentucky. Another warning: TRAFFIC! traffic here is like, non-stop ****ty. It's always crappy, so allow time especially during rush hour. Also, I do recommend arranging for a rental car. There are buses and stuff, but holy crap will that suck with the human traffic that this area draws.

There are plenty of little gas stations, a Kroger, some cheap, family style restaurants and subway, burger king, etc etc.

I promise that for a 10K, the field is going to be awwwwfffullll soft. Like, probably wow soft. I'm sure there will be enough players for a decent tourney.

If anyone really wants to make a trip out of it, let me know and I can arrange to have an Alumni house (3BR, 1 Hr to the casino) at University of Dayton saved for that time. PM me about this. I'm sure people will be out there in decent numbers with Cinci being there and that casino actually draws from the tri-state area. Also, they will inevitably draw players from other casino's, including Belterra and also Grand.

Hope some of this helps.

I play there as often as possible (but not nearly enough) and really like the new room.

As for the tourney in March, I was told by one of the floor managers that there would be at least 3 deep stack tourneys, two at $300 and one at $500, during the 18 events. He also stated they had a goal of putting at least 40-50 "regulars" in the big $10,000 event (which looks to be true with the $125 tourney promotion beginning tomorrow.)

I plan to play a few tourneys this month and the latter part of February, leading up to the March event. I do wish they would post the official schedule, though.

Thanks
T

Is the complete schedule available anywhere? I looked at the casinos website as well as WPT website but neither have the details of the "18" tournaments.

I was there last night, they're still working on it.

It's nice enough but it's just your basic hotel. While the casino itself and poker room are very nice, the hotel/restaurants aren't anything special. This really isn't a resort type place. If you're used to the big properties in Vegas and AC this will be a change of pace.

Pretty average. There's a buffet, casual resturant, deli, and upscale steakhouse.

There are several nearby hotels that run shuttles to the casinos. A couple of them actually have deals with the poker room for reduced rates. As for other restaurants in Lawrenceburg it's mostly fast food with a couple casual places. Downtown Cincinnati is 25 minutes away if staying at a Holiday Inn and eating at Burger King isn't your cup of tea.

I'm not sure about this. As noted there's not a lot to do in Lawrenceburg so if you're planning on doing anything other than sleeping, eating, and playing you'll probably want to rent a car.

The previous two series of tournaments had less than 20 people for the main event, which had a 3k buy in. Conversely, the $300 Deepstack tournaments were wildly popular and had over 300 people. The room gets decent action but it's almost all low stakes. I'd be very surprised if any of the locals (myself included) just buys-in directly for 10k. I fully expect most if not all of the locals to be satellite winners. Having said that they are running sat's three times a week right now and I'm sure they'll be even more right before the main event. If I had to guess I'd say 50 locals.

One of the floor guys told me they're thinking 150 but no one's really sure. I'm little nervous as there are 3 other WPT events in the month leading up to this, all of which are on the West Coast. I'm worried that some of the pro's will just skip this one and rest up for the WPT championship in April. This is my home casino so I hope it does really well but to be honest I think there's a decent chance it turns out to be a bust and winds up being the only 10k tournament this room ever has. I hate to say that because it's a very nice poker room, but they opened it on the tail end of the poker boom and during a recession. Five years ago it really could have been something.

I played there during Thanksgiving and asked and have called numerous time since inquiring about the HO wpt schedule and have always been told it will be here soon. I need to put in for vacation and make hotel reservations. I have left messages with the tournament director (812-539-6750) and no call back. It appears to be very disorganized. Hope they get some experienced personnel (director/dealers) or this is going to be one BIG mess!

Tournament schedule for the WPT in March is finally up!

http://www.myhollywoodpoker.com/pokermng/tournament

LOL what a hilariously awful schedule... Really great job spreading out the big events, and not making any of the near the main event at all... I'm sure the 3k will get an awesome turnout.

They should be able to break the 10 the last time they had an event with that high a buyin.

planning to arrive about an hr before the event and will only check in if i make day 2

+1 to what jurollo said about tv time equity

I like this....

F the prelims...it is all about getting people in the main, and I think that they will get more people than people think.....check this out...and loooookie at those 15 min blind levels....wheeeeee

Wed 3/3/10 6:15 pm 29 $340 Super Satellite $40+$15 15 min 2,000
Thur 3/4/10 6:15 pm 30 $550 Super Satellite $65+$15 15 min 3,000
Fri 3/5/10 6:15 pm 31 $1,070 Super Satellite $120+$20 15 min 4,000
Sat 3/6/10 6:15 pm 32 $340 Super Satellite $40+$15 15 min 2,000
Sun
3/7/10 6:15 pm 33 $340 Super Satellite $40+$15 15 min 2,000
Mon 3/8/10 6:15 pm 34 $550 Super Satellite $65+$15 15 min 3,000
Tue 3/9/10 6:15 pm 35 $340 Super Satellite $40+$15 15 min 2,000
Wed 3/10/10 6:15 pm 36 $550 Super Satellite $180+$30 15 min 3,000
Thur 3/11/10 6:15 pm 37 $1,600 Super Satellite $65+$15 15 min 5,000
Fri 3/12/10 6:15 pm 38 $340 Super Satellite $40+$15 15 min 2,000
Sat 3/13/10 6:15 pm 39 $3,150 Super Satellite $350+$40 20 min 7,000
Sun 3/14/10 6:15 pm 40 $550 Super Satellite $65+$15 15 min 3,000
Mon 3/15/10 6:15 pm 41 $340 Super Satellite $40+$15 15 min 2,000
Tue 3/16/10 6:15 pm 42 $500 Super Satellite $65+$15 15 min 3,000
Wed 3/17/10 6:15 pm 43 $340 Super Satellite $40+$15 15 min 2,000
Thur 3/18/10 6:15 pm 44 $10,000 Super Satellite $1,115+$85 20 min 10,000
Fri 3/19/10 9:15 am 45 $10,000 Mega Satellite $250+$30 15 min 2,000
Fri 3/19/10 12:15 pm 46 $10,000 Mega Satellite $500+$40 15 min 4,000
Fri 3/19/10 3:15 pm 47 $10,000 Mega Satellite $250+$30 15 min 2,000
Fri 3/19/10 6:15 pm 48 $10,000 Mega Satellite $500+$40 15 min 4,000
Fri 3/19/10 9:15 pm 49 $10,000 Mega Satellite $250+$30 15 min 2,000
Sat 3/20/10 12:15am 50 $10,000 Mega Satellite $500+$40 15 min 4,000
Sat 3/20/10 9:15 am 51 $10,000 Mega Satellite $250+$30 15 min 2,000
Sat 3/20/10 12:15 pm 52 $10,000 Mega Satellite $1,000+$70 20 min 8,000

1. crap(no room service)
2. crap... i got food poisoning which was the 2nd time in my life i had it.. really sucked
3. fast food but there could be some local dives i don't know about
4. no clue
5. not sure how many will sat in.. the 3k mains they had were getting 15-30 players total..
6. 75
7. worst dealers/floor I have ever seen

oh and if it looks like i'm trying to steer good regs away from my home turf... I won't be playing... nothing can trump march madness at my house

Any word yet on tournament structure, blinds, pace, etc? I would assume they want some play considering they have 4 days set aside for what will be < 200 people

For the Main Event there's 90 minute blind levels and 30,000 in starting chips. I'm not sure what blind structure they'll use. The normal structure for their 125+25 tournies is:

25/50
50/100
75/150
100/200/25
200/400/50
300/600/75
400/800/100
500/1000/100
1000/2000/200
.
.
.

Is it really that hard to realize the big events should be by each other right before the main event. I mean one would think thats common sense. Even if its not common sense all u have to do is just look at how other successful series schedules look like. So tilting seein schedles like these. Was plannin on comin for a few prelims then the main, but def not comin for any prelims now.

that and no 6max events, no hu events, and a bunch of other things different events they could put in there

welp, guess im not going then...thx matt lol