Where to start ey!
First and foremost, a huge thankyou to APAT for providing another top value poker tour where the prizes for the amateur players are very rewarding: tweaked prize structure = spot on. added seats = opportunity to play in potentially unaffordable events and gain experience in bigger events. medals = for me personally, hugely satisfying to look back on and remind urself of the win.
all these things within the tour make APAT what it is IMO. then throw in the camaraderie at national event weekends and it truly is an unique poker event that you just do not see elsewhere.
Now here comes the big question for APAT - what is the actual aim as a company/organisation?
If its motivation is to grow and make a run at becoming a global brand, then branching out of the UK is essential. the events I"ve been to "abroad" have been a blast and getting away for a weekend anywhere for nothing but poker is essentially my idea of a "holiday". However, for me personally, travelling across Europe to play poker jus isnt really on my agenda due to costs, although i would love to do it.
The point im trying to make is that i don"t see the abroad events as a poker wkend, but a holiday wiv an APAT tournament thrown in. Thats essentially wot the "Vegas APAT" is and truth be told, always was. Its not an APAT event in Vegas, its a week in Vegas for those who can afford it wiv the bonus of a APAT poker tournament whilst you"re there.
Reading through this thread it would appear that the majority are against continuing having multiple (if any) events abroad and as a community of players then APAT need to seriously consider this to provide a tour that has attracted many players and to keep it that way.
The problem comes if APAT, and those at the top of its tree, want to make the brand bigger. I believe this will move it away from the current ethos of APAT by locating some of the events abroad and risk losing hardcore members from down the years. but if this is APATs desire and quite frankly wiv its progression since Ive been a member, they are more than capable of turning it into a much bigger project that in currently is.
if its goals are to continue to provide an accessible and affordable poker tour that offers such great value like from my opening paragraph then keep it in the UK, simples.
What are your ultimate ambitions wiv APAT, Des and Tighty?
I think that will do from me for now
