Info Needed: Starting Local League to go to WSOP Main Event

Hello all... I'm new to this site but have been playing poker for 10 years.

In our local league, we are interested in setting up a structure that allows the league leader to enter the WSOP Main Event next year.

I'm sure there are leagues out there that have already done this.

I'm looking for how these leagues are run... what has worked and what didn't.

Here is a listing of ideas so far:

- $100 entrance into the league
- 20 - 30 people
- Weekly Tourney (Buy-in + $?? to go into the main event buy-in)
- If a player cannot make a tourney they are still responsible for the buy-in + ?? or provide a substitute.
- 24 weeks (6 month duration)

Also, for those of you that has played in the WSOP ME... how much did it really cost you? Buy-in, accomodations, food, travel, etc. We want to be sure that the winner in the league gets everything paid for.

The tourney in 2009 started July 3rd. What was the deadline to get the registration in? I'm assuming 2010 will start in July as well.

I appreciate anybody that could provide input.

Thanks!

I've seen a lot of these type tourneys fail lots of times in the past. The crux of it is that anyone at the bottom half of the league at the half way point will simply stop playing knowing full well that their money is now dead. Good luck trying to get $100 a night from these guys that will not play.

Best solution is to run a straight up saty, especially if you have numbers like you have said in the op. Just run a straight up $500 satty, with the winner going to the ME and the next few places getting some $$. You can always run a few sattys to the $500 game as well.

I didn't play in it - but I travelled there and stayed for the entire 2 weeks of the Main Event.

It would be kind of hard to count on covering every single penny spent. What you should do is estimate the average cost of a flight, hotel room and add just a little bit for extra - but the person should count on spending some of their own money for incidentals and some of the food.

Flights will depend on where you are - you can check on those now and go with the lowest rate you can find. I flew from Atlanta to Vegas for less than $300.

Check around at some of the main casinos and get a 2 week rate so you can build that in. Go with one of the cheaper places like Imperial Palace. Add enough to cover that - and if the winner wants to stay at a nicer place they can pay the difference. Check the Rio since that is where the event is held. It is not close to other casinos and the person would have to pay cab fare to get back and forth every day. From one of the closest spots the cab fare would run about $15-25 a day round trip.

Food would average about $50-60 a day - I wouldn't even consider trying to include 3 meals a day. Maybe throw in $500 for food.

You could probably estimate something like $2000 for expenses and just add to that if you want to be more generous.

But come up with a number and stick to it. Let the winner be responsible for making the travel arrangements and working with what they are provided.

What Tenbob said is absolutely right. Do one tournament only - not a long league. You will never get enough money that way.

Thanks for the input... The $100 is just entry into the league. I was hoping that would be enough to only get the serious players.

Yeah... a sat may be the only way to go on this. I know there are serious players in our group, but I don't know if they would be willing to pay $500 to get into the sat tourney though.

One thing that I forgot to mention.... I also thought of people that are out of the running dropping out. The winner would actually go to the Main Event and if they are in the money... they would take at least 30% of the winnings. The rest would be split among the rest of the league players.

What do you all think about that?

That sounds like a pretty bad idea, lets say in theory the winner wins the main event and then refuses to share? I think if you have a prize it should be no stipulations you go the wsop and GL. Plus that idea wont guarentee people will not drop out etc. Maybe you should impliment a system of a third of the buy in is "rake" and put it toward a two year league and the winner gets the package and whats left goes to weekly, monthly or end of year prize money.

Its a bit complicated to impliment when you think of it but I know I would be more inclined to play if there was a chance to win money each week.

Anyway good luck hope you figure something out.