Paul Newman isn’t leading the rally for billiards, this time.
Across the world, the popularity of pool is fast on the rise, especially in Longmont. From casual players to competitive athletes vying for spots in international competitions, plenty of both are in Longmont.
Kevin Leivonen is the league operator for the American Pool Players Association of Northern Colorado. His league encompasses all of Boulder and Larimer counties and is made up of more than 1,100 players. He raves about Longmont’s role in Colorado’s pool scene.
“Growth out there has been phenomenal,” Leivonen said.
Part of the reason is the emergence of Pharaoh’s American Grill & Billiards in downtown Longmont. It’s the only dedicated pool hall in the city open to the public. The hot spot is owned by David Mot who opened the location last March after moving his business from Superior. It’s a popular spot for kids and senior citizens alike. Mot says kids as young as 10 years have visited, but the range of diversity, whether it’s age or gender, is wide.
What the numbers say:
Google searches for ‘pool hall near me’ are up 40% from this time five years ago.
The number of teams in APA of Northern Colorado is up 60% over the last two years.
Mot says revenue at Pharaoh’s has more than doubled since moving to Longmont, and risen roughly 20% in the last year.
What’s behind the surge?
According to Leivonen and Mot:
Professionals are taking more active roles in promoting pool.
Prevalence on social media.
Affordability & accessibility.
Renting a Pharaoh’s pool table costs just $10/hour and is entirely free Friday-Sunday between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
On Fridays and Saturdays, Pharaoh’s is open until 1 a.m. and even those under 21 can stay until closing time.
Leivonen’s leagues offer divisions for players of all skill levels.
Anyone can play; men, women, and kids of all ages can become high-level players.
A little bit of everything:
Mot says part of pool’s appeal is the way players combine mental strength along with physical acumen.
“Pool is the most misunderstood game there is. It involves physics, geometry, planning ahead, improving your social skills, and your motor skills.”
An international affair:
Pool’s ascent reaches beyond the United States, too.
“This has become a huge international sport,” Mot said. “The Chinese went from being nowhere to now having almost 50% of the top champions in the world.”
If you want to see Longmont’s top talent play, seven LoCo-based teams are competing in the 8-ball world qualifier this weekend for a spot in the APA World Pool Championships in Las Vegas. The action starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday at Pharaoh’s.