Tampa MTTs - Busto?

[StrayBullet]

Pre-7/1, tournaments around town routinely drew fields of 100 or more, at several different rooms. This was at the truly horrid 30% vig with 20 and sometimes, even 15 minute levels.

Post-7/1 with better blinds, longer levels and bigger buy-ins was sure to draw the same crowds, no? Apparently the draw of the also new, $100nl games have all but quashed the mtt numbers. The single table tournaments also seem to be drawing larger numbers.

Tampa Greyhound (Lucky's) is a new room with plenty of fencing and guards. But they have the BEST weekly tournament structure in town, HANDS DOWN! And yet they can't even get the game off the ground, hasn't run once due to not enough people showing up. 30min levels and 5000 chips for $225. I'd LOVE to see this game get going!!! 1/2nl is pot raked.

Tampa Downs (Silks) is now open year round, advertising on radio, print and tv, yet their tournament had 18 registrants at 12:26, 4 minutes prior to start yesterday. This is a Saturday game boasting 30min levels and 5000 chips for $230. The blinds are decent, not getting too fast till the end. 1/2nl is time raked.

SKC (One-Eyed Jacks) is also a newer room that is open year round. Good staff, new tables, stiff chairs. But yet again, we got a good tourney with 30min levels, 6000 chips, decent blinds and all for $330....but routinely sees 3 less-than-full tables. 1/2nl is time raked.

Derby Lane has increased buy-ins but I've not seen the blinds or level times. To date there's been no listing of 30min tournaments. 1/2nl is pot raked.

Tampa Hard Rock is THE place for a good tournament, albeit a monthly one and one that'll cost. It's a 1 rebuy and 1 addon tournament that essentially plays out as $750 for 9000 chips and 30min levels. Out of the tournaments listed, it's the costliest during hour 3 but the cheapest during hour 5 on up, take that for what it's worth. It also has an UNGODLY start time of 10am and don't get me started about the rude blue, gray and white hairs...Tampa could really take a page from the Laurderdale location, it really feels like slumming after being at the SFL location! They don't even stop the clock during color-up/race-offs. Seating can be BRUTAL at busy times and the brush stand is pure CHAOS! Management sees nothing wrong and as long as people flock in droves, why should they change? 1/2nl is pot raked.