WEBVTT 1 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:13.439 Hello, everyone, Welcome to a new episode of the Poker 2 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:17.359 Go Podcast Special Edition podcast. Because I have Jeff Platt 3 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:19.559 here with me today, I have to ask you, though 4 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:21.440 I have no idea what your actual title is, so 5 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:22.039 please tell me. 6 00:00:22.120 --> 00:00:24.199 Oh, I would love to tell you, Donnie, I would 7 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:28.199 love to tell you it is Global Broadcast Talent. 8 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:31.559 I've heard that face of the experience. 9 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:34.799 I've heard that when you're on stage just today MC, 10 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:37.960 so I've kind of heard it all, okay, but I 11 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:40.119 like your official ones so global we can get the 12 00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:41.320 actual people to tell you that. 13 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:43.320 Okay, okay, say that let's go. Let's go. 14 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:45.600 You can refer to me as that really just guy 15 00:00:45.640 --> 00:00:48.280 with a microphone, though it works. I appreciate you having 16 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:51.119 me on. By the way, I pretty much demand it 17 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:53.759 to be on. When I heard Donnie with his first podcast, 18 00:00:53.880 --> 00:00:56.560 he did actually text me, please please let me on. 19 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:00.280 Let me jump on with you at least once a Monthther's. 20 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:02.200 Yeah, And I think you know. 21 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:05.760 I won't normally release episodes by themselves, but I think 22 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:09.879 this one is warranted. And it's funny because I wanted 23 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:11.959 to have you on to talk about the exact things 24 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:14.640 that we're gonna talk about. I just I'm worried about 25 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:18.400 abusing the relationship. Oh come on, but you ask all 26 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:20.319 these people all the time, and it's like, really at 27 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:22.920 some point, like you know, the worst is when people 28 00:01:22.920 --> 00:01:24.480 are running deep in the main event and you talk 29 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:25.959 to them on day five, then you talk to him 30 00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:28.480 on day six and I'm like, can I talk to 31 00:01:28.519 --> 00:01:30.560 you once again one more time? I mean, I'm sorry, 32 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:34.519 but you're kind of doing well, like you know, what 33 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:36.799 are we gonna do? But for me, I love it, 34 00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:39.159 like I love jumping on and talking with you, and 35 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:42.040 it doesn't, of course have to be about stuff that 36 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:45.359 I promote. I feel like we both share this passion 37 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:47.840 for poker, so this is a cool space for me 38 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:50.120 to be involved in. So always happy to jump on 39 00:01:50.239 --> 00:01:52.400 with you. Yeah, I mean, as you alluded to there, 40 00:01:52.439 --> 00:01:55.400 we've both been around poker for for quite a long time, 41 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:58.400 as you much longer man, Okay, I mean, but you 42 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:01.400 were playing, Yeah, I mean, so you've been around it. 43 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:03.879 You know, even if you weren't exactly working in the industry, you. 44 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:05.280 Were around it absolutely. 45 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:09.120 As it relates to the doubsip though, quick timeline for 46 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:11.000 those out there who need a little bit of a 47 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:15.199 refresher but it goes from the Rio to the Horseshoe 48 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:18.520 slash Paris in from twenty twenty one to twenty twenty two. 49 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:19.719 Right, yeah, you. 50 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:22.240 Got more than ten thousand entries in twenty twenty three. 51 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:24.599 You know, I think. I mean, I heard Norman on 52 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:27.000 your show yesterday saying like, if if the whole online 53 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:29.120 poker thing didn't happen, that would have happened years ago, 54 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:32.479 which is likely the case. And then after the online 55 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:34.240 poker thing did happen, it was kind of a question 56 00:02:34.280 --> 00:02:36.159 of is it ever gonna happen? And then it finally 57 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:39.039 did happen. So that's great. You got GG Poker acquiring 58 00:02:39.080 --> 00:02:41.759 the brand. In twenty twenty four, you got the WSIP 59 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:44.520 live app. It was WASIP plus. Now it's the WASP 60 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:47.400 Live app launching last year, which I know that might 61 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:49.680 sound like a small thing on this timeline, but I'm 62 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:50.560 telling you, guys. 63 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:51.280 Is a huge thing. 64 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:53.960 Okay, it's a huge thing, and now this year, I 65 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:57.120 mean the big thing is that the venues are flipped. Right, 66 00:02:57.560 --> 00:03:00.560 this is what Horseshoe was, and it's bigger. Over here 67 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:04.639 we are on the main set right now. Does it 68 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:08.560 feel surreal to you going from player to working in 69 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:11.879 the industry a bit now being escalated to the position 70 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:13.879 that you're in. To see all those changes in a 71 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:16.159 relatively quick period of time for the w would. 72 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:18.960 Be Yeah, it's a great question. It shows you how 73 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:22.520 we really just skyrocketed over the last couple of years. 74 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:26.719 You mentioned the change in locations, it's because the set 75 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:31.199 just couldn't fit in Horseshoe. It could not fit. So 76 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:35.159 for the World Series of Poker under the new ownership 77 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:38.159 you mentioned to be willing to make that kind of 78 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:43.599 investment along with investing in the app. I mean, I 79 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:46.759 think it shows you what the future could become, and 80 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:50.439 that's something that WSP is really looking out for. That's 81 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:54.960 really why I wanted to align myself with this brand 82 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:55.639 moving forward. 83 00:03:56.439 --> 00:03:59.159 When you first got into the industry, obviously you have 84 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:02.960 a media background before getting into poker on the working 85 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:04.479 side and the industry side of things. 86 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:06.599 Was that a goal of yours? 87 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:08.280 Were you like, I want to get into that industry 88 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:09.879 and I want to do the media stuff and I 89 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:12.680 want to eventually work my way up whatever that may be. 90 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:15.319 Yeah, that's dream job. You and I have talked about 91 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:18.399 the main event being the greatest poker tournament in the world. 92 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:20.600 It is over these I don't care what anyone says, 93 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:23.800 it just is. It's just at another level. So the 94 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:27.600 super Bowl, so to speak, for me and for a 95 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:29.879 lot of us in poker, is the World Series of 96 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:33.680 Poker main event. With what I do specifically in hosting 97 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:38.720 or sideline reporting or global broadcasts talenting, it just makes 98 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:42.560 sense that that would be my dream job, right to 99 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:44.759 be involved in that World Series of Poker main event, 100 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:49.279 to be able to tell the story of the greatest 101 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:51.920 poker tournament in the world to a wider audience to 102 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:56.759 people who cannot make it live. And it took a 103 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:00.680 crazy fortunate balance here and there with timing, and then 104 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:03.120 it was twenty twenty and then Kara couldn't do it, 105 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:04.800 and I'm sure a lot of people couldn't do it. 106 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:07.439 So Dan Gotti eventually got to me on his list, 107 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:11.120 and since then, I just I just got in at 108 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:15.600 the right time, and I'm so thrilled, proud, honor to 109 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:19.839 be here. I realized some like that could sound maybe 110 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:22.319 corny in a sense, but like it's really genuine for me. 111 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:24.959 It's something that I think about a lot, that this 112 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:28.120 is true dream job status for me to be involved. 113 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.920 You're you're really closely connected to the player experience, the 114 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:33.839 fan experience. You know, a lot of the stuff that 115 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:35.560 you wanted to make happen here. You're like, we got 116 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:38.240 to make the viewing experience better. You've always said that's 117 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:41.199 what's the most fun part of that side of the gig. 118 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:44.879 I think it's just that everybody's open to listening to 119 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:48.160 everybody else, not just me. But I can get time 120 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:51.360 with Ty Stewart, our CEO, or Spunky, our head of production, 121 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:54.240 and we'll have a great back and forth. And they 122 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:57.759 are always looking for what I have to say, what 123 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:00.800 other people have to say. They're good at gathering opinions. 124 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:03.360 Nobody has to be right one hundred percent of the time. 125 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:06.319 So just to really have a seat at the table, 126 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:08.800 just to be in the room during these discussions, just 127 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:11.079 to throw out some opinions, it helps you set it. 128 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:14.399 Because I'm not I don't consider myself just a broadcaster, 129 00:06:14.839 --> 00:06:16.600 but a player a little bit on the side. So 130 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:18.600 I want to look out for player experience, and that 131 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:24.000 includes parking dealers, the app et cetera. I consider myself 132 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:27.399 a fan, right so when we're out here at this stage, 133 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:29.319 I want it to be the best setup possible, so 134 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:31.879 you show up and you know what's going on, your 135 00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:34.439 view is not blocked. And then speaking of views, I'm 136 00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:37.000 a viewer also, so I know, like I think, I 137 00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:40.000 know what I would like, what you would probably like, 138 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:42.920 what most people would would probably like, and it's nice 139 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:45.319 to be able to have a say in every single 140 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:46.240 one of those areas. 141 00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:52.160 Speaking of views, you know you've been getting bombarded with 142 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:55.399 questions on the schedule, what are you guys streaming? 143 00:06:55.560 --> 00:06:56.319 What's going on? 144 00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:59.639 My sense of it is that I think you guys 145 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:04.160 are base just we're turning the cameras on at let's 146 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:06.319 say two o'clock every day, the stream's going to start 147 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:08.279 it let's say five o'clock every day or whatever that 148 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:11.560 time is, and it's just go time basically in a way, 149 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:14.319 twenty four to seven. Once the cameras got turned on 150 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:17.160 yesterday and now it's just every day throughout the duration 151 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:20.360 of the series. But for the people out there, can 152 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:22.600 you help describe, you know, what the schedule is, because 153 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:25.160 you are getting questions, what's streaming today, what's going on? 154 00:07:25.160 --> 00:07:28.360 Where's the schedule that the schedules schedule right? 155 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:30.040 That is kind of the way I see it that 156 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:35.839 this is new, innovative, comprehensive live stream coverage. Now we 157 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:39.360 will focus on certain events a bit more than others. 158 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:42.079 For example, the twenty five kads Up Championship, we will 159 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:44.560 have them up on stage at our future tables. We 160 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:48.439 will have the five K no limit final table on 161 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:51.040 one of our side features, or the five KPLO Final 162 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:53.519 table on one of our side features. So the plan 163 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:57.079 is to have one main tournament that we're honing in 164 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:58.399 on that we're going to show you a ton of 165 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:01.439 coverage from. That is going to be twenty five K 166 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:06.079 Heads Up Championship, twenty five K hi Roller, ten KGG Millions, 167 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:10.600 two hundred fifty K Super Highroller, but also Millionaire Maker, 168 00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:19.560 Monster Stack Colossus, to try to captivate the audience no 169 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:22.079 matter what form of poker they may be interested in, 170 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:24.920 whether it's high bids with the Superstars, lower bi ins 171 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:27.279 with the weekend Warriors of the world. But at the 172 00:08:27.319 --> 00:08:31.000 same time that we're showcasing all of this featured table coverage, 173 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:33.320 we are keeping track of what's going on at the 174 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:36.080 outer tables, so we're just taking you. The goal is 175 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:38.399 to take you in to the World Series of Poker 176 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:41.720 and give you a sense of everything that is going on. 177 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:45.440 Seventy seventy five eighty percent of our coverage will be 178 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:47.840 honed in on one event and the rest of it 179 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:50.480 will just be out and about and see what pops 180 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:54.000 up and see what storylines developed. So I don't really 181 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:55.919 think there's a need to put out a specific schedule. 182 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:59.320 I understand that people want it. We have something like 183 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:02.519 a schedule on YouTube. It's always subject to change, and 184 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:04.639 I think you put it perfectly. A certain time is 185 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:06.639 gonna hit and we're gonna turn the cameras on. That's 186 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:08.559 future table coverage, and we have a ton of camera 187 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:11.480 crews outside to treat every day if the World Series 188 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:12.840 of Poker like it's the main event. 189 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:16.440 Yeah, you mentioned the outer table coverage. Where Jeff and 190 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.639 I are sitting right now are the outer tables. 191 00:09:18.679 --> 00:09:20.480 This is what's the cluster. It's called the cluster. 192 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:23.639 There's twelve tables here, there's these behind us, there's five 193 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:24.799 feature tables in. 194 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:25.879 A horseshoe shape. 195 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:28.279 Yeah, and then they're gonna be bouncing around from everything 196 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:30.440 and then you guys can't see it. But off camera 197 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:35.000 is a new pregame show set, morning show set, whatever 198 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:38.279 it's being called what's the motivation behind that this year? 199 00:09:38.360 --> 00:09:39.759 Well, first, are running the show. 200 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:43.080 It is called WSP Countdown. Yes, we did have a rebranding. 201 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:45.440 We were talking about developing a morning show and it 202 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:48.399 just kind of turned into that pregame show that you mentioned. 203 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:52.000 So it is me, David Williams, Joe Stapleton, Norman Chatta, 204 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:55.639 some of a rotating cast of characters. You know, I'm 205 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:57.600 hoping our friend Maria Hope and join us a few 206 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:59.919 times here and there, things like that. The goal of 207 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:01.840 this show, it's kind of like the goal of the 208 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:06.000 live stream coverage. It's to take you inside the World 209 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:08.559 Series of Poker to give you a sense of what 210 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:12.759 happened last night and what to expect coming up on 211 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:16.399 our live stream coverage. That is going to include diving 212 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:19.480 into some hot topics. You know this the drama is 213 00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:21.240 going to pop up at some point in the World 214 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:23.200 Series and we'll be there to cover it, and we 215 00:10:23.320 --> 00:10:25.559 want to cover it. We don't want to ignore it. 216 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:31.480 So that's the overall game plan. It will include interviews 217 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:37.120 with big name players, it will include bracelet ceremony recaps, 218 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:40.000 it will include live looks at whatever Daniel Lgrantini or 219 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:42.360 feel Helmut or feel iv Er up to on that day. 220 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:45.679 So it's just a little bit of everything, and I 221 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:48.519 think that's why I'm excited about it. It's very easy 222 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:50.840 to say that you want to model yourself after a 223 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:53.759 college game day ornt inside the NBA, right, But that 224 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:56.960 is the goal, and I hope we can take steps 225 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:59.399 in the right direction to reach that goal. 226 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:03.639 Did you guys come into this whole summer plan with 227 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:06.919 everything you know, new stage, the way that you're planning 228 00:11:06.919 --> 00:11:10.279 the coverage, the countdown show ahead of time, with the 229 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:14.039 idea of like, listen, we want to push poker coverage. 230 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:16.080 To new heights. We want to set a new standard. 231 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:20.440 Yeah, That's been Spunky's goal this whole time, recognizing the 232 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:25.039 poker boom of the Moneymaker era and trying to develop 233 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:29.240 one that doesn't necessarily rely on any specific superstar. And 234 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:31.279 I think that's important. You know this. I feel like, 235 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:33.600 especially in our Poker go years, how bad did we 236 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:35.879 run as far as getting you know, big names to 237 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:37.799 a final table or something like that. Of course, it 238 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:40.799 feels like it. It felt like it always fell apart, right, And. 239 00:11:40.919 --> 00:11:44.120 I'll be honest, listen, Poker gro had its own budgetary 240 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:45.360 restrictions and whatnot. 241 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:45.720 Of course. 242 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:48.639 I mean listen, for lack of a better term, GG 243 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:52.240 Poker's unloading the clip and it's fucking great. Okay, it's awesome, 244 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:55.360 you know, so that, but you know, we are still partnered. 245 00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:58.279 We are still working with you guys on everything. I 246 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:00.559 mean the Blueprint fifty two team, which is the arm 247 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:03.399 of poker Goo that does these builds. They're the ones 248 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:06.320 that built this set, you know. So obviously the vision 249 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:08.840 came from the WSP side of things, but then you 250 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:10.759 had to have the handyman in the room to make 251 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:11.080 it out. 252 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.279 Yeah. Yeah, And I think it's It's also an important note, 253 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:15.399 not just because I am on the Poker podcast or 254 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:17.200 talking with you, or because I've worked with poker Go 255 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.840 or because they're still partner. I think poker Go did 256 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:23.240 a tremendous job over the last few years in live streaming. 257 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:26.080 You know, we hear a lot about today like oh 258 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:28.320 well now it's not behind a paywall, but so much 259 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:31.519 of the coverage last year was open and available on YouTube. 260 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:34.000 Poker Go set up a distribution this year. Get right, 261 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:37.120 they forget, They forget very quickly. Poker Go's distribution deal 262 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:39.519 not only included the main event being televised by other 263 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:42.559 preliminary Bracelet events being televised. I think they were great, 264 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:45.320 But to your point, I mean, Ensis, the parent company 265 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:48.240 of both GG and WSP, they're going to fire off. 266 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:52.000 They are going to invest in the future, invest in 267 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:55.960 our coverage. We want you to see this setup, whether 268 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:59.919 it's because of an Instagram post or because you're watching 269 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:03.080 our coverage on WSP's YouTube channel, or because you're watching 270 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:06.759 the main event on ESPN and you see it and 271 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:09.000 you want to be here, right, And so that's that's 272 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:13.159 kind of the boom that we're hoping to develop, that 273 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:15.559 that Spunky is hoping to develop. Change the game. As 274 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.879 far as production is concerned. Just go bigger, Just go 275 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:21.679 so much bigger. I don't want to say, don't worry 276 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:25.279 about cost, but it's close to that. I mean, I'm 277 00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:27.000 looking now, you're not the one right in the check 278 00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:29.039 so you know that helps a little bit. I'm looking 279 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:31.480 now at our countdown show set that we were just 280 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:33.759 talking about. I see now we have like a teleprompter 281 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:35.600 and a huge monitor for the prompter. It's just like 282 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.320 these little things. 283 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:39.759 It's just like, yeah, I gotta put you on the 284 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:42.879 spot who needs the teleprompter? Well, you think, Donnie, if 285 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:47.440 it's pointing at Norman's seat, I know it's not you. 286 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:49.480 It's one of the other three. 287 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:51.519 I can't quite see the angle from here, but it's 288 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:53.639 definitely fair states. 289 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:55.600 They do have a couple of monologues they want to 290 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.759 go off, and so I think a. 291 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:59.679 Prompter is a question now is can they read? I mean, yeah, 292 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:00.480 we're gonna find out. 293 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:01.759 We're gonna find out soon enough. 294 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:11.559 So you saw this thing at the at the warehouse, 295 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:13.440 the poker warehouse, like I think it was like a 296 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:16.799 third built right now, take me back, like what was 297 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:18.679 when you walked into you guys, your team got a 298 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:21.240 view of like, okay, this is like basically half of 299 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:22.960 it or a third of it. This is an idea 300 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:25.159 of what it's gonna look like. What were your thoughts then, 301 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:27.360 because it's it's one thing to see it on some 302 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:29.679 renderings or in some photos, you know, but then to 303 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.840 see it in real life. 304 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:33.279 Well, I not only saw the renderings, but I heard 305 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:35.519 from Spunky and Ty that you know, this new set 306 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:38.320 we're gonna build is three times bigger than the one 307 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:41.600 in the Bahamas, which the WCP Paradise set was pretty 308 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:44.240 pretty massive. I thought that was the biggest poker stage 309 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:46.720 setup that I had ever seen. So I heard that, 310 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:48.919 I think, okay, okay, And then I walked into the 311 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:52.279 warehouse at Poker Ghost Campus and then I saw it. 312 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:55.559 I was like, wow, this this is big. And then 313 00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:57.480 more it comes over and says, you know, this is 314 00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:58.360 only like a third of it. 315 00:14:58.440 --> 00:14:59.159 Oh my god. 316 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:01.279 So it's still like it still could not I could 317 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:03.919 not process it. It could not get through my mind. 318 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:05.799 And that's what I told everybody and the lead up 319 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:08.360 to this, it's like I still can't get it through 320 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:11.039 my head what it's going to look like. Even walking 321 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:13.559 in here a week ago and seeing some of the 322 00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:15.399 set up with you, Oh wow, this is nice. This 323 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:18.279 is really cool. But it's just ten times better than 324 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:21.240 it was in the development process, Like this is this 325 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:23.240 is an I know we're still searching for an ame. 326 00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:25.120 And you mentioned the arena, and I like the arena, 327 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:28.559 and maybe it would be Grand Arena. Grand Arena is 328 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:30.679 really good. Maybe we go back to Thunder, I don't know, 329 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:33.759 whatever we figure out, maybe whatever pops up organically, but 330 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:38.039 like this, this is the future of poker. This is 331 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:41.679 the new home of the World Series. I can't emphasize 332 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:45.399 enough just how it sounds simple, but just how cool 333 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:45.799 it is. 334 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:49.440 What do you think, you know, fans, whether they're or 335 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:52.440 players too, you know, but but players are ultimately fans 336 00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:54.759 of the year. I think when they you know, when 337 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:56.799 they walk in here and they see this thing, now 338 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:59.000 there's no more curtain when they tune into a live 339 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:00.879 stream when they see it, what do you guys want 340 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:01.799 them to feel. 341 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:05.679 I want them to be shocked, to be stunned that 342 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:09.159 this is the investment that the World Series is putting 343 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:13.200 into its home, is putting into its production. And I 344 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:17.240 think we achieved that goal. You know, this is to 345 00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:20.200 go back to what we were saying earlier, the greatest 346 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:23.200 poker series in the world. This is Poker's premiere event, 347 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:29.480 and now we have a stage that really aligns with 348 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.279 that description. 349 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:35.440 What's something that people don't see? 350 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:39.200 Oh, good question. People are going to see this massive 351 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:42.799 arena and be impressed. You've probably walked through back there. 352 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:45.279 But like the production area is wild and there are 353 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:49.480 rows upon rows upon rows of monitors. You know, our 354 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:51.639 countdown show is their own row. You know, we have 355 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:54.720 a full on production crew for what four of the 356 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:58.399 feature tables. So like our usual control room which had 357 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:01.840 I don't know, fifteen or twenty people in it for 358 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:05.440 a final table, like you have three or four versions 359 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:10.200 of those. People don't see a massive production crew running 360 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:13.880 around what feels like twenty four to seven and all 361 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:17.960 the behind the scenes work that goes into this. I 362 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:21.640 think that's what people may miss out on. But that 363 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:25.759 shows you just how how big the effort is. 364 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:30.000 How do you approach the idea that it's impossible to 365 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.880 make everyone happen? You know, we talked a little bit 366 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:34.240 earlier how people are blowing you up on social media 367 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:36.160 as so for this, that and the other thing. You know, 368 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:38.960 even here there's people are like, you got to fix 369 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:41.720 the parking, Jeff, you gotta fix this. You gotta fix that. 370 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:42.119 You know. 371 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:44.519 I will say, by the way, he is actually parking 372 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:46.240 where the people park. And I told him that. I said, 373 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:47.680 why don't you just park them back? He said, no, no, 374 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:49.759 I'm not doing I said, well, okay, people are crazy. 375 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:51.519 You guys park in the back. 376 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:54.720 Park peacepot in the production line. 377 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:56.680 But how do you like, are you do you just 378 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:58.319 come into it and you say, listen, we're not going 379 00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:59.160 to make everyone happy. 380 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:00.680 Or are you actually going to try and make everyone 381 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.720 else well. I feel like. 382 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:06.039 Part of the role that I'm in is like is 383 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:09.920 listening to feedback, and sometimes the feedback is going to 384 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:12.799 be something that we agree with, and sometimes it's not. 385 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:15.160 You know, when it comes to player experience, of course, 386 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:17.920 like we want to make the parking situation just great 387 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:21.039 for everybody, and so I want to genuinely like, if 388 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.799 you guys feel the pain from it, I want to 389 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:24.839 That's something we're easily going to be aligned on. 390 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:25.160 Right. 391 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:27.960 Then it comes to things that are a bit more subjective, 392 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:32.279 I would say, where some people may tweet at us, hey, like, 393 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:35.039 why aren't you showing this fifteen hundred dollars seven cards 394 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:38.640 stud final table? And I appreciate the question, I don't 395 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:41.440 personally think and I don't think our team thinks that 396 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.799 that would be a great use of our resources. 397 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:44.039 You know. 398 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:46.839 I know, we go ham and add this massive production crew, 399 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:49.519 but we're still only going to be on a certain 400 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:52.640 amount of the time, and when we're on, we're probably 401 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:55.319