SEOUL - The manager of PBA and LPBA, Mr Heejin Lee, wants to arrange a meeting with the UMB (world federation) in the near future to speak about better cooperation. The Korean professional organization is announcing new players these days (Dani Sánchez, Sung Won Choi), but also wants a solution in the controversy that has led to suspensions of players for the officially recognized world federation since four years now. The PBA/LPBA made a profit for the first time last season and announced a further expansion of events and players, including Vietnam in the 2023 tournament cycle.
In the interview, Mr Lee explains, among other things, the PBA/LPBA's strategy in all its facets, looks at the future of his organization and opens doors for new talks with UMB on cooperation: "Now is the right time for both UMB and PBA/LPBA to sit down together and work out the future of our sport."
Leader of the PBA project since 2017, Heejin Lee is the co-founder of FMG (Fidelity Management Group), the holding company of 5 billiards-related companies:
- WOW (WOW Management Group, global sports marketing company)
- WOW Platform Universe (former Bravo&New, in charge of billiards product )
- Billiards TV (24/7 cable TV, Satellite TV, IPTV, Digital platform for dedicated billiards contents with 28 Million household)
- Billiboard (number 1 digital smart scoring system company reaching 2,700 billiards clubs)
- Bravo&Partners (Franchise business for PBA Billiard clubs)
Kozoom / Frits Bakker: Briefly, how do you look back on the first years of PBA/LPBA after its launch in 2019? And what is the conclusion now when the fourth PBA/LPBA season has just ended? Can you look back on the year, sports-wise and financially?
Heejin Lee: The organization, since its launch in 2019, grew to the status it has today. We overcame three major difficulties: the prejudices of the billiard audience. People now respect PBA/LPBA. Next, PBA/LPBA grew to a much higher level by successfully overcoming COVID. And third obstacle: the financial crisis of former Bravo&New. Now we expect to start the fifth season, starting in June, with much stability and prosperity. FMG/WOW merged and acquired four companies at 100%: Bravo&New, Billiards TV, Billiboard and Bravo&Partners. These will support PBA/LPBA. We are happy to see many signs of good development. With PBA/LPBA's financial result for last season, we are slightly in the plus, that means at a profit, for the first time in four years (after a total deficit of US$5 million). And two companies under FMG are also making good profits. FMG/WOW invested US$30 million in the creation/operation of six companies besides PBA/LPBA over the past six years and the total deficit reached the level of US$10 million. PBA/LPBA received the "Best Professional Sports Association Awards" from the Korean government in December, beating 5 other top sports associations. The 'PBA/LPBA Awards 2023' were brought in for the first time in PBA/LPBA history in March with such success, to the joy and delight of all players and related parties.
FB: What prospects can you offer players for the coming years. Does the organization work with multi-year contracts, supplemented by bonuses? In short, does PBA/LPBA want to commit players for more years?
HL: It depends on player respectively: they get a contract for 1 year, 2 years, or 3 years basically. For individual contracts, we have to keep their privacy. Players will grow together with PBA/LPBA with the direct support of FMG/WOW. Once a member of PBA/LPBA, the honor and benefit will continue to grow! Top players will have the opportunity to join the PBA TEAM LEAGUE, where 9 teams and their owner groups (sponsors) provide an annual salary and bonuses, houses and so on. The PBA/LPBA will encourage growth in both quantity and quality. We are doing all we can to expand the number of events, teams, awards, media exposure, salary, welfare..., together with the sponsor group and media partners. One of the most crucial objectives of PBA/LPBA is to change the concept/image of players into professional billiards players and further into status with money and fame in order to motivate the young generation to start a successful billiards career.
Farouk Barki, President of the UMB and Heejin Lee after a meeting during the 2017 ChunCheong Worldcup
FB: What is your opinion about the battle between UMB and PBA to keep or capture the best players worldwide?
HL: Battle? Oh yes, that battle was inevitable for the last four years before people settled the preconceptions that PBA/LPBA would not become a successful organisation. Now there is absolutely no ground for these prejudice. PBA is a success and will grow even further with the entourage, the clapping and cheering from audiences, from the many sponsors, media and players combined. Both governing bodies of the professional players and the amateurs need to work hand in hand. PBA/LPBA is ready. And I believe UMB is also ready to find a solution. Let's wait and see in the coming months. I am convinced that this PBA/LPBA season will be the last season that we have to fight to capture top players. If UMB and PBA/LPBA have significant, mutual cooperation, top players will be free to choose events, both for professional and amateur tournaments and depending on their level, ranking, registration and so on. There should be no sanctions and restrictions. UMB and PBA/LPBA know this very well. In principle, both sides are willing to help each other. The same cooperation applies to continental federations as well as national federations. PBA/LPBA will also work together to help national PBA/LPBA players in each country and continent grow for the prosperity of the sport of carom.
FB: What does the upcoming season look like for your organization? The same number of events, or even more? New format, new countries?
HL: The team league will be expanded from 8 to 9 teams. We will be outnumbered beyond 10 PBA/LPBA events, including two PBA/LPBA events in Vietnam by the end of this year. Possibilities are also in the offing that PBA/LPBA events will be separated from this or next season.
FB: What is PBA's position now in the global billiards world (events, players, sponsors, prize money)?
HL: Total sponsorship and media revenue is US$17 million. We start the season with 300 players for PBA/LPBA, 500 players for 2nd and 3rd division of PBA. Total prize money, salary, bonus for players will be US$6 million.
FB: Will there be any plans or ideas that the PBA will cross over to Europe or even America with its tournaments in the coming years?
HL: For a PBA event in Europe or America at the same level, it will take more than 2-3 years, however appearance of a PBA/LPBA event with the cooperation of UMB, CEB, national federations and promoters remain high possibilities in 2024. PBA/LPBA is also side open to a Wild Card system, for icentivizing Wild Card seed and travel costs for certain local events to cooperate with PBA/LPBA.