Barnstormers 2020 - expanded Semi-Finals now with Prizes

Due to our record setting 2020 enrollment in the tour, we are VERY PLEASED to announce an expansion of the Semi-Finals to 72 players in the form of (3) 24-team leagues. As usual the WS Winner will advance to the Finals. The SOM awarding of a free credit for all Finals and Semi-Finalists will ALSO APPLY to the additional 24 players that will take part in the expanded semifinals. So - TOP 81 (not 57 as before) will move forward to a free credit next round.

And for the first time, SEMI-FINALS - TOP 2 (WS WINNER and LOSER) will be awarded the most current SOM Windows Game for their achievement ! Our main rules are being revised to reflect this change. We are always striving for more and better prizes for our tour. A huge thank you to SOM for supporting our tournament !!

Mighty Moose - Tour Commissioner

So let me get this straight. You battle for almost a year, and unless you make the top 9, the BEST you can hope for is a 24 team lottery?

I'm going to sleep on it, but my first reaction is not good. I really hate 24 team leagues, unless they are live draft.

Expanded playoffs and more free credits is great! Though I do tend to agree with Steve that there should be some greater benefit for being close to automatic Finals qualification. Maybe:

1. Top 8 are in the Finals.
2. Two more finalists come from 2 12-team Semi Final leagues comprised of #9 - #32 place finishers.
3. Last two finalists come from 2 24-team Semi Final leagues comprised of #33 - #80 place finishers.

So one less automatic Finals qualifier, one less playoff team, but good incentive to make the top 32. Just a thought.

Expanded playoffs and more free credits is great! Though I do tend to agree with Steve that there should be some greater benefit for being close to automatic Finals qualification. Maybe:

1. Top 8 are in the Finals.
2. Two more finalists come from 2 12-team Semi Final leagues comprised of #9 - #32 place finishers.
3. Last two finalists come from 2 24-team Semi Final leagues comprised of #33 - #80 place finishers.

So one less automatic Finals qualifier, one less playoff team, but good incentive to make the top 32. Just a thought.

This makes a lot more sense to me

I get that Steve, I REALLY REALLY do. But 24 more of your brothers get to play where they didn't before. You can also say that to get to the Finals you can say that if you won that spot, you TRULY TRULY deserve to be in that Final.

I will present that option that sjudd presented to the board, for possible consideration for 2021. Too many details are already in place to change that for this year. Lowering the numbers for those that go straight to the Final brings objections from OTHER groups of people. Basically, hard to please EVERYONE.

If you are going to expand things, please try to set it up so that the 10, 11 and 12 place finishers don't end up in the same league. Last year's setup had 10-15 (the 6 semifinal teams with the most points) all competing for 1 playoff spot, while teams ranked #34-57 were guaranteed a spot. It should not be too difficult to make 10, 11 and 12 the top seeds in each of the semis, and then have 81, 80 and 79 as their counterparts as the bottom seeds. Continue filling it in that way, and then you reward the teams that do best during the 6 tour events.

Is the tourney going to be played with ATG9 or ATG9 All eras?

Is the tourney going to be played with ATG9 or ATG9 All eras?

I am trying to accumulate consensus on that right now with the Board of Directors.

I have also added the 36 new stadiums into the Groupings Thread for your examination. This has not been 100% verified so a tweak here and there may be needed. If you see anything that doesn't match, please let me know. Once I get a few hours of breathing time, I will be sure they are matching.

Cool Moose, changes look good, it IS just a game, and we can see you are trying to satisfy MOST and not the usual vocal few