World Series of Poker coming to Deadwood

[clevfan]

World Series of Poker coming to Deadwood

Associated Press

DEADWOOD, S.D. (AP) -- The Black Hills gambling town of Deadwood, which has had its notoriety rejuvenated courtesy of a popular cable television series of the same name, will land on national cable TV again in October, this time as a backdrop for the "World Series of Poker."


Bill Walsh, owner of the Franklin Hotel on Deadwood's Main Street, said his contact at ESPN confirmed the show on Friday.


The two-day taping will feature 12 previous winners playing poker in his Main Street-level saloon. ESPN will fly the players to Deadwood, where they will stay at the Franklin. It's scheduled for Oct. 26-27.


Walsh said Texas-based entertainment developer Bill McDavid and music promoter Mark Oswald have worked for about a month to land the tournament.


McDavid said entertainment executives were attracted by the Deadwood name and a new, exciting location for the poker tournament. He said the idea sprang from a conversation with Oswald, who mentioned he was promoting a televised poker tournament for Las Vegas.


"We were just talking, and I said it was too bad we couldn't do that project here in Deadwood, a town that is really historically linked to poker," McDavid said.


"What started out as a comment quickly turned into a lot more. Within the day I was talking to other people involved with the tournament."


McDavid said negotiations on such projects usually take weeks, not days as was the case for the Deadwood taping.


Since its March debut, HBO's series "Deadwood" has drawn millions of viewers and has lured more tourists to the town of 1,400 people.


Walsh said the saloon at his hotel has large plate glass windows and the floor space to allow elbow room for the TV cameras.

[MeantownScum]

"Deadwood is a town that is really historically linked to poker"

August 2, 1876 - Wild Bill Hickok was shot dead in Deadwood, S.D. while playing two black Aces and two black Eights.

Forever to be known as, "The Dead Man's Hand".

[clevfan]

Jul. 27, 2004

Poker event still in the works, but not on TV

Associated Press


DEADWOOD, S.D. - Poker players still will ply their trade in Deadwood in October, but it won't be on national television, promoters said.

Last week, Bill Walsh, owner of the Franklin Hotel on Deadwood's Main Street, said ESPN had confirmed that the northern Black Hills gambling town would be a backdrop for two days of videotaping the "World Series of Poker."

But ESPN says a telecast never was planned. Ashley Smith of ESPN's marketing department said the Deadwood people "got overzealous (and) there was a misunderstanding on what we are doing."

Walsh said a telecast had been planned but now acknowledges that after a week of phone calls, the poker games will not be on TV.

"Everyone (from ESPN) is backpedalling," Walsh told the Black Hills Pioneer.

Promoter Bill McDavid of Texas had said the Franklin Hotel would host the "World Series of Poker," which usually is taped in Las Vegas.

Now, Smith said radio contests will be held in about a dozen regional markets, and two winners will receive paid trips to Deadwood to play poker.

"And we will bring in a couple of fellows who have played on the World Series (of Poker) for this year," she said. "We don't know who that is going to be as of yet."

Walsh said the fall poker event still can be a big attraction for Deadwood.

Specific dates were not reported.

---

Information from: Black Hills Pioneer, http://www.bhpioneer.com

[pmj18]

Walsh said a telecast had been planned but now acknowledges that after a week of phone calls, the poker games will not be on TV.

They couldn't find a player, who would sit with his back to the door.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]