Run It Up Reno was successful largely due to its diverse, welcoming community and the inclusive atmosphere we fostered. We offered high quality tournaments that appealed to both pros and first-timers, men and women, locals and far-away visitors. I think the spirit of the events stemmed from most participants treating the week as an experience instead of another poker series to grind. We tried to ensure everyone was able to have an enjoyable experience regardless of their poker skill level.
Over the 5 years of RIU Reno events, we hosted many non-poker activities such as morning workouts, a karaoke party, CBS Survivor viewing parties, poker training seminars, and meet & greets with poker content creators. There was always something scheduled beyond poker, but we also aimed to provide a premium poker experience at an entry-level price point. It was a potent combination!
RIU events weren't the first to be built around community with featured non-poker events, but perhaps the success of them had some impact in future tours' scheduling. I don't think it's an easy formula to 'copy/paste' - I was very lucky to have a strong team behind me at Run It Up and a great partner in Mike Nelson and his excellent staff - but our core principle of fostering a friendly, happy-warrior poker environment seems like a doable thing most tours should strive for.
