Low registration numbers have forced Poker Runs America to cancel its first run of the 2015 season in Sarasota, Fla., this coming weekend. According to PRA founder Bill Taylor, the event had just 15 boats registered when this week began. Taylor decided it was best to cancel the Easter Weekend run in favor of a better date later in the year, and began contacting participants yesterday.

The upcoming Easter Weekend proved to problematic for PRA’s first event of the year planned for Sarasota. Photo courtesy/copyright Jeff Gerardi/FreezeFrame Video.

PRA’s traditional dates—late March weekends—for booking the Sarasota Hyatt for the its annual season-opener were taken by other events, according to Taylor, who said he was worried about the Easter Weekend dates from the beginning. His concerns were confirmed when a solid fleet for the run failed to materialize.

“With just 15 boats we can’t do the kind of event we like to do and our members have become accustomed to,” he said. “So I began calling our participants yesterday. I suggested doing a fun run during the weekend, but they said, ‘No, it’s OK. Why don’t you just reschedule it for later in the season?’ So that’s what I plan to do.”

Taylor has not yet determined a date for the run to be rescheduled. With all the events happening every weekend during the season, finding an event-free weekend likely won’t be possible, but he said he’d try to find one that best meets the needs of PRA’s customers.

“There are so many events now that it’s not as easy as it used to be,” said Taylor. “But we have some good things happening this season, like our Rock The Bay event in Maryland. That one is really taking off.”

The next PRA event is the Alexandria Bay “Hall of Fame” Poker Run scheduled for June 12-13.

Editor’s Note: Speedonthewater.com will release the new dates for the Sarasota Poker Run when they become available. For a complete 2015 PRA schedule, click here.