<<< I think I suggested this a couple of years ago-
Perhaps some of the best ticket sales USATF has ever had for
a "non-Olympic year" national champs would be to have it during
that July "break", but have it in a place like Zurich. >>>
Cool. This would ensure that the 23-year-old 13:50 5k guy living on $1200 a
month would never stand a practical chance of running Nationals that year.
Air-fare to Zurich? 3 nights in a hotel? There would be so few contestants
in a meet like this that no heats would be required in any events over 800m.
I guess they could take the money they save by eliminating this many people
and funnel it to the "oodles of sprint stars ... already in Europe".
Brian McEwen
-----Original Message-----
From: Randy Treadway [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 8:35 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: t-and-f: a huge loss to the sport
>What needs to happen is for nationals to be such an attractive meet, that
>everyone participates. I believe that the relatively small amount of prize
>money this year was a good first step. I also wonder about the idea of
>having the meet during July, as has been suggested before, during the break
>in the European season. Would the athletes want that? It would make
>selecting teams for Worlds more difficult..
I think I suggested this a couple of years ago-
Perhaps some of the best ticket sales USATF has ever had for
a "non-Olympic year" national champs would be to have it during
that July "break", but have it in a place like Zurich. Europeans
would love a rare chance to see a U.S. National Championship, with
the oodles of sprint stars.
Ticket sales might even be enough to offset USATF footing
the travel cost for those who are not already in Europe,
provide a rare trip to Europe for those who haven't been
before, and with possible "additional competitive opportunity
extensions" via GPII meet entries and U.S. vs Czech Republic kind of
stuff for those same folks.
What do you think?
Would it be a good idea to move the National Championship "offshore"
once every four years, on "off" years- especially, say, that year
where there is no World Championship?
List subscribers in Europe - would YOU buy a ticket to go see a
U.S. National Championship in "your neighborhood" ?
Hootie 5 could move there too.
RT
