RJC, thanks mucho for the response. As a (sorta) local, any chance you'd be willing to post an email and talk offline? I've a couple ideas that I'd like to bounce off you, and perhaps you could connect me with current meet management. thanks~
RJC, thanks mucho for the response. As a (sorta) local, any chance you'd be willing to post an email and talk offline? I've a couple ideas that I'd like to bounce off you, and perhaps you could connect me with current meet management. thanks~
The Land of Enchantment wrote:
While I don't come on this website often, a good friend of mine said the USATF indoor meet here in ABQ was being discussed, and somewhat dissected. As the person who created the LOC here in ABQ when the meet came here the first time, and who was meet director four four years here are the facts whether you choose to accept them or not.
1. In the last decade very few places have bid on the indoor meet. Some years there was no one other than ABQ bidding.
2. USATF makes it very challenging to host this event. They want the host LOC to front the money (we do not pay prize money) and demand a great deal. Whoever said USATF is challenging to work with is right on the money. They want to be wined and dined, and act like royalty. They have an incredibly condescending attitude.
3. In the first five years of hosting the meet the ABQ LOC lost about $150,000. But the city made about $750,000 per year in direct spending analysis from hotels, restaurants, etc. Plus having the ability to have four commercials showing the city on national TV is worth something.
4. ABQ wants the meet given it is positive publicity for the city and state.
5. Both athletes and officials have consistently rated their experience in ABQ positive. Cheap hotels, reasonable food, great sunshine. Given most athletes are not funded and pay for it out of their own pocket going to an expensive city is difficult.
6. Both athletes and offiicals have consistently rated the hospitality of the local LOC very highly. The people here in ABQ really get behind this event, and work hard to please the athletes and officials. Quite frankly, smaller cities often take more pride in medium sized events like the USATF indoor given large cities have large events.
7. This meet has NEVER had a big attendance. In 2010 there were about 3500 in attendance, which is the most in recent history. Other than that the numbers regardless of where it has been hosted is in the 2000 range.
8. The altitude standing on the track is 4960.
9. Other than the 3000 meter runners the feedback I have received over the years was positive in that the altitude didn't affect them. And many of the 3k runners train at altitude, so for those athletes it does not matter.
10. I hope other sites do bid as we need to build this event up by moving it around.
11. Until that happens ABQ will continue to work hard to do the very best that we can to make the event respected.
And finally to the poster who said there must be something happening in the back rooms to get the meet. That is hysterically funny. There is such a little budget for this meet that other than maybe buying a USATF official a burrito and craft beer thats about all there is. While events like the Olympics do have behind the door slease, the USATF indoor meet is a far cry from that.
Good luck to everyone this indoor season and I hope to see many in ABQ.
RJC
How does it compare to the demands of the NCAA for their nationals?
OrWeCouldBe wrote:
Anyone able to find the qualifying standards for this year?
They will be ratified this weekend. Then USATF will take 3-4 weeks to post them on their website with no explanation for the delay.
I went to ABQ this year for the first time to cover indoors and had a great experience! As someone who is paying their own way, I would 1000x rather go to ABQ than Boston.