Why should the fans give two sh*ts about this meet if the pros don't? If one of our best runners is going to skip a national championship race he has run the past 3 years so he can rest up to run in France in a meet that no one can watch why should they show up? It's not just Rupp there are plenty of other big names not competing in events but I don't like him so I'm calling him out.
Just Bewhildered wrote:
I've been watching the USATF championships (on live streaming and on TV) now for three days and it looks like the entire East Grandstand is all but empty. The West stands look to be about half full, but most of those fans leave before distance races. It looks like, as many predicted, this is a disaster for Sacramento. No wonder Eugene gets to host many of these meets. At least they have a legit fan base that shows up for all the days and all the events.
He's run it the last 3 years. Being there another few days changes anything about his preparation for being a father or his plans for the next few years? Really? HE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED PARIS! To Rupp Paris > US Championship. Thats the truly pathetic thing and everything that is wrong with our sport. How do you explain that to a casual fan or observer? How do you gain or maintain fans with that attitude? "Umm yeah one of the best runners didnt show up to win a national championship because running a fast time in a foreign country means more"
DaveW wrote:
Didn't he just run the 10k and win his 6th championship? Why does he need to run the 5k too?
If other runners can't attract a crowd, that is not Rupp's problem.
This guy is the greatest American distance runner of this era and he is balancing his plans for the next few years with his plans to be a father of twins very soon. But you don't like him so you are calling him out? Calling him out for what? Pathetic.
This is what makes Americans great. We aren't shy about our closed mindedness. Shout it loud and proud my brother!
Dennis Reynolds 2.0 wrote:
[quote]DaveW wrote:
I'm really adamant and feel strongly about this, nothing you say will change my mind, I figure nothing I say will change yours. I'm not going to respond anymore on the subject.
I was thinking the same thing. This can't help them going forward. Especially after the big talking that went on just before it started.
Yanqui wrote:
Considering everything Sacto was saying about being the other Track Town and wanting the 2017 USATFs to pick the Worlds team, this isn't looking good.
Didn't know that. It's a hell of a point.
casual fan wrote:
A half empty Hornet Stadium is a full Hayward Field (22,000 vs. 10,500).
I'm sure you are fudging numbers to try and prove a point but seriously? How then do they fit in over 20k a day at Hayward? They've always added temp seating so you really can't exclude that. See below for some education:
casual fan wrote:
A half empty Hornet Stadium is a full Hayward Field (22,000 vs. 10,500).
Competition among running venues could be a good thing if it were among venues of those competing to, say, host the Super Bowl. The pathetic part here is that the three current competitors - Drake, Sac St and Hayward - are all in 2nd-3rd tier cities and host the meet in small venues. Of the three I see Hayward as having the advantage of looking great on TV.
DaveW wrote:
As if there wasn't enough in fighting in this sport between:
1: Running Shoe companies
2. Running apparel companies
3. Running training groups
4. Running websites
5. Running publications
Now we have it between running venues. Pathetic.
Through the wonder of the internet, I can report that, in 2006, Indy drew 34,000 folks total over four days to a stadium that holds 12,000.
George Atlas wrote:
I know it is a smaller stadium but Indy always is packed for every track National Championship.