If you were in charge of Footlocker Nationals, how would you compete with NXN?

First, you bring in an expert in sport’s promotion, me, Vince McMahon.

K.I.S.S.

What does Footlocker have that NXN doesn’t? HISTORY. Footlocker has been run since 1979.

What do 90% of the athletes and potential viewers share an interest in? SEX.

Get every playmate of the year since 1979 to dress like Vikings and mud wrestle in THE TARPITS and show THAT during the race.

What was the question again

As someone that got 9th my senior year at Midwest regionals, that hurt my heart to see when they upped it to 10.

NXN is the superior meet. The best athletes were at NXN this year, in a much more competitive field. Every year, NXN gets more and more competitive. Footlocker misses out on a lot of talent.

Sure, it has history, but anyone not living in a bubble can see NXN is the future.

Probably the same idiots that probably get stuck behind with old technology and can't fathom new technology disrupting industries.

I have to wonder, how many of you are becoming old men with their, "my way is the right way" mentality? I'm sure the average userbase age here is slowly creeping up every year.

Heracles wrote:

NXN is the superior meet. The best athletes were at NXN this year, in a much more competitive field. Every year, NXN gets more and more competitive. Footlocker misses out on a lot of talent.

Sure, it has history, but anyone not living in a bubble can see NXN is the future.

Probably the same idiots that probably get stuck behind with old technology and can't fathom new technology disrupting industries.

I have to wonder, how many of you are becoming old men with their, "my way is the right way" mentality? I'm sure the average userbase age here is slowly creeping up every year.

I might be old but again San Diego vs Portland.

Why does SD versus Portland matter?

For the majority of these kids, it is about the experience. The team aspect is what takes they experience to the next level.

I'm not sure what a good solution is when dealing with 50 state meets, regional meets, etc.

Footlocker had the chance to be NXN- they declined.

It's too late, Nike was smart enough to add the team element and more regions.

The race director of Footlocker NE Region told me years ago that Nike asked them to add teams (and 7th/8th graders) FL said no.

I asked him if he would let my 8th grade daughter run (she was there watching a teammate and loved the atmosphere.

His answer was that they didn't want to let 8th graders in (he was very nice about it) then he told me the story about Nike.

I thought it was a mistake then and it's showing now.

NXN makes you follow state rules which means that very few 8th graders can compete. What is showing as you state? Footlocker had possibly its largest participation ever this year. The Girls' field at Footlocker appears to be better than that of NXN. Footlocker athletes have done more in college than NXN athletes. What is it that is going wrong with Footlocker again?

Simple change:

Only 8 auto qualifiers from each region with two from each region by invitation.

This would enable all the top runners to participate and strengthen the field.

The small field of 40 should be kept because being just the elites is part of the brand and history that sets it apart. The invitations should at least partially restore some of the top runners who were taken away by NXN. Most of the top runners in the Midwest choose to run both races so that should be true for the other regions as well if they are given the chance.

Well, there are a lot of kids that placed very high in the state of Washington XC meets that don't run either Nike or Footlocker. It's like their season ends with the State meet and they are done. This is more noticeable on the boys side than the girl's. Not sure why. Cost of traveling to the regional meets?

Simple answer … don’t ever run NXN. There is only one championship race. Running is an individual sport. Stop attending NXN and it will die on its own.

Carnivore 69 wrote:

Running is an individual sport.

Yes, but cross country is a team sport.

The only CA guys to win Footlocker since 1990 are AJ Acosta and one of the slowest winners ever, Chad Hall. I don't think Footlocker is missing out on too much if those CA guys don't want to run in the national championship.

deuces wrote:

The only CA guys to win Footlocker since 1990 are AJ Acosta and one of the slowest winners ever, Chad Hall. I don't think Footlocker is missing out on too much if those CA guys don't want to run in the national championship.

Sure, but the guys from the west have a huge disadvantage with FLW one week before FLN. Everybody else gets more rest. All the FL regional races need to be held on the same day.

Methner has had no rest.

The CA athletes are whiny little bitches who can't compete with 7th and 8th graders and can't stop whining about how unfair that is. They need to all go back to footlocker to escape the unfair competition at NXN.

Footlocker lacks depth last year and this year. Very very weak this year. Top athletes are picking NXN to run a national championship.

Bottom line for all the top guys and girls you need to run NXN.

Top 5 girls field is deeper at Footlocker. Ewert will lose by more than 1 second.

I do not understand the appeal of NXN other than the team aspect. I would much rather go to FLN any day than NXN. With that being said, FL needs to do something in order to stay relevant. High school kids don't get historical significance and tradition plus I am guessing that the HS coaches get treated better given many of them push their kids toward NXN.

It seems that NXN is calling FLN qualifiers and giving them entry into NXN. What does Foot Locker do to combat this or at least attract some of the best NXN athletes back to FL?