It never was attributed to what was being shown on tv. Its because of the fact that t&f is the highest participatory sport at the grass roots level. Some of those continued in college and fewer beyond. Typically, the hardcore fans are those that competed in college and beyond. Those that chose careers related and shared their passion with younger people. Those that looked anywhere they could to observe more from afar unless they could get there by their own resources to sit together with others who do the same including parents who support their own children in the sport. As a coach, I used recorded video, youtube etc to show the newbs what was possible from the past.
Realistically, you have to understand that the numbers for the sport arent going to grow much beyond that core group. People dont sit around and live vicariously through world class triple jumpers and hurdlers like they do football and basketball players who can purchase jerseys, be entertainded for 2hrs max and then look forward to next week. Maybe throw the ball around or shoot some hoops in the driveway. I am weird that I played track in the open lot with some friends as a kid. Threw round and flat rocks, vaulted across the canal etc...
Its up to YOU, the hardcore fans to teach young people about the sport. Not some screen or subscription. As Ive said many times before, I would much rather sit in the stadium any day than watch a broadcast from any platform to get the closest experience that the athletes have to UNDERSTAND what really haplened even if it meant sleeping in the car or tent and eating out of a cooler to save money.
What are you willing to do to get what you want in the experience or growing the sport? If not you, then who?
If you're that person, pay your fee, then share it with others and stop complaining about the sport not growing fans. Go out and coach some kids, build some relationships and help THEM pay it forward. Thats really the only chance to grow it.
You would be amazed at how big of a positive impact and contribution to the sport 1 person can make over 40 years as an athlete, coach, announcer and meet official.
Bunch of word salad to justify this stupidity.
Nobody should have to sleep out of a car or tent to consume this sport, are you out of your mind? People are asking for a reasonably priced subscription to watch 1-2 meets a month, telling people they are the reason the sport isn't growing is loser behavior.
I do agree that assisting the sport grow in a tangible way is important and something I would hope most people here already have done/do but.... asserting that the popularity of a sport is dictated by how close you can get to playing it yourself negates basically every type of car race including F1. Sure, you might drive a Camry on the interstate but that is so far removed from flying around the streets of Monaco in a F1 car that its like comparing going for a stroll in a park with a 1500m.
The key is to make the sport interesting by drawing fans into the drama of the competition. F1's Netflix series did that and now its exploded in North America. Paris did a great job of making T&F fun and engaging for the fans. Maybe the Grand Slam league will do the same but you have got to invest in production quality. You have got to be able to sell cool merch. You have to make the stars celebrities. Every major sport does this and T&F is far behind the curb. Granted, it is unique from a lot of other sports in terms of funding, leagues etc but, I really think that if a smart promoter with a decent amount of capital were to take this on, they could build the sport into a major spectator event without having the fan base limited to former collegiate runners/throwers/jumpers.