donore_abu wrote:
I think the Diamond League is an absolutely incredible advertisement for the sport, especially the top European meets. The quality and variety of the events packed into two hours is a standard that fans of any sport would be happy to aspire to. The level of commentary and atmosphere also makes it accessible to the non-fan, never mind the statistical detail (timetable, etc) available on the website for state nerds.
DL distance meets are almost always tactical, it's just that they're at such a high level that they're also fast. Kejelcha and Kiplimo in 2023 running 12:41 was tactical! The reason it might be less competitive when Jakob's in the race is not because there are no tactics.
GST is a poor solution to a problem that doesn't exist (at least not for European track fans) and the one thing which they and other similar initiatives consistently undervalue is the importance and meaning of history for any sports fan (even when they're just starting to watch a new sport). The heritage of Monaco and the Bislett Games adds depth. And when you start watching a new sport, that stuff is a draw.
I actually don't understand why shoe companies or sportswear don't make it more of a deal for their athletes to lean into the DL - and do more promotion around it. It's a brilliant product but would probably do better with more support from the companies that actually have a financial interest in its popularity (having said that, the economics of running shoe companies has always been unfathomable to me).
Looking forward to the summer!
DLs are great, the problem is unless you're a big enough fan to pay for it, you don't see it. Your wife doesn't see it, your friends who are visiting don't see it. your kids don't see it.