Has Nike's NXN ruined Footlocker National?

It's not a zero-sum game. It's advertising for both companies. If Nike does well then so can Footlocker. There are so many high schoolers in the U.S. even four weekend tradeshow type meets in December would not be enough. Nike should move the meet for business purposes to where the market is. The south, southwest, southeast has the sunny weather with many outdoor activities in December. That's why Kinney picked San Diego 30 years ago.

I hate to disappoint you, but despite your recommendations don't expect Nike to move NXN from Portland and it seems like the folks at Nike know a thing or two about marketing. Even from your trade show point of view, think of the pr Nike gets by showcasing their headquarters in Beaverton -- it's an impressive place. Once again, the location hasn't kept hundreds of family members from traveling to NXN to enjoy the festivities and watching their kids compete despite the location in a "piss hole" town. Despite your suggestions for a warm weather vacation locale, very few families can afford to take a week off at that time of the year with semester finals and the holidays right around the corner.

The more the better for the kids. When the economy turns around I hope to see Border Wars meets on another saturday in December. You have to admit, the more XC in December the better it is for all of us in this sport. The worst thing is when adults and parents lose sight of who all this is for. It isn't about Nike and FL and who slighted whom, and who mhas a better this or that. It's about the kids. You can only be a kid once. And who cares about football bowl games ;-)

You think North Central, York, Naperville North, The Woodlands, etc. thought that this was a trade show? This was a culmination of running since June for these teams. This was the event they were training for. Do not try to tell me they were going there for a "trade show experience." NXN and Footlocker pamper these kids justly and it does have some publicity elements. However, these kids are serious about that race.

Both were trade shows. Nike and Footlocker hired the great and wonderful websites and flew them in, purchased live and repeat time slots on ESPN, hired Carrie Tollefson, video crews, dah, dah, dah, the whole nine yards.

Delaware, please tell me when these events are going to be on ESPN?

Don't get so bent out of shape. The shows are produced from far far way at their respective corporate headquarters in New York (Footlocker) and Beijing (Nike) and they can't get everything right. How can they control the weather. Give them a break. It's a great free treat for HS kids that age.

Bump. Were there any format or rule changes this year to these events, or have things just continued as is. I don't know enough about the politics, but would be interested in hearing from those who may.

Just another hoser wrote:

Isn't FL still the prestigious race?

Yes. NXN has a long way to go before it's important possibly enough to "ruin" FL.

Reliant Aries wrote: NXN has a long way to go before it's important possibly enough to "ruin" FL.

when several of the best runners in the country aren't going to a meet that calls itself the "national championship," i think it's effectively ruined

Exactly. Nike has totally F'd up what used to be the greatest HS national championship (a totally distance-biased opinion- I know).

Now we have the Rosas - whose team frankly isn't that great without them - going to a team championship instead of Footlocker. Then Wills goes too.

This is ridiculous. They either need to combine the Footlocker Regionals with Nike BS Regionals, or one needs to cease to exist.

Should we talk about Nike also ruining the HS Track & Field Championships?

I don't care which one dies, the shame is in not identifying the true national champ. That was the only thing that made XC unique and therefore interesting to outsiders. Nike or FL: I don't care but this splitting of talent is not good for the sport.

the rosas decided to run nxn before they were even sure if their team would run the regional or not

one meet is what is best for the sport. nxn is the only option

On the boys side you have guys like the Rosa twins missing out on FLNats

On the girl side you have top runners like Sara Andrews

And then you have some kids doubling, like Craig Lutz

Sucks, but oh well...

Who even remembers who won the individual titles from nxn. I can remember every FL winner, it elite. nxn has tons of guys running 17 and 18 minute 5ks which is horrible. I don't hear people going around wanting to be like kroy. I do hear people wanting to be like ritz, teg, goucher, torres, kennedy, williams, davis, hall, and the other great runners who mostly all made FL. You dream of making FL and being one of those guys. NXN is just another meet with you team of good to average runners.

I think you overrate the importance of this, or any other, high school "national championship."

pwnersauce wrote:

Reliant Aries wrote: NXN has a long way to go before it's important possibly enough to "ruin" FL.

when several of the best runners in the country aren't going to a meet that calls itself the "national championship," i think it's effectively ruined

Footlocker should follow what NCAA did. Then there wouldn't have been a problem

so, indoors is ruined, xc is ruined, and outdoor is next. so much for the idea of high school national championships. why didn't footlocker just allow teams and individuals, like ncaa?

That's just what happens when you let corporate interests run the show. The sport is neither better nor worse with two, one, or zero "high school national championships."