BUT BUT BUT HEYWARD MAGIC! What an embarrassment. Just a typical day of USATF incompetence. There were probably more people at the Trials of Miles meets.
While I was not there, a few things would have been/were a turn-off. Historically, the FRI night events have been FREE. When I looked at ticket prices I saw a wide range of numbers at various times - if I remember correctly all the way from $15 to over $100. It made me thing that either tey were still trying to pay off stadium bills, or had gotten a big ego about prices because of the new stadium. Also, when the new stadium was proposed and even as construction started, there was a LOT of dissent about the design in Eugene - that it would destroy the history of Hayward, not fit with the city etc. May the low attendance was push back from locals.
A big reason is it's hard to draw more fans in without promotion (ie money). According to USATF's 2020 financial statements, they had revenue of $32,128,474. Even if they weren't a non-profit, that is nothing compared to the major sports leagues in the world. World Athletics as a whole wasn't much better and some years they have been very cash poor. Ever hear of the Azerbaijan Premier League? Well they make $34 million in revenue.
Meanwhile, the Big 5 sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, EPL & NHL) make an average of $8.4 billion in revenue.
It is tough to market Olympic sports outside of non-Olympic years.
I sat in 2nd row of upper level by finish. Well over 2000 behind me all the way down last 70 meters of main straight away. Tickets were $40 after fees for 5 distance only races. Field events were late added bonus due to weather Saturday expected to be very wet.
The problem with the attendance for Oregon based fans is simple. 3 days of state last week. 2 days of Pre this weekend. In 2 weeks NCAA meet over 4 days. Then 3 days of Nike HS Nationals the next week. Then it’s 4 days of USA Nationals the next week. Then 2 weeks later 10 days of Worlds. That’s a lot of driving from Portland, Bend or elsewhere and nights dining out and hotel stays so fans have to pick their priorities.
Watching a bunch of East Africans competing against each other is a tough sell for even die hard fans. And promoting an intersex athlete in the 2 mile? Again, she shouldn't even be racing against women. There are very few runners that are engaging to the public and can draw crowds. Larger than life personalities like hicham el guerrouj or Bekele are not in the picture now. I would pay to see Hassan. But she wasn't even promoted by the race organizers! I'm guessing she was not getting enough of an appearance fee to show up and decided she had better things to do.
It has to do with marketing. Usain Bolt had great marketing, if he was still a professional he would have Came to this meet, especially given the minimal time zone difference from his country. Joshua is a WR holder yes, but his name hasn’t been released into the general public much. They need to have all of these previous record holders market with the current professionals better. Also Mainland Europe has a somewhat better track culture than USA. I don’t think track will be comparable in the US like it is in the European meets ever.
Think that is what I heard the guy just say in background of broadcast.
Can you imagine if that many people showed up for like an NHL game. People would laugh.
Why is this a surprise? It is being held in a podunk town that does not have a wide catchment area for foot traffic nor the requisite infrastructure for tourism. It boggles the mind why anyone would expect a different result.
Holding major T&F events in this location will not grow the sport. Compare the number attending in Eugene to other Diamond League events elsewhere and you will note the massive difference in numbers. Heck, even Penn Relays have more people attending than attend events in Eugene.
It has to do with marketing. Usain Bolt had great marketing, if he was still a professional he would have Came to this meet, especially given the minimal time zone difference from his country. Joshua is a WR holder yes, but his name hasn’t been released into the general public much. They need to have all of these previous record holders market with the current professionals better. Also Mainland Europe has a somewhat better track culture than USA. I don’t think track will be comparable in the US like it is in the European meets ever.
It has more to do than just marketing. This is not simple a case of if they build it they will come.
1. Eugene is a crap podunk little town
2. It does not have the requisite infrastructure for visitors
3. It is difficult and expensive to get to
4. It does not have the catchment area that a metropolitan location has and will always have low numbers visiting.
Did they charge for last night? I remember going to distance night in the mid-2010s & the stadium being pretty full. But Mo was running & it was free. I would expect it to be close to sold out today.
USATF and Pre Classic messed this one up, but hindsight is 20/20. No fault in giving it a shot.
The one person world record attempts just didn’t feel authentic. People want to see racing. The races were boring. Meet directors: pay attention. The WR attempts in the new super shoe era are no longer attractive. Just stop with it.
By far and away the two USA Trial 10ks were the clear highlights. Just pure racing and what a joy to watch in person. That should have been it and the only two races - and free entry with a Saturday Pre Classic ticket.
OK- I don't expect that you've read my posts concerning this- it's a big message board. I've been running (and have been a fan) for 51 years: 1. There was a time when the general public showed up to track meets and watched on TV- google the Ryan/Liquori race from 1971 and watch.
2. At one time in the 1980's the NYC and Chicago marathons had higher TV ratings than any baseball game except the world series and any football game except the playoffs.
3. I remember the Wide World of Sports covering road miles, track meets, road races.
It's all in marketing and exposure.
And, outside of the opinions of some of the troll/losers on this message board, we actually have the type of athlete kids should be looking up to. The nature of the sport is to live a healthy ;lifestyle.
The production of meets is horrible- watching a meet on TV and 30 minutes in we've seen 2 heats of the 100 and 2 heats of the hurdles.
Granted most sports don't have much action- football and baseball have more down time than people actually moving- but at least they APPEAR to be getting something done.
Move the meets along, keep the action coming. And get some announcers who know what they're doing.
You are 100% correct. Honestly, there’s nothing inherently more exciting about one sport over another. Have you watched a F1 race? It’s a snooze fest, little passing, nearly predetermined outcomes, you can’t see the athletes! Yet it’s a global spectacle now. The Miami Grand Prix sold out how many tickets in 30 minutes? I think those in control of T&F should watch Winning Time, the show about Magic and the Lakers on HBO. See how to build a brand, generate excitement, give fans a show that goes beyond the competition itself. It’s doable for T&F.
So those attendance figures would make this the best attended track meet in the country this year, is that correct? Or has another city drawn more people into the stands anywhere else in this country? Where else have more people showed up to watch a track meet in this country in recent years?
agreed. Pat Mahomes NFL salary is $50m year is more than USATF revenue. Hard to market T&F athletes as the general public does not know any of these athletes and there is a very small fan base.
A big reason is it's hard to draw more fans in without promotion (ie money). According to USATF's 2020 financial statements, they had revenue of $32,128,474. Even if they weren't a non-profit, that is nothing compared to the major sports leagues in the world. World Athletics as a whole wasn't much better and some years they have been very cash poor. Ever hear of the Azerbaijan Premier League? Well they make $34 million in revenue.
Meanwhile, the Big 5 sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, EPL & NHL) make an average of $8.4 billion in revenue.
It is tough to market Olympic sports outside of non-Olympic years.
Don't compare running to Major sports . WTA announce 34 million online viewers for Camila Giorgi vs ArynaSabalenka match .
I sat in 2nd row of upper level by finish. Well over 2000 behind me all the way down last 70 meters of main straight away. Tickets were $40 after fees for 5 distance only races. Field events were late added bonus due to weather Saturday expected to be very wet.
The problem with the attendance for Oregon based fans is simple. 3 days of state last week. 2 days of Pre this weekend. In 2 weeks NCAA meet over 4 days. Then 3 days of Nike HS Nationals the next week. Then it’s 4 days of USA Nationals the next week. Then 2 weeks later 10 days of Worlds. That’s a lot of driving from Portland, Bend or elsewhere and nights dining out and hotel stays so fans have to pick their priorities.