Was at Pre and no one was there. So sad to see. Where is the running support that there used to be???? People don't know what they're missing...hopefully the World Championships doesn't have the same turn out.
Running is the oldest and therefore literally the longest living sport. Watching people run has never been particularly popular compared to other sports.
Was at Pre and no one was there. So sad to see. Where is the running support that there used to be???? People don't know what they're missing...hopefully the World Championships doesn't have the same turn out.
I was also there and had the same initial thought but I’m willing to give this one instance a pass because:
(1) the weather forecast was abysmal. Actual weather day of really wasn’t that bad but I know several people who stayed home due to this.
(2) 2022 Hayward Field overload. People can only take so many trips to Eugene and Worlds seems to be the trip people are prioritizing. But add USAs, NCAAs, and the usual suspects and people just didn’t care about going to Hayward yet one more time.
I do agree that Hayward overload isn’t doing anyone any favors though.
1. VERY VERY high ticket prices. we are in a recession essentially. people are cutting costs and scrutinizing what they pay for (track isnt a priority...an NFL game is for more people).
2. Eugene and the whole state of Oregon lost their minds during Covid and many people are still afraid of crowds. A large crowd? that may kill grandma. Many runners also trend more liberal than other sports fans and liberals are statistically more likely to be afraid of COVID (not trolling, thats a fact)
3. No usa track stars that are marketable to average public right now are competing. Only Athing Mu really (who wasnt competing). No Carl Lewis like competitors. Shacarrie was on the path to being a star ala Carl in the USA but her "weed" positive test derailed it. Track has no male stars in the USA right now because we aren't doping as well as Jamaica.
1964 Summer Olympics gave U.S. citizens reason to believe 5000m & 10000m are our events. Immediately after 1972 Olympics some or many U.S. citizens saw Shorter finishing 5th at 10000m, Shorter winning gold at Marathon and Steve P. finishing 4th at 5000m. Some U.S. citizens thought 5000m to Marathon can be ours. Our entire high school and college XC and T&F system is set up to produce 5000m to Marathoners. I have discussed high school and college course lengths on other threads. I have explained that U.S. high school and college course lengths are set to develop 5000m to Marathoners.
U.S. historically produces the best long sprinters in the world. We can go back to Lon Myers pre-Olympic era. U.S. has produced the best 400m & 440yd men historically. We are a toss-up with Kenya at 600m. With slight changes in emphasis in U.S. high school & college XC, we could make 800m more attractive to U.S. teenage 400m athletes. With slight changes, U.S. could go toe to toe versus Kenya in 800m. Winning makes T&F exciting. O.P., if you felt after watching 10000m, a U.S. man was likely to win World Championship gold this summer you would feel differently about T&F. Based on the investment U.S. has made in 5000m to Marathon, our R.O.I. is not as good as it could be. Just think if U.S. T&F emphasized 800m and javelin the way U.S. T&F emphasizes 5000m to Marathon.
Was at Pre and no one was there. So sad to see. Where is the running support that there used to be???? People don't know what they're missing...hopefully the World Championships doesn't have the same turn out.
Coverage, coverage, coverage. Hard to be a fan when you can’t watch the competition.
3. No usa track stars that are marketable to average public right now are competing. Only Athing Mu really (who wasnt competing). No Carl Lewis like competitors. Shacarrie was on the path to being a star ala Carl in the USA but her "weed" positive test derailed it. Track has no male stars in the USA right now because we aren't doping as well as Jamaica.
On the contrary, the US men are doing far better than Jamaica right now.
Pro track may be dying but there seems to be as much participation and enthusiasm at the high school level as ever. There were probably state meets that had more attendees than Pre.
I think the location is a big factor as well. I live in Norcal and I don't really mind driving to LA to watch a meet. I've driven down for Arcadia, Mt Sac and a few other meets because it really doesn't require much planning. Traveling to Eugene for most fans requires a significant amount of planning in advance and expense because it's difficult to get to and accommodations are so limited. It's not something one decides to do just the week before.
Probably not many people want to do the trek to Eugene 3 times this year for Pre, US champs and Worlds. A lot of people probable just decided they would only attend one meet there or two at the most.
I think it's never been in better shape or more professionally run. Now, if you're talking about the sport in America, maybe. Question is: why did they hand the worlds to Eugene? Good thing Budapest 2023 will follow quickly to erase memories of any embarrassing failures.
For traditional track running, maybe. But as far as trails, it's growing one of the fastest out of all the endurance sports. Turns out the general population are more inspired by people racing up a mountain than a 400m track.
Were there restrictions on the crowd? The reason I ask is Birmingham was sold out days before, but looking at the crowd there were many, many empty seats and gaps.
I think it's never been in better shape or more professionally run. Now, if you're talking about the sport in America, maybe. Question is: why did they hand the worlds to Eugene? Good thing Budapest 2023 will follow quickly to erase memories of any embarrassing failures.