Footlocker (Champs, Eastbay whatever) is dying. It has been for a while but this year may truly be the death knell. They simply cannot compete with the experience that NXR/NXN provides. Nike is pouring money into that meet and it shows, and kids want the chance to compete for a team title as well as an individual title.
Within the next few years Footlocker will be dead. Maybe not gone altogether, but dead. NXN will be the real nationals meet. RunningLane will be the consolation nationals for teams that either can't travel or don't want to travel as far for their NXR regionals meet (or if they want to run 5K PRs on a really fast course).
In many ways Footlocker did this to themselves. They refused to innovate in the way the other national meets did and the name changes destroyed any brand recognition they had. With many NXR and Footlocker Regional meets overlapping and neither company willing to come to the table and hash out a deal one was bound to fail and it seems it was Footlocker.
Footlocker (Champs, Eastbay whatever) is dying. It has been for a while but this year may truly be the death knell. They simply cannot compete with the experience that NXR/NXN provides. Nike is pouring money into that meet and it shows, and kids want the chance to compete for a team title as well as an individual title.
Within the next few years Footlocker will be dead. Maybe not gone altogether, but dead. NXN will be the real nationals meet. RunningLane will be the consolation nationals for teams that either can't travel or don't want to travel as far for their NXR regionals meet (or if they want to run 5K PRs on a really fast course).
In many ways Footlocker did this to themselves. They refused to innovate in the way the other national meets did and the name changes destroyed any brand recognition they had. With many NXR and Footlocker Regional meets overlapping and neither company willing to come to the table and hash out a deal one was bound to fail and it seems it was Footlocker.
How is Nike pouring money into the event? Outside of the best of the best you get nothing back out of the NXr meets. You pay $55 bucks and get a beenie made with slave labor? What a bargain.
Footlocker (Champs, Eastbay whatever) is dying. It has been for a while but this year may truly be the death knell. They simply cannot compete with the experience that NXR/NXN provides. Nike is pouring money into that meet and it shows, and kids want the chance to compete for a team title as well as an individual title.
Within the next few years Footlocker will be dead. Maybe not gone altogether, but dead. NXN will be the real nationals meet. RunningLane will be the consolation nationals for teams that either can't travel or don't want to travel as far for their NXR regionals meet (or if they want to run 5K PRs on a really fast course).
In many ways Footlocker did this to themselves. They refused to innovate in the way the other national meets did and the name changes destroyed any brand recognition they had. With many NXR and Footlocker Regional meets overlapping and neither company willing to come to the table and hash out a deal one was bound to fail and it seems it was Footlocker.
Footlocker was always intended to be an elite meet for a few elite runners. It was never designed to be a huge meet or to see how many runners they could squeeze into a bunch of regionals.
Plus there are many great runners who have slow teammates who can't run as a team at NXN anyway because their team is way too slow to qualify.
So the top runners who have slow teammates have to choose between running in what could be slop at NXN or running in sunny San Diego. And plenty of them are choosing to run in San Diego, which is not a bad place for a high school student to get a free trip to and spend 4 days hanging out at a fancy hotel on the beach.
Footlocker (Champs, Eastbay whatever) is dying. It has been for a while but this year may truly be the death knell. They simply cannot compete with the experience that NXR/NXN provides. Nike is pouring money into that meet and it shows, and kids want the chance to compete for a team title as well as an individual title.
Within the next few years Footlocker will be dead. Maybe not gone altogether, but dead. NXN will be the real nationals meet. RunningLane will be the consolation nationals for teams that either can't travel or don't want to travel as far for their NXR regionals meet (or if they want to run 5K PRs on a really fast course).
In many ways Footlocker did this to themselves. They refused to innovate in the way the other national meets did and the name changes destroyed any brand recognition they had. With many NXR and Footlocker Regional meets overlapping and neither company willing to come to the table and hash out a deal one was bound to fail and it seems it was Footlocker.
How is Nike pouring money into the event? Outside of the best of the best you get nothing back out of the NXr meets. You pay $55 bucks and get a beenie made with slave labor? What a bargain.
Well for one thing I'm talking about overall experience. As OP mentioned, Champs NE was lacking in decorations etc. NXR doesn't have that problem. Lots of custom one-off decorations/flags/etc. and even a custom van shows up. Obviously not a huge thing but it does make a difference in the experience/atmosphere. It LOOKS a lot cooler and that shouldn't be underestimated when it comes to which meet a bunch of high schoolers are going to choose.
For another, I'm also talking about the actual Nationals meet itself. They fly out all the qualifiers to Oregon for the weekend, load them up with a TON of exclusive gear, and even throw a party. Lots of money going into this.
Footlocker (Champs, Eastbay whatever) is dying. It has been for a while but this year may truly be the death knell. They simply cannot compete with the experience that NXR/NXN provides. Nike is pouring money into that meet and it shows, and kids want the chance to compete for a team title as well as an individual title.
Within the next few years Footlocker will be dead. Maybe not gone altogether, but dead. NXN will be the real nationals meet. RunningLane will be the consolation nationals for teams that either can't travel or don't want to travel as far for their NXR regionals meet (or if they want to run 5K PRs on a really fast course).
In many ways Footlocker did this to themselves. They refused to innovate in the way the other national meets did and the name changes destroyed any brand recognition they had. With many NXR and Footlocker Regional meets overlapping and neither company willing to come to the table and hash out a deal one was bound to fail and it seems it was Footlocker.
Footlocker was always intended to be an elite meet for a few elite runners. It was never designed to be a huge meet or to see how many runners they could squeeze into a bunch of regionals.
Plus there are many great runners who have slow teammates who can't run as a team at NXN anyway because their team is way too slow to qualify.
So the top runners who have slow teammates have to choose between running in what could be slop at NXN or running in sunny San Diego. And plenty of them are choosing to run in San Diego, which is not a bad place for a high school student to get a free trip to and spend 4 days hanging out at a fancy hotel on the beach.
I understand what Footlocker was intended to be. But their model is also working to their detriment. Four regionals for FL vs eight regionals for NXR creates logistical/travel issues. On average its a lot easier generally to travel to NXR simply because there are more of them. Consider a kid that's from the very west corner of Texas. Zoned for the South Region for both FL and NXR, but FL South is located all the way in Charlotte NC while NXR South is in Woodlands TX. A lot shorter of a trip to NXR. And generally high school kids want to go where their competition is, and when more people are going to NXR that's going to bring in a lot of other kids.
In terms of San Diego vs Portland I don't think kids really mind so much. Its not like Footlocker Nationals its a very fast course either. If you've seen the vlogs around NXN its pretty clear that Nike pulls out ALL the stops for these kids. Sure its not at a cool beach but they are certainly not wanting for an incredible all-expense-paid experience.
NXN LOOKS a lot cooler and that shouldn't be underestimated when it comes to which meet a bunch of high schoolers are going to choose.
Footlocker/Champs isn't looking for a "BUNCH of high schoolers" as much as Nike is.
Footlocker/Champs wants elite runners and Nike wants large numbers of kids. So no surprise that Nike will get more kids running in their regional meets.
Footlocker was always intended to be an elite meet for a few elite runners. It was never designed to be a huge meet or to see how many runners they could squeeze into a bunch of regionals.
Plus there are many great runners who have slow teammates who can't run as a team at NXN anyway because their team is way too slow to qualify.
So the top runners who have slow teammates have to choose between running in what could be slop at NXN or running in sunny San Diego. And plenty of them are choosing to run in San Diego, which is not a bad place for a high school student to get a free trip to and spend 4 days hanging out at a fancy hotel on the beach.
I understand what Footlocker was intended to be. But their model is also working to their detriment. Four regionals for FL vs eight regionals for NXR creates logistical/travel issues. On average its a lot easier generally to travel to NXR simply because there are more of them. Consider a kid that's from the very west corner of Texas. Zoned for the South Region for both FL and NXR, but FL South is located all the way in Charlotte NC while NXR South is in Woodlands TX. A lot shorter of a trip to NXR. And generally high school kids want to go where their competition is, and when more people are going to NXR that's going to bring in a lot of other kids.
In terms of San Diego vs Portland I don't think kids really mind so much. Its not like Footlocker Nationals its a very fast course either. If you've seen the vlogs around NXN its pretty clear that Nike pulls out ALL the stops for these kids. Sure its not at a cool beach but they are certainly not wanting for an incredible all-expense-paid experience.
"All the stops"
Beenie for $55 entry and the kids aren't allowed on Nike Campus this year.
I understand what Footlocker was intended to be. But their model is also working to their detriment. Four regionals for FL vs eight regionals for NXR creates logistical/travel issues. On average its a lot easier generally to travel to NXR simply because there are more of them. Consider a kid that's from the very west corner of Texas. Zoned for the South Region for both FL and NXR, but FL South is located all the way in Charlotte NC while NXR South is in Woodlands TX. A lot shorter of a trip to NXR. And generally high school kids want to go where their competition is, and when more people are going to NXR that's going to bring in a lot of other kids.
In terms of San Diego vs Portland I don't think kids really mind so much. Its not like Footlocker Nationals its a very fast course either. If you've seen the vlogs around NXN its pretty clear that Nike pulls out ALL the stops for these kids. Sure its not at a cool beach but they are certainly not wanting for an incredible all-expense-paid experience.
"All the stops"
Beenie for $55 entry and the kids aren't allowed on Nike Campus this year.
Again, talking about NXN. Not NXR. Footlocker regionals does the same thing. All you get is entry and like a cheap backpack. Watch the blogs on NXN. They do in fact pull out all the stops.
NXN LOOKS a lot cooler and that shouldn't be underestimated when it comes to which meet a bunch of high schoolers are going to choose.
Footlocker/Champs isn't looking for a "BUNCH of high schoolers" as much as Nike is.
Footlocker/Champs wants elite runners and Nike wants large numbers of kids. So no surprise that Nike will get more kids running in their regional meets.
Lmao okay. NXN wants elite runners too and in recent years has done better on that front than Footlocker has in my opinion. I didn’t see Nico Young or Katelyn Tuohy at Footlocker. Stick your head in the sand if you want but Footlocker is going the way of the dodo.
Beenie for $55 entry and the kids aren't allowed on Nike Campus this year.
Again, talking about NXN. Not NXR. Footlocker regionals does the same thing. All you get is entry and like a cheap backpack. Watch the blogs on NXN. They do in fact pull out all the stops.
So pulling all the stops is not allowing the kids go to the Nike campus? The kids will just have all meals at their hotel. Sounds amazing.....
"Hey kids we are gonna fly you out to Nike Headquar.....nvm we are gonna fly you out to Portland to be locked up in your hotel all weekend."
From a coach who will be there with his team that already received itinerary. I drink and I know things. For all the Brosnan fan boys you can go see him there this weekend too. ("Not coaching" Newbury)
Listen if it weren't true, you'd have all the Nike employees/shills on here defending NXN and saying it was a lie, but by the very fact that they are nowhere to be found speaks volumes.
From what I had heard back when this started in the 2004 XC season, NXN said that they wanted to provide bibs and signage for the Federation Meet that would make it clear it is also the qualifier to NXN. I also heard that they told the Federation that they could still choose the teams and individuals that make the Federation/NXN NY meet how they have always done and that NXN would just choose the top teams/individuals from the race. However, I imagine if they said they wanted to let it be open to whoever wants to run/register there would have been resistance to that. Another sticking point could have been that you have to run as a "club" team which I can't imagine the Federation would have wanted to have in the results either. I heard from my father who is a long time NYS official that the folks who made this decision were bragging about it, when all they really did is send the Federation Meet into a death spiral, as many of the top teams and individuals skip it in order to run the exact same course the following week.
I can't stand the Federation meet. I wish athletes would just skip it in mass numbers.
I'm certain that a kid that just missed qualifying for Champs Nationals missed because he had to race hard for his team the week before. The kid did everything for his team for the past two years but didn't have anything left and ran his only bad race of the season. And I believe he's still undecided on his college so he really could have used a trip to nationals.
From a coach who will be there with his team that already received itinerary. I drink and I know things. For all the Brosnan fan boys you can go see him there this weekend too. ("Not coaching" Newbury)
Listen if it weren't true, you'd have all the Nike employees/shills on here defending NXN and saying it was a lie, but by the very fact that they are nowhere to be found speaks volumes.
They will still be on the Nike campus for Uniform pick up and the Thursday team runs. The only thing different will be the welcome meeting is in the hotel and the dinners.