Ed Torres Writes: LA Got 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials Despite Offering $100k Less in Prize Money

The IAAF is expanding globally and wants the next available Worlds at UCLA Drake Staidum or USC Coliseum. Hanjin (South Korean shipping mega giant) will rebuild the L.A. Coliseum, Sports Arena, and Olympic Swim stadium. Hanjin is the money behind the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The owner of Hanjin is a USC Trustee.

The Donger wrote:

Ofcourse there's so much wrong with that I don't know where to start. Take golf as just on example with their prize purse. Perhaps our sport needs to hire their CEO.

Golf fans have money and spend it.

Running fans complain and refuse to buy a $20 flotrack account

L.A. needs to do the right thing and increase the purse by $200k. That would silence all the critics and show they're committed and mean business. There is enough money in that city to do that.

do the right thang wrote:

There is enough money in that city to do that.

And you know this how?

My sister lives in LA, I sent her a text asking if she'd heard LA won the bid for the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials. She hasn't heard anything about it. Anyone here from LA heard anything? If you have friends in LA ask if they've heard anything.

Who would hypothetically see this $100k extra? Would it go to bigger 1st-3rd prizes or would people who wouldn't have otherwise gotten anything get like 5-15k or something? What are the payouts compared to Houston? Also it is in 2 years, so couldn't they be still looking for more sponsorship money? I would think L.A would get more tourists and random people out for the event, but I really don't know.

one problem with Houston is it could get cold and get cancelled. Remember Dallas marathon recently? Imagine if that situation happened with the trials.

uyb wrote:

Golf fans have money and spend it.

Running fans complain and refuse to buy a $20 flotrack account

That cracked me up. Though I would like to think most Flotrack complainers are broke-a** 20somethings, which I completely understand and respect.

The Donger wrote:

USATF has made it very very clear they ONLY care about athletes that are realistic Olympic hopefuls. Yes there is a cool start here or there about a breakthrough 4th place finisher but they don't care.

They are not there to grow or promote the sport, support athletes financially or increase viewership. It's to pick an Olympic team.

Ofcourse there's so much wrong with that I don't know where to start. Take golf as just on example with their prize purse. Perhaps our sport needs to hire their CEO.

Isn't part of winning medals growing the talent pool you draw from, and wouldn't waving more money make that possible? That's why the Africans are so good- their talent pool is significantly larger because the money is more lucrative to them. That's also why they're moving away from the track to the roads/marathon. It will take a lot more money directed towards Americans for the same to happen- get more 5K/10K track talent to try the marathon.

beantaxi wrote:

uyb wrote:

Golf fans have money and spend it.

Running fans complain and refuse to buy a $20 flotrack account

That cracked me up. Though I would like to think most Flotrack complainers are broke-a** 20somethings, which I completely understand and respect.

Understanding is fine, but there's no reason to respect such lazy and entitled attitudes. Making $20 is easy.

$$$, whether it was current or in the future defnitely changed hands. The corrupt folks at USATF made themselves richer by going with LA. It's a crime and a total shame for the athletes.

Wow, Ed Torres submitted this statement on 2/5/2015? How do you get scoops from the future? Amazing!

uyb wrote:

beantaxi wrote:

That cracked me up. Though I would like to think most Flotrack complainers are broke-a** 20somethings, which I completely understand and respect.

Understanding is fine, but there's no reason to respect such lazy and entitled attitudes. Making $20 is easy.

That is no excuse to waste money on a poor product.

The CEO of the PGA makes approximately $5.1M. Max S., makes 500k.I still think we should be looking at how golf and tennis market their sport, as they are focused on individuals, not teams.As someone else also pointed out, there are still 2 years until the trials, so hopefully the prize purse will increase and go deeper to help those that really need the money.

The Donger wrote:

Of course there's so much wrong with that I don't know where to start. Take golf as just on example with their prize purse. Perhaps our sport needs to hire their CEO.

joho wrote:

That is no excuse to waste money on a poor product.

How is it a poor product? How else would you see any of these meets, races, and interviews? If it's such a poor product, then why do you use it? And exactly what is poor about it? Who is doing a better job?

It's much easier to market Golf because everyone can relate to it. Any out of shape fat ass can go out on the course and play a round of golf. They can even play the same course as the pros. You can compare yourself and appreciate how difficult what the professionals do is. Most of these people have no way at all to relate to running a mile, 5k or marathon. It isn't interesting to them.

This is an embarrassment for USATF. It shows clearly they do not have the athletes best interest in mind. The prize money pool should have been a criteria in the bid process. The athletes have to define of how much and how deep they would like to see it go , if cannot be met in the bid , bid gets tossed , simple.

If the athletes want to have a say then collectively they should protest this in a public statement to USATF to have USATF cover off the difference or have LA come up with the Houston's prize purse.

Classic USATF corruption..

Caddyshack wrote:

It's much easier to market Golf because everyone can relate to it. Any out of shape fat ass can go out on the course and play a round of golf. They can even play the same course as the pros. You can compare yourself and appreciate how difficult what the professionals do is. Most of these people have no way at all to relate to running a mile, 5k or marathon. It isn't interesting to them.

It should be much easier to market running, anyone can relate to it. Any out of shape person and people lacking eye hand coordination can go out and run. They can even race in the same race as the pros. You can compare yourself and appreciate how difficult what the professionals do is. Most of these people have no way to relate to someone driving a gold ball 300 yards. It isn't interesting to them.

It's not about the elites wrote:

If you are sincere about growing the sport and not just funding 8-10 guys than LA is an obvious choice. Better for TV, sponsors, media coverage. Siegal is no dope- it's better for USATF and NBC and everyone involved save 10 or so people.

Are you retarded? How does limiting the opportunity to train as a professional when you can barely afford to survive helping the sport? Yeah screw those 10 fat cats who can afford a used car and not have to work part time being a professional athlete.

Fewer and lesser paydays equals fewer people unable to chase the dream.