Prominent Elite Club Closing its doors at years end

Here's the problem in a nutshell.

The shoe companies do not get an adequate return on their investment by sponsoring these clubs.

There is a reason these people run for a living and coach for a living and therefore live in near poverty....they do not understand that in the real world money and support is not handed to you on a silver plate with a note saying..."Here's some money go run."

Sponsors expect a return on their investment, race results are not a return on investment but what is a return is promoting their product in a manner that demonstrates a measureable increase in sales.

I'm so tired of whining athletes who cry when their deals are not renewed. You guys and girls need to look within and understand that you are the reason the deal was not renewed. What could you have done better?

It amazes me that most of these runners are university graduates yet are just plan stupid when it comes to real world knowledge.

Perhaps instead of training for a few hours each day then recovering you go to work and bust your humps like the rest of people in America.

Out..............

Ajee Wilson's group in Philadelphia also has Marielle Hall and Charelene Lipsey. But no team sponsor.

Don't forget Very Nice Track Club

Leer and Willis can't be overlooked

I think it's clear that NAZ Elite has mixed results in getting it done (and no results in making serious World teams)

However, the really push the Hoka brand.

They refer to themselves as an elite team (stretching) that's really cool (more stretching) but to the average rec runner, they meet both criteria and sell shoes.

That's why I doubt the are on the chopping block.

Best of LR.com wrote:

I think it's clear that NAZ Elite has mixed results in getting it done (and no results in making serious World teams)

However, the really push the Hoka brand.

They refer to themselves as an elite team (stretching) that's really cool (more stretching) but to the average rec runner, they meet both criteria and sell shoes.

That's why I doubt the are on the chopping block.

This is true. The only criteria that is evaluated here is how well the group is advertising the brand and how much $ in shoes/gear sales are generated. NAZ is very good at this. The average running consumer has no idea who is on a world's team.

Will they sublet the building after they close the doors?

Can members transfer to an existing elite club? Does Skull and Bones have need for mid distance talent ?

Come on guys, you have no idea of what you are talking about.

How many Reebok shoes have been sold because of Zap? Zero. No one runs in Reebok. This is not a shot at Zap. No one can sell that crap. The point is that sales does not determine sponsorship. Maybe it should but it doesn't.

Management or ownership within a company has way more to do with sponsorship than anything else. When either change then so does sponsorship.

Don't forget the U.S. Army. We are all sponsoring the 16 athletes in that group with our tax dollars! : (

Santa Monica track club has been started up again with a small collection of also-ran half milers slash milers. By far the coolest uni though.

Fact!

In most cases, the big shoe companies sponsor "athletes" (or in the case of this thread, a group) so that they can be a complete brand. It's an entire department within the company. You can even look at a sponsored athlete as a charity runner who endorses the brand. Once they can't or don't provide any real endorsement, then they are let go. It really shouldn't end with hard feelings. The athlete isn't entitled to anything; medals, championship berths, AR, WR are flashy things that the athlete should be proud of, but doesn't merit a sponsorship. It's downright business.

Personally, I like seeing athletes sponsored, but they have to work for it.

Here's my question, how many professional athletes would still compete if they were not professionally sponsored?

There is a track club in Washington D.C. called District Track club with some pretty elite runners. To be on the club I believe you have to hit the olympic A standard... may be mistaken though.

These sponsored clubs should be hitting every major US road race for some real advertising.

Tom Cruise wrote:

Don't forget the U.S. Army. We are all sponsoring the 16 athletes in that group with our tax dollars! : (

That makes you sad? Seriously?

Tom Cruise wrote:

Don't forget the U.S. Army. We are all sponsoring the 16 athletes in that group with our tax dollars! : (

I'd much rather sponsor runners than killers with my tax dollars

Were you deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan to defend your country?

Did you serve?

quaker oats, you disgust me. You pansy.

The Atlanta Track Club is starting to assemble an elite team as well with funding from Mizuno

All ATL Track is missing is coaching. Signed some developmental talent, but talent not developing.

Road Whorriar wrote:

These sponsored clubs should be hitting every major US road race for some real advertising.

Exactly why Hoka NAZ Elite is probably the furthest from getting the axe this year. While every track club went to Payton Jordan and ran in front of maybe 100 fans, NAZ sent guys to three major USA road races, Bloomsday, Pittsburgh Marathon, and Newport 10k.

Who do you think provided more brand awareness and interacted with people that would by a shoe?

Option 1: Payton Jordan athlete sponsored by company X telling another competitor, sponsored by company Y that their shoes are great.

Option 2: Guy at major road race talking to people who just ran their first 1/2 marathon, talking to local news about what shoes they like, talking to person in lobby asking "is there a marathon going on today?"