If you were in charge of Footlocker Nationals, how would you compete with NXN?

Can I buy xc spikes or flats at Footlocker?

All FL needs to do is to put more money into their production. Make things nicer for the athletes and offer more and better swag for those who qualify. Do that and the top individuals will make the decision to run there instead.

Of course, Blue Ribbon Spts has deeper pockets so they'll just double down... but either way the athletes win, so there's that.

Horse shot..that’s not the reason

+1

Combine the two and call it the Footlocker-Nike XC Nationals

Hanson’s-Brooks combine a store and brand so it’s been done before.

Have all the regionals the first weekend in December. That way it doesn’t conflict with the California state meet.

Have the nationals the second weekend in December. But have it in Texas.

Why Texas? Still warm in December, centrally located in the nation, and it might get Texas to be more competitive in cross at the national level.

Are there any good courses in Texas for this? Idk because I’m from the northeast.

My idea wrote:

Combine the two and call it the Footlocker-Nike XC Nationals

Hanson’s-Brooks combine a store and brand so it’s been done before.

Have all the regionals the first weekend in December. That way it doesn’t conflict with the California state meet.

Have the nationals the second weekend in December. But have it in Texas.

Why Texas? Still warm in December, centrally located in the nation, and it might get Texas to be more competitive in cross at the national level.

Are there any good courses in Texas for this? Idk because I’m from the northeast.

Or on the new “state of the art” Oklahoma State course. Certainly sounds like something rate down Nike’s alley. Also, it’s still centrally located and near Texas.

Rewatching videos of this year's NXN & FL National meets reminded me why I enjoy watching xc so much.

One race featured cold, rain, wind, and mud while the other featured perfect weather on firm ground with 2 major hills.

Each required different skill sets but both were vintage cross country.

Frankly, from a purely fan perspective, it's great we get two national championships.

I rather wish Nike had stuck to its original concept of NTN/NXN being a national team race only, leaving FootLocker Nationals as the national individual championship race. However, since in many years the nation's best runners also happen to be on the nation's best teams, the idea of emulating the NCAA championship race format where both team and individual winners are crowned makes sense. Can't blame Nike for choosing this path.

So, what can Footlocker do to entice the best runners to run FL Nationals regardless of their participation in NXN?

The most obvious solution is to schedule FL regional meets on weekend(s) that do not conflict with NXR meets or NXN.

Since NXN has always been held on the first Saturday in December and FL Nationals a week later, here is one alternative solution:

Hold all four FL regionals on the second Saturday in December; i.e., the week following NXN which has been the traditional FL Nationals date. Then, hold FL Nationals on the third Saturday in December.

Basketball and other winter sports don't grind to a halt for Christmas so cross country doesn't have to, either.

The primary concern here is logistical; i.e. would the four FL regional venues (McAlpine Park/South, Van Courtland Park/NE, UW-Parkside/MW, Mt SAC/West) be available for rental on these new dates? Would the City of San Diego be willing to rent out Morley Field on the new date? Would Footlocker and New Balance personnel be available on the new dates?

Also, would hs runners and coaches be willing to extend their seasons this far into December? Some states like UT end their seasons in October -- Alaska state meet is in September -- however, FL West has always had good participation.

This solution ensures no conflicts so I suspect it has already been considered & rejected many times over, just have never seen anything "official" on the topic or seen it discussed.