Ahhh the great Allweiss days! When there were 80+ boat, races, TV and GMC as a sponsor. No competing associations and unity within the sport. <-----heavy sigh!! I miss those days.
Marty
me too!!! I think I have most of them recorded on VHS. Maybe someday.................
Coach...it seems you have it all figured out. Why dont you put your money where your typing fingers are and start an organization. Show us all how offshore needs to be run in order to be a viable product for sponsors.
__________________
Bruce Seroff
Simply Awesome/PROGRESSIVE Motorsports
OSS VEE LITE # 66 OPA # 466
There has been a lot said about JC over the years and it doesn't seem to change, some love him and other don't. Everyone on here, who are paid members, has a right to state their opinions, whether they are right or wrong. Opinions are just that, one persons opinion. I would love to see live coverage of the Key West Worlds and along with other Offshore Powerboat Races but it isn't happening yet but may some day. I can remember, a few years back watching Offshore Powerboat Racing on TV but that was a long time ago. I don't know why Offshore Powerboat Racing never gets TV coverage that everyone in North America could watch. With the economy, the way it is right now it would even be more difficult to get coverage of Offshore Powerboat Racing as it needs Sponsors Dollars, which isn't there. Another thing that the sport needs is Unification of the Offshore Org's "United We Race" It just isn't a saying it is a must and just one of the things needed. Once everyone is on the same page and not fragmented it will be a bigger show. I have always enjoyed the Offshore Races when more then one org was racing, it was a bigger show for the fans and more competitions for the racers. I look forward to 2010 to see where Offshore Powerboat Racing goes and positive dialogue or opinions is also important.
There has been a lot said about JC over the years and it doesn't seem to change, some love him and other don't. Everyone on here, who are paid members, has a right to state their opinions, whether they are right or wrong. Opinions are just that, one persons opinion. I would love to see live coverage of the Key West Worlds and along with other Offshore Powerboat Races but it isn't happening yet but may some day. I can remember, a few years back watching Offshore Powerboat Racing on TV but that was a long time ago. I don't know why Offshore Powerboat Racing never gets TV coverage that everyone in North America could watch. With the economy, the way it is right now it would even be more difficult to get coverage of Offshore Powerboat Racing as it needs Sponsors Dollars, which isn't there. Another thing that the sport needs is Unification of the Offshore Org's "United We Race" It just isn't a saying it is a must and just one of the things needed. Once everyone is on the same page and not fragmented it will be a bigger show. I have always enjoyed the Offshore Races when more then one org was racing, it was a bigger show for the fans and more competitions for the racers. I look forward to 2010 to see where Offshore Powerboat Racing goes and positive dialogue or opinions is also important.
UM..... I think T2X can settle this - he knows the politics involved, the cost of production - and more - What JC forgot - was the people like my production only added to the event - and made it possible for any TV productions to get good footage at a reasonable price - Some how - if you bite the hand that feeds you, eventually there is not the hand to bite anymore ! A true Live production would require at least 4 helicopters - and the Talent like T2X to make it interesting - its not all golly gee wow - you need to know what you are talking about - and make it interesting ! but also - instead of having 12 boats race - and 12 different classes - and all of them are in First place - that makes it very confusing ! - oh well - dont get me wound up - think T2X can put it all in a few words !
IMHO, the biggest issue that Offshore Racing will have in getting big time corporate sponsor dollars is not at all the TV issue....You can simply package up the TV with the sponsorships, as well as other activations, too....The issue is that many of these "other" sponsor activations are directly with the fans of the sport, which all starts with the spectators at the events....The biggest problem with turning Offshore Boat racing into a mainstream sport is the lack of being able to have crazy attendance numbers at the races...
Now, that being said, if you look at what they did at the GOld-Cup in Detroit over the last couple of years, it was really cool...The offshore boats ran as a support race for the Unlimited hydroplanes, and frankly, they put on a hell of a show...However, I completely understand that the racers and the "old school" fans don't have any interest in the shorter 2 1/2 mile race courses, and in many ways, I think the longer 10-15 mile courses are way cooler too....the problem is you can't be in control of a venue that large to sell admission, control the concessions, etc....This not only earns tremendous revenues, but also can make a strong case for sponsors as well when you have 30,000-50,000 people there on race day and 100,000+ over a 3 day weekend...If there was a way to do this, and stage each of the events within 50-75 miles of in the top 25 markets, you now have an easy sell....
I think that the product is DEFINITELY cool enough, and can draw fans...you just have nowhere to put them all at an event, and that is the 25' brick wall that you have to climb before you can move on with the rest of it...
IMHO, the biggest issue that Offshore Racing will have in getting big time corporate sponsor dollars is not at all the TV issue....You can simply package up the TV with the sponsorships, as well as other activations, too....If you have a cool sporting event that people will watch, getting the TV time is the easy part (not that getting TV is easy, but in this example, the networks have already shown that they will air it, so you have bigger hurdles to cross...)
The issue is that many of these "other" sponsor activations are directly with the fans of the sport, which all starts with the spectators at the events....The biggest problem with turning Offshore Boat racing into a mainstream sport is the lack of being able to have crazy attendance numbers at the races...
Now, that being said, if you look at what they did at the Gold-Cup in Detroit over the last couple of years, it was really cool...The offshore boats ran as a support race for the Unlimited hydroplanes, and frankly, they put on a hell of a show...However, I completely understand that the racers and the "old school" fans don't have any interest in the shorter 2 1/2 mile race courses, and in many ways, I think the longer 10-15 mile courses are way cooler too....the problem is you can't be in control of a venue that large to sell admission, control the concessions, etc....This not only earns tremendous revenues, but also can make a strong case for sponsors as well when you have 30,000-50,000 people there on race day and 100,000+ over a 3 day weekend...If there was a way to do this, and stage each of the events within 50-75 miles of in the top 25 markets, you now have an easy sell....
I think that the product is DEFINITELY cool enough, and can draw fans...you just have nowhere to put them all at an event, and that is the 25' brick wall that you have to climb before you can move on with the rest of it...
IMHO, the biggest issue that Offshore Racing will have in getting big time corporate sponsor dollars is not at all the TV issue....You can simply package up the TV with the sponsorships, as well as other activations, too....If you have a cool sporting event that people will watch, getting the TV time is the easy part (not that getting TV is easy, but in this example, the networks have already shown that they will air it, so you have bigger hurdles to cross...)
The issue is that many of these "other" sponsor activations are directly with the fans of the sport, which all starts with the spectators at the events....The biggest problem with turning Offshore Boat racing into a mainstream sport is the lack of being able to have crazy attendance numbers at the races...
Now, that being said, if you look at what they did at the Gold-Cup in Detroit over the last couple of years, it was really cool...The offshore boats ran as a support race for the Unlimited hydroplanes, and frankly, they put on a hell of a show...However, I completely understand that the racers and the "old school" fans don't have any interest in the shorter 2 1/2 mile race courses, and in many ways, I think the longer 10-15 mile courses are way cooler too....the problem is you can't be in control of a venue that large to sell admission, control the concessions, etc....This not only earns tremendous revenues, but also can make a strong case for sponsors as well when you have 30,000-50,000 people there on race day and 100,000+ over a 3 day weekend...If there was a way to do this, and stage each of the events within 50-75 miles of in the top 25 markets, you now have an easy sell....
I think that the product is DEFINITELY cool enough, and can draw fans...you just have nowhere to put them all at an event, and that is the 25' brick wall that you have to climb before you can move on with the rest of it...
To get big time corporate sponsors for Offshore Powerboat Racing, you have to have an avenue for them to sell their products to a large fan base but a large viewing audience is what is really needed and TV is that avenue. Many people don't even know what Offshore Powerboat Racing is, in Canada there are no Offshore Powerboat Races, so how would anyone know what it is all about. How do you teach people about Offshore Powerboat Racing, you have to televise it, so people can see a new and exciting sport to them on TV. Only then can you move forward from that point. Lets take a look at Super Bowl and what big time sponsors pay for some air time commercials. Why is this, because the Super Bowl is televised and watch in every home and the sponsors can sell their product to a massive audience. You mention that "Old School" racers don't have any interest in the shorter 2 1/2 mile course like at the Gold Cup Race. I think that is wrong, Offshore Powerboat Racing fans don't want the longer 10-15 mile race courses, fans only see occasional race action but with the shorter race course of 4-5 miles, you get to see the, whole race and continuous race action. Long course are boring and do nothing for the race fan. At the Gold Cup Races, the Offshore's put on a great show for the fans on a short course where everyone could see the entire race and they raced real close to the race fans, which was super cool and loud, that's why I buy tickets every year for that event. The St. Clair River Offshore Classic is run on a 4 mile course and a 7 mile course, although I would like to see the 7 mile course shortened to make this already great race even better, it is still the best for the fans and racers. That is what the race fans want, short courses that spectators can see the whole race and be treated to continuous race action, they don't want the long course but shorter courses, that is the future. On OSO I have read post where people are asking where is the best place to view the races at Key West, they all want to get as close as possible to the race boats and see the great racing on a short course. TV plays a major role in any sport to acquaint viewers with the sport and to help sponsors sell their products to the viewers. Not many knew what the Red Bull Air Racers where all about in Windsor and Detroit, until in 2008 when Detroit brought in the Red Bull Air Races on the Detroit River, which drew around 350,000 spectators to the water front and was televised. In 2009 the City of Windsor with sponsorship from the Ontario Government brought the Red Bull Races to Windsor and Detroit and it was the first time that they raced in Canada and they drew around 600-700,000 spectators, why because it was on TV and people saw what it was all about. If it wasn't televised I don't think there would have seen as many spectator's/tourist watching them race. TV is one of the main keys to building Offshore Powerboat Racing, along with unification of the sport, select the best race sites that spectators can see the entire race and where the boats can race as close to the spectators as possible and then it will grow. Unfortunately the economy is extremely bad and it is extremely hard to get sponsors under the present circumstances. I am not trashing any buddy or org. but just giving my opinion of where and how the sport needs to evolve for the future.
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