I'm from the dark ages I guess, but TV should be paying for the product, you shouldn't have to pay to have TV there, it's their ratings. It's funny how when their is a tragedy in boat racing, TV is all over the place. None of it makes sense to me, but what the hell do I know. ( I'm pretty sure the NY Yankees don't PAY to be on TV). ( I'm not comparing the Yanks to boat racing, just trying to make a point)
I'm from the dark ages I guess, but TV should be paying for the product, you shouldn't have to pay to have TV there, it's their ratings. It's funny how when their is a tragedy in boat racing, TV is all over the place. None of it makes sense to me, but what the hell do I know. ( I'm pretty sure the NY Yankees don't PAY to be on TV). ( I'm not comparing the Yanks to boat racing, just trying to make a point)
The Race producers think they should be paid - but that is not the way it is - first there are too many classes - 14 I think in KW - if not more- everyone wins - how to SPIN that on TV - very confusing - 2nd - lets call it Inshore racing or BAY racing - as todays racing has little to do with REAL OFFSHORE - Racing - where you would race maybe 100 miles or more - maybe ONE LAP - not 28 laps - and be out of sight of land for a while - and only have your compass and instinct to rely on !
Think of the Bahamas 500 or the Hennessy Grand Prix - where you would run 60 miles - to Fire Island - and only have your compass - that was offshore - open water - not protected bays -
I suspect soon - Key West will be run just in the harbor - and never venture out into the gulf -
Back in the mid to late 90's I was still in my late teens but still remember making time during the day to watch the offshore racing. Ahh the good ol days!
I kept up with P1 this summer by watching americanpowerboat.tv
I know cleveland ,ohio doesn't get anyone excited but Lake Erie had a couple offshore races up here a few years back and with the way the lake can kick up, you definetly get offshore racing. A couple miles behind the break wall in protected water and then anything goes out on the shallow lake which can kick up in a hurry. fan friendly also. Maybe since we voted a casino here we can finally get some tourism too. If Detriot can draw that many for air races I'm sure a new casino operator would love to promote offshhore racing .... to promote there interests.
I know this is a far fetched idea and probably serves only my interest but hey at least i can still dream right. which is what all of us are doing with hoping one day offshore racing gets on tv again. Especially for a industry that is slowly disappearing
The offshore racing I've seen on TV in my lifetime has been a waste of time mostly - unless you're one of the drivers who gets interviewed - always seems to be interviews of drivers or pitiful commentary (unknowledgable) - not enough good footage of the action on the water, which is what would draw people to it on TV - no one knows any of the drivers - it's not like people are going to have thier favorites like nascar or?? Of course that footage is cheaper to get than the action footage of course.
Every single time I have watched any, I find myself saying "shut the H*LL up, and show the D*** action - and get some good sound, and....
It all boils down to lack of $$. And to think that more people love all the action watching Golf..????
Just my frustrated .02
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"Racing IS life, anything that happens before or after is just waiting" -- Steve Mcqueen
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.
I agree with you that the shorter race courses are much better thatn the longer courses...I was simply saying that based on what I have been told by racers (as a casual fan) is that "real offshore racing" is on the longer race courses....While I think that the longer courses are cool, I was simply stating that IMHO, that the shorter courses would be the way to get the ball rolling for growing the fan base of the sport...
Using the Super Bowl in an example about how to grow boat racing is a little grandiose and skewed, isn't it? I would say that a more current and credible example would be these Extreme Sports...They started in the last several years with grassroots events, and built their fan base and then moved on to TV (coincidentally, THEY used to pay for TV when they got started, too...)
It has to start with the fans and getting them to the events...then you can build from there...
I'm from the dark ages I guess, but TV should be paying for the product, you shouldn't have to pay to have TV there, it's their ratings. It's funny how when their is a tragedy in boat racing, TV is all over the place. None of it makes sense to me, but what the hell do I know. ( I'm pretty sure the NY Yankees don't PAY to be on TV). ( I'm not comparing the Yanks to boat racing, just trying to make a point)
Networks won't pay for events that don't have enough of a demand and viewer following for their sales staff to sell...Thus, this can also work to the advantage of the sport in question, as they would now have the ability to package their TV with their sponsorships and create a very strong value proposition for their sponsors if they are unique enough and can reach a very targeted & coveted audience.
Believe it or not, some of the biggest NCAA Bowl Championship Games are still time-buys...This is because of the above stated model...They package a lot of on-field, off-field, and in-game promotion...The networks would not have any jurisdiction of any on-field, on-uniform, or off-TV promotion that theses games can offer which is why they do this...
I agree with you that the shorter race courses are much better thatn the longer courses...I was simply saying that based on what I have been told by racers (as a casual fan) is that "real offshore racing" is on the longer race courses....While I think that the longer courses are cool, I was simply stating that IMHO, that the shorter courses would be the way to get the ball rolling for growing the fan base of the sport...
Using the Super Bowl in an example about how to grow boat racing is a little grandiose and skewed, isn't it? I would say that a more current and credible example would be these Extreme Sports...They started in the last several years with grassroots events, and built their fan base and then moved on to TV (coincidentally, THEY used to pay for TV when they got started, too...)
It has to start with the fans and getting them to the events...then you can build from there...
Yes, I have to agree that "Real Offshore Racing" took place on the longer race course's and on the ocean but it only served the needs of the racers, as no one else could see them flying through the air unless it was televised from a helicopter. As for my grandiose statement about the the Super Bowl, It may have been over the top but the point is, watch college football, NFL, NBL and NBA, their show is on the air and they have the sponsors to support it. Why them and not Offshore Powerboat Racing, the action is front and center so that everyone can see it and not miss the action. They all draw huge crowds to their games and and that is what sponsors want. Spectators and fans pay higher prices for tickets just to be closer to the action which they are watching and the promoters know that and capitalize on it and then there are the tickets in the noise bleed sections that are still usually filled because fans can still see all the action in front of them. In Offshore Powerboat Racing we have to have the fans together at one spot and it is impossible to do this with longer race courses and there for the shorter course's are a must and at sites where the race boats can also race close to the spectators, eg. "The Detroit River", "The St. Clair River". Lakes and oceans are not the idle spots to hold Offshore Powerboat Races if you want to draw huge crowds of spectators. Offshore can learn from other promoters of other sports as to why they are so successful, they hold their events right in front of the spectators and everyone knows what is going on at all times and they are televised live in most cases and not months later like offshore. I have always believed that the more boats racing together the more interesting the race will be for the spectators and the fans. If it meant only holding say 5 Offshore Powerboat Races at the best race sites that exist or get new one's, Offshore racing would be going in the right direction towards building for the future. Most of us but not all, would love to see SBI/APBA, OSS and OPA forming one large Offshore Powerboat Racing Association which would race at the best race sites they select. Bring the big show to the fans, where everyone can learn what it is all about and where they can all see the awesome show that Offshore Powerboat Racing is capable of put on for the fans and they will come. We can learn from others and there are a lot of very smart people and successful business people in Offshore Powerboat Racing. I wish I was going to Key West Offshore Worlds where the best of the best will be battling it out on a race course where spectators can see the whole race course and watch in awe as the race boats fly by only feet away from the spectators on shore and on the spectators fleet. That's exactly what I'm talking about and can you imagine if most of the races were something like that and televised live.
I think that the product is DEFINITELY cool enough, ......
No.....it isn't. It's redundant, confusing, uncompetitive, and has very few identifiable stars or personalities. It is no longer even a shadow of its former self....... it is basically an excuse for a bunch of guys to party together...and while I can understand that anyone can spend his money anyway he chooses....that doesn't mean anybody else wants to watch it.
The point about "Offshore" racing is correct. If you are going to call it offshore...then by God race offshore. If you want circle racing you are much better off tuning in to Formula One tunnel boats or Unlimited Hydroplanes which were designed for the closed course format, have better, more skilled and talented drivers , and understand that an extra guy (Throttleman) making split second decisions in a tight turn is a definite disadvantage. The whole throttleman concept was created to allow the driver to navigate and keep both hands on the wheel while a second guy could concentrate solely on reading the waves and coordinating the engine/drivetrain to the frequent airborne conditions in big seas....... in calm water the throttleman is little more than an albatross..... unless the driver is not experienced enough to handle the boat at speed ( a common occurence). The other problem with a throttleman is it creates a second guy to rescue, get injured or bury when the worst case scenarios happen.....and, sadly, they do.
Let's cross our fingers Key West 2009 comes off safe and sound...
Then you'll get your answer, soon enough!
Coach
Whatever you or anyone else has on the "drawing board", remember 3 things.
1. In racing less is more........ get rid of the idiotic, self serving, complex, splinter groups, and classes.
2. JC has lost his APBA license (yet another in a decades long string of broken promises by OPT-SBR-SBI). If ever there was a time to unify under the APBA/UIM banner (Which I have always advocated)....now is the time.
3. Don't build on today's tired paradigm.....Build on something that requires, skill, develops personalities, forces the racers to compete with each other...and ignores the wannabes, and wallet racers (who are frequently the same guys).
Oh...and one more thing.....if it ain't televised....it's going nowhere.
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