A reason why we "want to keep track to ourselves".

[einnod23]

I came up with this theory about why many folk are resistant to growth and change in this sport. We saw how in the course of 20 years, professional sports has grown exponentially. In that process, supply and demand kicks in and because of that, prices go up. Professional sports arenas have basically shut out "average joe" from its games with their astronomical prices. I have read many replies on a few threads about the Oly's being "outta reach". Many who want to "keep it a niche sport for us" argue that they can still go to and afford a Penn Relay, Reebok, Nats or Oly Trials.

Many of us are afraid that if track in the United States grows in a way like NBA, NFL, etc, it will "get away from us", leaving track meets, Nats, OT's and NCAA's only for the stars and unaffordable for the hardcores, the very ones who were there during the times when mainstream media didn't want to bother!

But consider this: While NBA, NFL and MLB arenas and ballparks are now a hefty penny to attend, one thing is clear....all of their games can be seen on TV, with networks paying huge fees to keep those sports afloat. And we are still complaing about coverage.

There are consequences to keeping this sport the way it is!

[Marlow]

Re: A reason why we "want to keep track to ourselves&qu

Many of us are afraid that if track in the United States grows in a way like NBA, NFL, etc, it will "get away from us"

I don't think there's too many of us losing sleep over that possibility! :wink:

[gh]

Interesting theory, but certainly one I've never heard any fan/athlete/adminstrator/journalist express.

[Speedfirst]

I have stated this before and I'll state it again, there is too much (events) going on in track & field to promote and market it to new fans. The attention span of this generation of fans won't allow for it.

Imagine going to a basketball and all the elements of All Star weekend were going on all at once, or even watching a football game and they were kicking field goals, punting, kicking off, all at once.

[tandfman]

I have stated this before and I'll state it again, there is too much (events) going on in track & field to promote and market it to new fans. The attention span of this generation of fans won't allow for it.

I would have thought exactly the opposite. A short attention is perfect for an event where more than one thing is happening at the same time. You get bored watching a race, you shift your attention to a jump or throw. This is the generation that has learned how to multi-task--to watch tv, listen to music, do stuff on a computer, and deal with one's BlackBerry or iPhone all at the same time.

I can't imagine that this generation would have any trouble at all watching a track & field meet.

[Daisy]

I can't imagine that this generation would have any trouble at all watching a track & field meet.

I was thinking the same thing. And if there happens to be a lull in the action they can txt the results to their friends. OK, may that is a little too hopeful.

[Speedfirst]

I can't imagine that this generation would have any trouble at all watching a track & field meet.

I was thinking the same thing. And if there happens to be a lull in the action they can txt the results to their friends. OK, may that is a little too hopeful.

No No...this is the microwave generation, instant gratification. It's not a matter of a lull in the action, again too much going on at once. Even the die hard fans have issues at times with what should or shouldn't be televised and that does transfer over to a live track meet.

I don't know if the old saying is true here "variety is the spice of life"

[Wang Lung]

Baseball hasn't changed much. But football and basketball have made fundamental rule changes to chase the casual fan. I don't think football would be as popular as it is if we still had 10-7 scores we had in the 60's.

[odelltrclan]

I have stated this before and I'll state it again, there is too much (events) going on in track & field to promote and market it to new fans. The attention span of this generation of fans won't allow for it.

I would have thought exactly the opposite. A short attention is perfect for an event where more than one thing is happening at the same time. You get bored watching a race, you shift your attention to a jump or throw. This is the generation that has learned how to multi-task--to watch tv, listen to music, do stuff on a computer, and deal with one's BlackBerry or iPhone all at the same time.

I can't imagine that this generation would have any trouble at all watching a track & field meet.

One of the problems that had developed is the lack of coverage for field events. We are usually left with Dwight giving a couple of highlights that happened in a few events. No one can feel the drama of a live competition.

I remember the 1979 World Cup that showed almost every jump between Rolf Beilshmidt (sp?) and Franklin Jacobs and that was some exciting drama to watch.

I remember the indoor meets that had the pole vault competitions between Billy Olson and Sergey Bubka early in Bubka's career. That was some good stuff. We never get to see anything like that, even in WC or Olympics.

Oh how I would love to see some of that again on TV instead of some of the lame coverage we now get!

[Daisy]

No No...this is the microwave generation, instant gratification. It's not a matter of a lull in the action, again too much going on at once.

I'm sorry but I'm having an hard time seeing your point. Isn't T&F all about too much instant gratification? I mean one race after another. One throw or jump after the other? It's almost as if your point is that making it to the end of the meet is their only gratification, and that takes too long.

[LopenUupunut]

T&F isn't an easy sport to follow. We all (US members most of all) lament how bad a job our TV announcers/commentators are doing but they're at least somewhat competent - a huge majority of people watching would do an even shakier job. It's not easy to stay on top of everything happening... And the ability to follow five events at once with a third eye on the startlist, all the while keeping track of what marks people already have and relying on past expertise to evaluate them, and even then needing a brain to put everything you see together, is something your average football (any type) or baseball fan need not develop even any part of.

[Speedfirst]

No No...this is the microwave generation, instant gratification. It's not a matter of a lull in the action, again too much going on at once.

I'm sorry but I'm having an hard time seeing your point. Isn't T&F all about too much instant gratification? I mean one race after another. One throw or jump after the other? It's almost as if your point is that making it to the end of the meet is their only gratification, and that takes too long.

Here is what I'm stating very simply, too much going on at one time. That isn't instant gratification, that isn't microwave and because there is so much going on is partly why everything and even some of the events you desire aren't covered by television. Now as a result of this, you have the grumbling even amongst the die hard track & field fans about the events I like to watch aren't being covered. Case in point the comment about field events and Dwight Stone. So just image the casual fan trying to follow this and now take it one step further, a live track & field meet.

You have distance races going on, field events going on, I want my instant gratification, I don't wanna have to wait until a steeplechase has been completed. You see a track meet is almost like coming to see a multitude of sports, all at once.

[Daisy]

You have distance races going on, field events going on, I want my instant gratification, I don't wanna have to wait until a steeplechase has been completed.

Ah, I hadn't even considered they could not even wait until the end of a race. Or have to wait for a series of jumps to be completed. Personally, I don't see this type of instant gratification being the problem for track and field. How could seasons in other sports even be possible if this was the case?

I can see it kicking in with regard to learning the complexities of the sport. Someone mentioned this above. Obviously one needs to "know" the sport to enjoy it, so I agree they are probably not patient enough to get to know it.

[SQUACKEE]

How do a billion people sit for 4 hours waiting for the result of the Super Bowl?

[einnod23]

How do a billion people sit for 4 hours waiting for the result of the Super Bowl?

BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!!!!!!!!!!!