How much do you spend vs. make in sport?

[Anthony Edens]

I was just curious to see how much the average armwrestler spends on the sport (travel, medical bills, entry fees) vs. makes (prize money, sponsorship).

I only attended 4 tournaments last year (Kentucky State, Tennessee State, Buckhorn, and Kentucky Muscle) All 4 were about 2 1/2 hour drives, but I carpooled. I only went right handed. Food.

I probably spent $150 and won a few pieces of harware. Having my picture in the local paper as the Amateur Tennessee State Champion.....priceless!

[Pete & Tim]

The only people in the sport of armwrestling that make ANY money are the Promoters and Arm TV.

NO armwrestlers win anything close to what they spend getting there.

[Anthony Edens]

Feb 27, 2009 10:26:36 GMT -5 Pete & Tim said:

The only people in the sport of armwrestling that make ANY money are the Promoters and Arm TV.

NO armwrestlers win anything close to what they spend getting there.

I disagree, I bet there are at least a dozen U.S. armwestlers who turn a profit. Leonard gives aways some pretty good money at his tournaments.

[Anthony Snook]

Too much and not enough. I'm a penny pinching SOB and it would tear me up inside(i'm not J/K either) knowing the actual amount a year that I spend to compete. I'm better off not knowing certain things, this is one of them

Unless someone is ONLY going to cash prize tournaments that are in their backyard(no need for hotel) and wins them ALL, then most people will be in the hole. Unless that have some GENEROUS sponsors

[David Owens]

I agree for the most part my dad only goes to events with cash payouts but there are a few like Alan Ficsher ,and John Brezink who make money ,if you could pull and place in multiple weight classes you would make a decent profit but very few can do that my dad will pull 3 classes at the smaller events because he pretty much knows whos gonna be there and who he can beat

[Coley Jones]

Yeah, all of us basically lose money except for the top of the top. I've heard a quote (I'm sure others will recognize it) somewhere saying John B pulls in around $15,000 per year on average. After gas and entry fees, I'd guess around $50-100 per tourney for me. And I love it.

[chrislydman]

Back when I went to 15 or so tourneys a yr, I spent about 2 grand on travel...But then again, gas was a nickle, and burgers a dime....

[chrislydman]

I'll venture a guess, but if you didn't make this a 'per annum' thing, everyone, including John and Allen, have spent way more on the sport than they have made, in total. Pete can chime in, but I think promoters suffer the most. I put on a couple of tourneys in Ha'waii and in Guam, and the headaches are numerous. Tim has it down, and I applaud him. His post spelled out a lot of how 'it's' done , for the avg puller.....Again, though, the biggest tip of my hat, anyway, goes to folks like Karen and Frank, Leonard, Denise, Pete, Bill Collins, Bob Brown, Neil( Major props to Neil!!!), Mary, Greg Helm, etc...The list can go on forever......These folks are the ones that give us an opportunity to do what we do best...Pull.

[Joe Hunt]

I choose tournaments based on where my ANGIE wants to take a 3 or 4 day vacation to and this helps me not to think i am throwing my money away. We always drive and usually 500-700 per event but like i said this is for 2 of us 3 or 4 days in hotel all expences and of course she has to buy every freaking body a t-shirt...lol

Last year we went to Battle of Giants.,,,Battle at Beach,,,,,Baddest arm on Bayou I and II which were all within driving diastance and spent about 1500 but enjoyed every penny of it..

[chrislydman]

"but enjoyed every penny of it"

[Pete & Tim]

I'll chime in. If I threw 4 events a year (one every three months) I would average about $12,000.00. That's an IF. Is it possible? Yes, because of where I'm located. The only problem is, like Chris said, the headaches involved.

And yes, guys like John Brzenk can make more than they spend, but factor in how long they have been doing it and how much they HAVE spent over the years, the numbers aren't even close. I'll bet ya John himself has spent more than he's won throughout his career.

Matter a fact, I'll ask him this weekend at the EVENT OF THE YEAR!!!

Where if he wins, he will receive $2000.00!!! With only having spent travel and food expenses as this money is being put up for him and Tim to win.

[Mike Moeller]

Brzenk works for the airlines so I am sure that may help with travel expenses. I know if I could fly all over for close to nothin I would be at alot more events.

[Josh Handeland]

I figured out a couple weeks ago that I have spent around $1,120 on armwrestling in the last 10 months. I have won no money, only plaques, trophies, and medals. And it's so worth it. Of course this is my first year so I bought a table and made a cheap one so that adds to the expenses. I say $900 a year on armwrestling seems like an average amount for me to spend, that's a lot of money but it's worth it.

This price included gas fee to tournaments and practice, food, hotel, entry fee, and that's about it. I don't think I counted t-shirts that I bought.

[John Wilson]

There might be a few people who could put their career into an Excel spreadsheet and show a profit, but I really doubt it. I think even those guys making money would only show a positive in a few of the total years they pulled. Just my opinion.

Jeremy Plaster and I spent two years hitting about 20-something odd tournaments a year. We flew to many of them and drove to the ones we could. I cringe to tell you what we spent. Each.

BUT, compare what it costs to pull versus running a race car. You can't spend enough on armwrestling to equal what your buddy will spend running a drag car on the weekends.

[chrislydman]

Thank you Pete I'd give up 'one of the boys' to be there........One day, my friend!