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Post by Steve Pettis on Mar 11, 2012 8:36:28 GMT -5
The fact are that this is a great event. I have been I have ref'd for free a few times. The question becomes why do we as a sport have such an issue getting sponsors for such a huge event in our sport. The answer because only armwrestlers care about armwrestling.
So as it has already been stated once you save next years event, what about 2014 are the amwrestlers going to have to come up with 7,500 or even more. I would be willing to donate to this event. However before I put my money out there. I want to see proof that the promoters of this event have been trying to save the event as well. What work as been done, who have they spoke to. That way the others that may go out and be looking for sponsor are not just chasing the same leads.
Once I see the right things being done then I will support saving this event.
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Post by Kenny Flynn on Mar 11, 2012 8:49:11 GMT -5
As I stated in a previous post, the Arnold is the best venue in North America, over 100,000 people attend the event every year. Believe me , the last thing I want to do is get on a public forum and voice my concern over the way the promoters are reaching out to armwrestlers to fund there tournament, aren't we doing that already?? Qualifying at there tournaments, and then paying some of the highest entry fees in the sport. I qualified last year by getting 2nd at UAL in Los Angeles and was stoked about competing , I live a little over an hour from the event, but as tournament time approached I decided that missing a days work, entry fees, and other expenses involved in competing weren't justifiable. What did he just say ?? He flew to LA, missed 3 days work and thought the Arnold was too expensive to attend. Why??? Have you noticed the appeal that ARMWARS, Zloty and UAL have had on the sport and then looked at the Arnold roster and wondered why these same people aren't competing?? And SOMEBODY please explain to me why Team USA will not be on display at this event??? Am I an A$$hole for asking IMHO relevant questions?? Not my intent at all. Ryan, if paying dues insures employment, then please explain to me how hundreds of thousands of dues paying members lost there jobs over the last 4 years? ?
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Post by Ryan Espey on Mar 11, 2012 9:32:10 GMT -5
I can't explain that Kenny... other than America's economic state which could also be a contributing factor to the lack of sponsorship money.
I said it more in jest than anything...
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Post by Leonard Harkless on Mar 11, 2012 16:30:00 GMT -5
The UAL was not a qualifying event for the Arnold. Entry fees are not $100. A "free" competitor polo to each entry. Cash of $1,400 per class, awards 1st to 4th place, only the tip of the iceberg. The costs are a little more than $15,000 each year. For the last 9 years 80% of the expense has been paid by Denise or myself.
LH
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Post by Alan Berget on Mar 11, 2012 18:28:28 GMT -5
Hey Todd tell guys like solowada spine devio and Geoff hale and the list goes on, that nobody cares about them as an armwrestler. To be successful as a sport we need to have classes for all sizes of men and women. Of course to be determined by the amount of entries that the classes expect to get. I'm sure vazgen was offended also by your post if he read it
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Post by Vazgen Soghoyan on Mar 11, 2012 22:26:37 GMT -5
The UAL was not a qualifying event for the Arnold. Entry fees are not $100. A "free" competitor polo to each entry. Cash of $1,400 per class, awards 1st to 4th place, only the tip of the iceberg. The costs are a little more than $15,000 each year. For the last 9 years 80% of the expense has been paid by Denise or myself. LH Here you go, Mr. Steve Pettis. You were asking for some proof that promoters are doing something to save Arnold. Here are couple of them. In addition, Denise and Leonard had deficit of $ 6000 last year and $ 4500 this year paid by themselves. I don't think that their finances are unlimited, and they have so many events to do in future... . If we lose Arnold, we can never get back to there and more events will follow. And what will happen with American Armwrestling after that? Poor future... Also I don't see "big name" or " superstar" armwrestlers in this topic. Why, because it's time to help Arnold? They were winning in Arnold, they were happy with that, they were making career there... . Instead of ostrich behaviour they could post " I support Arnold" . Yeah, they forget quickly.... . I knew that. However, Leonard, please do that electronic payment system faster, whoever wants they can make donations. Thank You.
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Post by Kenny Flynn on Mar 11, 2012 22:32:52 GMT -5
Did anyone hear the anouncement at the Los Angeles, Ual about it being the last Arnold qualifier besides me ?? Leonard hasn't your participation been declining over the past few years ? What about considering different venues for qualification, or possibly an open event?? The sport is evolving and we might ALL need to change to expedite the growth!! What about finding a sponsor for each weight class marketing its product or name??? Heck, 1,400 dollars for world wide exposure should have appeal to even small businesses. I'm not protesting you, I'm simply encouraging you to CHANGE with the times . PEACE !!!!!
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Post by Leonard Harkless on Mar 12, 2012 0:01:14 GMT -5
Did anyone hear the anouncement at the Los Angeles, Ual about it being the last Arnold qualifier besides me ?? Leonard hasn't your participation been declining over the past few years ? What about considering different venues for qualification, or possibly an open event?? The sport is evolving and we might ALL need to change to expedite the growth!! What about finding a sponsor for each weight class marketing its product or name??? Heck, 1,400 dollars for world wide exposure should have appeal to even small businesses. I'm not protesting you, I'm simply encouraging you to CHANGE with the times . PEACE !!!!! No problem Kenny, the number of armwrestlers is not the problem. That has been pretty consistent actually. As for a change in format.....considering that we have a total of 2.25 hours including awards, not really possible. For the past 9 years we have handed out information and make calls to dozens of companies to get sponsorship.
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Post by David Owens on Mar 12, 2012 12:06:22 GMT -5
Maybe it's just not worth keeping the venue then. If you got 10000 in sponsor money and that is still not enough to run the few classes that you run maybe you should think about setting up another venue with decent payouts and not so many restrictions and have a qualifier in each region for that event instead of the arnold....the Arnold classics has been around what leaps and bound has if made for the sport that it deserves all of us coming out of pocket to keep it alive....especially when the west coast has no qualifier ..oops I mean has a qualifier that no one will attend....when drenk was talking about dropping 25000 of his own money on arm wrestling at a surfing competetion everyone thought he was crazy but it's cool for us to flip the bill to be able to have at wrestling at the Arnold? What am I missing here?
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Post by Josh Handeland on Mar 12, 2012 22:06:21 GMT -5
Dave, have you ever been to the Arnold??? It's freaking amazing. I would pull there even if there were no payout, although I'm sure the competition level/number of top notch pullers would drop without the cash prizes...
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Post by David Owens on Mar 12, 2012 22:19:54 GMT -5
No josh I've never been maybe you can explain it too me. Cuz what I am seeing is not much different from what I see every year at other fitness events. Good competetion yes but that would come with any event with good payouts and that had to be qualified for
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Post by Josh Handeland on Mar 12, 2012 23:08:30 GMT -5
It's the venue that's so awesome... biggest sports expo in the nation. 175,000 attendees. I guess I haven't pulled at any other sorts expo, besides Kentucky Muscle (Arnold's is 1000x bigger), but I think it's awesome. Plus the top level armwrestlers being there, I wouldn't ever miss it. That being said, I think it's stupid that Unified's isn't a qualified, but that's for a different thread...
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Post by Bill Collins on Mar 13, 2012 1:06:51 GMT -5
Congrats on the sponsor!
This is an easy fix…most already said it’s one of the most prestigious events to attend, so if you gave away ass kicking awards (no plaques) you’ll still get a turn out….most smart business people don’t spend more than they can absorb…you structure your budget around the sponsorship…you have 10k to spend, use it wisely. I’d buy two more jackets (2nd & 3rd place) from the guy that donates the championship jacket and give them away, in addition to less cash…You’ll still get the turn out and when the prize money is spent they still have a nice jacket…the pullers are our customers and to set up a donation account in addition to all the events they support?
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Post by Vazgen Soghoyan on Mar 13, 2012 18:55:47 GMT -5
Paypal system has been already posted on usarmwrestling.com to support the fundrising for Arnold Classic. This option is the best way to donate money for outside US. I've sent my check before I saw that, but that's fine, I'll use it for my next donations. Easier and faster. Thank you.
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Post by David Owens on Mar 13, 2012 22:25:53 GMT -5
Congrats on the sponsor! This is an easy fix…most already said it’s one of the most prestigious events to attend, so if you gave away ass kicking awards (no plaques) you’ll still get a turn out….most smart business people don’t spend more than they can absorb…you structure your budget around the sponsorship…you have 10k to spend, use it wisely. I’d buy two more jackets (2nd & 3rd place) from the guy that donates the championship jacket and give them away, in addition to less cash…You’ll still get the turn out and when the prize money is spent they still have a nice jacket…the pullers are our customers and to set up a donation account in addition to all the events they support? listen to the man, people attend the arnolds have rooms full of trophys, I dont care if never get another damn trophy but an arnold jacket is something you can keep and use for a long time, oh ya and have a qualifier on the west coast that is not a week apart from the unified nationals -----perhaps the UNIFIED NATIONALS you want the best WHY IS THIS NOT A QUALIFIER!!!
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