Bubba PV wrote:I think pole vaulting in some form or fashion will always be around, even if the sport dies. There is more passion in this one event than in the entire sport. It's not like we're getting any money from it so why wouldn't we continue do it? We pay our own way anyway. Granted we would lose the masses of new kids becoming interested, but we would survive. I'm always asked why I do this and my response puts it perspective, "some people golf, some people surf; I pole vault". Golfing and surfing don't need a big organization to survive for the normal participant and neither do we.
As a business guy I always look at my best and worst case, and then figure out how to work toward my best case, but also determine what is the minimum I would accept. If us going it alone is our worse case, I’m cool with that. It’s far from optimal but it could be done. Look how many events we already have that feature no other events? Nobody thought the X Games had a chance either. Food for thought. Bubba
I'm totally with you on that one Bubba!
It's a lot more difficult going it alone but it is possible. It will take longer to set up our own programs and we'll have to do everything ourselves but that won't make it impossible. And it's not like the sport is completely unmarketable, people are just don't cover cover it properly. Somebody - somewhere - is going to find a way to make money out of it by "re-popularizing" it.
Until that happens we need to stay completely self-sustainable. Hang in there! One of the negatives I see here in Australia is an over-reliance on government and sponsor funding. While neither of those is a bad thing (especially when you have them), programs will capitulate left and right if funding goes down. You're basically tied to a ball and chain you've really got no control over. If you stay self-sustainable, you not only give yourself a chance to keep going, but you'll also attract more funds by demonstrating to people that you are a responsible business and potentially profitable! One of my beliefs is that regardless of how bad things are, somebody - somewhere - doing something - is going to make a ton of money. The best thing to do is have that person see that your goose is laying golden eggs and they'll build you a huge farm. But if you can even build a farm yourself, then more power to you!
Survive. Adapt. Thrive.
Guys, never underestimate the power of private enterprise!
-Andrew
P.S. When I made that comment about Australia, I wasn't speaking about pole vault in particular. I'm talking about sporting and interest clubs in general - still relevant.