WTC buys 2 new Cal. races, fees go up >100% (Page 2)

One can look at this from three angles.

From the non military AG perspective, you're basically making a forced donation of $200, but at least it is tax deductible.

If you are active military, you have the option to race at a discount, and compete for a WC slot.  There is no other WTC race that offers a military discount, so this is something totally new.  Doing a WTC 70.3 for $200 is a pretty good deal.

From the WTC perspective, assuming that all of the $200 goes towards charity, then this new pricing structure is less profitable than their normal 70.3 business model.  They still only earn $300 for each general entry, and lose out on anywhere from $25-100 for each military entry.  So clearly this is not some type of "money grab" initiative.  

Lastly, while the base rates for Super Frog and Santa Clara have gone up significantly from their original price before being absorbed by the WTC, they are perfectly in line with all the other WTC 70.3s.  In fact, their base rates are still cheaper than my local 70.3...which is Honu, at $320.

One can look at this from three angles.

From the non military AG perspective, you're basically making a forced donation of $200, but at least it is tax deductible.

If you are active military, you have the option to race at a discount, and compete for a WC slot.  There is no other WTC race that offers a military discount, so this is something totally new.  Doing a WTC 70.3 for $200 is a pretty good deal.

From the WTC perspective, assuming that all of the $200 goes towards charity, then this new pricing structure is less profitable than their normal 70.3 business model.  They still only earn $300 for each general entry, and lose out on anywhere from $25-100 for each military entry.  So clearly this is not some type of "money grab" initiative.  

Lastly, while the base rates for Super Frog and Santa Clara have gone up significantly from their original price before being absorbed by the WTC, they are perfectly in line with all the other WTC 70.3s.  In fact, their base rates are still cheaper than my local 70.3...which is Honu, at $320.

But no other race iis a "foundation only" entry for AG.  I *believe* that military had Kona slots in superfrog 2014....  I believe, not sure.  If so, that's no different.  As for the profitability, the money goes to the  IM foundation, and recent articles say that might be going to WTC's bottom line instead.   And absent a tiered entry based on dates, the superfrog fees are WAY above std 70.3 rates 

And then there's the initial 500 fee with no mention of charity, going offline, then coming back up.   Maybe just a mistake?  who knows.   But I think the foundation only for AGers is strange.  Under your theory, it makes it less attractive (IMO, since i think the huge majority would prefer straight up AG entry) to the entrant, and less profitable to WTC?  That pass the smell test?