And there we go...WTC breaks into the Olympic Distance scene (Page 5)

More simple economics: take away your competitors ability to compete and you own the market. Prices become strictly a function of your ability and willingness to meet demand. 

Why improve my product or lower prices if I can get local govt. to ensure that I have no competition?

What's to stop you from getting it before? Or from getting a tat of any corporate logo for tha matter?

I don't think anyone said that "we" want to exclude anyone. That's just life. As the sport grows in popularity, exemplified by the growth of WTC, it is going to increase in price at the highest level.

What normally happens is that smaller, cheaper races pop up to fill the void. I just don't see the WTC being able to block that from happening. To me, it's a little alarmist to think the WTC is going to run off all the smaller races.

Again...I'm not saying that it's right to do this.  All I'm saying is none of this is possible unless enough people are willing to pay the WTC prices. 

If you want to assign blame, don't look to the WTC.  Point your fingers at the sponsors, pros, local government, and the AG racers who support these WTC races.

Our country is founded on capitilism.  To assume that large companies are going to play nice and not chase after larger profits is un-American. 

Really?  Talk to the folks in Muncie. 

Talk to the folks here at the Flatlands Multi-sport series who have now lost the Big Creek Triathlon, which has been a midwest regional qualifier for USAT Nationals for the last two years.  It races the second weekend in August - until now.  BTW - last year was their 30th year in operation.  They layed the groundwork in this state for triathlon growth. 

Capitalism envisions competition in the marketplace.  In the current model (see Muncie, IN) the county has precluded competition by selling the rights to WTC in an in kind exchange.  That is not Capitalism, it is a government imposed monopoly. 

Interesting discussion.  I think I'm agnostic to the whole issue.

How many instances has WTC been successful at achieving the black-out dates?  Once?  The only time I've heard of it is the Muncie thing.  Blame that on the city council or sports board for agreeing to that stipulation.  They didn't have to agree to that.

Will they raise prices?  Probably.  Will that exclude some from racing?  Perhaps, but let's face it, triathlon isn't a cheap sport to begin with.

Will WTC's move into short course ring the death knell for small races elsewhere?  I highly doubt it.  There are a lot of companies that put on races, all over the place.

It's capitalism.  Expand and stretch as much as you can before the market dictates otherwise. 

Bottom line - WTC is not the only company producing races.  Take for example Rev3's announcement today of a new venue.  That's good. 

Will more people come to triathlon because of WTC's involvement.  Maybe.  That could be good or bad depending upon your perspective. 

Ahh...good point.

But again...don't blame the WTC...write a letter to your local congressman/woman.

I'd like to know the rational behind the goverment agreeing to these blackouts.  There must be something in it for them...and I would like to think that would benefit the city.

Edited by tri808 2010-10-06 2:25 PM

In all seriousness, we have 2 good tri series (LA and Lake Perris) in this area.  Both add up to 6 Olys, and are very well run.  I would have to see WTC jump in here because I'd hate to either see them go, or other management take it over. 

Why are those races gone?

Girl!! You are freakin me the hell out with that spider!!

I'm a little confused.  From what I understand, the WTC's deal with Muncie was that no other races could use the swim location for 30 days before and 30 days after. Races can still be held.

Why is the Big Creek location affected, even if the Hy Vee Tri gets some sort of blackout? It's not held at Big Creek nor is it in the same locale as Hy Vee.

As an aside, I fished and swam in Big Creek as a kid. Ah, the good 'ol days! At least in the summer...

So I realized I just posted asking what this series was all about but now after reading through about half of these posts I am inclined to say SUAR (Shut Up And Race!!) Who cares about fees and all that nonsense....have you not already noticed that this sport isnt cheap? dont like the fee...dont reace...dont like the name...dont race....dont like the series....dont race...all im saying is everyone has a choice to pick what races come about...if you dont like that you "backyard" race gets swallowed by the corportate name...become a race director or contact one and make your own race...otherwise Shut up and race already! Thats my angry 2 cents haha.

Um, there is a big difference between a local Oly, priced at $75ish, and a WTC Oly, priced at $200+. Just because the sport "isn't cheap" doesn't mean I want to spend any more money than I need to.

I understand but this is just a series of races..there is always going to other races that will stayin the price range thats "affordable." Thats all i was trying to say.....

Congrats on the baby! Pretty soon it looks like!

I think that's the whole point of this thread.  If WTC continues to convince municipalities to "blackout" 30 days on each side of their events there could eventually NOT be other races.


Edited by TriRSquared 2010-10-06 4:21 PM

I guess it depends on your racing area.  Here in Hawaii, I don't think there are any races within 30 days of each other that use the same location.  So this would have no impact on the existing "affordable" races, and would hardly be a barrier for another "affordable" race popping up.

Ohh - it absolutely does. 

Figure that as the Hy-Vee tri has been over the last 4 years, they have had a sell-out of hotel rooms in the localized area (Des Moines Downtown in 2007 and West Des Moines/Urbandale in 2008-2010).  If they bring in as many more people as I expect for a championship race, plus the regular racers in AG, plus the pros and their support staff, I can't imagine a hotel room available.
 
Now think of restaraunts, bars, stores and all of the busines generated by racer's and their families. 
All of those things are taxed by the municipalities and the counties (as well as the state).  That is their motivation. 

I think that some folks are taking me wrong in my stance.  I have worked very hard along with some other folks to develop the triathlon culture in Central Iowa.  We have, in the past, adjusted our events to work in with HY-Vee and their scheduling with the ITU (the race has never been on the same weekend, year after year). 

Really, we think that Hy-Vee was a great race the way it was and Bill (Hy Vee RD) did a fantatstic job keeping us informed and helping us with work arounds.  If that position and attitude continues, we are fine with it. 

The fact of the matter is that we have reason to believe, by past actions, that it will not.  That is our concern.  If WTC tries to corner the market by using undue pressure, we have an issue.  If it is just Hy Vee with a different name, we do not have an issue. 

Does that make sense?

No - it was within the county as we understand it. 

Very true.  However I see it as a slippery slope.

Agreed...it is a slippery slope.

But I posed the question earlier...what's in it for the local government?  Why agree to a 60 day blackout unless there's something in it for them...which will in turn help the community.  At a certain point, it doesn't make sense for a city to have multiple races with blackouts if it will upset the community.  And it will be up to the community to elect officials that represent their best interests.

Let me ask a few questions:

1.  If someone is buying out.....someone is selling out....correct?
2.  If you buy my existing tri, am I not able to hold another tri at a different time (and possibly in a different location....but not necessarily)?
3.  If a big spender from the outside builds a new gentleman's club in your hometown, is it his fault if your 18yr old daughter decides she wants to strip, there?

The WTC (the way I see it) wouldn't excel - were it not for the tri community liking what they're selling.

4.  Do you see the tri community "rebelling" (at some point) against the higher fees?

Wait a minute. I just read the article over at ST....

First off that is a 70.3 we are talking about...NOT a 5150 race.

Second, they are still in negotiations on whether or not to permit the other races to go off.

So, to be clear, no race has been canceled or moved because of a 5150 race.....yet.