Great events no more

[Kiettie87]

Why are all the great events losing sponsorship? Is it a sign of SA's poor economy?

 

There are so many events that I used to enjoy, DualX series, Xterra Buffelspoort and National MTB series, all gone...

[Wil6]

Too many events. I have a feeling that the stage race's like Berg and Bush, Sani2C and the lsit goes on will struggle to get half the entries they have now in 5 years time

[Spinnekop]

Jip, Sani for example is still open to enter.  Normally is taken up by the guys that did it the previous year.

 

Money.

and

And a huge variety to choose from.  People would rather do something new that to repeat.

 

The big bicycle boom is slowing down it seems.

[Escapee..]

Jip, Sani for example is still open to enter.  Normally is taken up by the guys that did it the previous year.

 

Money.

and

And a huge variety to choose from.  People would rather do something new that to repeat.

 

The big bicycle boom is slowing down it seems.

 

When we did our first Sani in 2014 it was almost impossible to get an entry.

 

2016 & 2017 plenty of entries available.

 

Lucky enough to get a sponsored entry this year otherwise we would have opted to do something else this year.

[mecheng89]

I want more road races, I don't show huge interest in MTB races, there are more over a weekend than you can shake a stick at. 

 

But we must admit that, as any other event, it's all about the money. Can I get more than what I invest over a certain period? More exposure to my product/brand translates (roughly) into more sales. Everyone is happy. Perhaps these companies have a smaller budget for advertising, so sponsorship gets cut. 

 

Why, for example did Momentum pull out of 947 title sponsorship? Why did Jacaranda kill the Rock the Run in Sandton? 

 

Market research is where it's at. 

[nickc]

Off the top of my head some great MTB races that are no more:

 

Dirty Harry Mountain Bike race

Induna Mountain Bike Classic.

Koranna Mountain Bike race.

Haenertsburg Mountain bike Classic.

Pilgrims Rest Classic

[Paddaman]

I want more road races, I don't show huge interest in MTB races, there are more over a weekend than you can shake a stick at. 

 

But we must admit that, as any other event, it's all about the money. Can I get more than what I invest over a certain period? More exposure to my product/brand translates (roughly) into more sales. Everyone is happy. Perhaps these companies have a smaller budget for advertising, so sponsorship gets cut. 

 

Why, for example did Momentum pull out of 947 title sponsorship? Why did Jacaranda kill the Rock the Run in Sandton? 

 

Market research is where it's at. 

 

Racing and fitness events (want for a better term "fun ride" is so blah) should not be determined by sponsorships, marketing budgets and advertisements.

The hassle is that the "love of money" has infiltrated into amateur sport.  No longer is the drive to achieve something like, club colours, provincial colours or national colours.  Now people are going mad over participation medals and "experiences". 

As a result the focus of race organisers is rather to give the mass participant "an experience" rather than "a race". 

Also especially with road races, the ever greedy metro police are on the sidelines demanding ever increasing fees for road usage and metro police marshals.  AND because the race is now no longer focused on sport acheivement or building social cohesion, organisers cannot leverage the department of sport (provincial or national) to get the municipal police to back down.  So the costs are passed on to the athletes (or sponsors)

Lastly, an "experience" with goody bags, million marshals, parking ext cost money and effort (effort not directed at the racing part of the event) and event managers are businessmen that want a tidy profit,  In the past clubs would organise local races which were very basic and cheap.

Part of the solution is to maybe return to basics, focus on the minimalist race for prestige, get the department of sport to sort out the municipal police in a "inter departmental agreement", then also go the park run route for the "fitness enthusiast" and drop the glitter and glam, and give them a mass participation event from point A to point B, sans medals goody bags ext (and if you want the t-shirt go and buy it at Mr Price Sport......)

[mecheng89]

Racing and fitness events (want for a better term "fun ride" is so blah) should not be determined by sponsorship, marketing budgets and advertisements.

The hassle is that the "love of money" has infiltrated into amateur sport.  No longer is the drive to achieve something like, club colours, provincial colours or national colours.  Now people are going mad over participation medals and "experiences". 

As a result the focus of race organizers is rather to give the mass participant "an experience" rather than "a race". 

Also especially with road races, the ever greedy metro police are on the sidelines demanding ever increasing fees for road usage and metro police marshals.  AND because the race is now no longer focused on sport achievement or building social cohesion, organizers cannot leverage the department of sport (provincial or national) to get the municipal police to back down.  So the costs are passed on to the athletes (or sponsors)

Lastly, an "experience" with goody bags, million marshals, parking ext cost money and effort (effort not directed at the racing part of the event) and event managers are businessmen that want a tidy profit,  In the past clubs would organise local races which were very basic and cheap.

Part of the solution is to maybe return to basics, focus on the minimalist race for prestige, get the department of sport to sort out the municipal police in a "inter departmental agreement", then also go the park run route for the "fitness enthusiast" and drop the glitter and glam, and give them a mass participation event from point A to point B, sans medals goody bags ext (and if you want the t-shirt go and buy it at Mr Price Sport......)

Winter crit series hosted by Germiston Wheelers. Hugely popular. And cheap as chips. 

 

Unpaid advertisement:

 

Mandela Marathon weekend - these guys are working hard on the social cohesion etc etc you speak of. Getting HUGE with really affordable entry. Some big names pitch up for the try-a-thalon and MTB edition. 

[Paddaman]

Winter crit series hosted by Germiston Wheelers. Hugely popular. And cheap as chips. 

 

Unpaid advertisement:

 

Mandela Marathon weekend - these guys are working hard on the social cohesion etc etc you speak of. Getting HUGE with really affordable entry. Some big names pitch up for the try-a-thalon and MTB edition. 

Often we have to remind government that Sport is an important vehicle to create social cohesion and national pride, and a such a part of their mandate and responsibility to foster and support (and not rip off).  It seems that the new minister of sport is very quiet and the previous minister of sport is now advertising his own imminent arrest.

[ChrisF]

The life-cycle of these events is that the events now are "race" and money orientated.

 

The irony of this is that I am LOOKING for the grass roots "fun ride" events to get our 6 year old into events ....

 

 

A number of these events towards Oudtshoorn, who actually has cycling as a school sport.

 

But certainly not practical to drive a 1 000 km for a short fun ride with a kid.  Though we really enjoyed the one we did last year.

 

Some events in Worcester and Breede River.  But only 1 or 2 in the Western Cape (Boland) that I have seen thus far.

 

 

 

And our dear PPA only has "sportiff" events on their calander.  Way to go - if dont want the youngsters learning about PPA !!!        

 

 

Hats of to the orginisers. Cant be easy providing in our "entry level" needs, as well as for the various other level of riders .....

[Skubarra]

 

Money.

and

And a huge variety to choose from.  People would rather do something new that to repeat.

 

The big bicycle boom is slowing down it seems.

 

Don't know, from my experience most people I know do the same races year after year, rarely trying new events. Just look at the event threads on thehub, same few events are discussed to death every year while a whole lot of others are virtually ignored.

 

(That said, there are always exceptions..)

 

I think just like everything in life this also go in cycles, we have had more events that can be sustained so we are seeing a reduction in the number of events along with the economy struggling

 

I have also seen a trend among the people I ride with that a whole lot of them are doing fewer events (still the usual ones though) and spend more time just riding with mates on trails or doing their own interesting "long" rides with friends

[ians H2Sport]

Hosting races is expensive, sponsors want value & people are short of cash. I agree that 'back to basics' races/events may be a great option. Simple, no frills etc. Unfortunately timing and medics are expensive but necessary.  

[Pulse]

Hosting races is expensive, sponsors want value & people are short of cash. I agree that 'back to basics' races/events may be a great option. Simple, no frills etc. Unfortunately timing and medics are expensive but necessary.  

I agree that races should go back to covering what is important.  I think things are almost getting out of hand on some events, especially MTB.  Riders expect a million options at refreshments stations, want goody bags, real food, etc, etc, etc.  All of these things are expensive!

 

Ages ago, when I started riding, a water point was exactly that (like you still find in most local running events) - Coke, Water, that's it.  If you wanted anything else, you organised it yourself.

[HdB]

Most road races in Bloem are already bare-bones, and there are about three to four in Jan/Feb, and again in Sep/Oct. Most have no medals, no prize-giving.

 

The cost of the traffic department and insurance is massive, so even if there are sponsors for the event (at least one of the local events at the end of last year had no sponsors other than the start/finish venue) most of their money will just cover those costs.

Due to the costs, there are fewer distance options to choose from, so often the short distance is too far for young kids or beginners, so fewer new riders coming in.

There is little to no newspaper coverage of the events, so any sponsor will have exposure to just about 50-100 people that probably doesn't even know what said sponsor's products or services are.

And then, the events take place on the same roads most of the riders ride every day, so some don't bother supporting the events.

 

It is a tricky situation though, no simple solution.

[scotty]

Benoni world champs. 

[EmptyB]

Too many events. I have a feeling that the stage race's like Berg and Bush, Sani2C and the lsit goes on will struggle to get half the entries they have now in 5 years time

I reckon 2 years time for the events you just mentioned.