Interesting USA Today article about skating's declining popularity

[jcspkbfan]

This article doesn't contain any Worlds spoilers, so hopefully it's okay to post the link here. If not, please feel free to move it:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2003-03-24-skating-popularity_x.htm

[seahag]

Thanks for the link. I found the article a bit disturbing.

[adrianchew]

Good for them for speaking up - we have Mark Lund of IFS magazine and Lee Marshall of Collins-Marshall Management sharing similar thoughts. I find this especially interesting given Michelle Kwan being a big draw for the Tom Collins tour, that someone closely tied in would have said that.

Its true, and I've been saying it for a while now. Hopefully Worlds this week might change the whole scene of US ladies.

[sk8lvr]

This article was a very interesting read. I agree with the oversaturation during the mid to late 90's. I remember the whole Fox Grand Slam thing one season. That definitely burned me out. As far as the Nancy/Tonya ratings explosion, did anyone really think that popularity would sustain itself with the oversaturation? I sure didnt'.


As far as Michelle keeping others from "breaking through", I find it ironic that one person complaining represents a 4th place finisher at Nats. AP is one of my favorite skaters, but she could have "broken through" at the GPF if whoever hadn't mucked up the Visa to Russia.

Of course this will inevitably lead to yet another should Michelle keep skating thread. :roll: And unfortunately I helped contribute didn't I? Oops. :D

[Ivan W]

Originally posted by adrianchew
Good for them for speaking up - we have Mark Lund of IFS magazine and Lee Marshall of Collins-Marshall Management sharing similar thoughts. I find this especially interesting given Michelle Kwan being a big draw for the Tom Collins tour, that someone closely tied in would have said that.

Its true, and I've been saying it for a while now. Hopefully Worlds this week might change the whole scene of US ladies.

Geez...where's James Caan when you need him? :roll:

[PatC]

Oh please. MacLean's magazine had an article about a month ago about how the inflated salaries of the NFL, CFL, baseball, NHL, etc are killing their sports respectively. And it mentioned that Tiger Woods with his talent and pr draw didn't keep the PGA from cancelling one of it's competitions. Men's tennis is in the basement rating wise - only women's keeps fans tuning in.

So, it's not just skating, it's all sports. I find it interesting that all these experts didn't point out that one of the reasons the US skating comps don't have many people in the stands is because the price of the tickets. And in Canada, why do they keep jockeying around where skating is going to be? One week CTV, next week TSN, then WTSN, and we also have ESPN Classic.

bah......humbug.

[loveskating]

The article didn't mention ticket prices per se, but it did cite "general economic conditions" which are broader than just the ticket prices.

[Mel On Ice]

Networks want a bigger bump in ratings and viewership?

Consistency How about respect for the coverage? Nothing is more daunting to a fs fan than thinking they are going to watch the men's short program and instead get a stupid basketball game, then having to hunt for when the network will re-air. After that, with the internet, I give up and look up results on the site. And how many of us will skip watching Skate America broadcast a week after the results? I will, because at that point I'm eager for skating, but after the season wears on, I'm less likely to watch Trophy Lalique two weeks after the event took place. I'm also not likely to get up at 5 in the morning to watch synchro on Lifetime.

Variety There's more to skating than the Grand Prix, Nationals and Worlds. What about sectionals, regionals, juniors, novice, synchro, minor events like Bofrost?

Better coverage The term "chack" exists for a reason. I love ABC coverage of short programs, because we sometimes get to see a majority of the top 10. Then we are lucky to get 5 in the short.

Promotion There are minor league ballgames on TV that get better commercials and promotion than skating shows and television specials. Or maybe I'm not watching enough TV.

The product is out there to show not only variety in skating, but depth as well. If the cash cow isn't producing, find better ways to milk it.

[unafaluna]

It seems to me more prize money is awarded in the amateur ranks---JGP, GP, 4CC Worlds etc. Maybe if there were more professional competions with higher prize money, it would entice amateur skaters to move on.

[drdave98]

Una,
The solution is simple. Outlaw prize money and endorsements in the Amateur level. The lack of cash to pay basic life expenses will force some skaters to leave and seek endorsments and prize money. The USFSA has killed pro skating by letting the amateurs be essentially professionals. The solution can't be to give Pro skating more money. That's feeding the fire. There is no pro skating event that can compete with the money Disney is giving Michelle Kwan for being in the amateur level.

[Giselle]

Is that you Davesato? :)

[WeBeEducated]

Who would want to see the Super Bowl if the same 2 teams were in it for 5 straight years?
And the same team won every year? who would still be interested?
USA skating has been too predictable.
Sports excitment is fueled by the energy that surrounds a real challenge...what a competition should be!
The judges in this country do not reward risky, avant garde choreography.
Predictable programs in all disciplines, which are geared specifically for the judges, not for artistic creativity, are what the skaters are performing to fans who are finding it dull.
The same skaters year after year who dont push the envelope(Michelle and Todd in particular) are solid technicians with loads of talent, but they skate in their comfort zone, and many fans, especially casual fans,are getting disinterested.
Skating has also "looked" the same for so long...the same style of programs, dresses, costumes, and personalities.
It is time for some new faces, new judging standards, new creative freedoms, and new and exciting personalities. It would also be great to see more minorities in skating who could breathe some life into a sport with a stuffy reputation.
The crowds love a Rohene Ward, jumps or no jumps. Casual skating fans want more than pure technique.
And I clearly see why fewer are willing to pay big bucks to see the same kind of productions they saw 10 years ago with the very same skaters who are over age 30, some WAY over!