CRIST: Changes dilute Cup's appeal

Kasept · #1 02-29-2008, 07:08 PM

No reason for me to finish the column I started about the ridiculous Cup changes, as I wouldn't have gotten it more right than Crist or said it as well:

Changes dilute Cup's appeal (DRF sub. req'd):
http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NID=92640

The announcement last Tuesday that the six newer and eight older Cup races will henceforth be jumbled together and then separated along gender lines seems to have bewildered or offended every segment of the sport's fan base. Coming on the heels of the indefensible decision to run the Cup at Santa Anita in both 2008 and 2009 - over a racing surface that has yet to be chosen, installed, or tested - it has created the impression that the nominal stewards of the Breeders' Cup have either lost their collective minds or surrendered them to new-age marketing gurus with a spotty regard for the event's history and appeal...

Cannon Shell · #2 02-29-2008, 08:41 PM

I saw this coming with the "Win and your in " nonsense which is strictly a PR campaign. Though I still have no problem with the addition of races (though the marathon idea is questionable), the separation by sex/days and renaming the Distaff seems to make no sense. It as if they are trying to "trick" people into watching/attending. Just as the Sunshine Millions is a contrived "rivalry" between CA and FL, this is like a madeup gimmick that just has no real purpose.

31lengths · #3 02-29-2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I saw this coming with the "Win and your in " nonsense which is strictly a PR campaign. Though I still have no problem with the addition of races (though the marathon idea is questionable), the separation by sex/days and renaming the Distaff seems to make no sense. It as if they are trying to "trick" people into watching/attending. Just as the Sunshine Millions is a contrived "rivalry" between CA and FL, this is like a madeup gimmick that just has no real purpose.

I doubt that it is aimed at established fans like us.
I do believe that it is 100% a gimmick to attract new fans (somehow) .
Like they're "spicing" it up somehow....

AeWingnut · #4 02-29-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 31lengths

I doubt that it is aimed at established fans like us.
I do believe that it is 100% a gimmick to attract new fans (somehow) .
Like they're "spicing" it up somehow....

aim high shoot low

are these mythical new fans going to take a day off to experience their first race?

Holland Hacker · #5 02-29-2008, 10:23 PM

Well I WAS considering making the transcontinental trip from NJ to Cali for the '08 Breeders Cup but now I think I'll take a pass. It is absurd that the BC Limited actually thinks this is a "good" idea.

Cannon Shell · #6 02-29-2008, 11:03 PM

Racing always misses the boat with their marketing so why would they get it right this time? They simply seem to forget that most racing fans are smarter than the average joe (KRIM as a prime example) especially compared to the average NASCAR fan (sorry cajun) yet they continue to try to dumbdown the game for mass appeal. Racing is complicated and a good part of the allure is the challenge of trying to figure it out. Rather than attempting to identify that type of potential customer (many who would be older than the demographic that they lust after) they give us a supposed championship day disguised as Ladies Night as though it were a happy hour promotion. As opposed to using modern technology like HDtv, they give away t shirts, clocks and waste paper baskets. Rather than ask people who are fans what they think or want, they piss away money listening to some junior exec at a second tier marketing agency.

GBBob · #7 02-29-2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

aim high shoot low

are these mythical new fans going to take a day off to experience their first race?

There can only be one reason why it's Fri-sat and not Sat-Sun and that's ESPN. You know ESPN isn't going to sacrifice their NFL primtetime pre-game and everything else they do to show horse racing. I bet the BC would love to do Sat-Sun if allowed to.

And considering everything else they (BC) have done, that's the least of the worries I think.

King Glorious · #8 02-29-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GBBob

There can only be one reason why it's Fri-sat and not Sat-Sun and that's ESPN. You know ESPN isn't going to sacrifice their NFL primtetime pre-game and everything else they do to show horse racing. I bet the BC would love to do Sat-Sun if allowed to.

And considering everything else they (BC) have done, that's the least of the worries I think.

And why should ESPN want to bump NFL for horse racing? Have you seen the ratings for horse racing over the years? They can't even pull a bigger audience than the Kenosha County Tractor Pulling Championships. The damn National Spelling Bee probably gets higher ratings. Going to Sunday would KILL the BC. Believe that.

Danzig · #9 02-29-2008, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 31lengths

I doubt that it is aimed at established fans like us.
I do believe that it is 100% a gimmick to attract new fans (somehow) .
Like they're "spicing" it up somehow....

they want to attract new...but you'd think they'd care about keeping the ones they've already got. who better than a fan to get others to go to the track? my husband is a casual fan now(he said head bob the other day, i almost fell off the couch--insert joke HERE) and my daughter is hooked for life, my youngest is very interested, and my oldest wants to know if kickin will be in/near norfolk so he can go see her run.. they didn't get that way because some suit added races to the bc schedule.

King Glorious · #10 02-29-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

they want to attract new...but you'd think they'd care about keeping the ones they've already got. who better than a fan to get others to go to the track? my husband is a casual fan now(he said head bob the other day, i almost fell off the couch--insert joke HERE) and my daughter is hooked for life, my youngest is very interested, and my oldest wants to know if kickin will be in/near norfolk so he can go see her run.. they didn't get that way because some suit added races to the bc schedule.

None of us fans are going to stop watching the sport because they added some races and moved them around a little bit. How are they losing fans by adding more races? Not a single person that I know either in real life or on these racing forums said "I'm not going to watch the BC now since they added extra races." And if Rags to Riches runs this year and she's in the Distaff, or whatever they want to call it, on Friday, I really doubt anyone is going to not watch that race because it's on Friday and not on Saturday.

Danzig · #11 02-29-2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

None of us fans are going to stop watching the sport because they added some races and moved them around a little bit. How are they losing fans by adding more races? Not a single person that I know either in real life or on these racing forums said "I'm not going to watch the BC now since they added extra races." And if Rags to Riches runs this year and she's in the Distaff, or whatever they want to call it, on Friday, I really doubt anyone is going to not watch that race because it's on Friday and not on Saturday.

i didn't see any of the friday races last fall. i was at work, and didn't bother to dvr them. for what? the good stuff was on saturday.