All-Star Covid-19 / Varsity Response

[Cheermom1979]

I am a event planner and have been hosting virtual conferences- the cost saves are huge even with the purchase of new technology.
Varsity should reflect that in their pricing.

 

[catlady]

Currently we don't have any information on if the comp fees will change. However, I did speak with someone higher up in the gym this past weekend. They made a point that paid bids still need to be covered. So I think they are still expecting fees to remain the same.

If you look at WSF details from the Varsity portal it looks like the fees are currently $99, which normally two day participant fees are around $130-$165. Normal one days are generally around $65, so it appears adjustments have been made and make accommodations for bid money.

World Spirit Federation

AS CH Pricing
Type Price Per Deadline Division Group
1st Performance - Athlete $99.00 Per Person USASF - All Star Elite INTERNATIONAL
Additional Performance - Crossover $0.00 Per Person USASF - All Star Elite INTERNATIONAL

BATTLE BIG TOP Pricing
Type Price Per Deadline Division Group
1st Performance - Athlete $156.00 Per Person USASF - All Star Elite INTERNATIONAL
Additional Performance - Crossover $95.00 Per Person USASF - All Star Elite INTERNATIONAL

 

[cheermomforever]

It shouldn't! I live in FL but my family resides in Wisconsin & I have quite a few nurse friends there still. We are discussing if I should even travel to their WI home for Thanksgiving this year due to how bad it is in there. Children's hospitals are being converted to covid care centers because the normal hospitals are at capacity. The infection rate is 40 percent positive currently. Illinois is going into another soft lockdown - I am guessing there will soon be "border patrol" between WI and IL like when Covid first started. The fact I am potentially sacrificing seeing my family, who only get together about 2 times a year, while others are trying to have a trivial large-gathering cheer competition shows how self-serving America is appearing. It's absolutely tone-deaf to even think about competing there right now.

I grew up in the MN still have family there and I feel the area have been more lax in all this and now it’s catching up!

 

[catlady]

It shouldn't! I live in FL but my family resides in Wisconsin & I have quite a few nurse friends there still. We are discussing if I should even travel to their WI home for Thanksgiving this year due to how bad it is in there. Children's hospitals are being converted to covid care centers because the normal hospitals are at capacity. The infection rate is 40 percent positive currently. Illinois is going into another soft lockdown - I am guessing there will soon be "border patrol" between WI and IL like when Covid first started. The fact I am potentially sacrificing seeing my family, who only get together about 2 times a year, while others are trying to have a trivial large-gathering cheer competition shows how self-serving America is appearing. It's absolutely tone-deaf to even think about competing there right now.

There hasn't been a cheer event that has happened against the CDC or governor's guidelines. While I understand your frustration, events are going to be shifting, and if they can't take place, they won't. I applaud our businesses that are desperately trying to stay afloat so people have jobs to come back to. It isn't self serving, nor is it tone deaf to plan for the future even if in your opinion it is trivial, it's called being responsible and accountable to the people you have employed and to those that have loaned you money. What is trivial to some, is what keeps some looking forward to another day. I am truly sorry you may not be able to be with your family this Thanksgiving.

 

[CLynn]

There hasn't been a cheer event that has happened against the CDC or governor's guidelines

On the first page on CDC we travel section "travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic | CDC
Furthermore in this specific case WI Gov. Tony Evers issued an advisory telling people they should stay home, he doesn't have broader authority to mandate it but those are his guidelines.

 

[catlady]

On the first page on CDC we travel section "travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic | CDC
Furthermore in this specific case WI Gov. Tony Evers issued an advisory telling people they should stay home, he doesn't have broader authority to mandate it but those are his guidelines.

These Convention Centers are government property, so governors DO have the ability to shut them down and use them in crisis. GA has Double Down today and tomorrow at the GWCC and it looks like it is a much smaller event than usual with primarily local teams. There are specific CDC guidelines for sporting events <click here> and governors are aware of hospital capacities in their area. The blanket statement of "staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others" is common sense, but again, it won't pay people's bills and the CDC and governors are aware of that. The good news is you don't have to participate in cheer, nor do you have to travel, but for the thousands that make their living through cheer, that's not an option and it's not trivial to them.

 

[123jump4!]

Double Down today was fairly small. People from our gym were good and most wore their masks the whole time. Sadly I can’t say the same for a lot of people from another gym. Even when reminded through the speaker system to wear their masks at all times, well they just didn’t care.

 

[all4sarah]

Double Down today was fairly small. People from our gym were good and most wore their masks the whole time. Sadly I can’t say the same for a lot of people from another gym. Even when reminded through the speaker system to wear their masks at all times, well they just didn’t care.

I have a friend who lives in that area and she posted some Facebook pictures today from that event that gave me the same impression.

 

[cheermomforever]

Double Down today was fairly small. People from our gym were good and most wore their masks the whole time. Sadly I can’t say the same for a lot of people from another gym. Even when reminded through the speaker system to wear their masks at all times, well they just didn’t care.

Then we wonder why the country is where it is today with numbers!

 

[Lisa Seye]

Double Down today was fairly small. People from our gym were good and most wore their masks the whole time. Sadly I can’t say the same for a lot of people from another gym. Even when reminded through the speaker system to wear their masks at all times, well they just didn’t care.

I went to the grocery store tonight and saw plenty of folks without masks despite the mandate last week reiterating it. My son works at a home improvement store and he was tasked with handing out masks to customers as they entered. He said he got cursed at multiple times. Prior to the mandate last week, he told me he was the only worker in his team that wore a mask all the time. Our state is fast catching up with others around us in terms of infection rate. Our school cheer kids aren't allowed to stunt but all star gyms are stunting. In our state the rules/guidelines are not consistent across the board. They allow one thing and disallow another. Its nuts. Businesses closing up everywhere yet some folks refusing to mask up. I feel for all of us. Individuals, businesses, front line workers, etc. We have all been dealt a crappy hand this year.

 

[123jump4!]

Then we wonder why the country is where it is today with numbers!

That’s what I was thinking. I went from disbelief to being mad. You get to watch your child compete but you have to wear a mask for a little while. Is it really that hard??? They weren’t distancing either.

 

[CLynn]

These Convention Centers are government property, so governors DO have the ability to shut them down and use them in crisis. GA has Double Down today and tomorrow at the GWCC and it looks like it is a much smaller event than usual with primarily local teams. There are specific CDC guidelines for sporting events <click here> and governors are aware of hospital capacities in their area. The blanket statement of "staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others" is common sense, but again, it won't pay people's bills and the CDC and governors are aware of that. The good news is you don't have to participate in cheer, nor do you have to travel, but for the thousands that make their living through cheer, that's not an option and it's not trivial to them.

My point was that WI specifically has a political issue and the legislature has fought him (and won) when he tries to implement stricter measures. Clearly certain governors have no such issue in their state and implement much more broad measures.

I favor the smaller, local (within a state or specific metro area) events where travel and spectators are limited. Anyone paying attention new this time period would be particularly challenging, why not push season a little out? Furthermore programs are more likely to stay open and keep getting paid if they keep athletes and their families healthy, even if that means competing virtually for the larger Nationals. Seems there is a healthy profit there, Varsity they can certainly choose to pass that on to others down the food chain.

It is truly horrible what has happened to so many in the service and hospitality industry. I've read that over 70% of restaurants are likely to close permanently because government support as a backstop simply is not there.

 

[catlady]

@CLynn I am no pandemic expert, nor will I pretend to be one. I do believe in our judicial system and I am grateful they are overturning the over step when it comes to our businesses. A ridiculous number of private business owners are taking out hundreds of thousands to millions trying to save their businesses, that's not trivial, it's heart wrenching and in no way does it diminish the tragedy of death. My point to the above poster was you can't point fingers and trivialize an activity for just being an activity when it's paying bills for thousands. I'm not about to tell anyone what Varsity is or isn't capable of doing financially, but what I do know from trying to Google their financials in years past, is they were deep in debt from acquisitions way before this began. I, also, don't know what their contracts state. I understand the frustration, I understand opinions, but without knowing the assets, debt, borrowing capabilities, or contract agreements of any business or person, our opinions are useless. What I keep reiterating to anyone that has concerns is to vocalize it to their gym owners, they ultimately make the decisions on competitions.

 

[123jump4!]

It seems a little better today with the mask wearing. Maybe they were told.

 

[123jump4!]

Oh... found this on Facebook from Double Down. So the gym must have told the parents to shape up! Good.

URGENT-
Owners and coaches. Masks are required at all times and must cover your mouth and nose. We will have to pause the competition if the spectators fail to comply and close the doors to spectators tomorrow. Please help us enforce this simple request to keep our athletes safe!