- Feb 5, 2011
- 3,431
- 5,767
I have no clue what pricing was like back when I cheered. What pricing is today is one thing, what I think it should be is much lower. I think we all agree gym tuition isn't the issue, and I actually am in favor of giving more of the budget to training. Coaches and gym owners for the most part should be paid more than what they are in my opinion.
We're obviously a travel sport and not a rec league, so pricing is expected to be more. I think for kids just getting started and lower level athletes the pricing should top out around $3000-$4000 a year. I know even then some families will price out, but I think that is a sustainable price tag for a competitive travel sport. For the higher levels and more committed athletes, I think a price range between $5000-$7000 a season is a good top out range.
What shocks me most price wise is the uniforms. I just can't get over $400 uniforms. It's not necessary and I can't believe how many people/gyms are ok with that price tag. There isn't much that shocks me anymore in this sport, but $400+ uniforms every 2 years that you wear 10 times max all season blows my mind (especially for this age group that grows so fast that they're lucky to get 1 season out of that uni.) As does any practice wear that exceeds $100 (really even that is a lot for what is being received. I know what the practice wear actually costs to make and the profits being made are ridiculous!) $150-$200 warm-ups are also insane. A 3-4 year uniform rotation schedule used to be normal and there is nothing wrong with that.
I haven't been to Cheersport in a while, but even back in 2011 it had STP. For reference (in case it helps with the STP discussion) the rate in 2011 for the Marriott Marquis Atlanta was $149/night + taxes and $28/night parking. 2 nights minimum. Not sure what the Marquis is for cheersport weekend today. In 2010, the Hampton Inn Atlanta was $139/night + taxes. No minimum nights that I can see on old emails. There was a parking fee, but my old email doesn't show what it was. Maybe someone has current pricing to show the jump from back then.
We're obviously a travel sport and not a rec league, so pricing is expected to be more. I think for kids just getting started and lower level athletes the pricing should top out around $3000-$4000 a year. I know even then some families will price out, but I think that is a sustainable price tag for a competitive travel sport. For the higher levels and more committed athletes, I think a price range between $5000-$7000 a season is a good top out range.
What shocks me most price wise is the uniforms. I just can't get over $400 uniforms. It's not necessary and I can't believe how many people/gyms are ok with that price tag. There isn't much that shocks me anymore in this sport, but $400+ uniforms every 2 years that you wear 10 times max all season blows my mind (especially for this age group that grows so fast that they're lucky to get 1 season out of that uni.) As does any practice wear that exceeds $100 (really even that is a lot for what is being received. I know what the practice wear actually costs to make and the profits being made are ridiculous!) $150-$200 warm-ups are also insane. A 3-4 year uniform rotation schedule used to be normal and there is nothing wrong with that.
I haven't been to Cheersport in a while, but even back in 2011 it had STP. For reference (in case it helps with the STP discussion) the rate in 2011 for the Marriott Marquis Atlanta was $149/night + taxes and $28/night parking. 2 nights minimum. Not sure what the Marquis is for cheersport weekend today. In 2010, the Hampton Inn Atlanta was $139/night + taxes. No minimum nights that I can see on old emails. There was a parking fee, but my old email doesn't show what it was. Maybe someone has current pricing to show the jump from back then.