catlady
Cheer Parent
- Jun 6, 2012
- 2,817
- 6,228
I'll take a stab at this solely from a business perspective. I stalked Fierce Board long before I signed up but, I remember a thread with parents stating how nice it would be if they had a lower level World's....low and behold, The Summit came along. Negative comments on unlimited crossovers..... the number was reduced that could come from World's athletes. We want more bids....Wild Cards came along. Someone is listening, HOWEVER, every time we ask for something we are effecting gym owners businesses. And let's face facts, these bids have become the parent/athlete obsession in All Star.
I recently posted how small gyms seasons usually consist of several local one days and for the season closer a not too far in the distance two day. So, the first two years, small gyms essentially had a very slim chance of getting a Summit bid just based on the fact they don't attend as many two day comps as the large gyms. Would you leave your small gym to go to a large gym for a greater chance at a Summit bid? My guess, some people did and as the Summit grows, more will leave. So along came Wild Cards and there has been a good response to gyms willing to take them. The problem? Families are then going to complain they have to pay for a trip to Disney with a 1 day shot at moving forward in the Summit competition. Will families still leave the small gym to go to the larger gyms because of more shots at Summit bids? My guess, is "yes" they will continue to lose families.
Us parents really do steer this business in the direction it is going, otherwise, it wouldn't be growing at its current rate. Varsity actually does a great job at listening to its consumers IMO, however, they have to respond to the business owners concerns in the process. If this was a step in the direction to protect its small gym owners, I applaud Varsity, from an outside business perspective it was a wise move.
I recently posted how small gyms seasons usually consist of several local one days and for the season closer a not too far in the distance two day. So, the first two years, small gyms essentially had a very slim chance of getting a Summit bid just based on the fact they don't attend as many two day comps as the large gyms. Would you leave your small gym to go to a large gym for a greater chance at a Summit bid? My guess, some people did and as the Summit grows, more will leave. So along came Wild Cards and there has been a good response to gyms willing to take them. The problem? Families are then going to complain they have to pay for a trip to Disney with a 1 day shot at moving forward in the Summit competition. Will families still leave the small gym to go to the larger gyms because of more shots at Summit bids? My guess, is "yes" they will continue to lose families.
Us parents really do steer this business in the direction it is going, otherwise, it wouldn't be growing at its current rate. Varsity actually does a great job at listening to its consumers IMO, however, they have to respond to the business owners concerns in the process. If this was a step in the direction to protect its small gym owners, I applaud Varsity, from an outside business perspective it was a wise move.