All-Star Varsity Bought American Cheerleader Magazine?

[tumbleyoda]

I give...2 years? Maybe 3. It would take a fair bit of steam to get that started..

2-3 years. I think something big is going to have to happen again between Jamfest and Varsity for it to happen, because IMO Jammy is the only company who can truly threaten the Varsity monopoly at this time. Which made the introduction of the Majors all that more interesting to me.

I also believe it would take that long to get someone to actually stand up and be willing to push that issue in court. I say that because it has taken several years for some people to finally see (or admit) that they are. A few people have been saying it over the years but now more and more people are now seeing it for themselves. It is at times like these I wish we could still read some of the older boards when these things were being said and how easily they were dismissed by the majority of posters.

 

[kristenthegreat]

2-3 years. I think something big is going to have to happen again between Jamfest and Varsity for it to happen, because IMO Jammy is the only company who can truly threaten the Varsity monopoly at this time. Which made the introduction of the Majors all that more interesting to me.

I also believe it would take that long to get someone to actually stand up and be willing to push that issue in court. I say that because it has taken several years for some people to finally see (or admit) that they are. A few people have been saying it over the years but now more and more people are now seeing it for themselves. It is at times like these I wish we could still read some of the older boards when these things were being said and how easily they were dismissed by the majority of posters.

I'm having HS flashbacks of Animal Farm and 1984..not good.

 

[NEliteSteven]

Yowza. Things will be getting spicy. No Jamfest ads in AC, I'm sure.

 

[tumbleyoda]

Yowza. Things will be getting spicy. No Jamfest ads in AC, I'm sure.

Ahhh so you see it to. But then what will be Jammy's response? Varsity already pushed them back from allowing Level 5's at US Finals, then gave them Junior 5 as a trade off. If Jammy stops offering (or is stopped from offering them) Worlds Bids would people still go? Maybe not as the Level 5 teams would look elsewhere and it definitely would affect the lower levels as well. But now with the concept of the Majors established with an inaugural competition featuring some of the top teams in the country.....

Hey there is the Cage Match I want to see! Jammy vs Varsity. :starwars:

 

[hannahx0xbananaa]

Has anyone ever seen the Penn and Teller episode of "Bull (excrement)"* about cheerleading? It discusses Varsity's monopoly of the business and how they're impeding the development of the sport. It's pretty eye-opening.

*probably not an appropriate video for cheerleaders who are under 15 or 16

out of curiosity i just watched this & wow it is eye-opening. they showed cheer as a sport, called out varsity, & i thought it was pretty funny. i wish it was more appropriate so it could be posted here.

 

[krystynakrez]

Who owned and ran this magazine before varsity took it over? Did the original owners have ANY connection to varsity, usasf, jam brands, or any other cheer group before?

It was owned by McFadden Publications which produces 20+ different magazines. No connection to any cheerleading entity to my knowledge.

Even more specifically dance media

 

[canttouchthis]

I'm having HS flashbacks of Animal Farm and 1984..not good.

i absolutely HATED that book. :(

 

[gofriars610]

this is so weird. it's like varsity now has its own propaganda machine. cheerleading does not need the equivalent of a state-run media.

 

[newcheerdad]

I was just about to say this. They are creating a monopoly using vertical and horizontal integration for their own personal gain. Buying a magazine so they could put their ads in it, another uniform manufacturer to take out their competition. I mean, Varsity is pretty much equivalent to USASF. It's just like in the 1800's when big business had a lot of say in the government and it led to a bunch of corruption.

Wow. Who knew that honors us history would help me in cheer?

The problem is going to be that cheer is not a big enough entity for the DOJ to use its resources to get involved. There are tons of "niche" industries in which one company has a near monopoly on the market, and the Justice Department does nothing about it.

So the only way a private antitrust lawsuit is going to be raised is if another competitor to Varsity does it. The only I could realistically see doing it is Jamfest, but they seem to be happy just to play along for now while tweaking Varsity with stunts like "The Majors". In reality, an antitrust lawsuit would take years, with no guarantee of success or financial reward even if you win. (see NFL vs. USFL from the 1980's)

 

[Funfunfun]

I just watched the Penn & Teller video and feel so enlightened.

 

[AllHeartxo3]

The problem is going to be that cheer is not a big enough entity for the DOJ to use its resources to get involved. There are tons of "niche" industries in which one company has a near monopoly on the market, and the Justice Department does nothing about it.

So the only way a private antitrust lawsuit is going to be raised is if another competitor to Varsity does it. The only I could realistically see doing it is Jamfest, but they seem to be happy just to play along for now while tweaking Varsity with stunts like "The Majors". In reality, an antitrust lawsuit would take years, with no guarantee of success or financial reward even if you win. (see NFL vs. USFL from the 1980's)

I completely agree. Jamfest is the only one who could come out and go after them and have a strong case. I think The Majors will get the ball rolling on this one. Indy was already a big comp, but The Majors made them bigger and everyone was watching. I hope that someone won't wait until Jamfest or someone else goes after them, because it can only get worse from here. Back in the day, no one did anything until it directly affected the people in a highly negative way and by then it was out of control. Right now, a magazine, some small influences in USASF, and a uniform company doesn't really effect any of us in negatively, but I don't want to wait until it does. I don't want Varsity telling the rule makers to make a rule that the uniforms need to be made in a certain way because that would mean more people would buy from them or something like that. You need to stop it before it gets worse.

 

[MissBee]

Hey there is the Cage Match I want to see! Jammy vs Varsity. :starwars:

Jammy vs Jeff Webb!!!! I'd pay to see it live, and for the first time ever, I'd be rooting for Jammy!

 

[MissBee]

I don't want Varsity telling the rule makers to make a rule that the uniforms need to be made in a certain way because that would mean more people would buy from them or something like that. You need to stop it before it gets worse.

But they could, and you would never know it! When Varsity bought out NCA, they also got their uniform company Cheer and Dance (or what ever it was called). Now they've bought Spirit Innovations (which were awesome). Other companies stopped making uniforms b/c they just couldn't compete-and also stopped offering camps (American Championships used to make uniforms, but stopped several years ago....then they sold out to Varsity, who took over their comps and they stopped doing their private camp service).

There are a few competition companies that are left that haven't been bought out, but I can see some of them going soon:

Cheer Ltd (I don't see them selling out. Ever.)

Spirit Brands, which is Cheer Tech/Mid Atlantic/ ECC (I can see them going for the right price, but it would take a while to close that deal-because I think there would be a lot of back and forth in negotiations)

Coastal (Battle at the Capitol)....Since they're now part of JAMBrands, I don't see them going to the Dark Side.

ACDA (Reach the Beach)....I could see them going to Varsity, but since they've merged with Spirit Unlimited (parent company is Epic) I don't see them going, because Spirit Unlimited wouldn't go.

AmeriCheer-won't go.

ECDA-this one is iffy like Spirit Brands.

These are ones that are the larger of the independents that I could see Varsity going after. Some of the smaller ones just wouldn't be worth their time to buy up, they could just force them out by offering an event in the same area the weekend before or after theirs for a lower registration fee.

 

[MissBee]

I don't want Varsity telling the rule makers to make a rule that the uniforms need to be made in a certain way because that would mean more people would buy from them or something like that. You need to stop it before it gets worse.

I got sidetracked! Here's the thing...Varsity can influence rules about uniforms. They have a heavy influence in the USASF, and it's pretty common knowledge. Well, they can have USASF start a rule that bans crops for everyone but L5, or everyone but Senior and Open teams. Why would that be an advantage to them? Because full uniforms cost more money because they use more fabric, and think of ALL those gyms that have everyone in a crop, and they'd have to replace all those uniform tops...what are your choices? Varsity or GK or a smaller company like GTM or one of those, that you can't real customize. What's cheaper for the gym, to just get a new top that matches their existing bottoms that they ordered from Varsity, or design a whole new uniform from another company? It's a win for Varsity.

 

[Cheer_Explosion_Coach]

I got sidetracked! Here's the thing...Varsity can influence rules about uniforms. They have a heavy influence in the USASF, and it's pretty common knowledge. Well, they can have USASF start a rule that bans crops for everyone but L5, or everyone but Senior and Open teams. Why would that be an advantage to them? Because full uniforms cost more money because they use more fabric, and think of ALL those gyms that have everyone in a crop, and they'd have to replace all those uniform tops...what are your choices? Varsity or GK or a smaller company like GTM or one of those, that you can't real customize. What's cheaper for the gym, to just get a new top that matches their existing bottoms that they ordered from Varsity, or design a whole new uniform from another company? It's a win for Varsity.

How can they do this? Please explain.