All-Star Varsity's Monopoly

[cheermomforever]

Has any gym’s team been DQ d or threatened for not using STP? I have always wondered about that....

 

[coacha]

In 2019 Varsity controlled 80% of cheer events - both all star and high school - that’s 600 events in total. They control 90% of uniform market and 90% of cheer camps.

Do you have proof of this? I really don't see the 90% of uniform market control. Outside of the all-star world (rec & school, which are both really big), Varsity does not have a big stronghold. I've coach at a handful of those programs and none of them used Varsity OR Rebel. They use much cheaper, no name brands. Throw in the gyms that use Rebel and I just don't see them controlling 90% of the uniform market.

 

[UCFKnights07]

In 2019 Varsity controlled 80% of cheer events - both all star and high school - that’s 600 events in total. They control 90% of uniform market and 90% of cheer camps.

i find that hard to believe. There are a lot of smaller and cheaper uniform companies that provide for high school cheer. I volunteer assistant coached for my old high school cheer one year in college and they used some unknown small brand name for their uniforms. And i guarantee a lot of high schools go through other affordable options before turning to varsity.

allstar cheer sure i believe they control A LOT. But even then with rebel i doubt they are controlling 90% at this point.

 

[tojofasho]

Do you have proof of this? I really don't see the 90% of uniform market control. Outside of the all-star world (rec & school, which are both really big), Varsity does not have a big stronghold. I've coach at a handful of those programs and none of them used Varsity OR Rebel. They use much cheaper, no name brands. Throw in the gyms that use Rebel and I just don't see them controlling 90% of the uniform market.

I don't think it's up to 90%, but I will say that Varsity has something called the Mohave grant for high school/rec teams in Title I or high-poverty schools that make them pretty much the exact same price as those cheaper uniform companies. It's a blanket 10% discount and free shipping on every single item (even just one pair or spandex, still ships for free), and it applies on top of other discounts. I know personally my Varsity rep can get uniform prices down to like $150 that would usually be $200+.

 

[cheermomforever]

Varsity is awful!!!now colleges can’t do documentaries if they want to compete at NCA???? What ! Next is AS! But they are not controlling!!!

 

[Sterling von Shimmer]

Do you have proof of this? I really don't see the 90% of uniform market control. Outside of the all-star world (rec & school, which are both really big), Varsity does not have a big stronghold. I've coach at a handful of those programs and none of them used Varsity OR Rebel. They use much cheaper, no name brands. Throw in the gyms that use Rebel and I just don't see them controlling 90% of the uniform market.

IDK, I could believe it. Growing up, we only used Varsity. Every single school I went to. There was no one else. And even though there are more options now, I think brand loyalty goes a long way toward something as headache-y as ordering cheer uniforms. I would imagine people who used Varsity thirty years ago would still be using them just because they have a relationship with them and don’t want to switch. I still use them for sideline unis out of sheer force of habit, and we’d probably still use them for comp unis if we hadn’t won new unis from Rebel a few years ago in a giveaway. It literally took 30 free unis and a few grand in savings for me to even look at another company. Habits die hard, and that could work in Varsity’s favor.

 

[Hoosea]

.....what's the reason?

Also, I love to read business news, if you could please provide your sources for the uniform market share percentages, where they own camp land (your quote: "Remember Varsity owns camps throughout the country meaning they’re probably located there."), as well as, their acquisitions costs and debt to income ratio since you know so much about their private equity sale.

Sure I can send you citations etc. I’m traveling internationally these next few days so WiFi is spoty

 

[Hoosea]

IDK, I could believe it. Growing up, we only used Varsity. Every single school I went to. There was no one else. And even though there are more options now, I think brand loyalty goes a long way toward something as headache-y as ordering cheer uniforms. I would imagine people who used Varsity thirty years ago would still be using them just because they have a relationship with them and don’t want to switch. I still use them for sideline unis out of sheer force of habit, and we’d probably still use them for comp unis if we hadn’t won new unis from Rebel a few years ago in a giveaway. It literally took 30 free unis and a few grand in savings for me to even look at another company. Habits die hard, and that could work in Varsity’s favor.

Proof of my comments are more than easy to provide - fixing this mess is where the problems arise

 

[Hoosea]

Proof of my comments are more than easy to provide - fixing issue mess is where the problems arise

And unfortunately brand loyalty isn’t the issue here. It’s hard for me to explain via messaging the intricate web known as Varsity that exist in this sport. It’s pervasive and each Varsity, or organizations controlled by Varsity, nitch (ie insurance, camps, training) funnels into another Varsity controlled Nitch. Jeff Web said it best when he subtly “warned” the cheer world a decade ago that his vision was to create a one stop shop and eliminate choices.

Do you have proof of this? I really don't see the 90% of uniform market control. Outside of the all-star world (rec & school, which are both really big), Varsity does not have a big stronghold. I've coach at a handful of those programs and none of them used Varsity OR Rebel. They use much cheaper, no name brands. Throw in the gyms that use Rebel and I just don't see them controlling 90% of the uniform market.

 

[Hoosea]

.....what's the reason?

Also, I love to read business news, if you could please provide your sources for the uniform market share percentages, where they own camp land (your quote: "Remember Varsity owns camps throughout the country meaning they’re probably located there."), as well as, their acquisitions costs and debt to income ratio since you know so much about their private equity sale.

It’s a tangled web (no pun intended) because the powers that be don’t want everyday people like you and me to fully grasp how pervasive Varsity’s control really is. Most of us can understand score sheets and consider it a victory because Varsity is sometimes allowing EP’s to actually share the score sheets. Those little pieces of paper WE PAY FOR. Start looking at the bigger issues and doing ALL the leg work to sort it all out is a whole nother level of commitment.

 

[Hoosea]

I don't think it's up to 90%, but I will say that Varsity has something called the Mohave grant for high school/rec teams in Title I or high-poverty schools that make them pretty much the exact same price as those cheaper uniform companies. It's a blanket 10% discount and free shipping on every single item (even just one pair or spandex, still ships for free), and it applies on top of other discounts. I know personally my Varsity rep can get uniform prices down to like $150 that would usually be $200+.

My daughters new comp cheer uniform, from of course Varsity, was $700. Their able to give breaks to Title 1 schools etc because in addition to that cheer uniform, I like the thousands of other parents out there, have also paid them in the 19/20 season for memberships, insurance, training, the ability to watch cheer comps on TV, being held at publicly funded venues, comp fees, hotels etc etc etc. And guess what you’ve probably paid some of the those cost as well. They aren’t giving you, or me, or anyone else, on a break on uniforms. We’ve reimbursed them for that break 10 times over.

 

[Hoosea]

A

True, good point.

And UIL is one of MANY State High School Sport Associations that Varsity serves as the sole provider of uniforms, training, insurance, certifications etc WHILE being responsible for determining the rules, enforcing those rules (or not) AND serving as the sole Event Provider. Welcome to the world of Varsity.

 

[UCFKnights07]

Why does varsity care what navarro did, but hasnt cared for years about smoed and reckless filming at comps...

 

[Hoosea]

There's an argument, however, I don't think it would be strong enough even if someone was willing to fight Congress first and Varsity second. There are actually a plethora of cheer uniform companies to choose from if you don't want to give Varsity your uniform business. CHEER UNIFORMS

I have tried to find the various state laws concerning HS athletes attending sanctioned and non-sanctioned events, but the fact remains the majority of these camps, take place on government property. As far as STP, a private convention center owner can't make people stay at certain hotels and why would they? My aha moment was when I read an article from 2015, where a private convention center owner was fighting a bill that would allow government owned convention centers to use hotel tax dollars to use as incentives to get business for their government owned convention center....but, not the privately owned. Most would agree that's a glaring unfair business practice, but evidently it's okay if it's the government. ARTICLE

TIME Magazine quote: And municipalities that once vied for minor-league teams are now banking on youth sports to boost local economies, issuing bonds for lavish complexes that they hope will lure glove-toting tykes and their families. Tourism Commission Pushes for Broader Use of Hotel Tax Dollars
The New York Times ....I could post hundreds of these types of articles.

I could be wrong but I don’t STP has anything to do with whether it’s an event held at a publicly funded facility. It’s driven by EP’s (most of which are owned by Varsity) and is based on the following factors: Tier 3: Housing Not Required; Tier 2: Housing is required at select Two Day Events. Benefits could include things like rebates, comp rooms, team rooms, etc.; Tier 1: Housing is required for Worlds Bid EventS & select City Wide Events.

 

[Hoosea]

Why does varsity care what navarro did, but hasnt cared for years about smoed and reckless filming at comps...

Until it became profitable by forming an alliance with FloSports - who pays Varsity to be the only vendor to be able to film and sell to us.