All-Star What Do You Think About Cea's New Location In Charlotte?

[CharlotteASMom]

The other thing that has to be remembered is CEA has a thousand athletes and thousands of fans. You can't control what every athlete and their parents are doing or if they are recruiting... and it is even more impossible to try to control the fans. Who knows who started the fake facebook. It's a shame it reflects poorly on CEA to some of you when in reality it's probably a 12 year old athlete.

I agree. However the flyers were done in warm ups by an adult.

 

[ShallowPoms]

Let me take a seat :enjoyshow:

 

[ImaDad]

No one is proud in NC that this has gotten so out of control. CAC/Cheersport has endured repeated attacks over the last few years and have always "turned the other cheek". Most people feel it's just time to start standing up for ourselves.

So CAC is playing the victim role? Interesting....

How about this...how about CAC/Cheersport not trying to IMPOSE there "beliefs"onto the entire cheer community.

Just because CAC doesnt wear crop tops, no one should!

Because CAC doesnt use "theatrical" boys, it should not be allowed!

Because CAC kids dress a certain way at competitions (which I like), everyone should do the same!

Oh by the way, lets restrict tumbling so that our biggest rival, and as you imply - not so good friend CEA, doesnt have an advantage over us. Maybe this new location was expected and an attempt to mitigate the impact. I dont know.

 

[MomOf2ThatsMe]

and I thought Illinois cheer was bad...

The only time there is ever cheer drama in NC is when CEA allows a franchise location to open up in towns with already established programs.

 

[SmileyRyleigh]

:enjoyshow:

 

[CharlotteASMom]

So CAC is playing the victim role? Interesting....

How about this...how about CAC/Cheersport not trying to IMPOSE there "beliefs"onto the entire cheer community.

Just because CAC doesnt wear crop tops, no one should!

Because CAC doesnt use "theatrical" boys, it should not be allowed!

Because CAC kids dress a certain way at competitions (which I like), everyone should do the same!

Oh by the way, lets restrict tumbling so that our biggest rival, and as you imply - not so good friend CEA, doesnt have an advantage over us. Maybe this new location was expected and an attempt to mitigate the impact. I dont know.

If you are implying that CAC started the USASF rules then you obviously don't know our program very well. Most programs in the nation have a positive relationship with CAC except Cheer Extreme.

 

[tumbleyoda]

This is a tough thread. We have all been praying it doesn't come up because this whole thing has been a very nasty business here in Charlotte. Because of many things said here that aren't true and my more intimate knowledge of the opening I want to clear up some issues.

1. Other gyms in the Charlotte area are not feeders for CAC. A large portion of our kids start as Tinys/Minis and stay for 12 years. We also have a strong gymnastics and pre-school program which brings many kids to the Allstar side. Likewise there are many strong programs in the area that train their athletes long term as well. CAC has a good relationship with them and we enjoy competing against each other.

2. CEA Charlotte's opening is being led by a former CAC Mom that left 3 or 4 years ago. There were issues when she left. I won't list them here out of respect CAC and her.

3. The CEA location was specifically chosen to be close to CAC. This is a huge city with a lot of open space. One location originally considered was 1 mile from CAC on our same road. It was the original gym where CAC started over 20 years ago. I personally find this ironic. I do not know why this one wasn't chosen but the current one is 4 miles away.

4. The fake Facebook was created by someone who supported CEA as that person specifically asked the kids to attend CEA tryouts. That is recruiting.

5. Flyers have been handed out by CEA or thier supporters at our local coompetitions to bring kids to the new location. I do not know if it was staff or the supporters. I have heard CEA parents are given credit for athletes brought into the program so it could have been a parent. I do not claim to know those specifics though.

6. CEA management SPECIFICALLY told one of our staff in person they were opening this location to take our CAC level 5 kids.

7. There were two larger groups of kids that left CAC to go to CEA in the past. Some youth kids left one year (approx 4-5) and a group of Senior 5 kids left another (approx 10-12). I think that was the year SE won Worlds. Since then there have been some here or there and some have come back.

8. CAC will lose some kids. Some will choose to go elsewhere because this may not the environment for them. Some have had tough years and want to try something new. And then there are our core group of kids that believe in what CAC is about and would never leave. The great thing about CAC is we never burn bridges. We wish kids the best when they leave and open the door to them if they come back. This has worked well for us in the past.

I am sure these statements will upset many but the bottom line is they are true. The opening of CEA is a personal target to specifically recruit CAC kids and other programs around us. I fully believe in a free market and aside from the fake Facebook account I do not think anything here is illegal. However it bothers me that gyms use these type tactics to build their program. To me it is unethical and unprofessional but everyone else has to make up their own mind.

CAC will be fine. They've been in business for over 20 years. They know what they are doing.

Most of what you outline here is the exact replica of what happened in Raleigh. The only difference is it was MySpace and the old boards then. Like this case whomever posted the info was said not to be from CEA. And even though I left the state it is what I heard from fellow coaches that happened in Sanford and Greenville. The things that always bothered me:

1.) That even though it is well known internationally that they do not have to recruit, it is the experience of many in NC that someone with some type of affiliation with the program does. Even if it is just a "crazed fan", no one ever seems to shut them down. It has happened at the opening of every new gym since Raleigh. Not saying it was approved or authorized. But it did happen.
2.) Every new opening in NC seems to coincidentally coincide with a newer or younger programs sudden rise to the Level 5 division, a Mini 3 (now gone) or super strong Youth 3, 4 or 5 type team. As we have all learned these are the teams that are typically positioned to train Level 5 for years in their system. (Nothing wrong with that.) So for me based on what I have seen as an outsider, it is more about other programs in the CLT area that are on the rise, with the added draw of being close to CAC.
3.) As has been stated yes it makes sense to put programs where people have already shown a willingness to pay for cheer, and in particular to pay on that level. Yet that does not diminish the anguished feelings of those who have worked hard to build a business only to see someone else come in and pick from crops they have not planted. They feel like they are finally positioned to make some steps and wham they have to start all over again. That hurts. It can be dealt with and survive, but it still hurts.
4.) Parents have the right to go wherever they choose. It is a free market economy. As long as it is done the right way, more power to them. Yet many parents didn't know how "unhappy" they were until someone from the new program tells them. If you choose to leave, leave peacefully, by yourself and do not burn bridges.
5.) That anyone who disagrees is automatically branded a hater and is liable to be swimming with the :sharkchase: - with zebra striped concrete Nfinity's and a 4" teal bow. :help: Courtney has done amazing things with CEA. Whether you like them or not, there success can not be denied. I admire her business acumen. I do not question her motivations or reasoning. The things mentioned may just be collateral damages or simply outsider observations as the fallout occurs.

 

[ImaDad]

If you are implying that CAC started the USASF rules then you obviously don't know our program very well. Most programs in the nation have a positive relationship with CAC except Cheer Extreme.

No, Cheersport did, and Cheersport owns CAC correct?

CAC agreed 100% with those changes, correct?

The changes proposed are fairly similiar to those beliefs of your program, correct?

 

[CharlotteASMom]

tumbleyoda I agree with you and just wish programs would acknowledge that this is their business model. It's not illegal and doesn't break rules so why act like you are opening a gym for other reasons? Just say the Charlotte market has grown dramatically and we'd like to recruit those kids as we've done in other cities.

 

[SmileyRyleigh]

I'll probably get torn apart for this. But IMO i dont think that CEA should be opening a new locoation in Charlotte. I understand that there are many CEA athletes that make the drive from Charlotte to Kenersville, but that is their choice to make the drive. They could cheer at CAC, it's their decision that they're making to drive to CEA. All of these rumours (yes, i understand they are rumours.) that are stated that CEA people are recruiting (or trying to) recrute CAC athletes is awful. I understand that they are opening a new gym, yes, but if you're a little bit larger name gym trying to recrute athletes from the smaller name gym, how do you expect the other gym to succeed when you have all of their athletes?

 

[CharlotteASMom]

No, Cheersport did, and Cheersport owns CAC correct?

CAC agreed 100% with those changes, correct?

The changes proposed are fairly similiar to those beliefs of your program, correct?

CAC and Cheersport are owned by a parent program. But you are missing the point. Whether CAC agrees or not is a non-issue. There is still only one board member that is affiliated with CAC/Cheersport. That's one vote even if what you say were true. You'd have to say the same about CA, WC, and ACE that are also represented by Board members. No one would say they have an issue with being competitive.

 

[magical mom]

A little of the subject, but in reply to tumbleyodas statement that a program that is know internationally dosent have to recruit is in my opinion not a true statement. We in California have this happen all of the time. Just because you are a program that is internationally know dosent mean you dont want better athletes that are already primed from other gyms. We have a program that recruits our athletes all of the time. It is easier to them to pull an athlete that has experience and just mesh them with the program, then to create the athlete from the ground up.

 

[tumbleyoda]

tumbleyoda I agree with you and just wish programs would acknowledge that this is their business model. It's not illegal and doesn't break rules so why act like you are opening a gym for other reasons? Just say the Charlotte market has grown dramatically and we'd like to recruit those kids as we've done in other cities.

The main thing to realize is it is not illegal. Being removed from those NC fires, it seems like it is an attractive side benefit to the reasoning. Meaning this is our reason and if we get athletes from these other gyms because of it, that is a great bonus. It is a smart strategy. Go where the money is and if you don't have to spend six years to develop an athlete but two because someone else already put in the ground work, why not? If the CAC Satellite is going to survive long term they are going to have to put their best coaches/staff available on it. The CLT market is much stronger today, than the Raleigh market was when they opened there.

 

[tumbleyoda]

A little of the subject, but in reply to tumbleyodas statement that a program that is know internationally dosent have to recruit is in my opinion not a true statement. We in California have this happen all of the time. Just because you are a program that is internationally know dosent mean you dont want better athletes that are already primed from other gyms. We have a program that recruits our athletes all of the time. It is easier to them to pull an athlete that has experience and just mesh them with the program, then to create the athlete from the ground up.

I was making reference to the point that whenever this subject comes up, it is always pointed out by their fans that they do not have to recruit because they are so good and anyone would want to cheer there - therefore their logic goes they don't recruit. My experience having coached in NC and many others in NC is that they do recruit - they just are not open about saying that they do. Any "recruiting instance" is always blamed on a fan not truly affiliated with the program. Yet it has happened at every satellite opening since Raleigh. It may of even happened in Richmond, but I am not sure of that. Sorry if I made that unclear.

 

[carolinagirl823]

Okay what if I decided to open up a gym and use the old CAC building? Would everyone still feel the same way in that I should not be allowed to do that because CAC is already in the area? We are all a part of a competitive sport, and I think it is completely ridiculous that some of you are arguing to limit competition in certain areas of it just because it makes you unhappy. It comes with the territory. If you don't like competition, this might not be the sport for you.