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Post by schlager7 on Jan 25, 2004 10:31:04 GMT -6
In another thread, on a different topic, a poster signing as "Randy" wrote:
[glow=red,2,300]Schedule the finals at a different time than the rest of the fencing, maybe on a Sunday evening. I've seen a few finals and they are almost always fenced with almost no audience. Even other fencers, people who love fencing, don't stick around. Why? Because they are tired, and have had enough of hanging around a gym all day. No one knows when the finals will be and no one wants to hang around for hours until it is decided. This includes hardcore fencing fans, much less the casual viewer. [/glow]
I think he makes a salient point. So often, once a fencer is knocked out of his or her DE, they leave.
I recall a tournament at South Houston not so long ago. A fencer from my club (CLFC) showed up near the end. He was a former president of our club and on its board, but classified too high to fence (it was a "E & Under" event).
He was free that afternoon and came to watch the semifinals and finals.
It is a sad comment that the event of a non-participant showing up just to watch is so rare it stands out in my mind.
There are so many tournaments in our division and almost none of fence in them all. It probably would not take too much effort to show up just to watch, especially near the end for the semi-finals and finals.
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Post by Fencingal on Apr 3, 2004 1:13:05 GMT -6
I think finals on a seperate day would have less attendance. No one wants to drive long distances to see someone else fence
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Post by Dan Gorman on Apr 3, 2004 6:42:07 GMT -6
So let me give my theory on how to boost attendence at a fencing tournament. - Instead of saying fencing is too difficult for non-fencers to understand, we put in some seats and hold the fencing at a specific time. And we publicize that time -- that's important too.
- A 15 touch bout isn't long enough for a person off the streets to work up much emotion over who's fencing. Use a 45-touch relay bout instead. Best 2 out of 3 weapons wins the tournament. Pick the weapon order in any way you want. The longer time frame gives more of a chance for rallies and gives the spectator a chance to care.
- Start with groups that people already care about. High schools or colleges. I think a head-to-head meet between A&M and UT is the way to go.
People don't need to understand exactly what they're seeing to care but they need to understand basics like what the score is and why they should cheer for one or the other. That's about it. How much do most fans really understand about football? Not a lot. Do they see the guards pulling on a sweep? Do they know what that means? No, they know their team either stuffed the run or gained 5 yards, and they cheer accordingly. The fans just need basics. If a ref said that CLHS's attack arrived and SHHS is now down 36-27 CLHS students will cheer and SHHS students will boo. There is no understanding beyond that necessary for them. If SHHS's parry is good and they're rallying back to only 35-37 now, the SHHS crowd will be going nuts. The other big thing is to get fencing into more schools. The more people who have fenced in the past, the more people who will go on a whim to a tournament to live vicariously through some other athlete. That's my theory anyway. Dan
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Post by I agree w Dan on Apr 3, 2004 10:17:41 GMT -6
Team events and chairs - Two things we never have enough of.
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Post by MJ WYSOCKI on Apr 5, 2004 8:09:14 GMT -6
I agree with Dan as well! Good thoughts. Dan, what do you think of this:At sectional tournaments have an 'inofrmation booth' with 'information hosts'. These would available for 'visitors' to talk to. The sport could be explained to them, and we could have some simple brochures made up to give them. A host could stand next to them and try to explain how a few of the points were scored etc.
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Post by Dan Gorman on Apr 5, 2004 8:44:16 GMT -6
I think that's great for the people who come into the event, but they still need 2 things to stay and better pay money to get in. A reason to care about the competitors and a spectator friendly venue. I think it's important for the organizers to have an information booth to help spectators understand, but they'll only stay if they care and they have a time and place to be.
Dan
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