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Post by John Milne on Nov 14, 2012 21:40:48 GMT -5
For those of us living outside of Ontario there should be a discount. We don't benefit from the "incentives". Also there should be a discounted entry fee (maybe $10 or $15) for first-timers. Good points, and interesting ideas. What do Ontario pullers think? What do we think about Quebec wanting something??? Heh, lets just say I'm used to it. (More to do with politics than AW so relax) No to discounts. We have it very good here, probably one of the best spots in the world. We have Pro Circuts (AMelter), Pro Events (MGC), well organized and run provincial sanctioned and non sanctioned events, etc. This comes at a cost. The fact is we have the best product here in Ontario, if you want the best you'll pay for it. This is like ordering a steak and asking to pay for a hamburger. Sixty bucks won't take you and the old lady out for dinner. If you love armwrestling I doubt that the extra five bucks per arm will keep you away... if it would I'd have to question your love for the sport. Events are held about six weeks apart, perhaps I could introduce you an accountant that could help you save that extra two-three bucks a week for the next event. PROMOTERS are what keep this sport growing.... not just newcomers. Look at it objectively and not with rose coloured glasses. NO PROMOTERS - NO EVENTS... get it?? If a promoter can't make money, he's going to quit promoting or go bankrupt. It's as simple as that people. Gas prices go up, so does milk, cigarettes, yes even hookers... Guess what that means? Yep, entry fees will too. Love the sport do you? Save that fifty cents a day to make it to your next event. If you can't afford it then I truly feel bad for you, because you have much more important things in life to worry about than the price of armwrestling. I suspect changes can be made in one's budget to accommodate the small raise in entry fees. |
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silverback
Full Member
Provincial Champion
Posts: 241
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Post by silverback on Nov 14, 2012 22:51:32 GMT -5
All I have to say is put your kids in hockey and then take a good look at the cost of our sport.
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Post by Rob Hancock on Nov 15, 2012 1:13:31 GMT -5
Increases- I'm sure everyone agrees that referee's and scorekeepers should be paid since we can't run tournaments without them. I'm also in favour of keeping the annual awards, referee clinics and all of the puller incentives in place. Increasing fees to sponsor pro events like the Toronto supershow, Mark's 8 woman round robin and the MGC etc. is wrong and should stop. Big money tournaments are great for elite level pullers and a nightmare for the lower level pullers. These tournaments don't say the OAA classic, so it's not our responsibility, it's the promoter's. Losing a $500 donation will not make these big budget events go bankrupt. These events still benefit from our message board and puller base, that should be enough. The OAA's main priority should be building its members, not sponsoring pro events. The increased fees are being paid by everyone, (including first-time pullers). We are taking the money from the wrong people. Charging our own tournament directors while paying others is just wrong. I have never heard so many tournament directors complain about fee increases as I have this year. Same goes for pullers complaining about increased entry fees. Years ago when entries were cheap, every class had more than 12 entries. We very rarely see those big numbers today. I've also noticed a higher spectator to armwrestler ratio than ever before. It's to the point where I can't get a seat at many events, and this weekend will be no exception. Raising fees is having a negative affect on entry fees. I think the expenses should be cut instead of raising fees, JMO! I think the membership fees are too low, not the entry fees.
Discounts- No! There's also lots of Ontario residents that don't benefit from any of the OAA incentives.
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Post by Jay Riehle on Nov 15, 2012 10:03:31 GMT -5
Rather then go on my usual rant, I'll just state my opinion:
Curcuit sanctioned events:
-I agree with John $30/arm is a small price to pay for those who reside in Ontario
-I do however agree with Hugh that people who reside outside of Ontario should get some sort of a discount to these events. (i.e.-Buy 1 arm get the 2nd free or half price) Steve Pettis out of Michigan practices this method which I plan on taking full advantage of in the coming year. How great would it be to attract a car load of pullers from Michigan, New York, Maine, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and yes even Quebec to compete in our Curcuit events.
Sanctioned events:
- MGC, ArmMelter venues, no discount. (John's hamburger remark plain and simple) Joe offers a triple elimination event for $25 at least 4 times a year and pays out to Champions and Challengers. Mike offers Amateur, Masters and Professional classes all at different entry fees for us to choose from.
- Other santioned events are up to the promoters discretion
O.A.A. Sponsorship:
- I 110% agree that the O.A.A. should sponsor these high profile events. Look at the O.A.A. web page, very 1st line and mission statement: "Promoting and growing the sport of armwrestling in the province of Ontario." I think what Eric and the executive have done, and are doing for sport within Ontario is nothing short of incredible.
Rookies:
-I believe there should be a discount for those getting into the sport. 1 idea could be that with purchase of an O.A.A. membership, their 1st year of professional armwrestling within the curcuit could be given @ a buy 1st arm get the 2nd half price. The O.A.A. would not collect their $5 from the pullers second entry throughout the season, but would benefit from the $20 it collects from the membership. This way it's an incentive for the new puller to try a few tournaments to discover whether or not this sport would be a good fit for them or not. This may be difficult to track, but would only be valid for their first season in the sport (i.e the 2012-2013 season) whether they pull 1 or all 5 tournaments throughout the year.
I realize it's hard to get out to all the great events this province has to offer with Fuel, Food, Babysitting costs and yes for some of us even Hookers!! But I feel we get much more then what we pay for with the awards, level of refferring, the best tables in the world to pull on etc, etc.
On a side note I'd like to see alot more teams getting outside support from sponsors within their communities. This would alleviate transportation cost and perhaps help with promoting the sport within the communities (i.e.- amatuer tourney like last years Bobcaygeon Tourney, Drayton Fall Fair, Gravenhurst etc.)
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Post by Eric Roussin on Nov 15, 2012 10:48:57 GMT -5
It's really nice to see all the different points of view. Thanks for the great feedback!
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Post by Pierre Madison on Nov 15, 2012 13:38:40 GMT -5
for us in quebec if we count the entry fee 60$ both arms 50$ gas not everybody can afford that
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Post by Pierre Madison on Nov 15, 2012 13:40:20 GMT -5
but i dont mind because here in quebec we have no trnmt that equals the one in ontario
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Post by Dave McEwen on Nov 15, 2012 23:14:11 GMT -5
#1 out of province should not affect Ont. Ranking ,can Chris confirm this .#2 only a few benifit from the incentives , I vote keep the fees low to assure turnout . Try having a raffle or 50-50 draws at the events to go for incentives so that pullers don't have a mandatory tax inposed for incentives,then incentives will be what is raised by OAA or try for sponsership which could lower entrys more.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2012 23:49:14 GMT -5
#1 out of province should not affect Ont. Ranking ,can Chris confirm this .#2 only a few benifit from the incentives , I vote keep the fees low to assure turnout . Try having a raffle or 50-50 draws at the events to go for incentives so that pullers don't have a mandatory tax inposed for incentives,then incentives will be what is raised by OAA or try for sponsership which could lower entrys more. It possibly could. If Hugh B & Sylvain B show up, sylvain beats Joel in 154's, then joel gets eliminated in the B by Hugh and Aslan then easily beats Sylvain in finals.. Aslan could take over the Ontario (and Canadian) ranking over Joel. |
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Don Sample
New Member
Provincial Champion
Posts: 39
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Post by Don Sample on Nov 17, 2012 16:05:04 GMT -5
well just to put my two cents in i havent been out to very many tournaments for that reason !i love the sport!and would hit all the tournaments if i could afford it !!Between gas and food its easy 130 to 150 each time i go ! love the sport !! keep up the good work
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Post by Ryan Charles on Nov 20, 2012 21:00:14 GMT -5
I have to say that im with Don on this one....... When I started pulling it was 20/arm which was nothing...... I do believe that it will be harder to get new blood out when you tell them its gonna cost 30/arm to come out and loose twice..... yes you gotta take the humps and lumps that come with the sport..... Im just saying that spending 60 bucks for only 2 guaranteed armwrestles/arm is alot to ask of new or seasoned pullers...... this will effect numbers IMO
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Post by Bilal Kreidieh on Nov 21, 2012 21:01:11 GMT -5
If all it takes is an extra $10 total for both arms per competition to support the organizers, then on second thoughts I'm willing to pay it. That's the price of a medium pizza...seriously dont think it's that big of a deal.
If you're going to 10 events a year, that's $100 extra per year...which is still less than $10 a month. Is it really that big of a deal?
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Post by John Milne on Nov 21, 2012 21:50:30 GMT -5
Looking for the "Like" button.
Nice post Bilal
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Post by Joel Goodsell on Nov 22, 2012 6:58:14 GMT -5
Its easy to say that when you only compete in 5 or 6 tourneys a year. Do it after 10 to 15. Everyone who says its fine so far for the exeption of a few people dont pull more then 5 or 6 times a year. Im not saying you dont supot or promote and dont do your part to make the oaa better but when you got guys who are trying to make it to every event to keep the numbers up its hard. And bill when you were working construction we barly saw you out. Yes you made it to a few but what did you do more then anything. Complain about how its to much to compete. you got to think, not everyone makes as much as you.
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Post by Eric Roussin on Nov 22, 2012 8:25:01 GMT -5
Just a reminder that the entry fee has gone up by $5 for only the five OAA circuit sanctioned events, so max $50 extra if you go to all of them and pull with both arms. And those who go to all five get two free entries to Provincials and Nationals ($180 value). Plus anyone that attends all five has a good chance of being in the running for Puller of the Year (an extra $200) and the Ironman Award (another $200).
There are another 15+ OAA events each year where this entry fee does not apply (where the tournament director sets the fees at his/her discretion).
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