I don’t know, their still spending the same amount of money, just on fewer people. You can do the PR and build compelling stories without decreasing the number of people getting end of year bonuses. Also, the argument comparing the PTO races and the decreased number of athletes to tennis grand slam events or the golf majors is funny...in a way I see it but tennis and golf provide plenty of opportunity in these events outside the top tier athletes. the way PTO is doing it they are skipping all the opening rounds and going straight to the finals.
Once I heard that Warner Bros. Discovery came on as an investor, Argument A.) makes much more sense. I am rooting for the PTO to raise the level of how professionals are treated and perceived by the masses, but they certainly don’t seem to be in the business of pro development, and I understand that. However, there are plenty of smaller races for young/new pros to gain exposure and earn their way up the ranks, and then who knows? If the PTO makes athletes hungrier to work harder to reach a coveted slot at a PTO race, that is a compelling story that will engage audiences, and thereby help spread the word of how rad our nutty three-prong sport is.:)
I think as a business move it definitely could work (if they make better TV packages), totally get it.
I think the reason it rubs a lot of people weirdly is because the PTO was originally sold as a kind of athletes' association/union of all the pros. And it's really just an event/media business with some athlete buy-in -- which still can be good for everyone but is a different thing, you know?
Yes, for sure. It has certainly evolved away from the union angle, so from the inside, that must be disheartening, but I do think there is more opportunity for pros, it’s just gonna take a minute (years) to get there. 🤞
I don’t know, their still spending the same amount of money, just on fewer people. You can do the PR and build compelling stories without decreasing the number of people getting end of year bonuses. Also, the argument comparing the PTO races and the decreased number of athletes to tennis grand slam events or the golf majors is funny...in a way I see it but tennis and golf provide plenty of opportunity in these events outside the top tier athletes. the way PTO is doing it they are skipping all the opening rounds and going straight to the finals.
Ugh, how do you edit. I typed “their” instead of “they’re” and it is driving me crazy I can’t correct that!
Haha, I think it's the three little dots on the bottom right
Once I heard that Warner Bros. Discovery came on as an investor, Argument A.) makes much more sense. I am rooting for the PTO to raise the level of how professionals are treated and perceived by the masses, but they certainly don’t seem to be in the business of pro development, and I understand that. However, there are plenty of smaller races for young/new pros to gain exposure and earn their way up the ranks, and then who knows? If the PTO makes athletes hungrier to work harder to reach a coveted slot at a PTO race, that is a compelling story that will engage audiences, and thereby help spread the word of how rad our nutty three-prong sport is.:)
I think as a business move it definitely could work (if they make better TV packages), totally get it.
I think the reason it rubs a lot of people weirdly is because the PTO was originally sold as a kind of athletes' association/union of all the pros. And it's really just an event/media business with some athlete buy-in -- which still can be good for everyone but is a different thing, you know?
Yes, for sure. It has certainly evolved away from the union angle, so from the inside, that must be disheartening, but I do think there is more opportunity for pros, it’s just gonna take a minute (years) to get there. 🤞