I actually disagree with this. I think they are much better served by getting feedback after events directly from the athletes who participated in the event - like the post-race surveys. There seem to be a significant number of people who comment on ST regarding WTC who are parroting what they heard, jumping on the bash WTC bandwagon, or are just armchair quarterbacks, rather than giving comments based on what they actually experienced (both good and bad) at a race. If someone has a comment or suggestion then there is nothing stopping them from forwarding it directly to WTC at any time. I'm sure they can gain some insight by monitoring the ST forum, but I think feedback directly form people who participated in an event is more valuable.

When u have hundreds and or a thousand people volunteering their time for a companies profit I can see why would irritate some people .
Then u have a pro who wants to be paid for his hobby while some poor sap is working for free

Oh, I am pretty sure WTC gives ST commentary about its events as much credit as it deserves.

Even if they are better served through after-event feedback, does that mean WTC should not pursue other feedback? The channels are not mutually exclusive, and ST is an easy and free resource for WTC. IMHO, failing to proactively utilize every single avenue of feedback from core customers, that's easy to do and free of cost, is a strategic mistake - both for gathering critical input and for testing new ideas.

If I were an exec at WTC and my business development team was leaving free samples on the table, I'd be looking for a new bus dev team.

---

_____________

"Some guys they just give up living, and start dying little by little piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up, then go racin' in the street." Bruce Springsteen

I'm sure they do read the comments on the ST forum, in fact they've commented on some threads. I think with ST they need to wade through a bunch of comments from people commenting on races that they didn't even participate in and comments from people who haven't even necessarily done a WTC race. I just think they are better served directly seeking feedback after races from participants of that race. I'm sure there is value in both. That's just MY opinion ... so you may be right and I may be completely wrong.

WTC monitors Slowtwitch. The following WTC employees even comment on threads (and sometimes start threads):

Andrew Messick (CEOIronman)
Mike Reilly (IronmanVoice)
Bryan Myrick (EndurathonRD)
Tom Ziebart (TomZ????)

---

Pink? Maybe. Maybe not. You decide.

well over 7 figure net at a smaller NA event (full) earlier this year.

---

36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App

First off...no one has any idea what their financials look like except them and PEP...so speculating on how taxing their debt will be on the is silly. Second, they have one of the best business models out there:
1. No goods to be sold (outside of merch), all revenue is based on a service
2. People pay for that service up to 1 year in advance. They have a DSO numbers that are insanely awesome and a cash flow that is incredible.
3. Very few fixed costs, very little D&A, and a very high Working Capital number

They are basically a lender's wet dream when you look at the circumstances. Even without seeing their financials, my bet is that the debt load isn't going to be a problem.

Glad someone else gets it. Yeah messick prob saw something in the dividend but gotta think his big payday is coming when he sells this turd to the next sucker.

There was a push to sell (now retracted). Other private equity groups (word was this was who they were attempting to sell it to -- anyone got ideas on what other group would/could buy it?) could see the analysis themselves and realized that the asset was flat lining and doing a little cannabalization. The initial steep growth curve had already been realized. PE getting 220m is simply them giving up on the asset seeing any more exponential growth in the next few years. Money talks louder than messick's public professing of "proliferation of races is our future growth."

---

36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App

my guess is no PE firm would touch this now. There is very small upside. PE firms don't get in on the top of a wave, they get in at or near ground zero and ride it home and jump off before it crashes. Seeing that the speculation that the PE firm cashed out is intriguing.

---

Powered By HD Coaching

Are there any other examples of companies that make as much profit while using as much volunteer time?

Some sources have 4000 volunteers required for a race. If you estimate they each work 4 hours @ 7.25 minimum wage you have costs of $116k. Seems like that would reduce their estimated net profits by quite a significant margin.

Have a look at my original post.

I was just posting numbers. Not bagging.

---