B_Doughtie wrote:
Yes I'm 2 steps ahead of your thoughts. I'm showing you how the PTO can make an unified product with the current steps they are currrently taking. I'm suggesting they've already started that process and that the ultimate success will be up to the general public. So that if it doens't get much traction, then no we won't get an "unified" title.
But I believe you asked how, and I'm showing you the how to your question. you just failed to recognize my answer (no my answer isn't off topic, my answer is the whole solution to a "unified" championship).
Like if their product takes off an unified title will easily be in the works because they'll have the financial incentive for pros to make it work. That's it. ETA: And if their tv product doesn't take off then you have your answer. Like they are doing everything they can to create a finacial viable professional triathlon organization. It simply may not work and that's fine too. But they are doing a very good job of putting their best foot forward with it. It just likely may not work, and that's cool too.
ETA #2- There's also nothing to disagree with. Financial viable sports aren't run by single business billionaires throwing money into said sport (that's how they get started obviously). They are the sports that gain traction by being a product that people buy into and want in front of them and that creates ad revenue, that creates people PAYING you to broadcast your sport.
Right now you have Ironman, ITU, Challenge (PTO), and Superleague. Superleague is a pro only field with no AG. I love it, but it's not comparable with the others. ITU doesn't really have an AG series that would stack up with IM or Challenge.
Challenge is IM's biggest competitor and its not close. The AG race circuit for IM along with amateur rankings and race atmosphere aren't even comparable. I think IM relates to us AGers because it actually caters to us (except recent times with Covid19).
Until someone can do something similar then IM will continue to draw the most interest because AGers have a personal stake in the races more so than any other company.