Best time of day to begin online registration for events that fill quickly?

Triathlon Forum
1

Received the email below and several others like it over the past several days. Also noticed a complaint or two here on ST regarding a 7 pm registration start time for events put on by another race management company. The change to a 10 am start time (referenced below) was made in response to complaints about the midnight start time of the past several years. Any sort of consensus as to what is a fair time to start registration for races that fill quickly? We will stick with 10 am for this year since registration starts Tuesday, Jan. 8, but might rethink things for next year.
***“I was so thrilled to actually be able to consider signing up for the Tri Shark this year! Many of my Tri Club friends have done it for several years and this was my year to join them. I just got a reminder regarding registration and was very disappointed to see that registration starts at 10 AM. That’s the middle of my work day! I’m a teacher and don’t have the ability to say, “Hey, kids, hold on a few minutes while I utilize the school’s computer system for personal business…and don’t play with the scissors while I’m focused on the computer!” Needless to say, I’m quite disappointed that by the time I get home from work, the registration will be closed.” ***

***Why the change in time? ***

2

If the race fills…who cares! :wink:

I would think that a weekend date would make more folks happy - however as you know there is no way to make everyone happy.

3

I think it was Joe B. who said that registration has become the 4th discipline in triathlon…

4

I have the same problem as your email sender - can’t register from work (for me it’s a firewall and web filter issue). I had to take a vacation day and stay home last year just to register for IM Wisconsin.

Suggestion: 8 pm eastern time on a weekday or 10am eastern on a weekend. That would allow most people to register outside of their work day and still stays within what most people would have as “normal” or “waking” hours. Yes, you’ll never satisfy everyone but the above ought to come close.

My $.02

5

Why don’t more races just make it fair and do a lottery. Cuts down on the stress and in theory if things are random, different people get in different years.

6

Why don’t more races just make it fair and do a lottery. Cuts down on the stress and in theory if things are random, different people get in different years.

It is a lottery who ever can get throught hte computer system wins.

Grant