The thread about the poor schwag in the bag for IMWI got me thinking about something that has troubled me for a long time. Here’s the deal. Folks pay 400+ to do an IMNA race, they seem to have a ton of sponsors so that has to add up to a ton of cash coming in. I know staging a race is expensive what with security, insurance, logistics and many other things I can’t fathom. Still with this influx of bucks I still can never figure out what I accomplish when I volunteer for one of these big races. Am I helping out my fellow triathletes and giving back to the sport or am I letting a big corporation make a larger profit by relieving them of their responsiblity to the athletes by actually hiring race personnel? I mean I’m happy to give back to the sport but I don’t know how strongly I feel the need to volunteer so some guy can drive a nicer car.
I think that IMNA and the WTC are actually small companies that host large events. The volunteering is fun and good for the sport. I am pretty sure people do it for those reasons. Graham is always around the races, usually on a bike looking very fit and worrying about the race. He certainly does not come across as a fat-cat. I would be surprised if Graham Fraser cracked the top half on the income list at any event he puts on. I also believe that the WTC donates all proceeds to charity at the end of the year. Now you can volunteer without worrying about Grahams car…maybe he is getting a better bike though…hmmmm.
Fair enough, but why haven’t the sponsorship dollars translated into more for the athletes. I did 2 Accenture races-SF and NY. I thoroughly enjoyed both races but felt like the sponsorship only led to more commercial time. No decrease in race fees, no extra stuff, in fact less in the way of bike aid stations and gel/sport drink in transition than I had at non-big sponsor races. IMWI existed @ the same fee last year. So what is Ford doing for the athlete? Or are the extra bucks going to the management co? Or is this what they needed to stay afloat. Just curious.
I guess I see it differently. I think the athletes get a great deal. It might appear better if there was a free hat in the bag but I have a bag full of free hats. I give them to goodwill. I want a safe race in a good venue. I feel that IMNA has done that for me. Maybe the Ford sponsorship has simply helped to offset rising costs. I just don’t see the issue, I hope IMNA makes money. I don’t apologize for the money my company makes, I guess I don’t expect them to either. I do see the point of your question, I just don’t think there is a real answer other than more power to them.
Do you ask people to work for your company for free under the premise that their presence is good for something they care about? I don’t begrudge a profit at all and I suspect a lot of people work damn hard to put on a good race. I think they should be paid for it. But given the same premise I think IMNA could give some of these riches back too. I have a friend who is going to marshal the bike course as a volunteer. They want him there saturday, he lives 3 hours away. So he’s going to get a hotel room. So he’s out a couple bucks. He’s glad to do it. Last year he volunteered @ IMC since he was going up to register anyway. I just can’t help but feel like after he volunteered he should have had preference for a slot or they could give something back. Instead, given more riches, it seems they could support the volunteers more. I’m happy to be corrected and hear that they aren’t making huge money, the race couldn’t exist without volunteers etc. I just can’t help but not see it.
And having said that I’m set to volunteer @ IMHI so there you have it-the hypocrite. LOL
Why would you be happy they aren’t making “huge” money.
I hope IMNA makes as much money as humanly possible. If you don’t want to volunteer someone else will. Just like in any free market people have many choices to race in an Ironman, obviously they are doing something right.
I think that actual dollars that sponsors contribute would surprise many. Many sponsors are donating services or suppying goods in kind. The typical model is that the entry fees cover any and all direct costs to run the event. Then a sponsor, usually the title sponsor throws in the cash for the prize purse. That’s the basic flow of money.
When we live in this world( our triathlon world) we think that IMNA and the WTC are BIG organizations - you used the word “Corporation” in your earlier post. Again, I think that many would be suprised by the actual size of IMNA and the WTC from a business and administration perspective. They are actually quite small. They seem bigger because they put on these big events with thousands of participants, and thousands of voluteers and spectators.
Keep in mind that these events barely register on the mainstream media or really big sponsor( say Microsoft) radar screens.