Quote:
Originally Posted by cgkdisc
The direct question was how do pros help a TD with tournament expenses and the related question is why would a TD host pro divisions. Here's what I've got on my list and these aren't necessarily unique to pros but also not a reason to exclude them either:
1. Those who helped the TD prepare or build the courses or prep for the tournament in other ways may be pros (per John's post) and the TD throws them a bone by hosting their pro division.
2. Related to that is the TD is a pro and wants to play in their own event.
3. Pros could have brought in sponsor money or merch for the event.
4. Pro divisions are easier to handle with cash payouts versus needing to buy merch to cover Am prizes or deal with a local merchant if the TD isn't in the business of selling disc merch other than events.
5. More Ams might enter if first round mixes pros with ams in groups.
6. In C-tiers, pro payout only has to be 85%, so they can contribute to event expenses if the TD actually does pay out 85% and not 100% or more without sponsorship.
7. If tournament expense fees are built into the entry fees, which is allowed, pros can help cover fixed event expenses like shelter and course fees if the event is unlikely to fill with only Ams.
The point is it takes a little more work for both the pros and the TD to "justify" their inclusion in events in comparison with Ams. We should be looking for ways to support the TDs efforts so there's a better balance in the reasons they would want to host pro divisions in the lower tiers.
|
I can see all of your points here. I suppose I misread the initial question. It seemed to me that you wanted things that only the pro players could do for an event. Yes, everything you described is something a pro can do, although many of the things you brought up are things that anybody in the community could do (and in some cases, things they SHOULD do if they're dedicated to their community).
Maybe its just my view as a pro - but I just have never seen the need to take from the purse (for any division) to pay for expenses. As I said before - a huge chunk of the money can come from the profit on the merchandise that a tournament director "sells" to all of the amateurs at the tournament. What cripples a tournament far worse, IMHO, is a small amateur field - not a small pro field. I value at below MSRP for the purpose of payouts, and still make a nice profit. Virtually all tournament directors value at well over MSRP. And only a few have overhead to deal with (like the IDGC). Honestly the only people I can see that should have trouble financing a decent B Tier are people that outsource their merch to a local dealer.
(discounting, of course, the people in Los Angeles that apparently pay parks $700 to use their facilities, which I think is COMPLETELY absurd, but hell if its out there, its out there, yikes)