Board Advertising US Nationals

[Winnipeg]

While watching the US Nationals, I couldn't help noticing the large amount of bare boards around the rink. Usually they are full with aads from sponsors...........is this another sign of decreasing interest in FS?

Did anyone else notice?

 

[BravesSkateFan]

IDK, usually the Nationals boards aren't too laden with advertisements. Now Worlds on the other hand always has a lot. I guess I'd have to go back and look at some video from last year for compairson though.

 

[Raatkirani]

I had read somewhere that this was the first time the USFSA couldn't even get a "title" sponsor. Viewership has plummeted in the past several years.

 

[Geesesk8]

I noticed that Marshalls was also missing. If you go to USFS's home page (http://www.usfigureskating.org/) and scroll down they list "skating sponsors." Marshalls is also gone from that list. Keep in mind that Marshalls was a sponsor of two of the cheesefests. Yes, and unfortunately, another indication of decreasing interest.

 

[sillylionlove]

They weren't able to get a title sponsor. If you remember in the past few years it's always been the state farm us figure skating championships. This year it wasn't.

 

[waxel]

Yes, I noticed the bare boards. Scary.

 

[gsrossano]

As described by the big deal officials I spoke to at Nationals, State Farm dragged out its decision whether to renew, which left insufficient time to line up a new title sponsor. Barrier advertisers also proved difficult to line up. It was decided not to cut rates to fill up the boards for the sake of filling up the boards, since this would depress the rate they could ask for next year, should viewership rebound. Since ratings were up a little this year maybe that will prove to be the right choice. Time will tell.

Attendance was significantly down compared to 2006 and 2007 -- down 60-65% by my records. It was not so bad compared to 2004 and 2005. Attendance at Novice and Junior was about the same as it was four years ago (universally dismal). For the Senior events, my records have them down this year by about 1/3 compared to four years ago.