pwcq
Junior High
Posts: 1
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Post by pwcq on Sept 22, 2005 21:14:52 GMT -5
How much do you think people would be interested in a Women's volleyball league in the US? I know USPV folded without much interest but that's been a few years already. Here's a blog for people who are interested in seeing Pro VB in US: blogs.exhite.com/volleyball/
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Post by OverAndUnder on Sept 22, 2005 21:43:13 GMT -5
Sports leagues only exist because owners, city/county entertainment tax districts, advertisers, and the mafia make sumo wrestler butt-loads of cash cash cash. cash.
If you fund it they will come.
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Post by bigfan on Sept 22, 2005 21:47:42 GMT -5
The only way this league would be successful is to place teams in college towns that draw great crowds like Nebraska and Hawai'i. I had a girlfriend who played in the previous league; they played their games at UCI (Irvine) and they drew crowds of 300-400 hundred and these were the best post collegiate volleyball players in the country. If the NBA was not holding up the WNBA it would have gone down the tubes years ago. The WNBA draws a real negative crowd (many angry women) but the former women's volleyball league drew nobody.
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Post by silversurfer on Sept 22, 2005 21:49:31 GMT -5
You'd need a TON of cash, more than what was invested in the USPV, to break through and get on ESPN for Fox Sports. Even then, success is not guaranteed if people don't like the product.
Look at the WNBA. The NBA has thrown BUNDLES of cash at this league, but the attendance is dropping, and it's not catching on because it's not exciting to the mainstream.
The only bet is for college ball to catch on. It already has a rabid fan base built in. You need collegiate ball to lead the way.
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Post by Gorf on Sept 22, 2005 22:15:57 GMT -5
It would have helped if the US Women's (or even the Men's) national teams had done better in the Athens Olympics. Especuially, if they had made it to the championship match(es).
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Post by USAFAN on Sept 22, 2005 22:33:39 GMT -5
Also the USPV didn't really feature what I would call the top of the line post collegiate athletes. I think the league would also have to incorporate foreign players from the get go. The cities that the USPV chose to have teams were ridiculous as well
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Post by romeo on Sept 22, 2005 22:39:19 GMT -5
The only real way this sport will catch the eye of the masses is if someone figures out a better way to televise the product. Very difficult to watch indoor volleyball on the tube.
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Post by silversurfer on Sept 22, 2005 22:50:00 GMT -5
The only real way this sport will catch the eye of the masses is if someone figures out a better way to televise the product. Very difficult to watch indoor volleyball on the tube. I agree. I think there should be more endzone camera angles.
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Post by VBCOACH on Sept 22, 2005 23:20:53 GMT -5
I know USPV folded without much interest Actually, the USPV drew quite well, sellng out multiple times in each city (although the venues were small.) All was going well, attendance wise, according to their marketing plan, which I've seen. It was a multiple year (10 year) plan, and they were hitting their first year goals. They were marketing to teen and pre-teen girls, and that demographic (and their parents) made-up a large portion of the crowd. At the autograph sessions after the matches, the crowd would hang around for 1 1/2 hours afterwards to get autographs and to talk to the players, who they idolized. The league was not designed to survive on the paid attendance....no league can. But there was definite interest.
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Post by cougvb on Sept 22, 2005 23:32:58 GMT -5
The only way this league would be successful is to place teams in college towns that draw great crowds like Nebraska and Hawai'i. I had a girlfriend who played in the previous league; they played their games at UCI (Irvine) and they drew crowds of 300-400 hundred and these were the best post collegiate volleyball players in the country. If the NBA was not holding up the WNBA it would have gone down the tubes years ago. The WNBA draws a real negative crowd (many angry women) but the former women's volleyball league drew nobody. I laughed out loud when I read that. I've only seen the crowds on television, but you are so right. Some pretty tough, angry women are there.
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Post by sonofbarcelonabob on Sept 23, 2005 0:20:08 GMT -5
It would have helped if the US Women's (or even the Men's) national teams had done better in the Athens Olympics. Especuially, if they had made it to the championship match(es). In 1984, the USA Men won Gold, the USA Women won Silver, in an Olympic Games held in the United States. Other than a brief blurp on the sports radar in this country, nothing ever came of it. Volleyball is, was, and for the most part will always be a cultish sport. Ever had the experience of walking into an open or pickup gym and having every doofus and doofusette looking at you and sizing you up before you've even started peppering? Can you even find a stranger who will pepper with you? Ever tried to get in a game on a summer weekend on a court in Manhattan or Will Rogers or East Beach? People who play volleyball recreationally are for the most part crummy-ass fans uninterested in seeing the college game or a pro game if it were ever get started again in this country. The marketing plan would be better off trying to reel in non-volleyballers to watch the sport than it would be to mobilize fans from within the sport. With the exception of club girls and their parents (who are usually only interested in watching the sport while they are actively in club), most people who play volleyball would rather PLAY than WATCH.
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Post by VBCOACH on Sept 23, 2005 0:55:53 GMT -5
It would have helped if the US Women's (or even the Men's) national teams had done better in the Athens Olympics. Especially, if they had made it to the championship match(es). In 1984, the USA Men won Gold, the USA Women won Silver, in an Olympic Games held in the United States. Other than a brief blurp on the sports radar in this country, nothing ever came of it. Volleyball is, was, and for the most part will always be a cultish sport. Ever had the experience of walking into an open or pickup gym and having every doofus and doofusette looking at you and sizing you up before you've even started peppering? Can you even find a stranger who will pepper with you? Ever tried to get in a game on a summer weekend on a court in Manhattan or Will Rogers or East Beach? People who play volleyball recreationally are for the most part crummy-ass fans uninterested in seeing the college game or a pro game if it were ever get started again in this country. The marketing plan would be better off trying to reel in non-volleyballers to watch the sport than it would be to mobilize fans from within the sport. With the exception of club girls and their parents (who are usually only interested in watching the sport while they are actively in club), most people who play volleyball would rather PLAY than WATCH. Pretty true. That's why the USPV was trying to develop a new fan base of young girls (yes, club players) who would be struck with a case of hero worship (which was happening) so that their attendance would continue past their club (and future) playing days. By the way, the inability of the USVBA to capitalize on the success of the 1984 Men and Women (and the 1988 Men) was one factor in Karchs' decision not to play in the 1992 Olympics because he was so frustrated.
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Post by 2c on Sept 23, 2005 1:02:07 GMT -5
In 1984, the USA Men won Gold, the USA Women won Silver, in an Olympic Games held in the United States. Other than a brief blurp on the sports radar in this country, nothing ever came of it. Volleyball is, was, and for the most part will always be a cultish sport. Ever had the experience of walking into an open or pickup gym and having every doofus and doofusette looking at you and sizing you up before you've even started peppering? Can you even find a stranger who will pepper with you? Ever tried to get in a game on a summer weekend on a court in Manhattan or Will Rogers or East Beach? People who play volleyball recreationally are for the most part crummy-ass fans uninterested in seeing the college game or a pro game if it were ever get started again in this country. The marketing plan would be better off trying to reel in non-volleyballers to watch the sport than it would be to mobilize fans from within the sport. With the exception of club girls and their parents (who are usually only interested in watching the sport while they are actively in club), most people who play volleyball would rather PLAY than WATCH. Pretty true. That's why the USPV was trying to develop a new fan base of young girls (yes, club players) who would be struck with a case of hero worship (which was happening) so that their attendance would continue past their club (and future) playing days. So had it not been for GW's economic policy and the downward spiral of the US Economy, how do you think the USAV would be doing now? Weren't they about to expand to some additional cities?
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Post by Charlie on Sept 23, 2005 1:03:05 GMT -5
Actually, the USPV drew quite well, sellng out multiple times in each city (although the venues were small.) All was going well, attendance wise, according to their marketing plan, which I've seen. It was a multiple year (10 year) plan, and they were hitting their first year goals. If they were on plan, why did it fold?
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Post by rayb_14 on Sept 23, 2005 1:13:29 GMT -5
Pretty true. That's why the USPV was trying to develop a new fan base of young girls (yes, club players) who would be struck with a case of hero worship (which was happening) so that their attendance would continue past their club (and future) playing days. So had it not been for GW's economic policy and the downward spiral of the US Economy, how do you think the USAV would be doing now? Weren't they about to expand to some additional cities? Dallas was one of 'em...
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