Acronym news and notes: PRO and WEGs

Perhaps ticket sales are down because of the prices?

So...what is PRO's role in eventing? Had to ask. And isn't there another organization of riders out there that focuses on PR for eventing? Would love to hear more about these and what they're up to!

If you want to see what Pro Eventing wants to be... Look at Pro Rodeo... Not Run by Rodeo Riders, Run by several Experienced Business people and Experienced marketing Professionals.

Rodeo is well funded because Rodeo appeals to sponsors. Rodeo represents markets that sponsors can sell into.

What rodeo makes Red Necks want to buy?
Trucks
Clothing
a Way of Life (Cowboy Image)
Music
Sex (tight jeans)
Beverages (Alcohol)
Cigarettes
Chewing Tobacco

By Comparison what does eventing make you want to buy?

???
Stuff for your own horse???

Get my point?

Eventing does not appeal to a enough secondary market opportunities.

To get eventing you have to understand all of the elements.
Dressage is boring if you don't -understand the movements.
XC - Very Exciting Build on this segment of the sport
Show Jumping - Needs more excitment

I get it... its all about control and fitness.

Rodeo patrons like the wrecks, cowboys, and horses

Not to mention the price gouging for hotel rooms. . .

I love it! Armchair marketing! Pro Rodeo, have you been on vacation in Siberia? We really don't want to promote our wrecks, I don't think.
I think we should thank Craig for his vision and for starting up a good group of people who have eventing in the forefront of their thoughts. Congratulations to Phillip Dutton, thank you for stepping up, and good luck in the future! Phillip will be doing his famous Eventing Camp next week up at True Prospect and I plan to drop by and say "hi" and hope to get a few pictures for EN (if work permits.) This is all good; and I look forward to see PRO's iniatives and future ideas. We can't afford to turn down any GOOD ideas for this sport - sorry, Pro Rodeo!

I would love to make a trip to the WEGs, but just can't make the expenses work. I wonder how they came to the decision on ticket prices (especially since USA was already in a recession when prices were set).

WEGs: I think there was definitely a mistake in the set price of tickets. They could put tickets on sale now, but how is that going to make all he people who bought them early feel? Considering that right now they could have charged half as much, had twice the attendees, and made the same amount of revenue, somebody dropped the ball.

PRO: Ashley might be thinking about the Professional Horseman's Council in the USEA, which is comprised of many different types of eventing professionals, some of whom are also members of PRO.

Honestly, I agree with the PRO Rodeo Marketer that eventing needs to attract fans and sponsors by thinking about the event experience more, and I give PRO a lot of credit for doing that. I also agree with retread that it's a good thing to have Phillip leading the PRO ship right now.

It amazes me that Andreas made it around XC, He needs to thank his horse as his XC skills just aren't there. It goes to show you that anyone can ride a upper level if put on a Great horse. Anreas jog was horrible as well and his Dressage was lacking. It appears that his strong point is Show Jumping as he did well there. Only if we all had such a horse in our barn!

I would LOVE to go to the games but yup $ is a huge factor - plane ticket, event ticket, hotel and the dang food.
sigh.
Lotto Max I am a awaiting for you!!!!!

My family had been seriously talking about making a trip to WEGs. When the tickets were finally available we couldn't believe the prices. The kicker was that we would not be able to bring a camper and actually camp. No way could we afford 2 hotel rooms for a week in addition to the ticket prices - so we canceled our plans and will have to do another trip, another time.

I try to make it to Rolex every year... for me, that's as good as the WEG for eventing, right? I've never seen combined driving, so wanted to see that, but guess what? It's on a different weekend than eventing anyway. So got tickets for the endurance combined driving, and team freestyle vaulting (which has to be better than the cute local PC kids -- no offense) that's the same weekend. Can't afford to go from GA to KY two weekends in a row!!! Go Eventing!

Maybe the WEG issue is location. Imagine if the venue was outside WDC, Atlanta, NYC, Denver, etc...more day trippers.
PS The ticket prices are a bit crazy.

I also would LOVE to take the time to go to the WEG this fall but the cost of tickets is OUTRAGEOUS and I would still go if they would lower prices.

I realize that is very expensive to put on this event, but the cost should be offset by sponsorship NOT factored into ticket pricing as it is already a huge expense to get and stay there.