So I just saw a poll at the US Swimming web site that asked:
In the last twenty years, who do you think has changed more in the sport of swimming?
The choices were swimmers or coaches.
Thought it would be a good thread to talk about. Should we also throw in swimming equipment for good measure?
Talk amongst yourselves...
Parents
Former Member
Marketing is a big part of spectator and televised sports. Successful individual sports in the U.S. have well marketed stars, which attracts viewers, which attracts advertisers and news coverage, which allows there to be big monetary awards for the stars, etc. A "virtuous circle" is formed. Golf and tennis have been relatively successful.
Look at motor sports, which has some similarity to swimming ... individuals racing. Just watching cars going around a track for 500 miles can be quite boring, but when there are well marketed stars of the sport with all the sports marketing paraphenalia, they build a culture and dedicated fan base. The fans are well educated in the details of the sport even if they never drive a race car. The televised races spend lots of money to make the races visually exciting, and the fans have an attachment to their favorite drivers which makes them sit for hours watching cars go in circles, with the occasional crash to spice things up.
Swimming hasn't built that kind of "virtuous circle". I got the impression that Phelps was attempting to build more interest in swimming outside of the Olympics. It will take a significant investment in money and marketing to build a big fan base, and other well established sports are competing for the same money and fans. I think that soccer in the U.S. is suffering from similar problems as swimming.
Marketing is a big part of spectator and televised sports. Successful individual sports in the U.S. have well marketed stars, which attracts viewers, which attracts advertisers and news coverage, which allows there to be big monetary awards for the stars, etc. A "virtuous circle" is formed. Golf and tennis have been relatively successful.
Look at motor sports, which has some similarity to swimming ... individuals racing. Just watching cars going around a track for 500 miles can be quite boring, but when there are well marketed stars of the sport with all the sports marketing paraphenalia, they build a culture and dedicated fan base. The fans are well educated in the details of the sport even if they never drive a race car. The televised races spend lots of money to make the races visually exciting, and the fans have an attachment to their favorite drivers which makes them sit for hours watching cars go in circles, with the occasional crash to spice things up.
Swimming hasn't built that kind of "virtuous circle". I got the impression that Phelps was attempting to build more interest in swimming outside of the Olympics. It will take a significant investment in money and marketing to build a big fan base, and other well established sports are competing for the same money and fans. I think that soccer in the U.S. is suffering from similar problems as swimming.
