Is the economic downturn affecting your club in any way, such as a decrease in participation, (or even increase if swimming is seen as a cheap pastime, like movie-going and rentals?) Is your club doing anything as a result, or is it preparing for a bad economy in any way? Any drop or increase in meet participation attributed to it?
Our club has a pretty high turnover rate, just due to the nature of our facility (at a major university), but there are plenty of new folks coming in.
Ray, you hosted a meet already this year - how was attendance? (Mollie and I were out of town, so we couldn't make it this year)
Our 5th annual meet this February attracted 22 more entries than last year, a 15% increase. (and a larger number of swimmers bought the meet tee shirt. The 3.6 events per swimmer held steady.) Our club membership is up ahead of last year, so we have not cut back lane rentals or workouts.
The reason for my post is that our club administration has been contemplating possibilities for the club and program in the bad economy, but it appears the bad economy hasn't had much effect...yet. I wanted to know what others were experienceing, and planning (if you actually plan:)) I wanted to know if our club's experience is unique.
Maybe our club is in a more recession-proof town than most (government-lobbyist-defense contractor laden Washington DC). Maybe there's a continuation of the "Michael Phelps factor:" when he started winning gold, new members to our club started coming out of the woodwork.
It's good to see that some of you swimmers have not stopped swimming altogether although finances are surely putting a strain on things. Thanks for your thoughts and explanations on your swimming through a recession.
Is there any way we can market a swimming program in a recession? Is there anything a club can do short of cutting back to reduce fees? Would that really make a difference, or would it drive other people away if a program starts deteriorating?
Our club has a pretty high turnover rate, just due to the nature of our facility (at a major university), but there are plenty of new folks coming in.
Ray, you hosted a meet already this year - how was attendance? (Mollie and I were out of town, so we couldn't make it this year)
Our 5th annual meet this February attracted 22 more entries than last year, a 15% increase. (and a larger number of swimmers bought the meet tee shirt. The 3.6 events per swimmer held steady.) Our club membership is up ahead of last year, so we have not cut back lane rentals or workouts.
The reason for my post is that our club administration has been contemplating possibilities for the club and program in the bad economy, but it appears the bad economy hasn't had much effect...yet. I wanted to know what others were experienceing, and planning (if you actually plan:)) I wanted to know if our club's experience is unique.
Maybe our club is in a more recession-proof town than most (government-lobbyist-defense contractor laden Washington DC). Maybe there's a continuation of the "Michael Phelps factor:" when he started winning gold, new members to our club started coming out of the woodwork.
It's good to see that some of you swimmers have not stopped swimming altogether although finances are surely putting a strain on things. Thanks for your thoughts and explanations on your swimming through a recession.
Is there any way we can market a swimming program in a recession? Is there anything a club can do short of cutting back to reduce fees? Would that really make a difference, or would it drive other people away if a program starts deteriorating?
