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| I saw this in the March WPRA Presidents Newsletter and was curious what other people thought:
"Since this meeting was the first under the new 10-year contract, it was a very upbeat and positive meeting. As with any new contract, there are some changes being made, from renovation of the Thomas and Mack to a possible change in the format of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo beginning in 2015. It is the strong belief of many people, who have a lifetime of experience in making the Wrangler NFR the success that it is, that in order to continue to grow over the next 10 years, some changes need to be made. The members of the NFRC Board want to see our sport grow and prosper for many years to come. You will be hearing a lot about this new format of the Wrangler NFR over the next month as it could be voted on by April. The concern of this committee is that the fans do not understand the "average" at the Wrangler NFR, as it is so hard to follow and difficult to understand how the World Champions are determined. The Ram National Circuit Finals and many other large rodeos, like San Antonio, have proven that the tournament style rodeo is very well received by the fans and has been enormously successful. The total prize money (including guaranteed money) at the 2015 Wrangler NFR is $10,000,000. The format change would change the way the money is paid out to determine the World Champions. It would be by the most money won in the rounds, the money won in the regular season, and the final round. There will not be an average. Keep your ears and your minds open to this new proposal. Please call me if you have any questions, and I will try to answer them with the information that I have."
http://www.wpra.com/presidents_update.php |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | " as it is so hard to follow and difficult to understand how the World Champions are determined"
What was hard to follow about the average? It's math. Simple. LOL
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
 
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | TrailGirl - 2015-03-02 9:24 AM " as it is so hard to follow and difficult to understand how the World Champions are determined" What was hard to follow about the average? It's math. Simple. LOL
That is what I was thinking! They are just trying to complicate it... |
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 Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | UTAHCANCHASER - 2015-03-02 9:40 AM
TrailGirl - 2015-03-02 9:24 AM " as it is so hard to follow and difficult to understand how the World Champions are determined" What was hard to follow about the average? It's math. Simple. LOL
That is what I was thinking! They are just trying to complicate it...
How hard is it? whoever wins the most money is the champion. Each round and the average pay so much, add that to how much they've won on the year and. . . . . . . Wait for it. . . . . . . . . . . The one with the most money wins! That's hard to understand! Lol |
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| Why are they changing the way contestants are paid based on the "understanding" of spectators? Hmm
Edited by scwebster 2015-03-02 11:11 AM
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | The way I read it, is that they are eliminating the average.
JMHO...I think the way they do San Antonio sucks and is confusing and not fair. |
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Here we go again
Posts: 1581
| Winning the average has always been looked at as about as prestigous as winning the world title; in all events. I wonder if any past average champions have been able to put the thoughts into it? It's always paid so well. If they do change it, I bet we will see more going for go round wins than staying consistent for the average. Should be interesting to see how it all plays out for sure... |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| Spectators pay the Bills. Why do you think the NFL players make so much money? That money comes from ticket sales mostly. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | interesting |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| Fans of the NFR are probably the most knowledgeable of all. This is just crazy! I find the format of The American much more difficult to follow since each event has it's own rules. If they are talking tournament style are they talking about having to "qualify" for proceeding round? or a short go? These people have worked too hard to make the final 15 not to be able to compete at the entire NFR!!!!!
There are those that are trying to make rodeo TOO mainstream...like other sports...and it is NOT other sports. Both hubby and I are becoming increasingly annoyed by the hype that is creeping, no, bulldozing it's way in to our sport. All the pre shows and "Road to..." shows, all the speculation, that often makes the analysts and commentators look...well...kinda stupid. Think like the recent women's fight on pay for view. Hours of hype and speculation, people getting excited to watch a good fight, and it lasts all of 14 seconds! Or football where the pregame shows start hours before the event and the post game analysis goes on for days. Enough already!! We have things, REAL things to do.
I know that are plenty of folks who are going to belittle me for being resistant to change, but not all change is good. Yes, I would like to see more money in rodeo, but if they change it to a rarefied competition where only the rich and elite end up competing, what good does that do the rest of us? One of the things that has drawn me to rodeo was the idea, that "You pay your money and you take your chances" and the "luck of the draw" had more influence on your chances than "who you are". They are going to
"change" our sport right out of that concept and very few will be able to rise through the upcoming complicated system to the top. It will be more about money and who you know, who is your "trainer/coach" than one's talent.
In short LEAVE THE AVERAGE ALONE!!!! Why do we need to change the format to one like tennis or basketball? We are RODEO. |
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  Queen Boobie 2
Posts: 7521
| My perspective may be skewed, as I have been around rodeo all my life, but I don't see the concept of an average being that confusing. 10 rounds, add it up pay the fastest times/highest scores.
And, I think the announcers do a great job of explaining it night after night if someone hits a barrel or gets a no time/no score they talk about how that affects the all important average payout.
Football fans learn quite a few complicated rules about pass interference and illegal hits, rodeo fans can grasp the concept of an 'average'. |
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Expert
Posts: 2128
| bennie1 - 2015-03-02 11:10 AM My perspective may be skewed, as I have been around rodeo all my life, but I don't see the concept of an average being that confusing. 10 rounds, add it up pay the fastest times/highest scores. And, I think the announcers do a great job of explaining it night after night if someone hits a barrel or gets a no time/no score they talk about how that affects the all important average payout. Football fans learn quite a few complicated rules about pass interference and illegal hits, rodeo fans can grasp the concept of an 'average'.
Agree totally! And I dont see there being a huge variation in ticket sales because they take away the average. |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | I have found that the real fans of rodeo are sitting in the casinos watching on the big screen. LOL |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Nevertooold - 2015-03-03 11:57 AM I have found that the real fans of rodeo are sitting in the casinos watching on the big screen. LOL
M |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| rodeoveteran - 2015-03-02 11:08 AM
Fans of the NFR are probably the most knowledgeable of all. This is just crazy! I find the format of The American much more difficult to follow since each event has it's own rules. If they are talking tournament style are they talking about having to "qualify" for proceeding round? or a short go? These people have worked too hard to make the final 15 not to be able to compete at the entire NFR!!!!!
There are those that are trying to make rodeo TOO mainstream...like other sports...and it is NOT other sports. Both hubby and I are becoming increasingly annoyed by the hype that is creeping, no, bulldozing it's way in to our sport. All the pre shows and "Road to..." shows, all the speculation, that often makes the analysts and commentators look...well...kinda stupid. Think like the recent women's fight on pay for view. Hours of hype and speculation, people getting excited to watch a good fight, and it lasts all of 14 seconds! Or football where the pregame shows start hours before the event and the post game analysis goes on for days. Enough already!! We have things, REAL things to do.
I know that are plenty of folks who are going to belittle me for being resistant to change, but not all change is good. Yes, I would like to see more money in rodeo, but if they change it to a rarefied competition where only the rich and elite end up competing, what good does that do the rest of us? One of the things that has drawn me to rodeo was the idea, that "You pay your money and you take your chances" and the "luck of the draw" had more influence on your chances than "who you are". They are going to
"change" our sport right out of that concept and very few will be able to rise through the upcoming complicated system to the top. It will be more about money and who you know, who is your "trainer/coach" than one's talent.
In short LEAVE THE AVERAGE ALONE!!!! Why do we need to change the format to one like tennis or basketball? We are RODEO.
A big AMEN, sista! |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Well, now if this passes I bet those going for the NFR really amp up their schedule to try and come in with as much $$ won as possible. I know this is the goal anyway but instead of trying to make the top 15 and letting the 10 rounds decide the champion they are going to have to haul hard all year- no more weekends off. With the prize $$ availalbe though for 2015, things can change drastically in Vegas. You can hit a barrel in a round and may not effect you. No more average means riding for the win every round, no just staying clean or "top 5" which was Fallon's strategy last year.
Edited by rodeomom3 2015-03-02 1:46 PM
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Lets also not forget there have been alot of people who havent placed well in the rounds, but do awsome in the average! It would be a shame for someone to work all year to make the NFR and not be able to compete the entire NFR. Besides of which, what are they going to do with entire perfs with only 4 or 5 if it is tornament style like The American? |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| rodeomom3 - 2015-03-02 1:20 PM
Well, now if this passes I bet those going for the NFR really amp up their schedule to try and come in with as much $$ won as possible. I know this is the goal anyway but instead of trying to make the top 10 and letting the 10 rounds decide the champion they are going to have to haul hard all year- no more weekends off. With the prize $$ availalbe though for 2015, things can change drastically in Vegas.
My friends daughter was 2nd in San Antonio this year. She won her rounds, hit in the semis, but had enough $$ won to make the short go. She won the short go but was $300 behind Sherry. The format seems to work in favor of those who make mistakes vs those who may place every round but not earn enough $$. No more just running clean for the average.
I don't believe the change was made because people don't understand, good grief.
I agree with the understanding of the spectators thought. I have never ever heard a spectator say they weren't going to buy a ticket because they didn't understand how the payout worked. I really don't think that concerns them at all. They are there to root on their favorite rider and have a good time.
I will be pretty bummed to see the average gone. I'm sure it is going to change the go rounds dynamics in all the events but IMO, the average is just as impressive as money won. |
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| I can see the team roping going to pot. There are already so many misses with an average involved I couldn't imagine what's going to happen if that incentive goes by the way side. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| cyount2009 - 2015-03-02 1:47 PM I can see the team roping going to pot. There are already so many misses with an average involved I couldn't imagine what's going to happen if that incentive goes by the way side.
It will be interesting to see the feedback from contestants, on the one hand you can have a bad round or two and not be out of the race for the title, on the other hand you can have 10 clean rounds and not be in it for the title. No more "business man runs" as Joe likes to call them, seems like you would have to go for it every round unless you have enough $$ won no one can catch you which is unlikey with the big payouts next year. |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: OK | This was done years ago - not a new idea & believe it didn't work! |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | racer4267 - 2015-03-02 2:04 PM This was done years ago - not a new idea & believe it didn't work!
You're right and I can't remember exactly how it went down but it didn't go down well the contestants. In reality they had two Champions. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1074
| They should leave it alone!!!! It's so prestigious to win the average, why do away with it? I'm getting tired of PRCA crap. They can't leave well enough alone. If it isn't broke don't fix it!!!!! |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | The bit about "spectator understanding" is crap. I think that most people can do basic addition. Also, I watch the SuperBowl every year, and LITERALLY understand nothing about the game other than you want to get it into the painted zone at the other end. |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8555
Location: sunny california | NSLB |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | ThreeCorners - 2015-03-02 11:44 AM Lets also not forget there have been alot of people who havent placed well in the rounds, but do awsome in the average! It would be a shame for someone to work all year to make the NFR and not be able to compete the entire NFR. Besides of which, what are they going to do with entire perfs with only 4 or 5 if it is tornament style like The American?
Amen,  |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | rodeomom3 - 2015-03-02 11:20 AM Well, now if this passes I bet those going for the NFR really amp up their schedule to try and come in with as much $$ won as possible. I know this is the goal anyway but instead of trying to make the top 15 and letting the 10 rounds decide the champion they are going to have to haul hard all year- no more weekends off. With the prize $$ availalbe though for 2015, things can change drastically in Vegas. You can hit a barrel in a round and may not effect you. No more average means riding for the win every round, no just staying clean or "top 5" which was Fallon's strategy last year.
Another good couple of points. |
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 I'm not opinionated
Posts: 4597
Location: Online | Sounds assinine to me. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| rodeomom13 - 2015-03-03 9:19 AM Sounds assinine to me.
Tournament style would be terrible. It would drive me nuts if a slower time in one bracket advances or gets a better check than a faster time in another bracket where everyone had smoking runs and there are no hit barrels, etc. Let them all run on the same night on the same ground. How would you divide up only 15 contestants anyway?? I wonder if they are going to allow more than 15?? |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | So what if it confuses the spectators!! I betcha half the people in the stands don't even know what event they're watching, they're just there for the experience. Like others have mentioned about professional sports--a lot of people have no clue what the rules are, but still enjoy watching them.
I'll admit I was a little lost watching The American with all the stipulations on payouts, but it certainly didn't make me want to not watch it.
I think it would be very unfortunate for the competitors to take out the average. |
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | I think more events like the American are going to be created as rodeo evolves. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316
| Did anyone else see what Fallon Taylor posted about raking at the NFR this year? She wants them to rake after 7 runs AND gives good points such as sponsorships from the tractor companies and how the American made time for four rakes. I will be the first to admit I was a huge fan of her but now that she is using her popularity for good (Amberley and now this) I can see that she has a good heart and good intentions... WAY TO GO FALLON!!!
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New Format at the NFR