ACBL Marketing Report

[hrothgar]

As Mike has already noted, the ACBL has posted its most recent marketing report on the web. I found a couple entries particularly interesting:

 

A perceived lack of standardized enforcement of rules frustrates some players and diminishes their enjoyment. This is perceived at all levels, with clubs being the most problematic.

 

This has been a long standing pet peeve of mine. Its nice to see that the executives are aware of this issue. (Frankly, I am less worried about local clubs and more worried about Memphis)

 

While not seen as a negative, the competitive reason for players joining has changed and the concept of “fun” rather than “winning” has replaced the fierceness of competition that was more prevalent in the 1950s through the 1980s. Entertainment, companionship, and a sense of community belonging have become prime factors for joining.

 

Comments like these worry me. Quite frankly, I think that the ACBL is dumbing down the game.

[helene_t]

While not seen as a negative, the competitive reason for players joining has changed and the concept of “fun” rather than “winning” has replaced the fierceness of competition that was more prevalent in the 1950s through the 1980s. Entertainment, companionship, and a sense of community belonging have become prime factors for joining.

As I read this, the ACBL just observes the trend, they are not taking any side themselves, so it's unclear to me if ACBL has contributed to this development.

 

There's probably some relation between

1) Less ambitious new members

2) Growing average age of the members

3) System regulations

 

but I'm not sure what is the chicken and what is the egg.

[glen]

Comments like these worry me. Quite frankly, I think that the ACBL is dumbing down the game.

Comments like these do not worry me. It shows the ACBL understanding they have multiple markets - for example seeded players in the Spingold rarely play club games and club players rarely play Spingolds.

 

Attempts to make NABCs one-size-fits-all are not working, as regional and IN events have high entry fees relative to the same events elsewhere, and are given the worst space available at the NABCs. Given there are multiple markets, one has to consider if the Gatlinburg approach is a far better model, than NABCs, for getting the club players to go to enjoyable tournaments.

[hrothgar]

Given there are multiple markets, one has to consider if the Gatlinburg approach is a far better model, than NABCs, for getting the club players to go to enjoyable tournaments.

Could you please expand on what you think Gatlinburg does right (never bothered to play there)

[sceptic]

Could you please expand on what you think Gatlinburg does right (never bothered to play there

 

maybe it attracts people that can be bothered to go

[bid_em_up]

Given there are multiple markets, one has to consider if the Gatlinburg approach is a far better model, than NABCs, for getting the club players to go to enjoyable tournaments.

Could you please expand on what you think Gatlinburg does right (never bothered to play there)

http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...7&hl=gatlinburg

 

You really should attempt to play there at least once. The town is beautiful, the people are great, it is relatively cheap when compared to the costs of going to other National/Regional out-of-town tournaments, almost all the top players attend it, giving it a Nationals feeling without actually being one. The list goes on.

[TimG]

almost all the top players attend it, giving it a Nationals feeling without actually being one.

What are the premier events in Gatlinburg? You know, those Spingolds, Vanderbilts, LM Pairs that give an NABC an NABC feel?

[glen]

Perhaps by "a Nationals feeling" it was meant that everybody-is-here great-to-see-you-again feeling, which would correspond to the "prime factor" of "sense of community belonging" compared to "fierceness of competition", as illustrated by the list of NABC events offered up instead of a discussion of the social aspect.

[barmar]

I think the "Nationals feeling" refers to the fact that it's an enormous tournament, with plenty of events for players of all levels. If you're a novice, there are lots of I/N games you can play in, but if you're more ambitious you can play against many national and world champions in the open games.

[glen]

...if you're more ambitious you can play against many national and world champions in the open games.

In Gatlinburg on most days, the "national and world champions" are in the 2 top brackets of the KOs, so most can't play against them.