No Tour de Georgia again in 2010

[Benny]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour...celed-for-2010

Pretty much expected this, but still hate to see it. They just couldn't find sponsors.

On a positive note, I found myself in the picture of the 2008 Brasstown Bald podium shot.

[Jag3]

Saw this today in the AJC

http://www.ajc.com/news/can-tour-de-...rss_news_81963

and a statement posted in the article got me thinking:
Roughly quoted, it costs 3.5 million to set up the TDG which got me thinking about a State Sponsored event? DNR? State Patrol? Ga Sheriff's Association? Anyhow, I feel like the Governor's office would at least consider a proposal of this nature based on their help with Rock Hawk. AND-

With the TDG bringing in 30 million for the state economy and today's current economy, it seems that the state could sponsor or fund the TDG and make a mint off the gig. Now I know there are some potentially bad aspects of an approach like this but thought I'd throw it out there and get your thoughts.

I'd happily get the ball rolling with the Governor's office if it seems a worthy effort.

Also put it up over @ semute in General Discussion.

[C.U. Allezter]

Interesting point, Jag3. I'll do you one better. Cities/municipalities along the tour route could be tapped for sponsorship. Maybe local businesses could partner w/ their local governments to produce funds that would then be matched by the state (or various state agencies). Seems like a hard sell in Georgia, but the economic benefits are pretty clear.

[Benny]

I'd have to do some research to get the dollar amounts, but the state of Georgia has always ponied up a large portion of the cost for the TdG. And I am pretty sure the host cities pay for the privilege. What is lacking is support from the many large corporations based in Georgia.

Part of it is no doubt the timing. First there were major doping scandals giving cycle racing a bad public image and now there is the bad economy. But some of those guys need to come off the dime and support this event which brings so much attention and tourism to our state.

[Jag3]

Interesting point, Jag3. I'll do you one better. Cities/municipalities along the tour route could be tapped for sponsorship. Maybe local businesses could partner w/ their local governments to produce funds that would then be matched by the state (or various state agencies). Seems like a hard sell in Georgia, but the economic benefits are pretty clear.

I like your thought Adam & think others might as well. Maybe a consortium of cities could get together and make it happen. It's an election year so getting politicians on board would be a cakewalk. I must confess, I never paid any attention to the TdG until I met Benny but since paying more attention and seeing how NOT having it here has affected moral, I'd pour out the effort to try and bring it back especially if we could get some local activity.

If you guys think we could do something along those lines, I'd say its worth an email, call, or a visit and he!!, I'm the "bull in the china shop" around here so if its worth going after, I'd be more than happy to muddle up another "shop" or two on behalf of the TdG.

Say the word and lets get started-

[Benny]

No point in reinventing the wheel.
http://www.bringtheraceback.com/

I do like the idea of community involvement in supporting the race, but don't let the big corporations off the hook. They get a lot of allowances from local and state governments to make their businesses prosper. They should be happy to use some of their considerable advertising budgets to help promote events like this that benefit the community.

Although the race does bring in much more money than it would cost to sponsor it, I don't think the general public understands that. Increasing the amount of money spent on the TdG would not likely be very popular at a time when local and state government is struggling to make ends meet, cutting services, reducing education spending and furloughing employees.

[C.U. Allezter]

Originally Posted by Benny

Although the race does bring in much more money than it would cost to sponsor it, I don't think the general public understands that. Increasing the amount of money spent on the TdG would not likely be very popular at a time when local and state government is struggling to make ends meet, cutting services, reducing education spending and furloughing employees.

I agree that it would not be very popular with the general public. However, it wasn't very popular when they did away with the homestead exemption for property owners either. My point is, it is now obvious that the state's traditional means of raising revenue aren't working (at least not well enough). To increase revenue, the state is going to have to be creative. This is bound to be unpopular with a portion of the population. Spending cuts are also unpopular. Looks like we're back to the whole "lesser of two evils" thing.
We all know that the state's current administration isn't going to pressure any large corporations into doing anything...

[Jag3]

Originally Posted by Benny

No point in reinventing the wheel.
http://www.bringtheraceback.com/

I do like the idea of community involvement in supporting the race, but don't let the big corporations off the hook. They get a lot of allowances from local and state governments to make their businesses prosper. They should be happy to use some of their considerable advertising budgets to help promote events like this that benefit the community.

Although the race does bring in much more money than it would cost to sponsor it, I don't think the general public understands that. Increasing the amount of money spent on the TdG would not likely be very popular at a time when local and state government is struggling to make ends meet, cutting services, reducing education spending and furloughing employees.

Point taken and I agree with your thoughts regarding corporate involvement but much like the rest of us, they are struggling right now as well. The local governments are considering, and in many cases pursuing, every avenue possible to create revenue as are those same corporations. Be it more taxes, higher prices, fewer services, shrinking ad budgets, or reducing employees-we're all feeling the pinch. The trick is to figure out how to involve both/all parties whereupon there is a return on investment.

The state & local governments receive tax revenue from sales taxes. Redundant, I know, just hear me out. The local businesses (restaurants, convenience stores, hotels, etc) gain revenue from the spectators which mutually benefits the county & state. The "big" corporations receive what with their investment relative to the race? That's my question.

I feel like the local community businesses & the local municipalities stand the most to gain especially as it compares to the "big" corporations. They'll support the race but, should they carry a more substantial burden when they may not ultimately receive the primary impact/revenue from an event of this nature.

My best comparison, and the scale is not comparable, is the Twilight Criterium where Gene Dixon involved the businesses that stood/stand the most to gain from their participation. Local businesses and the local government. The caveat to his approach was the ultimate involvement of those "big" corporations. They wanted to be there and yet, The Twilight initially didn't need them to hold a successful race. (I'm speculating)

Now, if one could create a "TdG Course-Consortium" that focused on involving the businesses along the course that would benefit the most from the TdG, I'd say that approach would be golden & work. In fact, I'd bet on it.

Look over the site you referenced and this appears to be their approach-Signed up to support them. Thanks for the link Benny.
0.02

[Benny]

"The "big" corporations receive what with their investment relative to the race? That's my question."

The same thing they get from sponsoring NASCAR, tennis tournaments, football bowl games etc., advertising and positive exposure to a targeted market segment. I would think "The Powerade Tour de Georgia" would provide a pretty good return for Coca Cola.

Logistical question - How can you mobilize the towns along the course when the course is not known?

[Jag3]

The same thing they get from sponsoring NASCAR, tennis tournaments, football bowl games etc., advertising and positive exposure to a targeted market segment. I would think "The Powerade Tour de Georgia" would provide a pretty good return for Coca Cola.

Logistical question - How can you mobilize the towns along the course when the course is not known?

You got me with Powerade however, it was the "Dodge TdG" as I recall, not the Childre Dodge TdG. For a geographic/state oriented non televised event, one should not expect "big" corporations to carry the primary burden of sponsorship. Modeling the TdG after the TdF is fine with televised coverage whereupon those "big" corporations can reach a demographic they WANT to reach. In the case of the TdG, that was not occurring due to the limited demographic.

As to mobilizing.
Seven stages-establish 3 common points that are visited every TdG: IE Starting stage, "mountain" stage, & a ending city. I suggest a consortium of the communities involved in those 3 common stages then, the other cities seeking stages can "bid" on their respective stage.

[Benny]

I'm not trying to smash your enthusiasm. I think it's a great idea to get more local involvement, but the fact remains that the race will need a major corporate sponsor to have any hope of returning. I can see raising a few hundred thousand overall from local sponsors and individuals, but they need a few million to pull this thing off.

Other than the cities hosting starts and finishes (who already pay for the privilege) there is not really a big economic impact to the towns along the route. The race came through Milledgeville several times. A hundred or so people gathered in town for a couple of hours to watch the riders and entourage ride past, maybe spending $5 to $10 each, maybe. The town got mentioned in a couple of newspaper stories and on TV news. We managed to raise enough money one year to pay a bonus to the winner of the sprint in town. I can't see a whole lot more than that happening. There's not that much of a benefit.

Dodge sponsored at a time they were planning to open a big manufacturing plant in Georgia. When they pulled out of that deal, they pulled out of sponsoring the race. Then a coalition of Ford dealers sponsored it. Then AT&T. Problem has always been that the commitment to sponsor always came very late in the process making it very hard to properly plan and execute the race. Getting a corporate sponsor to sign up for a mult-year commitment is what it takes to do it right. Look at how quickly the Tour of California has grown with its sponsorship from Amgen.

There has been some level of national and international coverage each year.

[Jag3]

Originally Posted by Benny

I'm not trying to smash your enthusiasm. I think it's a great idea to get more local involvement, but the fact remains that the race will need a major corporate sponsor to have any hope of returning. I can see raising a few hundred thousand overall from local sponsors and individuals, but they need a few million to pull this thing off.

I'm learning here Benny-thanks for the healthy debate and you're spot on-remember, I'm the proverbial "BICS". Anyhow, from what I've learned, it sounds like the starting point to make something happen relative to a big sponsor is to get the event televised. TdCal is televised and that will draw the big spenders every time.

Anybody know someone @ VS?
I've got a biking friend in Ca. that works for NBC-I'll make a call & see if he knows anything that might help out.

Sometimes it's not what you know but who you know.

[Benny]

Maybe if Cox Communications was the sponsor...

Versus has always done a recap show summarizing the whole race and they work some coverage into their other bike racing programming during the race. I met Bob Roll and Phil Ligett, the Versus announcers, during the 2005 tour de Georgia when they were staying at the same motel in Macon as the course marshal team I was working with.

California only got daily coverage this past year, I think. The race has to grow in importance to warrant live coverage. Even the classics rarely get that.

[MootsMan]

Pardon my naivete and perhaps laziness in not researching.....but where does this $30,000,000 figure come from? OK, I can imagine a lot of the sources so maybe a better question would be who compiled it and has it been vetted? Sure seems like a lot of money for a relatively small (albeit hard to generate) investment. As Disraeli is alleged to have said, "There are lies, damn lies and statistics!"

[Benny]

Disraeli was a real gearhead wasn't he?

This page at the tour's website puts it even higher. Don't know how they calculated it.
"With a relatively small investment from the State of Georiga, the 2008 Tour de Georiga contributed $38 million in direct economic benefits (hotel, food, travel, merchandise, etc) to the region."

The figure was also quoted in this AJC article.

Here is something that speaks a little to who calculated it and how.
"The economic impact was determined using data collected by crowd intercept surveys at all start and finish host venue locations, says a press release from state of Georgia. The North Georgia College and University handled data collection, and the Bureau of Business Research and Economic Development of Georgia Southern University was responsible for data input and analysis."