Recreational orienteering to become commercial?

[SeanC]

Well, this all sounds familiar. Nopesport opinion was dead against the club nights, now some people think it is a good idea. It didn't change the world but it has helped.

Josh Jenner did a commercial orienteering event at Westfield. About 20 newcomers turned up out of attendance of 100 or so. They all got goody bags and took fliers to our events. I guess with online registration these could be emailed info about events.

As I'm on the dev committee I'll do my best to check that whatever happens it's in our best interest, but sounds like it's too early to tell.

Is there any reason why a group of orienteers can't get together and form their own business to put on these events?

[brooner]

See these blogs from Limelight to see where they're coming from Brands and Recreational Sport, Brands Can Fill Olympic Legacy Gap in terms of identifying opportunities.

Basically if Limelight wanted to create a new event, which looks a lot like orienteering but pays no reference to the sport it is based on, they have the commercial clout to be able to do so and we wouldn't get a look in. Would you rather that BO were engaging with them to ensure that we get something out of it, or would you rather this just happened without our involvement?

The Melbourne Romp example you give isn't particularly great as an example of how you can convert these people to orienteering, but gives you an idea of what could happen if orienteers aren't involved in it - we'd not be able to put our stamp on it. As I see it, all the club nights springing up around the country could feed into a big mass participation 'orienteering' event staged by Limelight quite well, and vice versa.

If you really think BO (or even clubs) have the capability to do what Limelight do themselves, just have a look back at the recent thread on marketing and publicity. We don't have the skills, or rather the willingness to finance these skills, to make such a thing happen, so why not partner up with someone who can?

[awk]

Is there any evidence that the activities Limelight organise lead to any longer term participation in the related sport? That's the crunch - if they do, then there could be some serious benefits getting somebody like this involved. Otherwise, it's just a numbers game for Sport England and Limelight (and possibly British Orienteering).

If those blogs were written in English rather than in Corporate-speak, I might understand what they were talking about.

[mharky]

Is there any evidence that the activities Limelight organise lead to any longer term participation in the related sport? That's the crunch - if they do, then there could be some serious benefits getting somebody like this involved. Otherwise, it's just a numbers game for Sport England and Limelight (and possibly British Orienteering).

I wonder if there is any evidence that the millions of pounds BOF has spend on "development" had lead to any longer term participation in orienteering?

[graeme]

If those blogs were written in English rather than in Corporate-speak, I might understand what they were talking about.

If they're any good, here's how it might look in English.
http://getlostxx.com/
http://www.mergeo.com/
n.b. Corporate Events Pricing: Fees depend on location, season, format, and event length. A 3-6 hour team building event typically costs $250 to $2000 plus $20-$50 per person.

[Red Adder]

At those prices we are more likely to get a few newbies coming to our events before the corporate event so that they can at least some idea of the navigational skills required.

[awk]

I wonder if there is any evidence that the millions of pounds BOF has spend on "development" had lead to any longer term participation in orienteering?

I would be interested to see that too.

[SJC]

It is becoming readily apparent why so many sports break up into 2 or more governing bodies.

We could have one that looks after the interests of orienteers who aren't real club members but are "county event organisers", whilst the other looks after those who prefer to join clubs that meet at the same activity centre every week. The latter can be run on a commercial basis and count towards Sport England's participation objectives whilst the rest of us continue to meet and compete in the forests.

[70plus]

I wonder if there is any evidence that the millions of pounds BOF has spend on "development" had lead to any longer term participation in orienteering?

It may be possible to provide statistical 'evidence', but I can't see it being much better than trying to decide whether the pills one has been taking have done any good - there's no control data. I'm basing my opinion only on the contributions in this thread, but it sounds as if some business consultants feel they may have spotted a money-spinning venture. Their mission statement sounds like classic output from the buzz-phrase generator. Trouble is, some of us seem to be in the 'can't beat em, join em' camp. Pity.

[frog]

Should tax payers money be used to subisidise sports anyway? OK get more folk active but I suspect what really happens is the same group of folk just move from one sport to another and the same folk avoid all sport.
I don't really see why Sport England would want to pay limelight to set up events that aren't really any of the existing sports but a hybrid. Fine if people want to pay for this but I don't understand why tax payers should fund this.
I would support money being used to build up sporting clubs and develop elite athletes but it sounds as though Limelight isn't about this and giving them money means less goes to clubs and elite athletes and more on fancy hybrid events.
I was unimpressed when the BOF rep at the SOA meeting last week said that he was more into adventure racing than orienteering. Can we get a BOF board composed of active orienteers?

[graeme]

Trouble is, some of us seem to be in the 'can't beat em, join em' camp. Pity.

I should have said that the two links I provided are companies run by (maybe now ex-) elite orienteers who are also members of the local club.

[Another180]

Can we get a BOF board composed of active orienteers?

Do you mean people who are very conservative and resistant to any form of change in "their" sport?

[awk]

I was unimpressed when the BOF rep at the SOA meeting last week said that he was more into adventure racing than orienteering. Can we get a BOF board composed of active orienteers?

Most of the board are - very active in fact.

[Gnitworp]

Can we get a BOF board composed of active orienteers?

Do you mean people who are very conservative and resistant to any form of change in "their" sport?

I assume you're a darts player, not an orienteer

[andypat]

I was unimpressed when the BOF rep at the SOA meeting last week said that he was more into adventure racing than orienteering. Can we get a BOF board composed of active orienteers?

To be fair I think he said he got more out of adventure racing than orienteering just now(which isnt quite the same)

He's also a BOF employee rather than a board member - but its not like an orienteer to be pedantic is it...