by Christian Duque
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the promoter of the competition that bears his title, has determined that he now not is content material having the second most prestigious occasion in bodybuilding. Whereas he might not be capable of change the truth that the Mr. Olympia is the “superbowl of bodybuilding” or the truth that the winner of that contest is the #1 competitor in every respective division, he can have a direct say during which is the best paying present within the sport.
He can even be sure that there are much more eyes on his present than on the allegedly greatest present on the planet. However how can he accomplish this feat and why hasn’t he till now? Additionally, what significance did the near-canceled Arnold of 2023 have on 2024, 2025, and the way forward for the Arnold Traditional? Let’s speak about it! You’re in for fairly an article. The truth is, this text talks about Arnold going face to face with Olympia promoter Jake Wooden. It’s not going to be contentious as a result of there’s no unhealthy blood right here. It’s simply going to come back all the way down to enterprise and which promoter can current the higher contest for athletes, distributors, and the followers.
For a few years I believed Arnold didn’t attempt to make his present the most important present within the sport merely due to the actual fact he wished to maintain concord with the federation. That was all the time my pondering due to the truth that each sanctioned contest with the IFBB Professional League markets itself as the one street to the Mr. Olympia. The Mr. Olympia has all the time been the Tremendous Bowl of Bodybuilding as a result of solely there can a competitor who wins actually say they’re the very best on the planet. That historical past goes again 60 years and has by no means been challenged by another competitors within the sport so after all I figured that that was the explanation that Arnold all the time saved his competitors second greatest. It by no means dawned on me, nevertheless, that the true cause that he was doing that was due to deference to the grasp blaster, Joe Weider. That’s actually the one cause that The Oak has saved his competitors second greatest when it comes to status, prize cash, and even when it comes to what time in the course of the yr the competitors is held. And actually, I don’t assume anybody, particularly from the federation wished to talk on this subject both as a result of it has definitely been a great factor all of those years. Because the previous saying goes if it’s not broke, why repair it?
That being stated, when Arnold defined why he has all the time saved his present barely smaller than the Olympia after this previous contest in Columbus, Ohio it made a number of sense to me and numerous others. The rationale why he has saved his present as second-best is just because he made a promise to Joe and Ben. It’s a promise that he saved a few years after their passing, however which now it appears he doesn’t wish to honor anymore. And in actuality, he is among the solely promoters, if in reality, often is the solely promoter that I’m conscious of that may change prize cash and alter the complete scope of his contest, with none worry from a cellphone name from Pittsburgh.
Not solely would they by no means dare attempt to rein him in, however even when they did, this can be a man that already has exhibits with the rival federation. And people exhibits are vastly profitable. He doesn’t want both federation, reasonably, they each want him. Nobody is aware of that higher than Arnold Schwarzenegger himself.
I imply, once you cease to consider it, Arnold is a man that received the Olympia seven instances, he has been the governor of one of the vital vital states within the nation, he’s a famous person, actor and movie star. Why on Earth would he content material himself with being second greatest something? Now it is smart.
However now that his promise to Joe and Ben appears to be a moot level I can see him completely bulldozing by way of the Olympia and making the Arnold crucial present in Bodybuilding. And this has the potential to throw a colossal monkey wrench into the entire affair. What’s Jake going to do, compete with Arnold? He might must as a result of if he doesn’t, I don’t care how prestigious the Sandow is – cash talks and bullshit walks. Ultimately, the athletes are going to take a look at that $500,000 purse and so they’re going to take a look at what the Olympia’s providing. If the Arnold is providing considerably extra, plus masking bills, plus has extra eyes on it, I can solely think about which contest they will determine to compete in.
However why would the Arnold Traditional have extra eyes on it than the Mr. Olympia? Right here’s the factor the Olympia affords a unbelievable webcast, however so does the Arnold. Each competitions supply a web based technique to watch their exhibits that has nice commentators, top-of-the-line manufacturing worth, and the power for followers to really feel like they’re on the present, though they’re watching from their computer systems, half approach world wide. However right here’s the kicker. The Olympia prices practically $80 whereas the Arnold Traditional prices no {dollars}. The Arnold basic webcast is completely free and knocked it out of the park.
In order a vendor or sponsor it’s obtained to make you assume the place are they going to wish to make investments extra, within the present watched by a handful of individuals prepared to spend $80 a pop – or by the complete world watching at no cost? On the finish of the day, it’s about eyes on the present and eyes on the sponsors and merchandise. If I used to be an advertiser, I might a lot reasonably promote on a platform, watched by 200,000 versus one watched by a number of hundred.
And once more, possibly there are literally thousands of folks watching the Olympia at $80 a pop however in 2024 I simply don’t see it. I might be shocked in the event that they offered something greater than $500 80 a pop cyber passes. Folks simply don’t have that sort of cash now. Fuel is thru the roof, rates of interest are by way of the roof, and individuals are making much less right now than ever earlier than. You can also make more cash working at Walmart or at a fuel station than you possibly can in an workplace. Folks simply don’t have $80 to spend on watching a bodybuilding present on their pc or on their pill. Due to this fact it solely is smart to me from a enterprise standpoint to promote on a platform that’s going to get much more eyes and much more consideration than one which solely a really small quantity of individuals can afford.
I suppose solely time will inform the place the sponsors go, the place the athletes compete, and what present the followers tune into most to know for certain. What say you? Will Arnold succeed? And if he doesn’t, what do you assume his failure shall be attributed to? Do you assume the Olympia will step up their sport and actually combat onerous to be primary? As a result of they’ve by no means actually needed to combat for that distinction over the course of the final 60 years. It has principally been there for the taking however now Arnold Schwarzenegger needs to be primary. Who will or not it’s?
