Tournaments - Where does the money go?

[patches]

Was recently reading a tournament brochure and it seemed that the numbers (prize money vs. entry money) didn't make sense. The prize $$ was based on a specific number of boats and had a $50 add'l charge if you didn't enter early, which only maybe 15% of the people do. I took the lower entry fee (early entry), and multiplied it by the required number of boats needed for the prize $$ published. The income was almost $55,000 and the prizes only came to $32,000. Where does the other $23,000 go? Actually it would be much more than $23,000, as probably 85% of the entries would not enter early and would pay the add'l. $50. and that would take the unpaid entry money to about $29,000. Do the organizers make that kind of money by putting on a one day tournament?

[schoolsout]

Charity? Insurance? Cost for hosting event?

A number of things, really.

[crash1371]

Charity? Insurance? Cost for hosting event?

A number of things, really.

I'm with schoolsout on this one

[rchanner]

There's also money coming in from sponsors, etc., but there's a bunch going out for the stuff mentioned above, plus facilities, advertising, permits and more, and I'm sure that the promoters/organizers do make something off of it, or why do it? Also, even if the tournament is only one day, you can bet that a bunch more days went into planning and organizing. If you really added up the man hours & expenses, $23k probably isn't much.

[patches]

I guess I'm thinking about how and why tournaments got started. Yes, most often there was charity involved, but usually a fishing club actually did most of the work, got zero money for the club, and only gave charity money after the published prizes had been paid. Advertising cost was zero, as the sponsors money more than paid for that plus banners, brochures, etc. Guess it's now a commercial enterprise where a few guys make some fairly big bucks for putting on tournament(s). In my opinion, when approx. 40% of the entry money is not paid back out, but is held by the organizers for whatever, then that tournament isn't worth messing with. I know, if you don't like the way it is, don't fish it.. soooooo,,, the team that I'm on skips those.

[rchanner]

Nothing wrong with that.....If something doesn't line up with your ideals, then skipping it is the right thing to do IMO.

[patches]

Must not be any tournament fisherman over here. Most I know would never enter any with only about a 60% pay back. What was a community thing has evidently turned into a profit chain for some, not meaning the winners, as they are getting a minimal payout.

[schoolsout]

how about entering the Calcuttas?

I fish a few tournaments and have done some larger ones in the past....

SCSSA is the one I mostly fish, which donates much of the money to Camp Happy Days, I believe.

www.scssa.net is the homepage, I believe.

[patches]

Just re-looked at the brochure. It has 4 or 5 different categories of entry and winnings. Diff. fish, weekend warriors, General, etc. Best I can tell is that each of these has an entry fee and taking the least entry that would be rec. (early entry), to me it seems that only about 60% of ANY/ALL categories are paid back in prizes. Now, in reality, most don't enter early, so the actual pay back is probably closer to 50%. Isn't this a rip off big time of the fishermen? Yet many still choose to enter, perhaps due only to getting some SKA points, others simply ask what is the entry and what does first place pay, while a few organizers are laughing all the way to the bank, with probably over 20 grand in thier pocket. Wonder how many that do enter actually take a close look at who is really getting the very large, " lions share" of the entry money? Might be time to take a closer look. It certainly isn't paid to the tournament winners, then the class of 23, junior, senior, lady, etc. is a total joke. I've read closely and no, I won't enter these type tournaments. Now on the other hand, there are some that are very worthwhile, pay back 80 or 90% and give the rest to charity. None of this personal commercialism going on, simply for personal gain. We'll watch as I think the first NC tournament is later this month. I also believe that the same outfit cancelled the Savannah tournament this year. (could it be that last year the winner of Savannah was caught off the outer banks of nc?).. and thats a Savannah tournament???????????????????

Oops - just saw that the calcuttas had a "retainage" fee. Didn't say how much. Another way to add to the bank account. No, count me and my team OUT!

Edited August 4, 2009 by patches

[autobaun70]

so you are saying that unless it is a charity or 100% payback tournament, it isn't a worthwhile event? I would personally have a major problem with someone holding an event and coming across as it being a not for profit, or being a charity event, and then pocketing the money, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with making a buck off of putting on an event, especially given the expense that goes into hosting one, not to mention the cost of operating a facility capable of properly hosting one.