Dear World Lacrosse Team,
my name is Christoph, I am a Lacrosse-Dad.
I am writing this open letter to you, because I saw, that you make people pay for watching Lacrosse games on the internet (your WLTV charged 15 USD to watch the Women U20 in Hong Kong). We all, and I hope you too, are committed to #GrowTheGame. But what you are doing here is disappointing and not helping to grow the game at all.
Let me tell you why. First, all costs have to be covered by the players and their supporters. And all the cost means not only the gear, but of course as well travel and accommodation, not only for themselves but as well their staff (Coaches, Managers, Physio, …). They pay for the starting fee, which I believe covers costs for the organisation and referees. And this is only the tournament, camps and preparing tournaments come extra of course.
Then, this time in Utica, they make us visitors pay a stunning USD 350 for watching the games (and this is even the early bird family and friends’ tariff). And now I learned it might not even cover the entrance fee to all venues. And you have the experience, no fan is watching all the games. I will go and watch my daughter playing. And maybe sometimes a quarter of another game.
And it seems that you licenced somebody selling fan gear at the venues. But not only WL gear but also fan gear for every nation. This used to be a small income for national associations to gain a little bit of money to pay for some extras at the tournament.
And now finally, all aunts, grannies, friends, teammates, and coaches at home shall pay as well? You make the players pay a fortune to do what they love; you start to introduce stupid plans to have the fans paying stunning entrance fees and now you found out that there is still a group who is not paying yet?
Getting everyone paying for you, is not growing the game!
Lacrosse is becoming Olympic! Make sure you will not become a Sports Association like so many other associations. Be there for your athletes and their staff. For those who give their heart for the sport. And don’t only focus on taking their money.
Happy to discuss this further. Find me at Section 217 in the German Fan block in Utica during the German women’s games.
Kind Regards
Christoph Richter
