2019 Pros Switching Sponsors Official Thread

[biscoe]

Just cuz they enjoy it doesnt mean the company is doing well. You rarely see anybody throwing it and a lot of vendors dont carry them because of that.

I think it's a regional thing- plenty of Prodigy being thrown in VA/NC/TN.

 

[scarwig]

Yep. They're rebranding themselves as the NWO and turning heel.

The 4 Horsemen

 

[Putt for D'oh]

Assuming Paul is heading to Discraft and Kevin Jones going to Innova, that still leads a fair number up for debate:


6) Lastly, the women's field has interesting possibilities for movement as well. Is Hokom staying put (I lean towards a yes)? Will Madison Walker and/or Jennifer Allen be at Innova (gut feeling is no for one of them)? Fajkus and Weese staying? Will Lat64 bring on another marketable lady (I think so)?

Exciting times ahead.

Just from watching Jen Allen's instagram, she made a trip out to SoCal a week or so ago, big visit to the factory and lots of posts about coming away with Innova swag and discs for her kids. That very well could have been a negotiation visit tied in there. Would have to believe she wouldn't have left and posted about returning home with lots of new discs if she were leaving.

 

[2naphish]

just got an e-mail. is this a joke?

https://mailchi.mp/infinitediscs/pa...-lite-basket-sale-wizard-6-packs?e=2a4aaaa962

 

[Nova P]

5) Is MVP setting up for another out of the blue great signing(s)? They did get Dollar and King mind you.
6) Lastly, the women's field has interesting possibilities

I'm personally keeping my fingers crossed that MVP signs the world's tallest female disc golfer. <3

 

[dwayne.hoffman]

I do not disagree with that. My gut feeling is Madison Walker to Lat64. Then again, my gut feeling tends to be mostly wrong and sometimes bloated.

 

[brutalbrutus]

Surprised no one has brought up Conrad for the Destroyer... Maybe not as a sig disc but a stock plastic star destroyer tour disc is certainly fitting...


...and if Avery did actually leave for DM, the star TB would also be a good disc for James.

 

[_MTL_]

I just can't imagine Innova refusing to match an offer, and I can't imagine that Paul would sign with someone else without giving Innova a shot to match any offer presented. JMHO.

Honestly curious of your opinion of why this clearly didn't happen. Innova either didn't match or Paul didn't give Innova a match option. Of course this assumes he is going to another company, not going to be sponsored or retiring.

And before anyone goes there..

I didn't dig looking for this to be like "ha, you were wrong!" I just enjoyed reading old comments knowing what we know now and came across this one. Normally I don't read much into someone's comment with no knowledge of a company's plans, but Jamie has a professional relationship with Innova, so this really stuck out at me.

I look forward to your response Jamie. I too am surprised that one of these things didn't happen.

 

[Um...]

RIP all the McBeth fanboi copied bags.

 

[lyleoross]

This is just about the worst soccer-disc golf analogy you could have picked. The comparison to Zlatan would be more applicable to someone like Barry Schultz, if he were to leave Innova and the signing announcement hinged on his past titles/performance. At least choose someone like Ashley Cole (minus his moved post Chelsea which are just paydays) who left for a direct rival close his peak, had frequent injury concerns each season and people questioned if he would thrive or sink following the move. He clearly thrived and enjoyed even more success both on the field and financially - I expect Paul to do the same.

But that is exactly what they are doing. They are hinging their sales and marketing on past performances by Paul. Those performances might translate into future wins, but I don't see how? Yes, Paul will win, but not like he did. That notion is simply impossible. The field is thick with challengers (pun intended).

Now, it is possible that folks are going to buy Discraft products based on Paul's past performances, but that strikes me as unlikely. They are going to want future performances with that plastic. That might happen, but I have trouble seeing it with the field being what it is and the spread of fan attention to more events. Maybe, but it goes against everything I've ever seen in sport. Remember, selling Tiger clubs means specific marketing. How many DC spots have you seen in the past three years? None. Even the ones they made were more about technique than selling a player or product. Take a look at DD marketing. Look at Innova's. I don't see anything like that for Discraft. It's a new skill set that they've never worked at.

Folks are looking at Paul and wins, and thinking that translates into sales. Some, but it is a package. It takes several pieces. I see no evidence of that type of thing. And even those wins just aren't guaranteed. Frankly, if I were a Ricky fan, I'd be smiling right now.

Take the current situation. We already have a release from Innova on the situation. If Discraft has picked up Paul, they should at least have a communication out. They should have a plan for some marketing material. Perhaps a plan to film a go discgolf spot with Paul (see the PDGA spot) to put out there.

Let me see, what do I hear... crickets.

 

[VictorB]

RIP all the McBeth fanboi copied bags.

They'll just be all Discraft bags now

 

[VictorB]

But that is exactly what they are doing. They are hinging their sales and marketing on past performances by Paul.

I believe this is the case for every professional athlete that isn't on a rookie/prospect contract

 

[lyleoross]

Honestly curious of your opinion of why this clearly didn't happen. Innova either didn't match or Paul didn't give Innova a match option. Of course this assumes he is going to another company, not going to be sponsored or retiring.

And before anyone goes there..

I didn't dig looking for this to be like "ha, you were wrong!" I just enjoyed reading old comments knowing what we know now and came across this one. Normally I don't read much into someone's comment with no knowledge of a company's plans, but Jamie has a professional relationship with Innova, so this really stuck out at me.

I look forward to your response Jamie. I too am surprised that one of these things didn't happen.

I wrote the same thing, albeit without Jamie's knowledge. It doesn't make sense unless Paul got asky. A reasonable request probably gets matched. But I think it is an excellent question.

 

[lyleoross]

I believe this is the case for every professional athlete that isn't on a rookie/prospect contract

Absolutely. But this isn't quite the same thing. In the case of other athletes, you're recruiting eyeballs to the tube. In this case, you're making sales. LA got a lot of eyeballs for their acquisition of Zlatan. Discraft doesn't want eyeballs, they want to sell plastic. You're not gonna sell plastic based on Paul's performance with Innova products.

 

[brutalbrutus]

Jamie, you would know way better about this than me, but it really seems like it would make sense for Avery to go to DM. He is already their team manager and employee (pretty sure). I know the two companies are intertwined, but in my head Avery at DM just makes sense.

Avery is a big numbers guy, and I think this last year was his 20th with Innova. IF he were to break ties, I would guess this would be the year. But props to Avery for being able to straddle that line for sure.

Special edition of the podcast tonight?...

RIP all the McBeth fanboi copied bags.

They'll just be all Discraft bags now

...or they will start doing putter flips and copy Sexy's bag...

I wrote the same thing, albeit without Jamie's knowledge. It doesn't make sense unless Paul got asky. A reasonable request probably gets matched. But I think it is an excellent question.

WIth as many people as Innova has on their teams, maybe they are just too stretched out to match the offer?

 

[lyleoross]

Of course, maybe Discraft is going to go into videography... In which case, I agree, having Paul is a good idea.

 

[wims]

They sell a ton of discs! They're number two in Europe behind Innova. Was surprised how many they moved when Seppo told me.

Prodigy gets a lot of shelf space in big sports stores here in Norway. Like, more than Innova, Trilogy, whatever. Funnily enough, there's no Discraft, and only a small amount in disc golf pro shops. I guess that will change

 

[BlueMonk]

You're not gonna sell plastic based on Paul's performance with Innova products.

I think that's exactly what is going to happen. You think people are going to wait until they see Paul's 2019 tournament results to start buying discs with his name on them from another manufacturer?

 

[Hampstead]

I reckon someone more interested in this stuff than I should start another McBeth-free pros switching sponsors thread and mods could rename this "As the McBeth Turns". Maybe even split off a " Why is Prodigy still a thing?" thread.

 

[ChefKoolaid]

I think that's exactly what is going to happen. You think people are going to wait until they see Paul's 2019 tournament results to start buying discs with his name on them from another manufacturer?

Sure they will. Ill buy some 1st run McCraft discs for collectability alone.