DGN: The Disc Golf Network

[VictorB]

I will stick with my first claim that it really all is Jerm. Announcing is a skill

Jerm has a tough time staying on topic (ie the golf round), too often makes stupid jokes then beats them into the ground, and spends too much time trying to get a reaction out of the other commentators. When he actually can do those things, he's decent. But I think he doesn't provide enough insightful color commentary to have me take him seriously when he's on the mic. Uli and Nate do a good job of making me want to listen to what they have to say.

As for DGN - since when is anyone expected to have a 100% perfected broadcast product before starting their broadcasting? That makes little to no sense. Each year they have gotten better, and each year they have re-invested back into their product to try and enhance the experience. Even worldwide sports broadcasting changes/upgrades things from season to season.

 

[DannyS]

DGN says it was supposed to start at 1:30pm EST today. Still not on at 2:00pm. Anyone know what is going on?

 

[VictorB]

DGN says it was supposed to start at 1:30pm EST today. Still not on at 2:00pm. Anyone know what is going on?

shouldn't start until tomorrow? Waco is a 3 round event

 

[DannyS]

Oh shoot :doh:
I got spoiled with the last one starting on Thursday. I should learn to read a little closer

 

[Horsman]

DGN says it was supposed to start at 1:30pm EST today. Still not on at 2:00pm. Anyone know what is going on?

Could have also been that they had a press conference today that started around 2 I think

 

[dehaas]

Could have also been that they had a press conference today that started around 2 I think

Yeah there was a live press conference. Normally wouldn't have paid attention to it but I wanted some background noise doing stuff around the house.

Kinda interesting though, the last few minutes were with Jeff Spring. They were talking about how Waco is still a wave 1 event and hopefully future events will move to wave 2 and include small amounts of spectators. They were saying how you'd have to buy tickets in advance, and essentially volunteers would be escorting small groups around the course to watch. Makes sense with the tickets to ensure you're staying within a fixed amount of spectators, however...

I know USDGC you've gotta pay to spectate, and maybe a couple other events here and there. I would absolutely expect going forward there will be no more free spectating at any DGPT events. Not necessarily a big deal, if they think people will pay to show up and watch more power to them.

I'm more interested in how that's gonna jive with public parks. Seems pretty impossible to enforce, unless you're going to see them gravitate to courses where they can have them completely closed for the event.

 

[ToddL]

Paid spectators is pretty great, but like you said, it's hard to manage in a public park. There's often multiple access points, so the tournament has very little control over people coming into the park. And unless you manage to reserve the entire park, it's hard to kick out a citizen doing citizen things. It's much easier to control spectators at places like Wildhorse and Maple Hill than Hornets Nest.

 

[BillFleming]

I can't see public parks being shut down for disc golf tournaments....if they could be, then Fountain Hills and Vista would be shut down for the Memorial and it's not happening. Plus, some public parks, like Vista, have homes right next to the park with entrances into the park. How would you keep them from entering the park?

I see the future of tournament disc golf to be similar to tournament ball golf....private courses where spectators can be limited to those who paid to enter and you won't be able to bring your own food...but there will be vendors there selling at a mark-up. That will ultimately put more money into the tournament and then into the prizes.

There will still be the public courses for casual play and local tournaments....but the big tournaments will be a private courses.

Sports with big payouts are able to do so because they charge spectators, they charge for the food/drink/etc, they have sponsors putting out big bucks, and they get paid by companies to broadcast the sport.

 

[dehaas]

I can't see public parks being shut down for disc golf tournaments....if they could be, then Fountain Hills and Vista would be shut down for the Memorial and it's not happening. Plus, some public parks, like Vista, have homes right next to the park with entrances into the park. How would you keep them from entering the park?

I see the future of tournament disc golf to be similar to tournament ball golf....private courses where spectators can be limited to those who paid to enter and you won't be able to bring your own food...but there will be vendors there selling at a mark-up. That will ultimately put more money into the tournament and then into the prizes.

There will still be the public courses for casual play and local tournaments....but the big tournaments will be a private courses.

Sports with big payouts are able to do so because they charge spectators, they charge for the food/drink/etc, they have sponsors putting out big bucks, and they get paid by companies to broadcast the sport.

This is exactly what I was hinting at, I think the big name events will eventually all migrate to private courses. Entry fees will be chicken feed compared to other pro sports tickets, but if I'm DGPT and approaching outside sponsorship for cash moneys being able to speak directly to number of tickets sold and revenue dollars is a more concrete metric that trying to speak to the viewer base scattered between all of the content creators across YouTube. It could also help boost the purse at events.

No coincidence McBeth is building his own course on private property. You can argue about him vs Kenny as the GOAT but McBeth is like Michael Jordan in the sense that he'll make far more money off of disc golf after he's done playing.

 

[brutalbrutus]

I'm pretty sure they closed Idlewild and charged a fee in 2019 and its a public park. Last year i have no idea what happened with the covid restrictions. I think it just depends on the state/local ordinances regarding such things.

I know there are some parks around here that will give you exclusive access to the park if you rent out all the shelters.

 

[dehaas]

I'm pretty sure they closed Idlewild and charged a fee in 2019 and its a public park. Last year i have no idea what happened with the covid restrictions. I think it just depends on the state/local ordinances regarding such things.

I know there are some parks around here that will give you exclusive access to the park if you rent out all the shelters.

I could see renting all of the shelters to "close" the park. I'd imagine some towns would be easier or more willing to go with that than others.

I'd imagine the beef would come into play when money is charged to enter a public space to spectate...even if all the pavilions are rented and the park is "closed" for the day. Infinitely easier to navigate that on private property.

Government entities don't tend to like it when you're making money while using their stuff.

 

[VictorB]

Government entities don't tend to like it when you're making money while using their stuff.

that might be true if there was no return on it. With the elite series events, there is enough of an impact for commerce bringing in players and spectators that they likely would look the other way on that.

 

[jakebake91]

that might be true if there was no return on it. With the elite series events, there is enough of an impact for commerce bringing in players and spectators that they likely would look the other way on that.

Or the fee they would charge would make it worth their while. They will make sure to get their chunk of the pie.

 

[Superbford]

Local government should be happy for any event that is bringing people into the area and near their local businesses. Big disc golf tournaments certainly do that these days... or will again once allowed.

 

[glassila]

I would think some parks are easy to close to the public and some are not. Fountain Hills would be nearly impossible.

 

[Ryan P.]

It'd make sense for the local gov't if the DGPT paid half of the spectator ticket money for renting the park (or something similar)

 

[Moonshine]

Local government should be happy for any event that is bringing people into the area and near their local businesses. Big disc golf tournaments certainly do that these days... or will again once allowed.

Yes and no. Public parks are intended to primarily benefit the taxpayers who fund them, not private businesses like the DGPT. Also, people shopping at local businesses doesn't necessarily benefit a public park.

 

[dmoore1998]

I could see renting all of the shelters to "close" the park. I'd imagine some towns would be easier or more willing to go with that than others.

I'd imagine the beef would come into play when money is charged to enter a public space to spectate...even if all the pavilions are rented and the park is "closed" for the day. Infinitely easier to navigate that on private property.

Government entities don't tend to like it when you're making money while using their stuff.

Depends on how much money the government/economy is gaining. Governments spend taxpayer money ALL the time so other people can profit (Olympic venues, tax subsidies for all kinds of building projects, etc). This wouldn't even require the government to spend money, just give access that is essentially free for them to give. If you can bring in enough spectators, and they'll spend in the local economy, the government will bend over backwards to give them free access to public places.

 

[dmoore1998]

Yes and no. Public parks are intended to primarily benefit the taxpayers who fund them, not private businesses like the DGPT. Also, people shopping at local businesses doesn't necessarily benefit a public park.

It benefits the local government in tax dollars, which is typically plenty of reason for the local government to allow events to happen for free on public grounds like parks.

 

[Dcinmd]

Local government should be happy for any event that is bringing people into the area and near their local businesses. Big disc golf tournaments certainly do that these days... or will again once allowed.

Oh yeah, public parks have really really been struggling with visitors this past year.

Not like there billion people playing disc golf, hiking and picnicking every day paying fees.