Time for a new show

[JKLA]

Just an idea, Australia is so strong when it comes to fighters from 60kg - 90kg. We have all these shows through-out the year where some are good, and some are very average due to the fight cards selected on the night. Why not stop waisting all the time money on the crappy shows, and focus on one big show every year. Just like the Japanese do with the K1, but do it here. Offer a large sum of prize money, where the winner "takes all" , best fighters are invited throughtout Australia, or anywhere throughout the world.

Hold it at vodaphone, build up the hype, make it controversial, and I am sure the vodaphone will sell out and pay T.V. will be eagerly jumping on board.
When the Japan K1 started in 94, the total prize money was a lot, but it wasn't nearly as much as it is now. That's a way to start, I am sure the promoters can give a winner takes $100 000, and build it up from there. If Tarik really wants to sell out the Telstra dome with Kickboxing fights, maybe this would be a good start, cause its not going to happen with fights like the Feb 17th K1 with Amutagi, Fadi etc (no disrespect to those boys, but they don't pull the crowds)

Comments?

[Lucy Tui]

There is going to be something like that in July 27th in Melbourne...Tarik will be promoting it.....
I still think February will be interesting it is just the start to the new year..as far as Clay Auimatagi is concerned he is definetly a
entertainer in the ring..one of my favourites down there...Fadi Haddarra is a tough opponent if he gets fit he will be definetly a fighter to watch out for in the future...
Regards
Lucy Tui

[Sucuk]

clay is ONLY an entertaner but cant fight, haddara what a joke and as for the other 2 heavies, who cares!

Those 4 heavyweights wont draw anything more that a handfull of people.

I suppose Stan, Gurks and Zambidis will be enough for me to go.

[Sucuk]

As for my opinion, i think more events more often is better. What happens if had a wedding to go to on the once a year event?

[Michael Schiavello]

Hi guys

In theory a GREAT idea but in practice a little harder. I'm sure all promoters would DREAM of doing a massive card like this, but it takes a LOT of money that is just not available to them.

For example, you mention offering $100,000 prize money - for what? An eight man tourney? That would be only one weight division. If you are bringing fighters from 60 - 90kg then you'd have to have single match fights and say you have EIGHT fights and want to offer every fight a big purse, that's going to cost more than $100,000. Fighters the calibre of Stan, Gurkan, Parr, Zambidis, Behic, etc don't come cheap.
Also, where do you get this prize money from? Sponsorship is very hard... TV wont pay for it...

Plus dont forget, it's not just as easy as a prize purse... you also have to have money for:

* Vodafone Arena - this don't come cheap! Trust me! We're talking BIG BUCKS
* Staffing
* Airfares
* Accomodation
* Publicity
* Advertising / Marketing
* Infrastructure (Sound, lighting, entertainment, etc)

I don't mean to put a downer on it all, the IDEA is great but just not feasible for many promoters in Australia - YET. Without mainstream TV and mainstream media exposure, you won't get the sponsors nor the crowds... without the sponsors you wont get the money... without the money you won't get the venue or the fighters.

Like I said, great idea and all of us in the industry hope that we can build the sport to such heights one day, cos God knows that most of our kickboxing shows are a damn sight more exciting than the six-hour snooze fest we saw for the recent Kostya Tszyu promotion... but it takes time and lots of money and then also takes mainstream media. Look at Tszyu - it was pushed senseless in the media, it was picked up by channel 7, it was live back to the US on Showtime and they advertised it heaps and drew a full house... that took a LOT of money and a huge staff to achieve.

I have attended the last five K-1 shows in Japan and I have seen the MASSIVE infrastructure they have over there... it is amazing, it works like a machine. Ishii has a whole TEAM of people who handle every little aspect, usually two people handle one job whereas here in Oz we have one person handling ten jobs. They also have MAINSTREAM TV with an audience in the multi millions... they have corporate sponsorship... they have merchandising and the support of all the major newspapers... that is why they can sell out shows in an hour and have the money to provide the biggest and best fights. They also have an established brand name because they blanket the media so much.

Anyway, great ideas and keep them coming, but I just thought I'd enlighten you as to some of the costs involved in a show and why it is SO hard to have a SUPER SHOW.