What are the requisites for U.S. fencing to go pro?

[Mihail]

It's a very general question, so take it as you want to. And it's all your opinion.

I'm mainly asking what kind of support would fencing need to acquire for this to happen. If you think you can include numbers, do so.

Like I said, it's a very general topic.

[Prometheus]

Sponsors...

[damianip]

I think Hell freezing over would have to occur first.

The fact that there has been no explicitly professional competitive fencing anywhere in the world for a while, it's unlikely that it would resume here in the States.

It has been tried once in recent memory but failed. I think Eric can give the details since he was a competitor in the PFL.

I think a more likely approach is to put top fencers in the military or police forces, and then let them train full time. It's basically what the Italians do.

The AF program Seth Kelsey is in looks to be effective.

Paolo

[noodle]

good, well-placed/timed, lengthy, (regular?,) professional television coverage.
this brings in sponsors who want their names to be on tv in some form.
which brings in $.
which perpetuates the cycle.

[Black Jeebus]

Many, many, many more fencers. There are more people playing soccer in the US than fencing and they can't even keep a pro soccer league alive. Its going to be difficult to keep any professional league alive in the US when competing against Football, Baseball, Basketball, Golf, and Tennis.

[noodle]

Many, many, many more fencers. There are more people playing soccer in the US than fencing and they can't even keep a pro soccer league alive. Its going to be difficult to keep any professional league alive in the US when competing against Football, Baseball, Basketball, Golf, and Tennis.

thats a slightly misleading premise, though.

are there really that many more tennis players than soccer players in the us?
there are professional leagues elsewhere too. think tennis > soccer in england?

[hpfencing]

In order for fencing or fencers to become pros the sport must first grace the publics eyes and they must understand it and want to watch it. The second item is sponsors which only come after the first.

No on ein the US is currently considering buildig a state of the art facilaty for fencing events, why? It's not in the publics eye.

We must promote, promote, promote to get everyone to see our sport for what it is.. How many of your co-workers and friends know that you fence. How many of them might be future fencers.....

Fencing is still in it's grass roots movement here in the USA. At some point it may grow and become more popular like soccer has in the past 15 years. It's a slow process. Who will help!

[oiuyt]

First step is to pick one of the top fencing locations in the country like Mechanicsville, NY or Charlotte, NC and base the league there..... :)

-B :)

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

People outside of fencing caring.

[noodle]

First step is to pick one of the top fencing locations in the country like Mechanicsville, NY or Charlotte, NC and base the league there.....

-B

they tried that once
i'm sure you recall the swordmaster series?

[prototoast]

they tried that once
i'm sure you recall the swordmaster series?

Um... that was his point.

[Elemental]

I think the main problem for the average viewer watching fencing for the first time is that they can't tell what the heck is going on. The blades can be hard to see and the right of way rules can be confusing. Also, unless one is really interested in the sport (as many of my friends are) the action may not be high paced enough for them. Adding flash to the sport without demeaning it would be tricky as well.

[noodle]

Um... that was his point.

ugh, internet sarcasm
i didn't even think twice about the city names, either.
the arcade is ruining my posting quality!
oh wells, color me slightly embarressed

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

ugh, internet sarcasm
i didn't even think twice about the city names, either.
the arcade is ruining my posting quality!
oh wells, color me slightly embarressed

The arcade does that to you!

[sabreman]

Fencing is to small. Companies like Adidas can't make enough money on the sport to line up as big time sponsors. It really doesn't matter if the fans can understand it. It is all about $$$ and how much clothing and shoes you can sell.

[Elemental]

Fencing is to small. Companies like Adidas can't make enough money on the sport to line up as big time sponsors. It really doesn't matter if the fans can understand it. It is all about $$$ and how much clothing and shoes you can sell.

You have a good point and I agree. The problem is if fencing can't get an audience then there isn't anyone to advertise too. Also with the regulations on uniforms, sponsorship would be difficult anyways. I guess a pro fencing leauge (PFL?) could have it's own rules on what is appropriate but I would hate to see fencing have the same level of advertising that NASCAR does (no offence to any racing fans). But the MLB's, NFL's, and NBA's level of advertising would be fine.

Of course it would be nifty if the revenue for a pro fencing leauge could be generated the same as pro wrestling with merchendising. I can see it now... my own action figure complete with prime attack action...

[D'Artag-NOT]

Im not sure fencing fits in with American popular culture well enough for it to ever become a big professional draw. The European fencing powerhouses have national histories which include swordsmanship. By the time the USA came along, the sword as a weapon was out of favor. The most famous duel in US history, Burr v Hamilton, was fought with pistols.

I'm also not sure that recruiting heaps of young fencers will eventually turn the tide either. Look at soccer. You can't turn around in a fast-food restaurant without tripping over an AYSO team, but despite its popularity as a youth sport major league soccer seems to be a blip on the horizon.

We seem to prefer sports such as baseball, American football, and basketball, which were developed in this country, over "foreign" sports like soccer or fencing.