BallReviews
General Category => USBC Tournament => Topic started by: milorafferty on May 11, 2015, 11:07:11 AM
-
I've read many different post containing comments about how USBC is wrong for imposing a fee, charges too much, trying to sell something, cutting the awards etc.
I know the national dues have not increased for at least eight years, and the national delegates will probably continue to vote down any increases.
So how is the organization supposed to generate the revenue needed to operate? If we are to continue to have the sport of bowling, shouldn't we as bowlers be willing to support the governing body instead of just bitching about it all the time?
-
I think they could do more with less, I dont know the exact figures, but I feel like they're over staffed where it doesn't matter..
-
I think they could do more with less, I dont know the exact figures, but I feel like they're over staffed where it doesn't matter..
I don't know much about what goes on in Dallas. Where are they overstaffed? Haven't they had multiple rounds of lay-offs already?
-
Not moving to Dallas and building that new facility may have saved a few $$$$.
Im sure a list of positions and their pay could help make some informed decisions on ways to save money.
The national tournament they have every year generates a lot of money as well. To make an accurate guess would require better knowing the revenue generated vs the expenses. That information could be very useful and also damning
-
Like I said idk the figures, I honestly dont know how many people are required bow that everything is automated. From a financial state point they can't have all of this spending when the money coming in isn't there. An accountant could probably explain everything best. I dont honestly know what they "do". I see a ton of em at the nationals tournaments and most are just standing around, and I wouldn't dare bug them.
They collect dues, automated and collected by leagues (not USBC)
They give us cards, automated.
Quite a few people would probably have to input data into databases, I get that.
Fancy campus in Dallas, building a new tournament every few years has to be costly, and I am hearing low turnout in el Paso, Frankie may isn't his happy self this year due to rising booth costs.
I honestly think their money needs to go to sponsorship, they need to hire bright individuals to market the congress to acquire sponsors, I feel that's your quickest way to earn a buck.
Many bowlers are senior and I dont see them enjoy themselves as much anymore.
What else does the USBC do that they need so much money?
The tournament entry fee is kinda low for nationals.
People griping about card dues are crazy, who cares about 10-50 bucks to save your sport!
Hell I'd pay $1 every week out of my linage if needed. Invest in things u care about, but honestly what else does the USBC do?
-
I agree completely about the move. And talk about epic bad timing for it as well. At the very peak of the market for buying and building the new property, then needing to sell the old one just as the market crashed completely.
The tournaments seem to be their best source of revenue.
Not moving to Dallas and building that new facility may have saved a few $$$$.
Im sure a list of positions and their pay could help make some informed decisions on ways to save money.
The national tournament they have every year generates a lot of money as well. To make an accurate guess would require better knowing the revenue generated vs the expenses. That information could be very useful and also damning
-
Now that they own/operate the PWBA, it looks as though they have decided to be a tournament organization rather than a membership organization governing the sport of bowling.
-
I can vouch for the layoffs. My position as a PR Coordinator for USBC Collegiate, USBC Sport Bowling, USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications, and USBC Youth was eliminated in the very first round of RIFs back in early 2010. I know there have been at least 2-3 more rounds since then, and there have been individual layoffs as well. They've brought in new people as replacements here and there, but a large number of those positions have remained unfilled, which means many departments are operating with as few people as possible as it is.
Like any governing body, USBC makes a great target. Bowlers see awards go away and they feel like they're somehow getting screwed over so that USBC can pocket huge profits. Believe me, folks, that isn't the case. Brass tacks, USBC needs to make money wherever and however it can because the revenue stream isn't exactly free flowing in the bowling biz these days.
-
I've read many different post containing comments about how USBC is wrong for imposing a fee, charges too much, trying to sell something, cutting the awards etc.
I know the national dues have not increased for at least eight years, and the national delegates will probably continue to vote down any increases.
So how is the organization supposed to generate the revenue needed to operate? If we are to continue to have the sport of bowling, shouldn't we as bowlers be willing to support the governing body instead of just bitching about it all the time?
AMEN!!!!
-
USBC's audited financial statements are available to anyone on Bowl.com:
http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/aboutusbc/pdfs/usbc2014financialstatements-final.pdf
There's no need to make wild guesses as to what/where they generate revenues on/from or where their expenses come from. It's all available in their annual report.
There's also a library of past results:
http://bowl.com/About/About_Home/Financials/
-
They're not hurting they got 19 million in cash...
I dont think they should have nearly a third of that in payroll slaries...that's a Lil high.
-
It is worth the $18 a year just for the online average and award score tracking. And remember, only about 1/2 of your fee is going to Arlington. The rest stays local. No one complains of how little you get at the local level.
It costs $30 a year to keep a handicap in the USGA's GHIN system, and if you don't renew your handicap is taken down until you do. My wife pays $30-40 for each USTA tennis league she plays in, plus court fees to the facility you play at. And these are organizations that have their respective US Opens as their cash cow.
-
It is worth the $18 a year just for the online average and award score tracking. And remember, only about 1/2 of your fee is going to Arlington. The rest stays local. No one complains of how little you get at the local level.
It costs $30 a year to keep a handicap in the USGA's GHIN system, and if you don't renew your handicap is taken down until you do. My wife pays $30-40 for each USTA tennis league she plays in, plus court fees to the facility you play at. And these are organizations that have their respective US Opens as their cash cow.
I agree 100%. Most Bowlers don't know about the Local Assn taking money. Not really sure what their taking the money for? Anyone know?
-
It is worth the $18 a year just for the online average and award score tracking. And remember, only about 1/2 of your fee is going to Arlington. The rest stays local. No one complains of how little you get at the local level.
It costs $30 a year to keep a handicap in the USGA's GHIN system, and if you don't renew your handicap is taken down until you do. My wife pays $30-40 for each USTA tennis league she plays in, plus court fees to the facility you play at. And these are organizations that have their respective US Opens as their cash cow.
I agree 100%. Most Bowlers don't know about the Local Assn taking money. Not really sure what their taking the money for? Anyone know?
It baffles me and I was a Director for our local association at one point. We have a ton of money in "investments", mostly mutual funds, that has been there for years. Our city tournament doesn't pay squat. The local Masters tournament gets money from sponsors and entry fees, the awards banquet is paid for by raffles and ticket sales. Other than providing breakfast once a year for the board meetings, paying for two useless idiots to travel to the convention once a year and $500 a month for the association manager, I could never figure out where the money went, other than into the same mutual funds.
-
They're not hurting they got 19 million in cash...
I dont think they should have nearly a third of that in payroll slaries...that's a Lil high.
Not sure why I am bothering reply to this because you probably don't care. I would guess you don't have any idea what it takes to run any sort of business. And yes, the USBC is a business. They have employees, costs, and expenses. And most of companies that have a nationwide footprint, have a president or CEO and they make a decent salary. For all the employees that work there, do you want well qualified people working for the USBC? Then you pay market rates. They have programmers that maintain all the databases and such for them. Sure you could hire someone straight out of college with no experience to save money but most companies hire experienced people. And means paying the going rate.
Are they perfect? No where close! But they are a business, and expecting them to pay like Walmart seems extreme to me.
But again, bowlers love to complain.
-
It is worth the $18 a year just for the online average and award score tracking. And remember, only about 1/2 of your fee is going to Arlington. The rest stays local. No one complains of how little you get at the local level.
It costs $30 a year to keep a handicap in the USGA's GHIN system, and if you don't renew your handicap is taken down until you do. My wife pays $30-40 for each USTA tennis league she plays in, plus court fees to the facility you play at. And these are organizations that have their respective US Opens as their cash cow.
I agree 100%. Most Bowlers don't know about the Local Assn taking money. Not really sure what their taking the money for? Anyone know?
It baffles me and I was a Director for our local association at one point. We have a ton of money in "investments", mostly mutual funds, that has been there for years. Our city tournament doesn't pay squat. The local Masters tournament gets money from sponsors and entry fees, the awards banquet is paid for by raffles and ticket sales. Other than providing breakfast once a year for the board meetings, paying for two useless idiots to travel to the convention once a year and $500 a month for the association manager, I could never figure out where the money went, other than into the same mutual funds.
So Your basically saying We are not getting ripped of by USBC, We are getting ripped off by the Local Assn? $500 a Month? To do what?
-
It is worth the $18 a year just for the online average and award score tracking. And remember, only about 1/2 of your fee is going to Arlington. The rest stays local. No one complains of how little you get at the local level.
It costs $30 a year to keep a handicap in the USGA's GHIN system, and if you don't renew your handicap is taken down until you do. My wife pays $30-40 for each USTA tennis league she plays in, plus court fees to the facility you play at. And these are organizations that have their respective US Opens as their cash cow.
I agree 100%. Most Bowlers don't know about the Local Assn taking money. Not really sure what their taking the money for? Anyone know?
It baffles me and I was a Director for our local association at one point. We have a ton of money in "investments", mostly mutual funds, that has been there for years. Our city tournament doesn't pay squat. The local Masters tournament gets money from sponsors and entry fees, the awards banquet is paid for by raffles and ticket sales. Other than providing breakfast once a year for the board meetings, paying for two useless idiots to travel to the convention once a year and $500 a month for the association manager, I could never figure out where the money went, other than into the same mutual funds.
So Your basically saying We are not getting ripped of by USBC, We are getting ripped off by the Local Assn? $500 a Month? To do what?
I think the $500 a month was well spent actually. The Association manager does quite a lot actually. Instead of listing the limited things I know ours did, I am attaching a link to the job for another association. But this is pretty much the same things ours does.
http://www.daytonbowler.com/merger/Association_Manager_Job_Description_04.21.09.pdf
-
They're not hurting they got 19 million in cash...
I dont think they should have nearly a third of that in payroll slaries...that's a Lil high.
What is the basis for thinking their salaries are high and that salaries should be a third of what they are actually are? I honestly want to understand the rationale.
In 2006, when revenues were $47.6M, salaries and fringe benefits were $16.5M, or 35% of revenues. Last year, revenues were $32.4M and salaries and fringe benefits were $8.0M, or 24% of revenues. The USBC is actually generating more revenue per salary/fringe benefits dollars spent in 2014 vs 2006 - which points to better management...
Also, service industries (which the USBC kind of is) usually have salaries/fringe benefits in the 50% of revenues range. Based on this, I would say salaries/fringe benefits are just fine for the revenue they are generating.
And for the record, I am not saying the USBC is doing a good or bad job at being the national governing body for the sport of bowling. That is a separate discussion.
-
The fees for bowlers is cheap. It appears theres been an obvious drop in dues revenue of almost 35% in 5 years. That is a lot. Not sure how to generate more revenue, but I have no doubt they need to.
-
In 2006, when revenues were $47.6M, salaries and fringe benefits were $16.5M, or 35% of revenues. Last year, revenues were $32.4M and salaries and fringe benefits were $8.0M, or 24% of revenues. The USBC is actually generating more revenue per salary/fringe benefits dollars spent in 2014 vs 2006 - which points to better management...
After re-reading my response, let me clarify - its not better management as revenues are falling and bowling is not in a better place now than it was in 2006. It's a more efficient group of employees generating revenue is what I should have originally wrote.
The salaries and fringe benefits of USBC employees are not what USBC members should be worried about right now.