i have an idea, stole it from golf's skin game. we fans have our favorites and even make up reasons as to why their favorite player(s) lose, and have to wait so long and certain luck of draws for them to meet again (ie TH vs LD) lets just have 2 tournaments in a year, play at different locatons, where only the top 4 popular players compete among themselves for 1 or 2 day. It will cost less to host as it involve 4 players over 1 or 2 days while tv rating should be very high as these the games the fans want to watch. Players pay their own on travel and hotels so having coach there will eat into their reward. No more excuses for tireness, no more excuses for not being prepared. These players dont have to waste energy and time on qualifying rounds. Lets jump to final-like games with certain $$$ prize alloted per game. Results will not be counted in the ranking. Both winners and losers get monies for particpating. The 4 players will be selected by online voting, say on BWF website. This will push badminton popularity into a new level, where international fans all get involved as well. Prides are involved. If the fans voted certain players in and one player don't want to participate, u don't get to participate in the next 2 meets, and replaced by the next player with the most popular votes. As a start, let try MS only. Each pair play only 2 games. It is not about who win the match, it is about who wins the most games. Win a game, get 2000 USD, loser get 1000 USD. If a player wins all the games, he get goes home with 12,000 USD, quite similar to winning an Open but they don't have to work whole week for that. A player who loses all his games still goes home with 6000 USD. The 36,000 USD purse is just my first suggestion since it will depends on how much sponsorship and tv revenue BWF would get. If this event get popular, I'm sure the purse (skin) will increase and BWF might even throw in MD, WS, XD events as well. We can even vote in ex-pros if we want to like XZX, morten frost, camilla martin (if WS get to play skin). To be popular, u have to show to the fans you're good with high ranking or possess unique skills that fans want to see you play. Sample scenario: LD, TH, PG, LCW received the 4 highest votes. LD vs LCW .. skin will be 2x2000 + 2x1000 = 6000 USD LD vs PG..skin will be 2x2000 + 2x1000 = 6000 USD LD vs TH..skin will be 2x2000 + 2x1000 = 6000 USD LCW vs PG..skin will be 2x2000 + 2x1000 = 6000 USD LCW vs TH..skin will be 2x2000 + 2x1000 = 6000 USD TH vs PG..skin will be 2x2000 + 2x1000 = 6000 USD total purse 36 USD maximum prize is 12,000 if he wins all 6 games minimum prize is 6000 if he loses all 6 games If a certan player performed poorly, i'm sure the fans will elect another popular player in the next skin election, like kenneth J, or Chen Jin, etc I know the prize may look small at first but it's a start. Prides involved. Fans want to see these players play. No show means losing face. No more excuses, all incentive to win, no half effort games because all games count and not like I'll save energy for the rubber match. With shuttles and court rental, the cost to BWF might just be around 50,000 USD to host this type of event, which is quite reasonable considering the exposure badminton would get.
typo total purse 36,000 USD maximum prize is 12,000 if he wins all 6 games minimum prize is 6000 if he loses all 6 games To add, it is the loser who win the most in this type of event because in a real tournament, if a player loses all his games, he get nothing, here he'll still get 6k USD.. If BWF have means to increase the purse, I will increase the winning to 2.5 to 3k per game, and have the $1000/game for the loser unchanged
i might think about that. Let see how much interest shown from BF members first I think it's very workable. In a real tournament, how many people watch the early rounds live or tv show the early rounds anyway? The cost of feather shuttles a is huge expense in each tournament. In this skins event, only 12 games are played, shuttle costs will be considerably lower than in a full tournament. This Super Skins in my opinion will be more popular than the Super Series because more interest from fans that want to see duel among the best/popular players. Let each player earn their popularity by proving themselves in regular tournaments with lesser prizes. If those players get voted in to play the skins, they have proven themselves (in the fans eyes) and they're worth the money and privilage to play in the skins.
definitely worth a try, but i don't think you'd be able to start with only MS, that's some kinda prejudice which prolly won't be tolerated. so assuming you take all 5 categories, $36k x 5 = $180k, still pretty managable for a medium/large sponsor.
no it is not discrimination. It is about the money. It is about delivering a product that people want to watch. That's why there is only men golf skins. If the demand is there, sure, bring on the other events too.
