All-Star Jambrand's Major Prize.....

[Ceacoach]

Actually the trip was advertised as ONE team. At the request of Brad and I who didn't want our coed and large senior teams to feel as though they were competing against each other they offered the trip to TWO teams. After the Majors they even increased the original amount of the prize. Jambrands has spared no expense making this experience great for our kids. I can only speak for CEA in saying that every thing promised from them to us since day one has been exceeded. Every word of their update copied above is true.

 

[Bystander]

Ok confused. If they offered the trip for two teams why not pay for two teams? Also did you inform your parents about the new arrangement? That they would be paying to go to Indy and paying for Europe? Lastly if this was the setup from the start why didn't they inform those in England there was a high likelihood of the teams NOT showing up?

 

[codycheerbabex]

Just seen this on JAMfest Europes facebook: 'We want to update you on a few things for JAMfest Europe. As many of you know, Cheer Athletics and Cheer Extreme won a trip to attend JAMfest Europe by winning The MAJORS. They each received a large amount of money to help offset the cost of traveling to Europe. Even with this money, the teams knew they would have to fundraise for the trip. They have found organizing the trip to be tricky, with the fundraising, graduations, summer family schedules, etc. We want you to know that Cheer Athletics, Cheer Extreme and JAMfest, from the beginning, have worked hard to make this trip possible. Currently, Cheer Extreme will be attending JAMfest Europe with a majority of their team and they are excited to see everyone at the competition and clinic'

So they have taken no blame for this what so ever...what a suprise.

 

[ACEDAD]

Actually the trip was advertised as ONE team. At the request of Brad and I who didn't want our coed and large senior teams to feel as though they were competing against each other they offered the trip to TWO teams. After the Majors they even increased the original amount of the prize. Jambrands has spared no expense making this experience great for our kids. I can only speak for CEA in saying that every thing promised from them to us since day one has been exceeded. Every word of their update copied above is true.

Seriously? Doesn't seem like this information got past you and Brad then. CEA parents apparently didn't know and BlueCat apparently didn't know.

The whole thing seems to be a huge miscommunication from the beginning.

 

[mollymags]

Actually the trip was advertised as ONE team. At the request of Brad and I who didn't want our coed and large senior teams to feel as though they were competing against each other they offered the trip to TWO teams. After the Majors they even increased the original amount of the prize. Jambrands has spared no expense making this experience great for our kids. I can only speak for CEA in saying that every thing promised from them to us since day one has been exceeded. Every word of their update copied above is true.

I've been doing my best to keep up with all the threads regarding this and I'm still just very confused about how the prize was initially introduced to those that were invited to compete. I'd love to hear it from a person who dealt with this first hand from the very beginning, but I understand if you can't or don't want to divulge those details. Did jamfest ever actually say, "we will pay for your kids to get to europe, we will pay for them to stay there, all of your expenses are covered"? Was there ever any clear monetary promise, like how much would be allotted per team/athlete (something like how paid bids to worlds are $650/athlete)? Or was it always vague?

I'm sad for anyone who was lead to believe that they were getting an "all expenses" paid trip to England and was disappointed with the actual result, but I have yet to see anywhere that that was what was promised by Jamfest. I'm attempting to play devil's advocate here, more or less. If Jamfest did ACTUALLY tell the participants that their travel and lodging would be fully covered, then I'm disgusted. If they didn't, then this is a very, very unfortunate lesson for everyone involved to always be absolutely 100% clear that both parties understand what the prize is. I'm sure if Jamfest had said from the beginning, "Each winning team will receive $18,000 towards a trip to Europe!", they would have saved themselves from how upset everyone (including people not at all involved) is now.

 

[ztaprincess]

Knowing that there are athletes who were upset because they were under the impression that their trip was paid for is sad. If the gym owners or coaches knew this wasn't the case they probably should have made sure the athletes all knew that as well. Many were surprised when they found out they weren't going, or atleast showed it as a surprise on social networking sites. If this was what Jamfest promised from the beginning then I feel horrible for those athletes that were under the impression that they were promised more.

 

[ACEDAD]

Actually the trip was advertised as ONE team. At the request of Brad and I who didn't want our coed and large senior teams to feel as though they were competing against each other they offered the trip to TWO teams. After the Majors they even increased the original amount of the prize. Jambrands has spared no expense making this experience great for our kids. I can only speak for CEA in saying that every thing promised from them to us since day one has been exceeded. Every word of their update copied above is true.

The Majors By Jamfest Events | Page 8 | Fierce Board - We Talk Cheerleading

If you look on this page, you can see that BlueCat specifically said there was full paid flights & hotel for 2 teams.

Are you saying that Brad didn't tell Jody about this? I really find that hard to believe.

Come on, Courtney, it's one thing to be gracious publicly, but I would really rather you not say anything than try to sell this stuff.

 

[ACEDAD]

And I want to publicly apologize to WCMAN

As you can see from the link I posted above, he was pretty skeptical about Jamfest paying flights & hotels for two teams. BlueCat said it was true and I essentially told him to pound sand.

He was right and I was wrong.

This is a huge lesson for all of us.

 

[BlueCat]

I can't speak to what CEA was told, but our version of events is different - particularly about the description of the prize(s) prior to the event.

 

[Ceacoach]

To answer: yes, we knew it was $20,000-$25,000 towards the trip in the beginning. When they awarded both winners it changed to $15,000 a piece at first and then they made it $20,000 per team.. It's about $800 reimbursed for travel per athlete on coed. I have no reason to sell
It, but I have a hard time reading these negative posts towards a gift that was given to teams who were charged no entry fee to compete in Indy

 

[ztaprincess]

I have a hard time reading comments from athletes and parents who were promised a free trip to Europe and then told they had to fundraise money for it only to realize they can't go. It clearly wasn't told to the athletes until afterwards that the trip wasn't 100% free.

 

[yojaehs]

To answer: yes, we knew it was $20,000-$25,000 towards the trip in the beginning. When they awarded both winners it changed to $15,000 a piece at first and then they made it $20,000 per team.. It's about $800 reimbursed for travel per athlete on coed. I have no reason to sell
It, but I have a hard time reading these negative posts towards a gift that was given to teams who were charged no entry fee to compete in Indy

The issue is not that your athletes weren't charged to compete in the Major's, the "event" itself was bragged on tremendously. The issue I have is that spectators DID pay, and athletes paying to come to their event in the UK have been told different things. Just because YOUR athletes weren't charged doesn't change the fact that OTHER teams in the future might want to attend, and I think Jamfest should be UPFRONT with what is completely offered. You can defend your program and your decisions all day everyday, and again, I support you and your program, my issue has NOTHING to do with you or your program. The issue is that Jamfest was not UPFRONT with the prize awarded. Athletes AND coaches from over seas have come on this thread and told their side as they have been told multiple things as well. You have every right to be comfortable with what YOU were told, but OBVIOUSLY that has not been consistent with what other coaches that participated in the same event were told.

 

[carolinagirl823]

The issue is not that your athletes weren't charged to compete in the Major's, the "event" itself was bragged on tremendously. The issue I have is that spectators DID pay, and athletes paying to come to their event in the UK have been told different things. Just because YOUR athletes weren't charged doesn't change the fact that OTHER teams in the future might want to attend, and I think Jamfest should be UPFRONT with what is completely offered. You can defend your program and your decisions all day everyday, and again, I support you and your program, my issue has NOTHING to do with you or your program. The issue is that Jamfest was not UPFRONT with the prize awarded. Athletes AND coaches from over seas have come on this thread and told their side as they have been told multiple things as well. You have every right to be comfortable with what YOU were told, but OBVIOUSLY that has not been consistent with what other coaches that participated in the same event were told.

This is great and all, but the only opinions that really matter are the ones from the coaches and athletes on Panthers and Coed Elite. Courtney and CEA obviously aren't too upset by it, and I know that everyone from Cheer Athletics is a little upset, but none of them are the ones on here whining and complaining about the situation. Should Jamfest have been more upfront about it? Yes, but this is the situation and everyone directly involved is handling it well. Not everything in life works out exactly like it is planned. Especially if it involved traveling to the Olympic host city so close to the games.

 

[scottish_cheerleader]

This is great and all, but the only opinions that really matter are the ones from the coaches and athletes on Panthers and Coed Elite. Courtney and CEA obviously aren't too upset by it, and I know that everyone from Cheer Athletics is a little upset, but none of them are the ones on here whining and complaining about the situation. Should Jamfest have been more upfront about it? Yes, but this is the situation and everyone directly involved is handling it well. Not everything in life works out exactly like it is planned. Especially if it involved traveling to the Olympic host city so close to the games.

a) they are not travelling to london where the olympics are being held they are travelling to liverpool also its a month before the olympics i believe

b) it greatly affects everyone in the UK who have paid large amounts of money to watch the event online, then i am paying about $500 to attend the event (times it by two because i have a sister), Now my team were planning to attend the comp before the whole majors thing was announced, but the prices are significantly higher for the even this year .. my entry fee alone had almost doubled! so by rough calculations on my kids entry fees we are paying $5000 (for my 30 kids), there are some programs coming bringing 100+ kids i can only imagine their total entry fees... what im trying to say is we have made significant financial payments to jamfest and what we have been promised is not being delivered

i even i know of many teams & individuals who are not competing but are ca/cea fans that have made arrangements, paid for hotels etc just for the experience of seeing these teams compete (because until jammys post on fb yesterday thats what was being advertised to us)

so have i to go to practice today and tell my kids and parents im sorry but these teams must have known they needed to fundraise and now we are only having some of coed elite and no panthers, its nothing to do with jamfest because i mean they gave them x amount per head.... i dont think that will sit well with the parents who have worked second jobs etc just to get the money for their kid to have this great experience.. or well not to now

so i think you maybe need to rethink the statement where you say the only opinions that matter here are athletes/coaches of panthers and coed elite, cause i sure know its massively affected us!

 

[Anna-grace]

a) they are not travelling to london where the olympics are being held they are travelling to liverpool also its a month before the olympics i believe

b) it greatly affects everyone in the UK who have paid large amounts of money to watch the event online, then i am paying about $500 to attend the event (times it by two because i have a sister), Now my team were planning to attend the comp before the whole majors thing was announced, but the prices are significantly higher for the even this year .. my entry fee alone had almost doubled! so by rough calculations on my kids entry fees we are paying $5000 (for my 30 kids), there are some programs coming bringing 100+ kids i can only imagine their total entry fees... what im trying to say is we have made significant financial payments to jamfest and what we have been promised is not being delivered

i even i know of many teams & individuals who are not competing but are ca/cea fans that have made arrangements, paid for hotels etc just for the experience of seeing these teams compete (because until jammys post on fb yesterday thats what was being advertised to us)

so have i to go to practice today and tell my kids and parents im sorry but these teams must have known they needed to fundraise and now we are only having some of coed elite and no panthers, its nothing to do with jamfest because i mean they gave them x amount per head.... i dont think that will sit well with the parents who have worked second jobs etc just to get the money for their kid to have this great experience.. or well not to now

so i think you maybe need to rethink the statement where you say the only opinions that matter here are athletes/coaches of panthers and coed elite, cause i sure know its massively affected us!

Same for our team, we are only a small team, and our coach is heavily pregnant but we all wanted to go to jamfest so bad shes bending pver backwards to take us, even though it's 8 hours away from us and we have to go up for 3 days to only compete once, where we know we probably won't place just because we wanted the experience jamfest advertised so much. We are still really excited, as we've never been to jamfest before. However in my opinion if jamfest are going to use these teams to advertise and draw people to come to their event and pay more for their event, it's their responsibility to deliver, if they knew the teams were going to have to fundraise, they shouldn't have advertised it as a definite. Or they should have paid the full amount so the teams could come over. I don't see how the trip is that much of a benefit to the American athletes, so can see why they aren't coming over, if you are going to pay to visit another country, you want to visit the places in that country that are tourist attractions, therefore, if I was going to fly for 12 hours, I would not choose to just visit Liverpool for a few days, and without paying extra to visit other places in the UK as its nowhere near London, this is the only place they are visiting and it's before the start of the Olympics so I can understand why they are not all that keen on the trip.