All-Star Ice Buying Out Speed Athletics

[chyeeaaa69]

I uploaded a crappy quality version on youtube a while back, I'll see if I can find it.

ETA: Here it is.

Looking back on it now, aside from the center stunt, nothing was extremely spectacular about their skills, even for 2009 (aside from last pass), but this routine to me is so legendary and as a whole, incredible

 

[Logan Vest]

I actually am against gyms buying other cheerleading gyms that are about to stay open on their own. Like, lets just say gym ABC was a small gym, and they had the funds to stay open, large gym XYZ shouldn't buy it. XYZ should only guy a gym if it is on the urge of closing. Like for example, nothing against XYZ, I love each and everyone of their teams. I went to a competition at Encore and it was literally another gym XYZ show case. They had like all three gyms attending, and all teams were amazing and I loved watching them. My point being, there was less competition because one gym was so big. Teams from the same gym were competing against teams from the same gym in the same division.

 

[Teacher Mom]

Can we all just take a second..

My CP wasn't in all star cheer in 2010 so I never heard of this team. Their running tumbling is gorgeous and their stunting is on point. I can't believe how long dances were then. It seems like now they are 2-3 8 counts. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Official OWECheer]

This is the 3rd gym they've bought out in less than a year... Clearly, ICE is great at business, but that seems like a lot, very quickly. I wonder why they're taking on so much so fast.

Add the recent scandal t that and it all really feels like too much.

 

[cheermommaRN]

Speaking of long dances...



BTW one of my favorite routines ever...

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[KimKardashian]

I have been hearing that Layton Athletics which was bought out by ICE last season will be going back to Layton after this season so maybe this is why ICE bought out Speed so quickly?

 

[cheernerd5678]

I have been hearing that Layton Athletics which was bought out by ICE last season will be going back to Layton after this season so maybe this is why ICE bought out Speed so quickly?

I wouldn't be too surprised, they never changed their name on Facebook


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[AScheer]

I think depending on the situation the coaches stay the same. Sometimes you have new owners that come in with their own coaching staff. Out with the old, in with the new. I'm not going to lie, I hate seeing gyms close or change names. Like I'm still sad Orlando Allstars, Premier TN, and Maryland Marlins are done. And those are just a few of the top of my head.

Premier TN is back this season!

 

[Mamarazzi]

I actually am against gyms buying other cheerleading gyms that are about to stay open on their own. Like, lets just say gym ABC was a small gym, and they had the funds to stay open, large gym XYZ shouldn't buy it.

That would be the world's worst business practice. Big business doesn't work that way, and this thing of ours shouldn't either.
Having to financially plan season - to - season sucks. Any decent business owner has a short- and long-term plan, but when the next big thing comes down the road and half the athletes leave, I could see gyms closing because they didn't factor that into the business plan.

 

[tumbleyoda]

That would be the world's worst business practice. Big business doesn't work that way, and this thing of ours shouldn't either.
Having to financially plan season - to - season sucks. Any decent business owner has a short- and long-term plan, but when the next big thing comes down the road and half the athletes leave, I could see gyms closing because they didn't factor that into the business plan.

The sad truth is many smaller gyms are behind the scenes already debating closing down or selling out because they know they can't fight against this new trend. They are wondering where the shoe/mega gym will drop next. We are not talking about the mythical bad gym that everyone blames for bad tumbling, scary stunts, untrained coaches yet we never really identify who they are. We are talking about some solid, great, well respected names and programs. They know how much this industry has built up the value of a name and how the name gets you in the game type mentality. You could be solid on you way to some great things and see your whole business wiped out in literally no time. You don't just lose your Level 5's, you lose your younger 4, and 3's. Now you are set back 3 years to developing your high level teams which all agree are a marketing strength of any gym. You lose the kids/parents who want the immediate success now. You lose the kids who now have a chance to cheer for their dream gym regardless who the coaches are. You lose the gym hoppers. You lose the ones who just want to wear that new uniform one time to say that they cheered for ___________.

Many of these smaller gym owners are throwing in the towel and in effect doing it on their own terms before it happens to them. And I feel that is sad that it has come to this. This again is something that was discussed many years ago on the boards. That after awhile most local gyms would end up only being low level gym feeders into the larger mega type gyms, effectively reducing competition locally. Unless the gyms planned for it like you said and created a sustainable business model that would allow them to survive long term if that did happen.

I don't blame the bigger gyms, mega gyms in this scenario. If you believe in capitalism, they have the right to open wherever they choose to. If I was on their side of the issue, it makes sense to open where there is a proven market for cheerleading with numbers readily available. If they can make it work, great. With the horror story of vendors, bad parents, burnout, staffing issues, etc. I also know why in some cases some gyms would approach a larger gym to be bought out, which has also happened in some cases.

 

[mollymags]

I wouldn't be too surprised, they never changed their name on Facebook


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Their facility is still called Layton Athletics, but they always refer to their allstar program as Northern Ice. I've heard all the rumors of them switching back (and from some good sources) but I guess we can't know for sure until the season ends. I loved Layton, they were one of the best programs to see at events because everyone at their gym was so incredibly kind. The owners are fantastic. Unfortunately, the buyout seemed to have a harsh adverse effect on their program, with a lot of kids jumping ship when they switched to ICE. UA is a quick drive from them (15-20 mins, I think).

But, ICE just bought out another Illinois gym, Legendary Premier. It's about 30 mins from there to the Layton gym and under an hour to the Aurora gym.

 

[Official OWECheer]

The sad truth is many smaller gyms are behind the scenes already debating closing down or selling out because they know they can't fight against this new trend. They are wondering where the shoe/mega gym will drop next. We are not talking about the mythical bad gym that everyone blames for bad tumbling, scary stunts, untrained coaches yet we never really identify who they are. We are talking about some solid, great, well respected names and programs. They know how much this industry has built up the value of a name and how the name gets you in the game type mentality. You could be solid on you way to some great things and see your whole business wiped out in literally no time. You don't just lose your Level 5's, you lose your younger 4, and 3's. Now you are set back 3 years to developing your high level teams which all agree are a marketing strength of any gym. You lose the kids/parents who want the immediate success now. You lose the kids who now have a chance to cheer for their dream gym regardless who the coaches are. You lose the gym hoppers. You lose the ones who just want to wear that new uniform one time to say that they cheered for ___________.

Many of these smaller gym owners are throwing in the towel and in effect doing it on their own terms before it happens to them. And I feel that is sad that it has come to this. This again is something that was discussed many years ago on the boards. That after awhile most local gyms would end up only being low level gym feeders into the larger mega type gyms, effectively reducing competition locally. Unless the gyms planned for it like you said and created a sustainable business model that would allow them to survive long term if that did happen.

I don't blame the bigger gyms, mega gyms in this scenario. If you believe in capitalism, they have the right to open wherever they choose to. If I was on their side of the issue, it makes sense to open where there is a proven market for cheerleading with numbers readily available. If they can make it work, great. With the horror story of vendors, bad parents, burnout, staffing issues, etc. I also know why in some cases some gyms would approach a larger gym to be bought out, which has also happened in some cases.

This makes me so sad.

 

[Rudags]

Their facility is still called Layton Athletics, but they always refer to their allstar program as Northern Ice. I've heard all the rumors of them switching back (and from some good sources) but I guess we can't know for sure until the season ends. I loved Layton, they were one of the best programs to see at events because everyone at their gym was so incredibly kind. The owners are fantastic. Unfortunately, the buyout seemed to have a harsh adverse effect on their program, with a lot of kids jumping ship when they switched to ICE. UA is a quick drive from them (15-20 mins, I think).

But, ICE just bought out another Illinois gym, Legendary Premier. It's about 30 mins from there to the Layton gym and under an hour to the Aurora gym.

Northern Ice is KILLING IT this year. I wouldn't be mad if they were Layton again! I love the Laytons. Just genuine and good people! <3

 

[Markiesgirl]

Layton possibly going back to being Layton has nothing to do with ICE buying Speed. Sometimes people need to sell their business. This is what happened to Speed. The owners in their personal life unrelated to cheer needed to sell the gym. It's a great program and ICE was able to buy it. I think the ICE owner is a smart business person and has grown her brand very well and now has her name in an area where things needed a little shake up. Someone very well could have purchased it and kept the name Speed. Everyone is very excited about the change.

 

[BlueCat]

The sad truth is many smaller gyms are behind the scenes already debating closing down or selling out because they know they can't fight against this new trend. They are wondering where the shoe/mega gym will drop next. We are not talking about the mythical bad gym that everyone blames for bad tumbling, scary stunts, untrained coaches yet we never really identify who they are. We are talking about some solid, great, well respected names and programs. They know how much this industry has built up the value of a name and how the name gets you in the game type mentality. You could be solid on you way to some great things and see your whole business wiped out in literally no time. You don't just lose your Level 5's, you lose your younger 4, and 3's. Now you are set back 3 years to developing your high level teams which all agree are a marketing strength of any gym. You lose the kids/parents who want the immediate success now. You lose the kids who now have a chance to cheer for their dream gym regardless who the coaches are. You lose the gym hoppers. You lose the ones who just want to wear that new uniform one time to say that they cheered for ___________.

Many of these smaller gym owners are throwing in the towel and in effect doing it on their own terms before it happens to them. And I feel that is sad that it has come to this. This again is something that was discussed many years ago on the boards. That after awhile most local gyms would end up only being low level gym feeders into the larger mega type gyms, effectively reducing competition locally. Unless the gyms planned for it like you said and created a sustainable business model that would allow them to survive long term if that did happen.

I don't blame the bigger gyms, mega gyms in this scenario. If you believe in capitalism, they have the right to open wherever they choose to. If I was on their side of the issue, it makes sense to open where there is a proven market for cheerleading with numbers readily available. If they can make it work, great. With the horror story of vendors, bad parents, burnout, staffing issues, etc. I also know why in some cases some gyms would approach a larger gym to be bought out, which has also happened in some cases.

What is the net gain in the number of "mega-gym" franchises in the last 3 years? I would think that number is around 15-20ish facilities nationally at most. (Several of those weren't even really breaking into new-for-them geographical areas.) Compared to the thousands of cheer gyms in the country, this doesn't seem like a huge number.

(granted - "easy for me to say")