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I don't have any inside information about this and no specific reason to worry about it. That being said, I don't love that an organization with a crazy amount of power over our industry is getting passed around every few years like a big hot potato.
 
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I don't have any inside information about this and no specific reason to worry about it. That being said, I don't love that an organization with a crazy amount of power over our industry is getting passed around every few years like a big hot potato.

They should just put us in charge of Varsity. Problem solved. I have a zillion ideas for policies and catalogs and the site design but only my boyfriend to yell them at. And most of the time he’s like, “Honey, can we talk about this later I’m being traded tomorrow.” Loser.
 
I don't have any inside information about this and no specific reason to worry about it. That being said, I don't love that an organization with a crazy amount of power over our industry is getting passed around every few years like a big hot potato.
It would seem to me that this is a great time for the big power players to promote the changes they would like to see in the industry. Generally speaking, corporations are the most vulnerable when they are going through the acquisition process. There is a 12-18 month window of opportunity here for the right people.
 
"As price tags keep climbing, the barrier to entry becomes tougher, even for billionaires. That’s because leagues limit the amount of debt new owners can take on as part of their purchases. Enter private equity firms. " ~Institutional Investor The NFL's Next Billionaire Won't be a Person

However, I tend to believe we have focused on Varsity so long that we are ignoring the ICU, IASF and USASF as the governing bodies of cheer. Look at Varsity Brands website click here. Look at the pictures on the home page. Herff Jones has literally gotten their foot in the door in every school in America and much of Canada for uniforms, camps and equipment. Then, the AS side with fashion and events. Varsity will and can shift their school and AS fashion and events to whatever governing body and divisions prove to provide the most interest and money worldwide. IMO, those new divisions provide more insight as to what is going on behind closed doors versus Varsity's new equity firm.

ETA: "We are Varsity All Star", "We are Varsity Spirit" and "Varsity University" took the place of "We are Cheerleading" a little while ago on their website.
 
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I don't have any inside information about this and no specific reason to worry about it. That being said, I don't love that an organization with a crazy amount of power over our industry is getting passed around every few years like a big hot potato.
more importantly so, the squeeze that happened between and the result for customers.

Charlesbank and friends pumped an extra billion out of VB in the last 4 years. I was there for 3 of those and much of that time was frustrating as we spent time maxing profits and cutting the fat. And after the sale, none of those employees get that added Bil, which is a stinger on top of the chaos.
 
more importantly so, the squeeze that happened between and the result for customers.

Charlesbank and friends pumped an extra billion out of VB in the last 4 years. I was there for 3 of those and much of that time was frustrating as we spent time maxing profits and cutting the fat. And after the sale, none of those employees get that added Bil, which is a stinger on top of the chaos.

Gym owners (and coaches/athletes/etc) have absolutely felt that squeeze as well with higher entry fees, etc. Combine a genius-level martketing push towards Summit and a (practical) monopoly on the event side, they can raise the entry fees without much fear of short-term reprisal. Many things make more sense now, with the push for profit-now at the possible expense of the long-term health of the industry or their image. If your main goal is to boost temporary profit and cash out, that leads to different decisions than trying to grow a healthy industry with great relationships with competitor businesses, customers, and vendors 20 years down the road.

I don't fault a private company for maximizing their profits, but that doesn't mean that we have to admire them for it or trust their overall motives going forward. (FWIW - There are many folks at Varsity that I absolutely love.)
 
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Gym owners (and coaches/athletes/etc) have absolutely felt that squeeze as well with higher entry fees, etc. Combine a genius-level martketing push towards Summit and a (practical) monopoly on the event side, they can raise the entry fees without much fear of short-term reprisal. Many things make more sense now, with the push for profit-now at the possible expense of the long-term health of the industry or their image. If your main goal is to boost temporary profit and cash out, that leads to different decisions than trying to grow a healthy industry with great relationships with competitor businesses, customers, and vendors 20 years down the road.

I don't fault a private company for maximizing their profits, but that doesn't mean that we have to admire them for it or trust their overall motives going forward. (FWIW - There are many folks at Varsity that I absolutely love.)
bingo
 
I don't fault a private company for maximizing their profits, but that doesn't mean that we have to admire them for it or trust their overall motives going forward. (FWIW - There are many folks at Varsity that I absolutely love.)

And this in a nutshell has been one of the central issues many have had. Sure be a business and maximize profits. Do what a business does. But stop lying to those who supported for OTHER reasons. That was not business, those were many many lies told over many many years. For years they played on the strength of personal relationships to advance their business agenda while begging those who weren't supportive to just trust their friends (you know ___wouldn't be here if we were doing that) that worked for the company and elevate that above the companies actions.

When non disclosures expire, people grow a back bone or they get drunk - the things told are scandalous on so many levels.
 
And this in a nutshell has been one of the central issues many have had. Sure be a business and maximize profits. Do what a business does. But stop lying to those who supported for OTHER reasons. That was not business, those were many many lies told over many many years. For years they played on the strength of personal relationships to advance their business agenda while begging those who weren't supportive to just trust their friends (you know ___wouldn't be here if we were doing that) that worked for the company and elevate that above the companies actions.

When non disclosures expire, people grow a back bone or they get drunk - the things told are scandalous on so many levels.
I agree and disagree. I truly don't believe anyone had the proverbial "wool" pulled over their eyes...It was just easier to play naive and reap the profits.

ETA: never seen a bunch of folks grow totally silent the way gym owners did a few years ago after their futile attempt to "take control"
 
Who’s next as far as companies being bought out by the monopoly. They state they are going to continue with acquisitions to grow.. I hate to see others disappear and the cheer community have even less options than we currently do
 
I agree and disagree. I truly don't believe anyone had the proverbial "wool" pulled over their eyes...It was just easier to play naive and reap the profits.

ETA: never seen a bunch of folks grow totally silent the way gym owners did a few years ago after their futile attempt to "take control"
What are you talking about? What gym owners tried to take control of the industry?
 
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