PROOF! The Mr Olympia Bodybuilding Competition is DYING BADLY

[Grape Ape]

I remember the Night of Champions when it was held in the Beacon Theatre, capacity 3800. The year I went, the night show was sold out.

This year, the NY Pro was held in the Banquet Room of a New Jersey hotel. I believe some kid's Bar Mitzvah was taking place, at the same time.

That's not the Mr. Olympia though.

I went to 4-5 NoCs at the beacon...was great....but it's a different topic.

[Tapeworm]

Made for a hell of a Bar Mitzvah tho.

[njflex]

Made for a hell of a Bar Mitzvah tho.

YEAH matza ball soup and thongs go hand in hand...

[Thin Lizzy]

That's not the Mr. Olympia though.

I went to 4-5 NoCs at the beacon...was great....but it's a different topic.

Then you know that, at the time, before the Arnold existed, it was the second most prestigious pro bodybuilding contest. To think that its decline has no relation to the Mr. O is a bit head-in-the-sand.

[njflex]

Then you know that, at the time, before the Arnold existed, it was the second most prestigious pro bodybuilding contest. To think that its decline has no relation to the Mr. O is a bit head-in-the-sand.

ironman as well bbers loved that show not for the measley 10k ..but the stage/lighting/photographs from that show made them look great...

[Charfman84]

How many pages was Muscular Development this year?  That shit used to be 700 pages when the Olympia was going on.

[Azure]

Nobody cares about men's physique. The women had a bigger crowd than they did at their show. The arena for the Mr O was packed. My thing was that the show lacked production value and presentation. I thought they should be more like wrestling and have some interviews with people like they had with HHH and Ronnie. Also I think they should have the scores up after every round so you can know what's going on and feel like you're watching a COMPETITION.

But then they couldn't cheat

[Grape Ape]

Then you know that, at the time, before the Arnold existed, it was the second most prestigious pro bodybuilding contest. To think that its decline has no relation to the Mr. O is a bit head-in-the-sand.

There's no head in the sand - the OP is stating that the Mr. O is dying.  I gave plenty of examples why it may not be.

Pro bodbybuilding as whole may be....the example you posted could be a valid example of that (or it could be that the NoC has been replaced by the Arnold in terms of drawing top name).  But that's not what I'm talking about.  I'm talking about the Mr. O specifically.

[andreisdaman]

I do think that one of the problems with Bodybuilding is that no one knows what the hell is going on any more...no one buys the magazines which used to keep things coherent....I loved IRONMAN and they used to put on a good show even though the prize money was only $10,000....

The Magazines and the Weiders used to keep things in order.....now...its all run by businessmen and NOBODY GIVES A HELL except when they're counting the money in the till at the end of the day

[Azure]

I do think that one of the problems with Bodybuilding is that no one knows what the hell is going on any more...no one buys the magazines which used to keep things coherent....I loved IRONMAN and they used to put on a good show even though the prize money was only $10,000....

The Magazines and the Weiders used to keep things in order.....now...its all run by businessmen and NOBODY GIVES A HELL except when they're counting the money in the till at the end of the day

There's so much more instant information so I don't think that's the problem. 

I think it's the guys themselves that are the problem.  A lot of the marketing is done online and you've got to maximize that. Jay is doing really well with that.   Phil has shown everybody what NOT to do.  There needs to be some life and that will happen once they let these old guys go off into the sunset.

Think about how boring the press conference was this year.  They've got some great new guys that they need to start marketing because you could get people to root for them.  It's a lot of these international guys. Big Ramy already has a big following and once people see how much of a gentleman he is they would be even more apt to root for him. I also thought Dallas McCarver was pretty good too. 

[andreisdaman]

There's so much more instant information so I don't think that's the problem. 

I think it's the guys themselves that are the problem.  A lot of the marketing is done online and you've got to maximize that. Jay is doing really well with that.   Phil has shown everybody what NOT to do.  There needs to be some life and that will happen once they let these old guys go off into the sunset.

Think about how boring the press conference was this year.  They've got some great new guys that they need to start marketing because you could get people to root for them.  It's a lot of these international guys. Big Ramy already has a big following and once people see how much of a gentleman he is they would be even more apt to root for him. I also thought Dallas McCarver was pretty good too. 

Agreed....but thats the point I was making about the Weiders....they KNEW how to market guys....but they also loved the sport and wouldn't let guys embarrass them.....You had to kiss Weider's ring or you wouldn't get shit accomplished in bodybuilding......

yes some say uncle Joe was a tyrant...but bodybuilding was so much more professional when he was around and looking after things

[Voice of Doom]

Maybe its just that Getbig is getting older.  10 years ago we had time to be following the nonsense and wasting time on message boards.  Now we're older, have kids, maybe work two jobs.  Also, Getbig isn't getting the new members it used to which probably the reason the UK contingent is given free reign to gimmick the place up.

There's also the zombie apocalypse, muslim hordes, dollar collapse, ebola and war with China/Russia to worry about.  Who's got time for men in thongs?!

[horseskin]

The prize money and statistics that guy said before the olympia started clearly shows bb is not dying.

[andreisdaman]

Maybe its just that Getbig is getting older.  10 years ago we had time to be following the nonsense and wasting time on message boards.  Now we're older, have kids, maybe work two jobs.  Also, Getbig isn't getting the new members it used to which probably the reason the UK contingent is given free reign to gimmick the place up.

There's also the zombie apocalypse, muslim hordes, dollar collapse, ebola and war with China/Russia to worry about.  Who's got time for men in thongs?!

NICE POINT

[andreisdaman]

Here we are in 2015, with 888 digital channels and the biggest show in bodybuilding isn't even shown  on ESPN 8 " the ocho" at 3 a.m. LOL.

Now the coverage is right up there with drunken bar slut selfies and bathroom posed instagram pics.

Agreed!...LOL..all of these channels need shows in which to fill time.....by covering the Mr. Olympia and all the fitness shows and expos they could go wall to wall coverage from the Thursday afternoon press conference until the after party.....LOL...yet NO ONE wants to touch it....even the boring religious channels

[Papper]

Was there less of a crowd at the event or the expo?

Didn't they double the prize money for the winner?

Did Kai just land some ESPN deal or something?

Was it not popular on other forms of social media?

How do you know if it's really "dying"?   Maybe this board has just leveled off.


*Disclaimer, as said, this is a niche and will always be.......just wanted to argue OP's point.

Desperate attempts at hiding the obvious truth

No ones in the audience.. The production is worse than a low budget web porno production

Competitors looks like total shit

[viking1]

Yeah, normally the live webcast thread on Getbig is blowing(no homo) through page after page.

[MCWAY]

That's where you are wrong.  There was huge hate for Ronnie on this board when he was winning all the time.  The only difference between him and Heath is that Ronnie is someone who remained a complete and utter outstanding example when he stepped off stage.  Heath puts clothes on and becomes mortal.  Ronnie was on another planet to his fellow competitors so there was always the begrudging respect from people who were into Jay.

There was also "huge hate" when the title was a hot potato (2006-2011), three different champions crowned during that time.

[MCWAY]

Nobody cares about men's physique. The women had a bigger crowd than they did at their show. The arena for the Mr O was packed. My thing was that the show lacked production value and presentation. I thought they should be more like wrestling and have some interviews with people like they had with HHH and Ronnie. Also I think they should have the scores up after every round so you can know what's going on and feel like you're watching a COMPETITION.

But then they couldn't cheat

The production was OK. The video intros were reminiscent of the WBF championship from 1991.

[SuperTed]

There was more interest last year because you had a top challenger to Heath in Kai, Jay's comeback, the emergence of Rhoden and the mystique surrounding Ramy.
This year you had none of that stuff.

[Ronnie Rep]

I remember the Night of Champions when it was held in the Beacon Theatre, capacity 3800. The year I went, the night show was sold out.

This year, the NY Pro was held in the Banquet Room of a New Jersey hotel. I believe some kid's Bar Mitzvah was taking place, at the same time.

I was there at the 98 NOC, completely sold out. Wayne Demilia new how to run a show.

[Azure]

There was more interest last year because you had a top challenger to Heath in Kai, Jay's comeback, the emergence of Rhoden and the mystique surrounding Ramy.
This year you had none of that stuff.

And people were hoping for a fight onstage.  Even I watched online last year because I wanted to see Kai kick Phil's ass onstage. 

[MCWAY]

There was more interest last year because you had a top challenger to Heath in Kai, Jay's comeback, the emergence of Rhoden and the mystique surrounding Ramy.
This year you had none of that stuff.

I beg to differ. How about 45-year-old former Mr. O, Dexter Jackson, looking terrific and coming oh-so-close to winning another Sandow. And he competed in multiple shows this year vs. Heath's just doing the Olympia.

And why is it that, all of a sudden, people are whining about Greene not competing this year? When he was competing, all we heard was he should not be onstage due to his controversial past. Now, that he's gone, there's wailing and bemoaning about his absence.

[Azure]

I beg to differ. How about 45-year-old former Mr. O, Dexter Jackson, looking terrific and coming oh-so-close to win by another Sandow. And he competed in multiple shows this year vs. Heath's just doing the Olympia.

And why is it that, all of a sudden, people are whining about Greene not competing this year? When he was competing, all we heard was he should not be onstage due to his controversial past. Now, that he's gone, there's wailing and bemoaning about his absense.

That was a GREAT story.  The audience was really pulling for him and can you believe it?  45 years old and was the second best??  Awesome story!

[stuntmovie]

GRAPE, Actually you ask some pretty valid questions and this is my attempt to offer some pretty valid answers ......

Was there less of a crowd at the event or the expo?

NOPE. I have been informed by valid sources (more than a couple) that the Expo attendance increased by approximately 10% this year.

And the Friday and Saturday nite attendance was almost full. Maybe someone can elaborate on that.

I stopped counting when I got to '26".

Didn't they double the prize money for the winner?

Nope, but Mr. Pecker increased it by $100,000 during his introductory speech. But don't ever expect to see a pro football pay-scale.

Did Kai just land some ESPN deal or something?

I seriously doubt that ESPN would want to be associated with Kai.

How do you know if it's really "dying"?   Maybe this board has just leveled off.

I may be one of the few GetBiggers who think that the Oly is NOT dying, but without valid stats ..... it's difficult to argue with those who think it's on it's last leg.

I would assume that those who think it's dying, have never been to an Oly contest to personally observe the interest or simply think it's dying because it's  'politically correct' on this GetBig Board to think it is.

As someone mentioned above we can all expect a huge growth surge within the NPC/IFBB when this new classic division comes into play.

And then the 'hatred' will really blossom.

But have no worry, GetBig fans!  .... the Oly is still in its  infant stage with many years to go until all these divisions come together and are combined as one to satisfy one and all.

But even then .........