Record prize money for 2006 Mr. Olympia!

[Slick Vic]

Yep, outside of bodybuilding.

hahaha.... ain't that the truth. 

[onlyme]

Are you joking?


It went from $0 under Wayne to $4,000 under current establishment...

ask the competitors who put $4,000 in their pocket if they think it's an accomplishment...

Uhhhhhhhhh! Big Deal. The reason they can raise the prize money is because they spend less on making the #1 show in BB the best.  It is barely better than a regional NPC show.  Sure the competitors are the best but te show is not even close.  Sure ifyou are going to cut in production costs you'll have some money left over so why not raise the prize money to make your self look good.  Any idiot could have figured that out.  But, Wayne was promting the #1 BB show in the planet so he figured go balls out and make it that way.  The IFBB/Weiders were paid $350,000+ each year for the fee to put on the Olympia.  Maybe they should have taken less money and have Wayne give it out as more prize money.  How come you couldn't figure this out.  Wayne puts up all his money for the show yet the Weiders come out ahead.  Manion's bill exceeds $40,000 for a week in Vegas.  How come instread of having Wayne pay for his entire families epxense to have fun in Vegas, have Wayne make the prize money more.  QUit trying to make it sound like AMI or anyone else is repsonsible for raising the prize money and Wayne is repsonsible for keeping it down.  These are 100% facts.  You guys sugar coat everything to try to make the IFBB and AMI look good.  But for the few who actually know the numbers and how promotions work it doesn't fly.  But good try

[Chick]

So you're telling me Wayne made NOTHING on the show? Maybe Wayne could've taken less profit and increased the purse. What were all the "bells and whistles" that Wayne had going on in the production dept?

The expo is much bigger, the venue is much bigger and better...and most importantly, there is more money in the ATHLETE'S pockets....you think the guys give a shit about Wayne making a better show for himself and taking in a whopping ZERO dollars for their effort?

[240 is Back]

The expo is much bigger, the venue is much bigger and better...

Why do so many longtime Olympia attendees complain about the new hotel situation?

[Chick]

Why do so many longtime Olympia attendees complain about the new hotel situation?

Because the hotel sucks...People aren't going to see the hotel room, they're going to see the Olympia...it's Vegas for Christsake...people can stay where ever they wish...take a taxi to the Orleans Arena...it's 10 bucks.

People complained when it was at the Mandalay also...bitched it was too expensive.

[gordiano]

"Athletes"



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kmhphoto]

Why do so many longtime Olympia attendees complain about the new hotel situation?

I don't think anyone who has stayed there would claim it's the greatest hotel in Vegas but if you're on a budget then it's fine.
The advantage the Mandalay had was the theatre and the expo space were on the same lot. Very convenient for those that stayed there, but a lot of people stayed at other hotels and had to travel. They were the one's Bob mentioned who complained that the hotel was too expensive and moaned that they had to take a cab to the venue.
Now the people who stayed at the Mandalay complain that they have to take a cab to the venue!
Can't please all the people all the time

[onlyme]

So you're telling me Wayne made NOTHING on the show? Maybe Wayne could've taken less profit and increased the purse. What were all the "bells and whistles" that Wayne had going on in the production dept?

The expo is much bigger, the venue is much bigger and better...and most importantly, there is more money in the ATHLETE'S pockets....you think the guys give a shit about Wayne making a better show for himself and taking in a whopping ZERO dollars for their effort?

I didn't say that.  Come on Chic you are doing what others do on here.  You put words on others mouths.  Wayne made the numbers and he split profits.  He paid everything up front that needed to be paid for the show.  Imagine this Chic.  Shitty show like last years ad the years before.  Probably less people at the show this year.  Expo will always do great until the quit giving away free shit.  If no one goes to the show it means less ticket sales.  That means less revenue.  And sooner or later like in all business you can only take a loss for so long then you have to stop taking a loss.  If the athletes like you say don't care about anything but the moey they make.  Then I would as the IFBB athletes rep either tell the IFBB or do it yourself and find a cheaper place to do it cut back on staging and lighting, maybe use folding chairs, and a blowhorn, then you can really make the prize money better.  Really, since you say no one cares about anything but the money that is one sure fire way to increase prize money.  See if you can push that through.

And Wayne took all the chances as does any other promoter.  He made awesome money from each Olympia but he also stuck his neck out.  The Weiders the IFBB did nothign to help just took money and a whole lot each Olympia.  And why does Manion bring in his entire family, stay at the Mandalay Bay for a week, have over a $5,000 room service bill and eat at all the most expensive restaurants and have Wayne pay it as part of the expenses.  $40,000 in a week is pretty excessive.  That money could have been used to increase the prize money way back.  Did Manion or Weider stay at the Orleans last year.  Face it the only reason they increased the prize money is pressure and because they lessened the value and cost of the show and had the extrra money.  And I bet they saved allot more than they are giving out.

[kmhphoto]

Keith,

What hotel did you stay in last year?

[onlyme]

Keith,

What hotel did you stay in last year?

I don't stay at hotels.  I had a condo there and my uncle lives at the top of Sahara.  But, I have stayed at the Orleans because that is the hotel I played at most.  I lived there for 2 years.  In 2000 and 2001 my company printed the Mr. Olympia shirts.

[kmhphoto]

I don't stay at hotels.  I had a condo there and my uncle lives at the top of Sahara.  But, I have stayed at the Orleans because that is the hotel I played at most.  I lived there for 2 years.  In 2000 and 2001 my company printed the Mr. Olympia shirts.

What did you think of the Orleans for someone on a budget?

[onlyme]

I personally like the Orleans especially if you have kids.  They have a great childcare center, the best theaters in Vegas, a huge bowling alley, ice cream parlor and allot of other stuff.  My rate there is $24 a night with one free night with every paid night.  SO I can't go wrong.  I played craps there everyday I lived in Vegas.  There and the Aladdin.  The rooms aren't that bad.  The one bedroom suites are fine.  Like most people though who really cares about the hotel.  You only sleep there.  The A/C works and thats all that matters.

[Croatch]

I think a white Hummer with oversized rims would be a perfect car for this asshole.  Completely unnecessary.

[the shadow]

a couple years ago, Coleman did receive an Escalade besides the Prize money. I thought it was gonna be a yearly thing just like the Arnold

yeah it was in 2002 and 2003..dunno y they discontinued giving the car...

[kmhphoto]

I personally like the Orleans especially if you have kids.  They have a great childcare center, the best theaters in Vegas, a huge bowling alley, ice cream parlor and allot of other stuff.  My rate there is $24 a night with one free night with every paid night.  SO I can't go wrong.  I played craps there everyday I lived in Vegas.  There and the Aladdin.  The rooms aren't that bad.  The one bedroom suites are fine.  Like most people though who really cares about the hotel.  You only sleep there.  The A/C works and thats all that matters.

Thanks,
I thought the place was ok for those on a budget who wanted to be close to the venue.

[kmhphoto]

yeah it was in 2002 and 2003..dunno y they discontinued giving the car...

Because the sponsor stopped providing one.

[littleguns]

Guys,

I don't know Wayne from a Hobo on 5th aveneue but you guys ever think Wayne  was a prick (picture you guys paint) because of the pressure he was getting from his bosses?

Bob...why did Wayne finally leave the IFBB?

[MB]

So you're telling me Wayne made NOTHING on the show? Maybe Wayne could've taken less profit and increased the purse. What were all the "bells and whistles" that Wayne had going on in the production dept?

The expo is much bigger, the venue is much bigger and better...and most importantly, there is more money in the ATHLETE'S pockets....you think the guys give a shit about Wayne making a better show for himself and taking in a whopping ZERO dollars for their effort?

Some bells & whistles Wayne had going on:
- The show was at the Mandalay Bay, with the hotel, expo, and event center all in one place.
- The women's pre-judging was held in the Mandalay Bay Theatre, not in the expo.   
- There was a Muscle Beach set up at the pool area with seminars going on all weekend. 
- The expo was free
- There was a cocktail party for VIP ticketholders after the women's finals.
- Ticket prices were cheaper.
- The show was organized and not run like a junior high school play. 

Wayne didn't make a better show for himself, he made a better show for the fans.  Do you think the majority of fans would have voted to give up the bells and whistles to increase the prize money by 30%? No way. 

The host hotel matters because people want to have everything within walking distance and not have to drive across town to get to the expo or stay somewhere that is 4 miles from the event.  We already have that at the Arnold.  The advantage of the Olympia was the "bodybuilding community" feel of having everything under one roof and the prestige of a nice location.     


 

[MindSpin]

I think a white Hummer with oversized rims would be a perfect car for this asshole.  Completely unnecessary.

Ha ha!  Ain't that the truth.

[Tre]

I can't inteterest you in a Jean Dunand Grande Complication then - one careful owner $800,000 

Does it come with a heated pool and a driver for the Bentley??

(that $800K would get you a nice 3-bedroom 'starter home' here in SoCal...ugh)

[kmhphoto]

Does it come with a heated pool and a driver for the Bentley??

(that $800K would get you a nice 3-bedroom 'starter home' here in SoCal...ugh)

No pool and a service costs more than a Bentley's

[onlyme]

I want to hear from Chic what he thinks about movng the Olympia host hotel to Motel 6 or somewhere like that and having the show at maybe a high school auditorium.  Doing it as cheap as possible so that they can spend more money on prizes since the atheltes don't care about where it's at and the fans don't matter.  Also, all those years Wayne had the show, why Manion spent so much of the profits and why didn't the IFBB take a lesser percentage so that the prize money could be increased.  They made $300,000+ almost every year.  And what did they do for that.  I hope Chic now you can go back the IFBB and tell them to increase the prize money more instead of just $40,000 or whatever they did since they make so much at the show.  Your employer is taking advantage of you.

[Tre]

Why do so many longtime Olympia attendees complain about the new hotel situation?

Because there are not sufficient hotel rooms within 'comfortable' walking distance of the Expo at the Convention Center. 

If one chooses to stay at the 'official' hotel in order to be near a large number of Olympia participants (fans, competitors, media, etc), then the commute back and forth between the Expo location is long and tiring.  It generally took 30-40 minutes each way (worse for some, slightly better for others) and is expected to take even longer this year. 

[Tre]

People complained when it was at the Mandalay also...bitched it was too expensive.

But at Mandalay, at least you had it all under one roof and the monorail connection to the less expensive Luxor and super-budget Excalibur gave easy transportation to-and-fro within minutes. 

Having the 3 distinct pricing options while still being a short distance away from the Expo and contest venue were huge feathers in the Mandalay Olympia's cap.

[onlyme]

The Mandalay Bay has quite a bit more mystique and luxury than the Orleans.  Generally in a World Championship setting you want it to be the epitome of the circuit, the best place to have your World Championships.  But, since Chic said none of the atheltes care about the location and what is offered only the money then they moved it and I think he will puch to have it done at a high school next year so more prize money can be given out.  of course the fans who pay the ticket price will have to suffer but according to Chic who cares.  As long as the athletes get more money.  Wayne pocketed about $300,000 for the Olympia.  I woud think AMI is making that at least especially since they are spending way less than Wayne did.  So why does the prize money only go up a small amount.  CHic as the IFBB rep you should ask to look at the books and ask them t justify why they are making so much and why can't they bump the prize money to at least a million and give the winner at least $500,000 1st prize.