The Mr Olympia Venue and Location

[bic_staedtler]

I'm saying that dollars and cents alone, yes, keep it in Vegas.

But for an truly international show, I'd like to see it move from place to place as it did in the past.  Or at least different cities in the states...like L.A. or New York...perhaps have a revolving 4 city 'tour'.  I don't see the problem, and it could breathe some new life into the so called superbowl of bodybuilding.

This is supposed to be the PREMIERE show of the IFBB and yet it isn't, overshadowed by the Arnold in almost every respect. 

Maybe the powers that be should look into the entire idea of SPENDING money to MAKE money.  Sure, you could have it sit in Vegas and continue it's downward spiral, losing fans and presitige until it's no longer commercially viable upon which the IFBB simple pulls the plug...
...OR...

...someone with VISION realizes that there are unique ways to promote the show.  We all know that the fanbase is declining....so let's keep it in Vegas (works for Streisand) and in essence make it like just 'any other show'.

But it's not supposed to be just some other show!  I think my idea of a four city tour is great and would increase the fanbase by bringing the top show to all corners of the states....and who knows?  A year hear and there where it's in a foreign country wouldn't hurt either. 

What say thee, Chick?

[MB]

If the best that AMI can do in Vegas is the Orleans Hotel, then it might as well move around again.  The advantage of Vegas is the great accommodations at a place like the Mandalay Bay where the hotel, expo, show, restaurants, & entertainment are all in one location.  Hopefully, they will recognize this advantage when looking at future venues. 

[Ausvet]

 Oi, bigdumbell, guess you've never been to Oz. Mind if i call you bigdumb( kinda suits your parochial attitude, doncha reckon?) - Ok, bigdumb, firstly them's not dildoes, we're just proud and not ashamed of it. Secondly, if the (history lesson for you as you probably weren't born then judging by your puerile post) 1980 O had've been other than here then the controversy and resultant debates re the outcome probably wouldn't have occurred.
   Puerile? Look it up yourself you lazy bastard!

[Ron]

The Olympia in Vegas was a great idea. Before it was in Vegas, the Mr. Olympia contest was always great, bringing in the crowds wherever it went, but the expo was extremely small. I remember in 1997 in Long Beach, California, there were only about 15 booths there, all lined around the venue. Small host hotel, etc.

Once the Olympia was moved the Vegas, and you have a city with a more permanant place for an expo, you can get more sponsors, which in turn can get more booths, which people can make a full weekend of it. Bring in a press conference, Meet The Olympians, seminars, and more, and you have a great weekend. Vegas, with its thousand of hotel rooms, is a great place, not only to have fun for the Olympia, but to enjoy many other things.

Moving it internationally or around to other cities means you may lose the experience and familiarity for the sponsors. Before moving the Olympia, I would see how other pro shows do in each city, and if they fare well.

The Olympia in New York? In Chicago? Perhaps. Should be interesting. And maybe that is what they will do in the future. But Las Vegas is a city that many people love to fly into - and always has good weather.  Even in Canada, how many sponsors would go there, where even the products showcased are required to be in English/French.

Now how to make the Olympia bigger is a question that people have been asking. The difference between the Arnold and the Olympia is that the Arnold has now brought in many, many different sports in the same weekend. Cheerleading, table tennis, archery, 5K run. This year, they are moving the martial arts to the Nationwide Arena, which means all three major facilities in Columbus will be used. They also have an army of people helping them in Columbus, plus probably help from the city of Columbus, security, etc.

If the Olympia wants to be bigger, then they need to bring in a number of new sports to the expo, which they can, making the Olympia Weekend the premier event in many sports. But so far, with last’s years Ultimate Fighting cage, and some strongmen competitors, they have chosen to keep the event bodybuilding and fitness oriented only.

Imagine what can happen if they decide to bring in 12 other sports, making it truly the Joe Weider Olympia Weekend for various sports. The audience and the people going to the O will increase by the thousands. Like the Arnold did. If you remember a few years back, the Arnold’s expo was at the Veteran’s auditorium. There was no convention center a half mile away.

So while people are complaining about the Orleans and the Las Vegas Convention Center, in the future, that entire convention center may be used, in an event larger perhaps or equal to the Arnold. Two great weekends and shows - one on the East Coast in March, the other on the West Coast in September/October.

[bigdumbbell]

which one on the east coast in march? columbus ohio is a midwest city closer to chicago than new york

[onlyme]

What I don't understand is the emphasis on rooms so much to determine if the show is great.  I have traveled allot in my time.  I measured one time and I was traveling and staying in hotels more than 6 months a years in total days.  Except for sleeping, taking a shower and shit, getting room service while I watched the Tonight Show and having breakfast in bed, I hardly was in my room.  The most important thing to me was that it was clean and the bed was firm and clean.  I could care less what it looked like.  You guys make it sound like the Orleans is a bad Motel 6.  It aint that bad.  That hotel is actually really nice for families with kids cause it has so much to do and childcare. 

I do think for out of towners the strip is more fun to stay at cause you can walk out the door and just walk up and down the strip.  Vegas is awesome.  The suites at the Orleans are pretty good.  The room service is okay.  It aint that bad

[bic_staedtler]

Good points made all around...it would be nice to get some more international flavor to the Mr O, and perhaps the fact that the show moved around gave it a bit of that.  Yes, I do agree that in terms of dollars and cents the move to Vegas was good...but it lost something as well.  But who am I kidding, it's all about the dollars at the end of the day....or even around half past four!

Weather would be a non-issue in my opinion as we all know, the Arnold is held when it's friggin freezing outside.  I would also supose that the main reason the Arnold is so huge is in fact due to the other (mainstream) sports associated with it.  And that's great for business...anyway, I'm probably just sounding like a broken record here, but perhaps bodybuilding could get a bit back towards it's core audience, especially at the biggest show of the year.  Instead of a ton of sponsors in an expo, I'd rather have an enlarged "Meet the Olympians" where you don't have to wait in such huge line ups to get a pic.  Keep the babes, though..hahaha....anyway, I'm rambling.

[bigdumbbell]

try vegas for international flavor
lots of cheap airfares because the casinos
underwrite many charters