This issue of The Arena marks the start of our fourth season as the National Team Roping Tour. Last year, for the first time, we topped 6,000 members and expanded into new markets, including Texas. I’ve spent some time recently reviewing the things we have done this year that have worked and the things we tried that have not. Here's what I discovered.
First, the things that worked:
The NTR National Finals III had three divisions that paid out $100,000 for first place in the average—the National 12, National 9 and the National 8. The total teams for the week was 2,800 and the cash payoff exceeded $875,000!
This past season we had three ropings where for an $80 entry fee the average winners won $10,000 and the high point roper won a $50,000 RAM Truck. We had a saddle roping on a Tuesday that topped 800 teams. We have seen the team counts in the #6 and #7 divisions grow. We had our first $1 Million dollar roping between Thanksgiving and the Wrangler NFR in Arizona.
The things that didn’t work:
The National 12 program wasn’t well received, with the most common response being that the format was too complicated. I need to remember the acronym that I learned in college K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid), my bad.
Also, after seeing growth in the National 9 and National 8 qualifiers the past two years we experienced a 20% decrease in qualifier participation this year. The decrease was primarily in the markets away from Arizona. The Arizona ropers know they will be at the Finals, so they saw the value in the qualification ropings. Those ropers outside the Arizona market were not sure six to 10 months in advance if their schedules would allow for them to attend a Finals in March, so they wouldn’t enter the qualifiers. For example, there would be 50 teams in the National 8 Qualifier roping—where qualified teams get a chance to rope for $100,000—and the very next roping of the day (a #8 Saddle Roping) 500 teams would be entered.
After looking at this evolution, we have changed the qualification ropings going forward. At the 2018 NTR National Finals IV, we will
have the following Finale divisions: National 11, National 10, National 9 and National 8. All divisions will be 80% payback with two entry options. You can direct enter these divisions for $500 per roper or you can win an entry at a qualifying roping reducing the entry fees to $400 per roper, Simply, a qualifying entry = cheaper entry fees!
The new format gives the roper flexibility at the qualifiers—take the money home or enter the Finals. It’s entirely up to the roper. If the roper changes their mind later, no problem, they can still direct enter the Finals. (K.I.S.S.)
I have also heard comments about how our Finale divisional payoffs are front loaded, which they have been. This year, to alleviate that problem, we are not going to guarantee first in the average, but rather we will let the total team count dictate the payoff percentages.
This should allow for more equitable payoffs across the average.
I appreciate all the input and look forward to the new changes.
"Keep living and learning,” that’s a good motto.
Good Luck Ropers!
