By Mark Floreani (Co-Founder of FloSports)

Come to the FloTrack Throwdown with two non-track fans and I will personally buy you a beer. 

 

I have been in the sport of track and field since I started running as an eighth grader in 1998 and over the last year 15+ years I have devoted countless hours to training and then working on the sport that I love. I have always hoped that track would get the exposure and popularity that I have always thought it deserves. This is a big reason that I decided to start FloSports with my brother and business partners. I knew the sport could be bigger than it was when we started Flo in 2006. 

 

Over the last nine years at FloTrack, I have had countless conversations with athletes, agents, and shoe companies about what track needs to do to grow. The sport is not dying, but it is also not thriving as I believe it should be. That is why we have decided to invest in a meet of our own. I do not believe track meets in the U.S. are as fun as they should be. As a track geek I like them, but my wife and non-track fans don’t, and that needs to change. For the sport to take the next step, our events need to cater to outside lane eight as much as inside lane eight. We need to have meets that non-track fans can go to and have a good time while learning about the sport. 
 

I am excited about the FloTrack Throwdown because it incorporates all the conversations I have had with athletes, agents and shoe companies throughout the years and everything we have learned with other events in our other sports. The main thing I have learned is that you cannot take the fans for granted. Our sport has become a sport for the athletes and coaches and not for the fans. We need to make sure we are thinking as much (or more) about the fans. The sport cannot prosper if we create events only for ourselves...and everyone, including the athletes, coaches and officials need to take the approach that the fans are what make any sport successful, and also profitable. 

 

Events are the gateway to earning (or losing) new fans. If we don’t realize fans are earned, and make decisions to earn them, then there will be less money for pros to make a living in the sport they love. We need to realize that the health of a sport centers around the experience we provide fans. There are so many options out there vying for people's time and we have to realize that we need to earn it. This weekend alone in Portland, we are going up against Sam Smith, Arsenio Hall and a food truck festival...so it's a good thing we're offering food, music, beer AND sports. 
 

The FloTrack Throwdown will be the most fun track meet that you have ever been to, so invite your non-track friends because they will have a good time. Here are some selling points to convince them to come.
 

Cool Location:

We are hosting it in downtown Portland, at Duniway Park. People in Portland can walk, bike, drive or take public transportation. It is a couple blocks away from great bars and restaurants, so when the event is over, the night can keep going. The FloTrack Throwdown will be the beginning of an epic night!

BEER:

This is the only track meet in the U.S. where everyone, no VIP pass required, can buy beer. Rogue Brewery is our official sponsor and one of the Pacific Northwest’s most famous breweries and they will be pouring cold brew all night. A dollar of every sale will go to the athlete prize purse, so drink up! 

 

Food Trucks:

Portland is known for their great food trucks and you can grab some grub to go along with the frosty brew.
 

Entertainment:

Brooks Running is bringing lawn games and there will be music so you can soak up the beautiful Portland weather playing lawn games, drinking beer and watching Olympians compete.

Easy:

The tickets are $10 online and $15 at the door. Anyone over 21 can get in the beer garden and you will be able to get up close to watch Galen Rupp compete in the mile.

Challenge:

If you bring two non-track fans to the FloTrack Throwdown, I will personally buy you a beer, or if you’re under 21, some food from the food cart.
 

The sport needs to attract new fans, and to do this we need fun events for all. 
 

Hope to see you all there!