And people want more money in our sport and to make it more public, when all it has turned into is a sponsorship battle.
If you need a $20million venue for WEG then perhaps WEG is just not realistic for horse sport.
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It seems to me that huge, expensive sport blowouts were a lot more possible before the great recession. The 2010 WEG was already in progress before the great collapse.
One assumes that the FEI had very little choice about sponsorships when Bromont and the KHP pulled out.
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I live in Tryon, I am stunned by the amount of work left to do at TIEC. Not sure how they’re going to pull it off.
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After the Pony Club and AEC fiascos of the past two years, I did not hold out any hope of WEG being much of anything. I am so happy that I did not spend the big bucks to go there. Four years ago, France was a mess. Tryon is probably going to be worse. 
It just makes me sad.
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I agree with this and I do feel like a lot of venom is being unfairly directed at Tryon when the fault really belongs with the FEI. Ditto to you, IOC.
We have people planning massive, capital intensive, events who lack any real experience in successfully managing projects of this magnitude. Who’s conducting the financial analysis of these venues when the bidding for these events happens? Who’s vetting the logistical, operational, and profitability analysis of these venues to determine which can actually deliver a quality competition without operating at a net loss? Those venues do exist.
If the FEI wants WEG to be consistently positive for the venues, competitors, spectators, and communities involved, they need to revisit the entire process. For the next two cycles, the contract should be exclusively open to venues where the infrastructure and management is already in place to conduct a successful games. That would be Tryon (in 4 years), Kentucky, Aachen, and one or two other established facilities in Europe who could execute a reasonable build out of what is already in place. After every 8 year cycle, other venues could apply to be considered for selection, with those venues responsible for pitching a realistic and sustainable model to conduct a successful and profitable games.
Same goes for the new 4*/5*, whatever. Fairhill is beautiful and “traditional”, but the facilities, infrastructure, and evident business know-how of management are sub par to say the least.
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While the FEI has its faults It would be remiss to let Tryon off the hook here. In some areas it’s like they haven’t even tried. If they hadn’t been willing to half ass the courses for the AECs and pony club in prior years they wouldn’t have been so far behind this year. This is a disaster several years in the making. And that’s on Tryon. If you promise to do something you’ve got to do it.
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The venom is directed at TIEC because they have a track record of making great promises and then not delivering. They knew what they had to do and the timeframe when the agreed to host WEG. If it was not doable then they should have spoken up then. Instead we got the same empty promises from them.
Unfortunately Eventing is controlled by a series of corrupt organizations so we will not see the solution of pulling eventing out of the Olympics and WEG. Those in charge of those organizations are making too much money.
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the Ocala Jockey Club in Florida also seems to have had the band aid ripped off the rosy press releases. The rejection of their application for a new CCI**** was a good decision. There was a lot a venom from the Ocala/Florida riders at the time of the rejection of the application…but now we can see behind the curtain. Word recently seeps out that the Jockey Club might cancel the awarded 2018 fall CCI***. If they cannot/will not support a three star…why do we expect them to be able to support a new four star. There has been a lot of publicity about “riders rally to keep the new CCI*** at Ocala Jockey Club”. …and now news of likely reduction of prize money and other possible cuts. Not positive news that riders must rally to buy fences.
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Further compounded by the fact that the “international” ring at Tryon INTERNATIONAL Equestrian Center does not meet the size requirements to hold certain FEI events, including the WEG.
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I was just at PC champs and the XC footing was not good - hard clay under very minimal grass. The amount of construction was astounding, and it will be a miracle if they finish everything before WEG.
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This is sounding super positive. Are the hotel rooms done?
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As of two weeks ago, according to an acquaintance, no, the hotel rooms were not done - they were still pouring concrete.
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Eep!
they announced months ago that the hotels could not be ready.
I found the footing fine on xc last weekend.
Weren’t the riders to stay in the Hotel?
The hotel is not even close to done the elevator shafts are up and concrete poured but that’s it.I was there for PC Champs I was told the riders are staying in the cabins
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Not from what I understand. Grooms quarters should be on the grounds somewhere. I would bet they will be RVs of some sort…not luxury accommodations. But most Federations have either booked hotels (none close…most are 40 minutes away) or houses for their riders. I don’t think TIEC is providing housing for riders. Perhaps there is some reimbursement to the federations.
https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/competitions/what-to-expect-at-weg
One unique feature planned for the WEG is an athlete village with housing on site. Tryon Equestrian Partners owns U.S. Precision Construction, a prefab building manufacturer, which is tasked with creating lodging for competitors. Now it’s a race against the clock to get that finished before the Games. Plan B, Mark says, involves having 3,000 hotel rooms on hold within a 30-minute drive from TIEC.
Gong show. Bit of change in attitude since April lol
Been building since 2014?
Yeah they are on Plan B. I’m not sure the hotels are really 30 minutes and unfortunately I doubt all riders are even in the same town.
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