I love watching this tour via streaming and I was wondering why there aren’t any tours in the USA, or NA for that matter.
I think it would be very exciting to have a few in the USA as we have great venues. I would love to have one in NY and would gladly pay to watch these great riders compete.
They had one back in 2007 I think. Don’t know why they haven’t had any since. They should tie an American leg in with Devon and the Hampton Classic or something. Have it the week before or after, that way we have a good international competition during the spring/summer in the US. It would bring big riders to the upper classes at the respective horse shows as well.
George Morris said it right this week, America is starting to get weak and we shouldn’t be surprised that all our talent is slowly migrating over to Europe. GCT shows would help get us back on the map.
You are correct. They had 2006 and 2007 in Wellington. I wish they would come back and have a few more. NY, FL and CA?
Also, do you qualify to compete in the GCT?
Some of it has to do with conflicting sponsors. When Rolex is your main sponsor of a series, for instance, you can’t really have a Longines event. Doesn’t make your sponsor very happy.
live strearming from Longines Rome
http://www.classhorse.tv/classhorsetv_live_stream
start list
http://www.longinestiming.com/File/Download?id=0002090100050B01FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01
It’s about money and sponsorship and maybe the relationship with the behemoth show management companies that would have to host it.
I’ve often wondered why, with half the Europeans at Wellington with strings of horses ( most trying to sell them) anyway, something can’t be arranged. Asked somebody involved in show management several years ago and they just said they could not come to terms when it was discussed with various potential sponsors.
It was a great show, wonderful JO and Eric Lamaze won again. third win in two weekends!!
The venue was just “okay” in Rome. I was not that impressed with footing care during and after rounds. The grounds needed help with lawn care, weed removal and cleanliness and was no comparison to Kentucky or Wellington. Tickets were extremely expensive and there was no shade for general population. I even saw Kent Farrington denied access to seating in the stands. Ticket patrol was extreme! WE got this if someone would get with the right leadership and campaign for one event here stateside!
Just tossing this into the mix re: sponsors.
West coast dressage has come up with solution to produce more CDI’s as a way to keep top riders on the west coast so they don’t have to travel to Wellington. Six Olympians live and train in southern California.
California Dreaming Productions was started by a top west coast trainer to meet the need of more west coast CDI’s, and he brought Hof Kasslemann in Germany (Ullrich Kasselman/PSI) onboard as a major sponsor. With this funding source and other sponsors, the shows have provided west coast riders with an innovative solution to an expensive and tiring travel schedule. http://www.californiadreamingproductions.com/
Another example: the World Cup returns to Las Vegas in 2015. A few years ago it was very uncertain if it would ever return, but supporters who had a vested interest made it happen.
If someone really wanted to have the Longines tour in the US, it can be done.
Who can we contact to encourage sponsorship to get the GCT back in the USA?
GCT is Jan Tops’ show. You’d have to bring a lot of $$ to the table.
So, how do we raise the money and/or get the sponsors? Come on! We at COTH have a wealth of resources of contacts for sponsorship. 
Here’s all the information including prices that you will need to be a sponsor…I wish you luck raising that on an internet message board. 
http://mybubblecom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/GlobalChampionsTour_sponsorship.pdf
I’ve attended a few of the GCTs, and they usually bring in a good bit of spectators. In addition, they’re held in some very $$$$ locales where it’s very “glam”. I don’t know if that same feeling would translate to Kansas City. Also, the trek they take means the horses never have to travel very far to get to the next location.
I don’t think it would be as successful in the U.S.
I’m lucky enough to get to go to Chantilly & Monte Carlo every year, and it’s pretty fab
The ROI you’d get at US GCT stop doesn’t match the investment.
[QUOTE=FalseImpression;7592602]
live strearming from Longines Rome
http://www.classhorse.tv/classhorsetv_live_stream
start list
http://www.longinestiming.com/File/Download?id=0002090100050B01FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01[/QUOTE]
Rome is not part of the GCT, it’s a CSIO 5*, nothing to do with Jan Tops.
GCT is a CSI 5* and is owned by Jan Tops.
I was fortunate to be in London this past Dec. and able to get tickets to the GCT at Olympia. The venue, albeit on the small side, was packed! And not just for that particular class. There just seems to be more spectator support over there. And knowledge - no clapping when someone successfully makes it through the triple combination- it comes at the end of the course.
This was on my FB. Former Dodgers owners buys 50% stake of the LGC tour!!!
http://larrybrownsports.com/baseball/frank-mccourt-ownership-horse-jumping-tour/233656
[QUOTE=Nikki^;7639887]
This was on my FB. Former Dodgers owners buys 50% stake of the LGC tour!!!
http://larrybrownsports.com/baseball/frank-mccourt-ownership-horse-jumping-tour/233656[/QUOTE]
Major League Baseball kicked him out, not sure if he is an ideal candidate but better than nothing I suppose. I would prefer to see Donald Trump involved.
I saw that yesterday and was excited. Then I asked the SO about the guy, since he’s a baseball person. SO’s reaction? “Oh God, that guy!” Now I’m a little torn.
While it seems like it may be an awesome opportunity to get showjumping a lot more coverage, and bring the CGT to the US, it seems like a little reading beyond the horse press turns up a lot of less than exciting information, including a lot of people unhappy with what went on under his ownership of the Dodgers before he was forced to sell them by the MLB, so I have reservations. Doesn’t mean I won’t buy tickets if it comes to a town near me!
