AMA gets new SX promoter

After months of speculation, rumors and hearsay . . . AMA Pro Racing has a new partner for the AMA U.S. Supercross Championship Series beginning with the 2003 season.

"AMA Pro Racing has elected JamSports and Entertainment as its new promoter partner for the AMA U.S. Supercross Championship Series commencing with the 2003 season and extending through the 2009 season. JamSports is a division of Chicago-based Jam Productions, the largest independent producer of live events in North America.

"The decision was made by the Board of Directors of AMA Pro Racing after evaluating proposals from several companies, including Clear Channel Entertainment, the current promoter of AMA Supercross events. This current promotional agreement between Clear Channel and the AMA expires at the end of the 2002 season."

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What will make your series more attractive to riders and teams?
It's the fundamental ingredients for success. It's market, it's venues, television, and it's the business model that ties all those things together.

How accessible are the buildings - the stadiums - to a new stadium motor sports promoter?
Well, our promotional partner Jam Sports conducts hundreds of events in stadiums throughout the country every year. Many of those stadium are municipally owned, so we believe they will be available. You can usually get a quality venue if you put on a quality event. I think that, as we roll out a preliminary schedule in the next several weeks, you will notice that there are many familiar venues and many familiar markets, and there will be new, major-media markets that will be on our schedule. But we're not concerned about access to first-tier venues throughout the country, in the right markets.

How is this going to make the sport better or worse?
Well, I think in the short term there's going be some upset. But we know the necessary elements of success, and they're back to the same markets, venues, television and rules, which I think are critical, and the business model that is inclusive of the participants. So for the longer term, we think we will establish a platform that integrates the power of live events and broad TV exposure to the benefit of all.

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What will happen with the EA SPORTS Supercross Series in 2003?
Davey, we are going to produce the same supercross series in 2003 as we have every year in the recent past. Same venues, same people working on the event, same everything. The only change will be that the officials conducting the racing look like they will have to be from another sanctioning body.

What will make your series more attractive to riders and teams?
Our history and results stand for themselves. Since 1996, when we finally had all 15 events, other than Daytona, under one roof – the growth of supercross is undisputed.
Look at the attendance, look at the television exposure, look at the millions of dollars invested in the "show," look at the increased payout to the riders, (which is more than double our contractual obligation) look at the investment to bring the event to premiere venues and markets. We have proven ourselves every step of the way – especially since 1996 – in focusing on producing the best, most entertaining, most watched off-road motorcycle racing series in the world.
Our ability to deliver results to the teams, riders, sponsors, television viewers and the fans is the reason our series is attractive now – and will be in the future.
The money we have invested, risked and put into supercross stands on its own merits. The media exposure we have delivered stands on its own merits. The marketing we have done for the sport and industry stands on its own merits.
That’s what has helped to make our series what it has been and will help make it what it will be.

How is this going to make the sport, better or worse?
Worse – period. Everything about the industry and sport has been doing nothing but getting better since 1996. I can’t find anything about this situation that benefits the fans, riders, viewers, sponsors – anyone.

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Supercross Should be Nothing to be Nervous About
By Pete Johnson
12/11/01

I'm nervous. I'm nervous about terrorism and I'm nervous about Supercross. I'm nervous about terrorism because of what it means to our country and I'm nervous about the potential fracturing of the Supercross hierarchy because of what it means to me and my fellow Supercross fans.

Now more than ever, with all the scary news on TV, I need the distraction that Supercross provides. I was initially introduced to the sport by my brother as a way of distraction after our mom died. It served that purpose well then and continues to provide balance in my life and relief from stress.

That is the reason it is so disheartening to hear of the split between Clear Channel and the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association). The implications of this I can only guess at. Whatever happens, it can't be good. I don't know who is right and who is wrong. I, like most fans, do not have the time and access to make an informed decision. I'm sure all fans following the proceedings have tried to imagine a world with two competing Supercross series. I want to focus on one small but important issue, the record books.

Last year some records were tied and some were broken. Some notable ones: Ricky Carmichael with 13 straight 250cc Supercross wins (tying Jeremy McGrath) and 26 total 125cc wins (beating Mark Barnett's record). If all the riders and teams go the way of the AMA then there really should be no change in the way records are recorded. Assuming the 2003 season looks anything like past seasons.

If the riders and teams go with Clear Channel, everything starts over. The winner of the first round holds all the records. The importance of putting a sport in the context of history will not become clear until that history is gone. The AMA will still keep the records, but a big enough asterisk has not been invented with no MC, RC or any of the rest of the top ten in the 2003 season. As of early December, Clear Channel seems to be seriously taking the initiative in this race to capture the hearts and minds of riders, teams and fans. It is conceivable the principal players could go in that direction.

If the riders and teams split, some going with AMA and some with Clear Channel, it will still upset the integrity of the record books, especially if any of the long time rivals split (the most obvious being McGrath and Carmichael). Look at what happened in the 2001 motocross series when, at the last round, Carmichael opted to race the 125cc race. Kevin Windham won in the 250s, but many felt it was a hollow victory. It's possible he could have beaten Carmichael that day, but we'll never know.

Isn't following the record books a significant part of enjoying motocross and supercross, not to mention bench racing. When Carmichael had the incredible season he did, it was given meaning when it was put in the context of the greats of the sport.

This potential lack of continuity could contribute to a breakdown in all that has been built up in the sport in the last 20+ years. For those new to the sport, it will be misleading and confusing. Potential new sponsors could see it as a sign of instability and they could shy away from supercross and motocross.

Clear Channel has stated that their series would look exactly the same as past seasons but without an outside sanctioning body. Initially, to the average fan, I believe the series would not look that different. Down the road, the importance of the AMA will become apparent, the record books being just one of the aspects that will be missed.

At the first round of the 2002 Supercross series I would love to see some form of protest letting both sides know how the fans stand on this issue. It is easy to get caught up in this year and think next year is so far off it doesn't matter. It would be a shame to not say anything now and for things to fall apart completely.

Like all of us, I have enough to be nervous about. I would imagine both sides have good points and both sides have tried to work things out. I don't know, maybe, maybe not. But, Clear Channel and AMA, for the sake of those who actually make all of this possible in the first place - the fans - please try again.

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