Bivens and the Tour

[soxngolf]

Well, there hasn't been much controversy over the last year about Bivens, but here it comes again. Check out this article about a few tournaments shutting down, The Fields Open and the Ginn Tribute. You can also link to other articles about Biven's and the tour.

Let me repeat myself- LPGA Tour Commisioner Carolyn Bivens has to go OTB Sports

I know that she is trying to get more money for the tour. She is requiring sponsors to pay more for their tournaments, for the scoreboards etc so that the Tour doesn't have to pay. I like the idea, but if they keep losing sponsors and therefor tournaments it will all backfire.

[Sandpiper3]

So she's basically telling sponsors give us more money? And the sponsors are sayin eff that?

[Harry Longshanks]

So she's basically telling sponsors give us more money? And the sponsors are sayin eff that?

Not from what I could tell. The sponsors just don't have the money to sponsor the events because of the economy. There is no evidence connecting Bivens to the loss of any of the events. Tournaments die. Look at the International in Colorado on the PGA Tour. It was unable to secure a title sponsor and, as a result, folded.

I think the author of that (poorly written) article is just a Bivens hater and is looking to rationalize his hate.

Bivens has a tough job. She has to take a obsolete business model and convert it to one like the PGA that has proven successful. And she has to do it in a faltering economy. The only thing she has going for her is a quality product. Like a swing change, there are going to be some pains during the transition.

[soxngolf]

Here is another article from a different point of view, but was written before these two tournaments recently cancelled:

A New Driver at the LPGA - TIME

Some quotes from it:

Bivens' next controversial move was to push for heftier service fees at LPGA events. She upped the price to tournament owners sevenfold, charging them as much as $100,000 across a three-year period instead of the $15,000 they had been paying. She reasoned that the LPGA had substantially increased its value by offering better service and exposure. Besides, tournament fees had not increased in 10 years.

While the numbers still pale in comparison with men's golf, attendance at LPGA events rose 5% in 2006, and it's up 10% since 2001. Daily average television viewership for LPGA tournaments broadcast on cable (not including the Golf Channel) reached 417,000 households in 2006, up 59% from 2005, while network viewership last year rose 14%, to 1.7 million households. "The numbers are small, but the percentages are large," says Bivens. Women's golf is one of the few sports that can boast double-digit television growth in the U.S. over the past two years.

I actually like her ideas. I do think sponsors should pay more, especially with more people watching. The first article talks about the fact that the LPGA Championship will not be keeping the name the McDonald's LPGA and therefor will lose the sponsor. I am happy for that, it should be their tournament. Can you see this weeks PGA being called the Cialis PGA? She is also fighting for a new TV deal as of 2010 where the LPGA would no longer be responsible for finding ad buys, the networks would have to find their own. Again, I like where she is going, but she needs to have the product to back up the money that she wants them to put out. The numbers are going in the right direction, but they need to continue.

[Harry Longshanks]

I completely agree soxy.

The complaining has been primarily from the sponsors and networks, who got used to a sweetheart deal and didn't want to give it up. Of course they were going to cry foul and point at the person responsible. But what Bivens is doing is in the best interest of the LPGA players. Purses have already gone up since she was brought in.

[Eracer]

I'd like to know Annika's thoughts once she retires. Or will she be gunning for a position within the organization and not want to burn any bridges? Maybe she would applaud what Bivens is doing. Bottom line, I'd like to know - truly know - what the players think.

[soxngolf]

From Annika's "announcement"

When I have considered this decision in the past, it has always been important to me that the women’s game be strong. Well, I can assure you that I have never felt better about the state of our game. It is in the very capable hands of many talented players and a very committed Commissioner that really cares about us and our growth.

I think that is a pretty good endorsement from the major player on tour. Annika has always been very involved with decisions on the tour and I don't think she would say that lightly.