Eric Bischoff thinks taking TNA on the road full time will 'grow the brand faster than anyone knows'
by Geno Mrosko on Oct 28, 2011 1:05 PM EDT
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In a recent post on his Facebook page, Eric Bischoff says the time to take TNA on the road full time is now because that's what is necessary for the brand to grow:
"Great TV's last night. Crowd was super hot. Special thanks to the team at TNA that promoted the market. The crowd were the stars of the shows! Taking Impact on the road full time will grow this brand faster than anyone knows. Now is the time!"
The problem with this, of course, is that taking Impact on the road is an expensive endeavor and one the company can't handle on its own. That's why when it does venture outside the Impact Zone in Orlando, it does so with the aid of Spike TV. The issue quickly arises as to whether or not the cable channel is getting a good return on its investment when the ratings come in and are less than desirable. Sure, the promotion brought in two million viewers just last week -- its biggest audience ever -- but that was the first show after the biggest pay-per-view of the year, Bound for Glory, and is certainly not indicative of what the numbers typically are. In fact, in the weeks leading up to the event, the ratings were hitting all time lows.
As Bischoff makes note of, however, a hot crowd is half the battle in making a successful wrestling show. Holding tapings at the Impact Zone makes sense financially but the crowd -- which doesn't pay -- constantly looks completely uninterested in the product, so much so that canned heat is used on a nightly basis. That's not a recipe for success. After all, if the live crowd couldn't care less, why should the fans watching at home?
The biggest problem facing TNA, in the end, will always be the politically driven infrastructure that dictates horrific booking decisions that holds back potential superstars. It doesn't matter if the show is at the Impact Zone in Orlando or at a small arena in Illinois, no one wants to pay to see a program involving Eric Bischoff bickering with his son, Garrett, with a 62-year-old, injured Ric Flair slapping the kid around. And with word floating through the streets that Hulk Hogan will be inserting himself into the situation to set up a match between the four at the next big pay-per-view, business will be down everywhere.
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It does need to move. The Impact Zone looks like the most depressing place on earth. The crowd is stagnant and the atmosphere looks like it blows.
Signed, Pick'em Champs 2011-2012: Michael Jordanesque in our picking skills.
by mountaineers101 on Oct 28, 2011 2:39 PM EDT reply actions
Taking it on the road does nothing long term
if they still produce a bad show.
by Anthony Steven Lewis on Oct 28, 2011 3:09 PM EDT reply actions
Well
Maybe it makes the cash run out faster putting TNA out of its misery
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 28, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
If TNA goes and WWE’s the only player in town on television then what would happen? And this is assuming that if ROH doesn’t get a tv deal by then.
I guess the question is more like… how would you guys feel about WWE being the only player in town on television without ROH and TNA?
by Sir Ingenious on Oct 28, 2011 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
They pretty much are now.
ROH has the old ECW deal, only on certain cities and in half the country, on SYNDICATED networks, not cable. Cable is the end-all, be-all in getting your product the most exposure.
A monopoly would make things worse, but Vince isn’t operating under the onus that he is in competition. Look at the shows. He doesn’t counterprogram or push main events that really showcase what people do. This isn’t a war. He’s not looking anywhere but FCW for talent.
But without TNA, someone would take their place, hopefully someone smart enough to never let Hogan or his cronies anywhere near the product. Someone smart enough to curbstomp someone as soon as the words “Vince Russo” even exit their mouth.
Does anyone really see why Paul Heyman isn’t in wrestling anymore? Because he already realizes there’s nothing in it right now. As soon as there becomes a marketable void where someone smart enough and savvy enough is able to promote wrestling in a different way, that’s when he’ll pick his spot.
Wrestling needs a Dana White and Fertita Brothers; a pitch guy to be your face, and intelligent men behind the scenes who have no lust to see themselves on television, and care about making a quality product, not an ego-satiating masturbatory exercise.
"Pain or damage don't end the world; or despair, or F*ckin beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment coming. Stand it like a man, and give some back." -Al Swearengen
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