Growing the Game?
Looking at the landscape of Cornhole right now it brings me back to the 80’s and reminds me of the WWF. During this time the WWF was growing at an alarming rate and gobbling up the competition and hiring major names in the world of wrestling. At this time they also started to create major events to draw in more viewers and celebrities. This has been more evident in the last 3 years with the ACL attracting some of the biggest names in the game. The ACO lost Jamie Graham, Matt Guy, Bret Guy, Erik Davis, Tanner Halbert, EZ (Eric Zocklein) and although each of these names were big in the game they became household and YouTube names due to the exposure of ESPN and CBS broadcasting through the pandemic. Also bringing in A list Hollywood celebrities such as David Lim.
This brings me to today, is the backyard feeling being ripped out of Cornhole? With major tournaments being bought and rebranded and one company Growing the Game. The first to fall was the biggest tournament in the world and a disturbance in the force was felt when the announcement of Spencer Makenzies becoming an ACL event. Millions of people gasped just like when the Death Star blew up Alderaan to test its destructive power! Will others follow suit in order to get their time in the spotlight?
Don’t get it twisted
Spencer’s was already the biggest and baddest tournament and had a cult following that would sit at their computers on registration day refreshing like crazy to reserve their tickets to the three day spectacle unmatched by any other event.
Money is coming into the game at a rate faster than inflation with major companies looking to see when it will be acceptable for them to start sponsoring a fledgling fringe sport. To this point sponsorships have come in the way of mom and pop businesses, local breweries, bag companies, and board manufacturers. Will the Spencer’s Effect turn the tide and start to see Nascar like money come to players? Right now anyone with a family and a mortgage can’t rely on payouts to have Cornhole as the only source of income. I can hear all the eye role right now because I know some players are traveling the country on their winnings and sponsor contributions, but they are the outliers. The ACL just put out a message celebrating Matt Guy and the $26,687 he has won so far from the pro prize pool. Who can live on $26,687 and not have day job? A Honda Civic brand new without dealer mark-up is $22,350. I can now hear half of you yelling at your screen. I know that the top players make most of their money in sponsorships but once again they still have day jobs!
So as Cornhole continues to get bigger which tournament is next to fall? Will players like being 1099ed for all their money? Will big name sponsors be in the game soon? Who will be the big winner when the dust settles? The players? The ACL? The Fans? Only time will will tell…………..
Donny “The Voice” McPhee
