USPSA purchases Steel Challenge

[Erhardt]

As far as exposure is concerned, where else in print media besides American Handgunner Magazine is the Steel Challenge match covered ? How about USPSA shooting in general (with the obvious exception of Front Sight) ?

I don't buy for a second USPSA bought the Steel Challenge for "increased exposure opportunities." If you want to make the point that USPSA bought this match in order to bring the two disciplines under one roof and thereby grow membership numbers...then this purchase makes sense.

I can answer that question for you. In 2003 I did the press for the match. I sent out one media advisory and 27 individual press releases. The result was 25 total stories in 22 outlets which included 2 TV stations. The total circulation/viewership was over 2.8 million and the earned media value was over $46,889.60. The biggest part of that came from a story on KABC CH-7 which ran in the 5:30pm news block during the sports coverage. The piece lasted 4 minutes and 4 seconds and had an estimated 479,076 viewers.

In 2004 I was not able to do the same amount of work on the match due to my new job at the time but did coordinate a video news release and had KC Eusebio interviewed live on Fox News Channel.

Below is a list of the media outlets that ran stories in 2003 on the match. To address your point about why they bought the match, while the driving force was not "exposure" it is a key element. Having handled the press on the Scholastic Clay Target Program where I generated 151 stories in 2002 and 276 stories in 2003, I called Dalton and asked to do the press for the match in 2003 to prove the PR system would work for any kind of match. The result I noted above. The Steel Challenge presents one of the best PR opportunities for the pistol shooting sports and USPSA is prepared to take advantage of that opportunity to grow the sport. These same PR tactics will be applied to USPSA matches as well.

FWIW the announcement about the acquisition by USPSA was carried on Michael Bane's podcast, The Outdoor Wire, The Shooting Wire, Tom Gresham will cover on Gun Talk, it should run in Bullet Points, Russ Thurman at Shooting Industry said he'd run it and Jeff John at GUNS emailed me to let me know he'll probably run it as well. That'll be well over 400,000 circulation/listeners when it is all said and done assuming nobody else decides to mention it (which I doubt). For an organization with 16,000+ members that's 24x in potential members we're talking to. And this is only the beginning. - PAUL ERHARDT

2003 Outlets Covering the Steel Challenge

KABC

KWCH Ch.12 (Wichita, KS)

McPherson Sentinel (KS)

North Country Times (Escondido, CA)

Tracy Press (CA)

Clanton Advertiser (Clanton, AL)

East Valley Tribune (Mesa, AZ)

Reno Gazette-Journal (NV)

Merced Sun-Star (CA)

Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

Fillmore Herald

Atlanta Journal Constitution

The Record (Stockton, CA)

Outdoors Arizona

Outdoors In America

Tuscaloosa News (AL)

Bullet Points (NSSF Newsletter)

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA)

ArmedFemalesofAmerica.com

San Gabriel Valley Tribune (West Covina, CA)

Sunnyvale Sun (CA)

Outdoor Life

[Erhardt]

I neglected to mention one exceptionally important bit of press coverage which is Michael Bane's Shooting Gallery. I don't list his show since I can't take credit for generating that bit of press coverage. That credit goes solely to Michael. - ERHARDT

[AlamoShooter]

Page Ten! Page Ten ! we made it to page ten in just two days

Oh and good exposure = Even my Liberal , Clinton loving brother in-law = loves (both of the clintons)

They will come and watch the Steel Challenge event , And like it, and tell their friends at parties about how cool it is.

[Jim O'Young]

Ladies (athough I don’t think any have posted yet) & Gentlemen-

Based on your posts, here are a few thoughts & comments:

Paul Erhardt- Thank you for your kind words. You know how much of my life I have invested into the Steel Challenge and how much it means to me.

Aaron Bush- It’s been a long time, welcome back to the Steel Challenge!

Mike Carmoney- Don Hamilton & John Madigan sold the SC to Kerby, NOT the Mikes.

Chuck D, Flexmoney, Lawman & Rob Boudrie- I am one of those “steel specialists” you referred to who only shoots the SC. I used to be a USPSA member (back in the days of the 356TSW, when Rob was the AWARE MD), and since then have had no desire or reason to rejoin as I have absolutely no interest in shooting practical pistol matches anymore.

AZGunut, zhunter & shootingchef- Having the SC in the Republik of Kalifornia is not a reward to the political regime or an endorsement of their agenda. Like you, CA shooters live in an area which is determined by ALL aspects of our lives (career, family, friends, real estate, etc.), of which shooting is one. Unfortunately, living in CA poses greater challenges to be able to shoot & compete, but we follow the rules (albeit begrudgingly) and still do. Picking up the pieces of your life and moving to a gun friendly state may not be an option, or at least a viable one. Having the SC here gives us a presence, reason and a venue to continue fighting for our 2nd Amendment rights. James ong45 was correct in his statement about the SC being successful due to the devotion of the majority of CA participants. If all the CA matches & shooters were to cave in, pack up & leave, the state would be lost. One down and 49 to go….

Chuck D- In 2003, I got a phone call out of the blue from a reporter from the Sunnyvale Sun newspaper. She interviewed me and ran a front cover story (w/ pictures) about me competing in the SC. The article was accurate, objective and even leaning towards being pro-gun. I asked her how she even knew about me and the SC. She said the newspaper received a press release from the NSSF about a local person competing in a world championship event. That is the power of Paul Erhardt.

Shred- “don’t dink with it, it works”. Truer words have never been spoken, my steel brother.

Thanks for reading,

Jim

[Chriss Grube]

Xre hit it right on the head. Either DT was talking out of school or should be more careful of who he talks to about things that aren't ready for prime time release. It does truely appear that DT and the BOD really do not have a handle on what, how or where this SC stuff is going. My biggest concern is that this appears to have been a impulse purchase with no real business plan or ideas for the future. Working in State Gov. I see these great ideas blow up all the time due to lack of any real planning for the future. Some say it is staying the same others it will change??? Which is it. I believe the BOD had good intentions but not enough information. It sounds like it was a Idea pushed by DT and sold to the BOD which doesn't hgave a full grasp of what we really bought or plan. Please correct me if the BOD has the Big picture or not.

[Flexmoney]

big daddy asked, "what does a Steel Challenge match look like?"

That is a good question, and a topic that deserves it's own thread. I moved that discussion here:

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=57543

- Admin.

[Flexmoney]

That is going to do it for the wild innuendos and speculations pointed at the Leadership of USPSA. It's not founded. It's not fair. It's not right. It's not going to continue on this forum.

Don't attack. Don't insinuate. Don't use this forum as a soapbox to air your personal gripes.

Level headed discussion is what will be allowed here.

- Admin.

[Erhardt]

Xre hit it right on the head. Either DT was talking out of school or should be more careful of who he talks to about things that aren't ready for prime time release. It does truely appear that DT and the BOD really do not have a handle on what, how or where this SC stuff is going. My biggest concern is that this appears to have been a impulse purchase with no real business plan or ideas for the future. Working in State Gov. I see these great ideas blow up all the time due to lack of any real planning for the future. Some say it is staying the same others it will change??? Which is it. I believe the BOD had good intentions but not enough information. It sounds like it was a Idea pushed by DT and sold to the BOD which doesn't hgave a full grasp of what we really bought or plan. Please correct me if the BOD has the Big picture or not.

With all due respect, I think you're casting aspersions on people based on very limited knowledge of the actual process. Listening to one podcast that is now 4 days old and then making assumptions about what you heard is unfair. This process took nearly 2 months to complete and included research into the match. There were at least 2 other potentials buyers and would have been more if word had spread. I can tell you based on conversations with Mike Dalton held before USPSA was involved that the selection of the new owner was taken very seriously with the future of the match in mind. They also wanted to move quickly to complete the sale prior to SHOT so the new owners could prepare the industry and sponsors for the change.

Fichman and Dalton did not build up the match to simply watch it collapse. They had a vision of what the Steel Challenge and the SCSA could become in the shooting sports world. They realized they did not have the resources to execute that vision but saw that USPSA did. USPSA knew the they would not have every answer to how to handle the match, rules, growth and so on, and they wisely opted to retain Dalton and Fichman as consultants to help them with that process. They will also serve as match directors for 2008. To say that the BoD did not know what they were getting or that it was pushed on them is wrong and borders on being malicious. While you may not know the details or understand the reasons behind this move you should not assume that those involved were equally blind. - ERHARDT

[Erhardt]

The following is the official press release distributed yesterday announcing the match. - ERHARDT

USPSA Acquires Steel Challenge

Sedro-Woolley, WA — The United States Practical Shooting Association announced that it has acquired the Steel Challenge and the Steel Challenge Shooting Association from founders Mike Dalton and Mike Fichman.

“The Steel Challenge is a natural fit for USPSA and we look forward to both growing the match as well as Steel Shooting in general,” said Dave Thomas, Executive Director of USPSA. “One of our primary goals is to greatly expand the role of the Steel Challenge Shooting Association here in the US and internationally. Working closely with our more than 16,000 members and 350 affiliated clubs, we see a very bright future for the Steel Challenge.”

The Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships were founded in 1981 with just 70 shooters competing for $20,000 in cash and prizes that first year. In the 26 years since, the match has grown to become one of the crown jewels of the shooting circuit and the premier professional pistol competition with more than 220 of the world’s fastest shooters competing for over $390,000 in cash and prizes in 2007.

“We founded the Steel Challenge out of our love for the shooting sports. We wanted a match that was challenging and fun but would also be easily understood by non-shooters who would see the competition and find within themselves a greater desire to join the shooting sports,” said Mike Fichman.

“The fact that today the Steel Challenge is the premier shooting competition with competitors travelling from around the world to compete gives us great pride. We have watched this match grow far beyond what we could have ever imagined 26 years ago. However, we realized that our once small match is now at a point that requires greater resources to move to the next level and USPSA has the expertise and organizational structure to do just that,” said Mike Dalton.

Mike Dalton and Mike Fichman, regarded as two of the most accomplished shooting event organizers and promoters, will stay on through the 2008 championships to insure a smooth transition with sponsors and competitors as well as train USPSA personnel on running the Steel Challenge. Dalton and Fichman will also serve as Match Directors for the 2008 Steel Challenge which will again be held in Piru, CA, August 14-17.

– 30 –

About USPSA: The United States Practical Shooting Association is a non-profit membership association affiliated with the International Practical Shooting Confederation (I.P.S.C.), which is comprised of approximately 67 nations. USPSA’s 16,000+ members and 350 affiliated clubs make it the largest and fastest growing Practical Shooting sport.

About the Steel Challenge: The Steel Challenge will be held Thursday through Sunday, August 14-17 in Piru, CA. To learn more about the Steel Challenge visit the Web site at www.steelchallenge.com where you will find diagrams of the stages of fire, complete listing of the 2007 results, past champions and more.

[bgary]

Dave didn't mean to stir things up - he may not have realized how what he was saying might be construed to differ from the opinions of the BOD. Those who believe in black helicopters might also start thinking that the BOD is being kept in the dark about things

There is no disconnect.

USPSA has no plan to move the Steel Challenge.

Feel free to read that sentance a few times, if necessary. There is no plan in place (or being considered) to change the Steel Challenge venue, format, divisions, or anything else. For-SURE, in 2008, we're working really hard to make it JUST EXACTLY THE SAME as the 2007 match (only bigger and better, hopefully). It isn't broken, and we don't want to break it. We'll have the 2008 match at the Thomson range, and have options on the range for future years.

Having said that... and what Dave was alluding to... is that we have gotten some very high-placed advice that, if we really want SC to grow to the next level, it may need to move out of California. We *hear* that, and we greatly respect the source of that advice, and will take it under advisement. "Someday" that decision may get made. If it does, it will be made carefully, with lots of discussion, internally and with the Mikes, and (I hope) lots of advance notice and shooter comment time.

But, as of today, USPSA has no plan to move the Steel Challenge.

Bruce (typed surreptitiously from my secret bunker under the tinfoil pyramid)

[bgary]

Please correct me if the BOD has the Big picture or not.

Having put a great deal of work into this initiative over the past several months, I believe we do.

Bruce

[n2ipsc]

...if we really want SC to grow to the next level, it may need to move out of California. We *hear* that, and we greatly respect the source of that advice, and will take it under advisement. "Someday" that decision may get made...

There's a huge piece of me that dreams that, rather than "cut and run," the event grows to such proportions that The Peoples Republik cannot help but accept the legitimate sporting use of (gasp) semi-auto (swoon) handguns...

I've never shot it before, preferring to devote my severely limited time and availability to USPSA-flagged events, but you can bet I'll try to be there in '08.

Bruce, USPSA, BOD - well done...

(PS - Putting in another plug for a Single-Stack/L-10 Nationals in HI...)

Bruce (typed surreptitiously from my secret bunker under the tinfoil pyramid)

And your point is...

[LPatterson]

Having read for the past how many ever hours it has taken to read the posts that are left, I have decided to accept a "let's see what happens approach". To have a better idea what SC is like it would be nice if a club in my section would hold an SC type match. I, like a lot of super seniors, am at a point where I don't run well enough to win my Division at a USPSA match so maybe SC would be more fun especially with a .22 and better with optics.

[XRe]

That is going to do it for the wild innuendos and speculations pointed at the Leadership of USPSA. It's not founded. It's not fair. It's not right. It's not going to continue on this forum.

Pardon me, Flex - I believe you misread or misconstrued what I wrote. I fail to see how stating that an apparently incongruent message being delivered by USPSA might spark a rash of conspiracy theories is in some way a wild innuendo or speculation about the intent of the leadership of USPSA? It might be an unfair, unfounded statement to those who tend to jump to those conclusions (ie, said "black helicopter crowd"). I'm sorry you read it to be an attack on USPSA's leadership - it certainly was not intended to be - actually, if anything, it was intended to be the other way around...

[AikiDale]

I can only assume Flex has a thing about black helicopters....

[SV_shooter]

I think sanctioned monthly SC matches is awesome! I love steel, and I am really excited to take it to the club level. think how much better we'll be at the SC with a year of practice prior to the match. There has always been a huge lack of info regarding SC, where USPSA has been so informative about everything related to USPSA. I can only imagine what USPSA will do to bring awareness and support my favorite match of the year.

[Flexmoney]

That is going to do it for the wild innuendos and speculations pointed at the Leadership of USPSA. It's not founded. It's not fair. It's not right. It's not going to continue on this forum.

Pardon me, Flex - I believe you misread or misconstrued what I wrote. ...

Sorry if I read anything into that. Perhaps that could serve as an example for the forum...on making assumptions about what people say vs. what they mean.

I edited the reference to you in my post, above.

[EricW]

10 pages later I'd say it's time for the on deck shooter to get his mags squared away and for the rest of the squad to go paint steel for the next shooter.

[Round_Gun_Shooter]

10 pages later I'd say it's time for the on deck shooter to get his mags squared away and for the rest of the squad to go paint steel for the next shooter.

Directions to the range please. I am ready to shoot Steel Challenge

[ChuckS]

10 pages later I'd say it's time for the on deck shooter to get his mags squared away and for the rest of the squad to go paint steel for the next shooter.

Directions to the range please. I am ready to shoot Steel Challenge

Bring sunscreen...

Directions Distance

Total Est. Time: 45 hours, 58 minutes Total Est. Distance: 3076.96 miles

1: Start out going NORTH on SISSON RD / MA-124 / MA-39 toward MAIN ST. <0.1 miles

2: Turn RIGHT onto MAIN ST / MA-124 / MA-39. <0.1 miles

3: Turn LEFT onto PLEASANT LAKE AVE / MA-124. 1.4 miles

4: Merge onto US-6 W / MID-CAPE HWY toward HYANNIS / BOSTON. 27.4 miles

5: US-6 W / MID-CAPE HWY becomes US-6. 0.1 miles

6: US-6 becomes US-6 N. <0.1 miles

7: Take the US-6 W exit toward BUZZARDS BAY. 0.2 miles

8: Merge onto SCENIC HWY. 3.5 miles

9: SCENIC HWY becomes US-6 W. <0.1 miles

10: Enter next roundabout and take 1st exit. 0.8 miles

11: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto MA-25 W. 27.7 miles

12: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto I-495 N. 39.0 miles

13: Merge onto I-90 W via EXIT 22 toward SPRINGFIELD / ALBANY (Portions toll) (Crossing into NEW YORK). 124.5 miles

14: Merge onto NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY W (Portions toll). 6.6 miles

15: Merge onto I-87 N / NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY N toward I-90 / ALBANY / BUFFALO (Portions toll). 15.2 miles

16: I-87 N / NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY N becomes I-90 W (Portions toll) (Passing through PENNSYLVANIA- then crossing into OHIO). 466.1 miles

17: Merge onto I-90 W via EXIT 170B toward TOLEDO (Portions toll) (Crossing into INDIANA). 306.2 miles

18: Merge onto I-80 W via EXIT 21 toward IN-51 S (Portions toll) (Crossing into ILLINOIS). 169.4 miles

19: Merge onto I-280 W (Crossing into IOWA). 26.6 miles

20: Merge onto I-80 W via the exit on the LEFT toward DES MOINES (Crossing into NEBRASKA). 641.4 miles

21: Keep LEFT to take I-76 S via EXIT 102 toward DENVER (Crossing into COLORADO). 186.8 miles

22: I-76 S becomes I-70 W (Crossing into UTAH). 501.8 miles

23: Merge onto I-15 S via the exit on the LEFT toward LAS VEGAS (Passing through ARIZONA and NEVADA- then crossing into CALIFORNIA). 431.7 miles

24: Take the PALMDALE ROAD / CA-18 W exit. 0.3 miles

25: Turn RIGHT onto PALMDALE RD / CA-18. Continue to follow CA-18 W. 23.7 miles

26: CA-18 W becomes PEARBLOSSOM HWY / CA-138 W. 17.8 miles

27: Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto PEARBLOSSOM HWY. 4.4 miles

28: PEARBLOSSOM HWY becomes SIERRA HWY. 0.9 miles

29: Merge onto CA-14 S toward LOS ANGELES. 29.5 miles

30: Merge onto I-5 N toward SACRAMENTO. 9.6 miles

31: Take the CA-126 W / NEWHALL RANCH RD exit- EXIT 172- toward VENTURA. 0.3 miles

32: Turn LEFT onto CA-126 W. 11.2 miles

33: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto CENTER ST. 0.9 miles

34: End at Piru, CA US

Total Est. Time: 45 hours, 58 minutesTotal Est. Distance: 3076.96 miles

[Alan Meek]

10 pages later I'd say it's time for the on deck shooter to get his mags squared away and for the rest of the squad to go paint steel for the next shooter.

Directions to the range please. I am ready to shoot Steel Challenge

Bring sunscreen...

Directions Distance

or Fly into Vegas rent a convertible put the top down and

23: Merge onto I-15 S for about 180 miles

24: Take the PALMDALE ROAD / CA-18 W exit. 0.3 miles

25: Turn RIGHT onto PALMDALE RD / CA-18. Continue to follow CA-18 W. 23.7 miles

26: CA-18 W becomes PEARBLOSSOM HWY / CA-138 W. 17.8 miles

27: Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto PEARBLOSSOM HWY. 4.4 miles

28: PEARBLOSSOM HWY becomes SIERRA HWY. 0.9 miles

29: Merge onto CA-14 S toward LOS ANGELES. 29.5 miles

30: Merge onto I-5 N toward SACRAMENTO. 9.6 miles

31: Take the CA-126 W / NEWHALL RANCH RD exit- EXIT 172- toward VENTURA. 0.3 miles

32: Turn LEFT onto CA-126 W. 11.2 miles

33: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto CENTER ST. 0.9 miles

34: End at Piru, CA US

Total Est. Time: 45 hours, 58 minutesTotal Est. Distance: 3076.96 miles

[zhunter]

Yippy, our steel match is ON for tomorrow!!!

I will try to post videos tomorrow evening!!!

PLEASE, no rain!!!

[Chriss Grube]

Flex,

Not an attack on anyone it was questions which were raised by statements made here and on a podcast. They were pretty simple and are still unanswered and will probably remain so. Sorry I'm not one to take the don't worry trust us we know what we're doing approach. I'm done with topic as this as it obviously is a done deal. Call me in a couple years and let me know if it was a good thing or not....time will tell. Until then I'll go fuel up the black thing under the tarp.

[S&WIowegan]

Well. I just waded through all the posts here and am quite impressed with the level of interest and commentary this purchase has generated. As is usual on the internet, many responses reach for hyperbole and go 'over the top'. I would like to mention a few that really stuck with me:

1. Mactiger [edit]

2. Flexmoney [edit]

3. Jim O'Young [edit]

4. We ran an SC match once a month at our club for 2 yrs. in '04 and '05 and it ran out of steam pretty fast. I personally found the COFs boring after a few months and I suspect that many IPSC-style shooters will too.

5. I've known Dave Williams for over 15 yrs. and hold him and his views in high regard. Right on!!

All in all, I am very willing to give this a shot. I'm worried that lots of us like to shoot steel but it ain't SC we like. It's man-on man knockdown a la Montrose. SC has been around a long time and you'd see a lot more of it around the country if it had a broad appeal.

Bob.

Edited December 16, 2007 by Flexmoney
Antagonistic, offensive, or quarrelsome tones are not acceptable.

[Flexmoney]

I posted this:

Don't attack. Don't insinuate. Don't use this forum as a soapbox to air your personal gripes.

Level headed discussion is what will be allowed here.

because of this:

Forum Guidelines

Attitude

Please be polite. Or if not polite, at least respectful.

No bickering. Regardless of the subject matter.

Antagonistic, offensive, or quarrelsome tones are not acceptable.

and this:

Politics

Policy or political debates of any kind are not welcome...

This is not a free speech issue. As a privately funded and collectively ran "information exchange," we have found that the emotional nature of political discussions weakens the informative impact of the Forum.

I don't want to shut this thread down, as I feel communication is good. I won't, however, set the rules aside that keep this forum civil.

Different points of view are welcome. Being able to present them within the rules of the forum is a requirement.