This past weekend, Annie and I went to see EnduroCross at Infinite Energy Arena. This was our first time at EnduroCross, but we’d been to SuperCross a few years ago. I was surprised to be able to get excellent seats for EnduroCross only six days prior to the event. When we got there, it became obvious why – the arena was, at best, at one-third capacity, which brings me to a comparison between sport and spectacle.
First, let me offer this disclaimer: the level of talent at either of these events is truly stunning, and the athletes who race these bikes are truly awesome. My commentary here has nothing to do with their talents or abilities.
SuperCross racing is spectacular, in the true sense of the word. There are fireworks and promos and huge marquee sponsors. There’s rock concert lighting and sound. It’s the WWE of motorcycle events. It’s loud and crazy and wild and makes your hair stand on end with showmanship.
EnduroCross, by comparison, seems to be the red-headed stepchild of the sport. Yes, it’s in an arena, but it’s more go, less show. There are no fireworks. The sponsors aren’t companies that someone outside of the motorcycle world would recognize. The promos are minimal. A guy with a T-shirt gun came out before the event and shot off a half-dozen shirts. ProTaper sponsored a footrace around the outside loop of the track, with the racers carrying handlebars. Where SuperCross probably had 15-20 models walking the floor and carrying the event and timing cards, EnduroCross had exactly two.
But at the end of the night, Annie looked at me and said “That was awesome! It was way better than SuperCross!” So why was that?
The race was the spectacle. If you’ve been on a dirtbike, you understand how truly difficult the course was to get through. And if you didn’t understand that, it became pretty obvious that even some of the pros were struggling. The skill required was obvious.
No spectacle required.