I had some unannounced time off yesterday so I went and talked in person to the people I had been emailing about playing demo games at the Tour De Grove/Artcrank this weekend. Those people are, by the way, the owners of Big Shark and the Atomic Cowboy.
Big Shark would like it if we could play some games in Francis Park during the Gateway Cup for one day over labor day weekend. There is a boardless rink in the park. Just an asphalt pad with nets mounted in it. We talked about having high intensity demo games once an hour (or whatever) and pick up with us and spectators the rest of the time.
We would have to build boards, and probably bring extra bikes and equipment to pull this off. But we have all summer to plan for it.
Atomic Cowboy wants to know if we want to do our regular pick-up games one evening a month pretty much all summer along with their bike-in movie night series. We would be taking over Tallmage between Manchester and the alley behind the bar. Rough estimate is a court about 35-40' X 100-110'. For comparison, Lindenwood is 50' X 120'. He said he could keep the boards at the bar, and maybe New Belgium would help us out with some costs, seeing as they love the bikes.
Whaddya think?
104 comments:
I'm willing to donate time and money to building boards and attending demos.
I think these are both pretty go ideas, and workable. I dont know about my cash flow. But could definatly help with the time donating.
Francis park's rink is kind of in the middle of a good sized park, are we sure that enough people would be milling about in the park to actually see and maybe want to play polo? Also a "high intensity demo" would show off our top players and top skills, which in my experiene is off puttin to get new people to pick up a mallet and try to play. We should definatly try to showcase the best we can, but I think we should think of a way to make sure we are inviting new people to try.
Atomic Cowboy seems like it would be just a lot of fun low key pick up, and I could definatly imagine picking up a lot of new fans and some new fun players from it. I bet with a little bit of work, we could build boards that would be usefull later on at the Gateway Cup too. Making the whole thing a bit cheaper.
i live two seconds away from francis park, as do nick and anchovy. i think this is the most exciting suggestion yet. kayces right. we need to do this. you know what else we need to do?
play polo at lindenwood tonight...
I'm more interested in a one-day demo during the Gateway Cup than going to the Cowboy one Tuesday a month. No particular reason other than sometimes I like not having to go to polo. Multi-date obligation does not equal fun to me.
i think that without a fence or some other kind of backing, we would respect each others well being by not chukking each other over the boards. which would lead to a more positional defensive game. A game that all of our best players are capable of. and really show off our best players skills.
i dont know how many people going to this thing would be interested in jumping in and playing. so i really dont think we need to worry about scaring anybody off. I have raced in two gateway cups and have gotten a pretty good look at most of the spectators. middle aged dudes who shop at maplewood and ride $8000 bikes twice a week. they would totally be interested no doubt, but as to maybe bringing in newbies. that chance is slim.
people would no doubt be interested in watching and maybe even partake in a little heckling themselves. we should arrange another pizza party at luckys to talk about this. seriously.
Having not lived in St Louis, thus not knowing its bike culture.
I would imagine this being more for the fans, and bigger races I have been to in Philly and New York draw a large fan base of general bike fans. Some walking there Colnogos in High Vis Green, but also some dirty punks on there vintage pistas and college kids with there first real bike. Bike people come to bike events. And with bike people we might get some new bike polo people.
Let's have that pizza party at the house of someone with ESPN and a big TV showing world cup soccer.
I also agree that we'd be more likely to pick up new players from the Cowboy. We may also end up in a good relationship with New Belgium Brewing, who is sponsoring the bike-in movie night and loves to throw money at bike stuff. Fat Tire 4 court Lock-in, anyone?
Both sound like nice gigs with the Atomic Cowboy idea seeming more our style and crowd (what's one Tuesday a month?). Atomic Cowboy would be a good place with which to build a lasting relationship.
My $0.02
You guys playing on Sat?
how much free beer is being provided during these exhibitions?
Honestly, I won't be willing to put any money towards either one of these. I don't see the point. A few new players? While it would be nice I don't see it increasing the number of people playing.
I like playing polo. I'm not too interested in it consuming more of my time and money.
Get some stuff donated or find 50 wooden doors from a construction site and I'll consider building some boards for a rink somewhere that hockey and soccer is not allowed.
-Trent
T- I'll ask about drink tickets for participants, but my feeling is that the most benefit we'd get out of doing the Cowboy is a few new players and a relationship with some potential sponsors for other events in The Cowboy and New Belgium.
That's worth some amount of effort to me. But not a huge effort or expense.
In the larger sense, it would give more exposure to bike polo, which some people would like to see get some more legitimacy. I.E. money for players, equipment, and tournaments.
The new logo is sick! Lets make t-shirts!
the atomic cowboy thing does sound good. we could be officially establing our presence, in an area that soccer and hockey players could not intrude. the potential sponosors sounds good too. and the fa
have we talked to Carl at A&M? Potential "sponsor".
all this talk of polo has made me want to play polo. does anyone feel like throwing down tonight?
I'll talk to my sponsor and see what I can drum up for donations
continued post:the fact that people would know we play there at a regular day and time may actually draw in a few newbies. they could show up on tuesday, hang out, have a few drinks and play polo.
Who's in for Sat. polo? I'll be in town. Please set this up!
I'd put in time and money. Plus I can probably get mad art to let us use the wood shop to build them.
Tim A. You blew us off last time you were in town and supposedly wanting to play. Why should we do anything special for you this weekend?
A bunch of us will be watching the USA v England World Cup game Saturday afternoon. 1:30-3:30 ish. We could polo after that, if you'll still be around.
Did you bring your BMX? I hear that Sunday Shred Day is back on...
i could play saturday. when you hooligans are done watching Fotbul.
We need a HUGE TV in someone's house or at a bar for the USA vs. England game.
I'd consider plaing polo after the game.
Last time around, something came up unexpectedly, so I couldn't make it out. Sorry if I hurt your feelings, Lucky:) If it makes you feel any better, I was only driving up to play polo with you and the rest of the crew. I'll be around most of Saturday with nothing to do and thought some of you might want to play a little polo. No Sun. Shred Day because one of the Sun. Shredders is a daddy-to-be.
Ross: I demand that you steal the biggest projector and screen at your school district so we can watch World Cup soccer on the side of Nick's house.
Then we will polo. Lindenwood 3pm-ish.
Francis, thanks for offering a shop space. That would be rad.
you dont need a screen. you just need a house. that little yellow one on devonshire should do just fine.
Ben, I just heard from Travis in Bloomington, he said he is fine with you coming, so it looks like you, Evan, and I will need to do some practicing together. I have to work on Saturday, so I hope you guys are still up for playing Sunday even if you play on Saturday without me. This tournament should be lots of fun.
Not interested in demos.
Tim-A. I can play around 1-2 if we get
enough people on saturday. Anybody else wanna play sat?
i messed up me knee. i'm out all weekend.
worst part? i wasn't shredding at all. i was cleaning the house. what am i 80?
-Trent
Great-Grandpa Polo!
Great Grandpa Polo = Trent
Grandpa Polo = Lucky
Jr. Grandpa Polo = Toph
Francis,
Evan and I were talking about the Young Guns tournament on Wednesday. We're ready to go...We just need a good team name.
Midwest Meanies
Gateway Goons
I'm open to other ideas. We could even revive "The Cuddlers."
The Hanson's
That name requires Chiefs jerseys and Evan to dye his hair black.
And foil.
father time, anchovy is ahead of me by a few years. me trent and lee are all the same age.
what about the french canadian goalie who slashes everyone. pick me! me!!!
do we have a bike polo flag. if not how come?
our city flag is the polo flag because it is fucking rad as hell
right...so who's bringing that shit monday night.
Both Nick and I have great big city flags.
let me borrow it. i plan to immediately sell it to one of my deadbeet freinds. let him break it. then have them sell it back to you for lets say...five bucks.
-thats just how i roll.
its supposed to rain all day tommorow. does anyone want to play polo tonight? i would like to get two days in this week. unless you guys actually played wed. then ill shut up. friday polo! lindenwood! text it out, see who can play. or just put it here, all you dudes with future phones.
Toph doesn't borrow things. He buys them at a certain price, uses them sparringly, convinces himself they're "not right for him", and sells them for a dramatic loss.
Or he buys things at a certain price, convinces himself they're "not right for him", loans them to his careless friend, watches said friend destroy said things, sells said things to said friend for a dramatic loss, and then watches the careless friend sell those things back to the original owner (the friend breaks even on his investment).
Actually, im gonna break your face. cuz i know its not right for me. way too grody, then maybe i guess ill sell it back to you.
ACTUALLY. do you want to play polo tonight? BEN....
if anybody borrows and breaks...we all know who that is.
COLIN!!!!
Ski poles! Fresh restock! Scott and others. $10 a pair! Sold in pairs.
Dibs on a pair of Scott poles!
Immediate payment too!
-Ben
so i guess nobody wants to play tonight? poop.
Ill lay clame to a set of poles
can i have a pair of poles, PLEASE!
i'll be back at polo on wednesday.
also, i got a rad jacket for flag day.
See some of you at Lindenwood around 3.
cant play today. are we still on for regular sunday polo?
I'm in for Sunday, but probably not for today.
if we play tommorow we have to play at lindenwood. its literally going to be 100 degrees. and maybe raining all day. shoulda played friday...im just sayin.
Anybody else up for today at 3 lindenwood? I can, looks like Tim will be there. Anybody else in? I will have poles in my truck if anybody wants to pick those up.
I will be at Lindenwood after the US/England game.
I will also have a crisp $10 bill for a pair of Scott poles. Yes!
I will be there to give you money for the bike. But not for polo. I'm making mallet heads this weekend. 50 fusion operations down, 130 to go.
No hot polo for me today. I'm 100% in for tommorrow though.
evan we are literally going to melt tommorow. should be awesome. check the heat index for sunday. 90degress. feels like 99.
Toph according to weather sources the high for today was suppose to be 92 and 89 for tomorrow. I'm not real great with numbers, but I think I would rather play tomorrow. But that's just me...
Mt. Pleasant! Please!
check the heat index. mt pleasant is a terrible idea. we need shade and trees. i am playing today though. even if we play on the sahara desert aka mt pleasant. also i would prefer goals. and to not have my snacks eaten by little kids, but thats just me. 3:00?
toph is right. back in the day when we played there it was miserable on a HOT day. there is NO shade.
it pains me to say the words "toph is right" but i have no desire to be at mt pleasant on a day like today.
-trent
toph is always right. always.
I am always right
yes. you're right.
Toph whines about the heat a lot.
Lindenwood!
Christopher is wrong about the time. We play polo at 2 on Sundays.
Lindenwood at 2
hey Ben you can go fry eggs at Mt. Pleasant by yerself. try it. itll be fun. why do you like Mt. Pleasnat so much anyways? no goals. moochy kids. no fucking trees. weird motercycle guy. that last one is plus and a minus. (i always think he's gonna run over Jamaal, our esteemed bike polo mascot.)
I like the size of the rink at Mt. Pleasant that promotes speed not possible at other St. Louis rinks.
I like the smooth surface that doesn't rapidly grind mallet heads down at a rapid pace.
I like the kids that run around, talk to us, and show us a bit more respect than the Lindenwood hockey brats.
I like the motorcycle gang and hope to become a member someday.
I like the smoking, rat-tail-wearing motorcycle rider popping wheelies. He's something we all should witness at least once a week.
I like that unlicensed boxing matches occasionally break out in the street.
I like the full contact tackle football games going down without a single piece of padding in the field next to the rink.
When you think about it, Mt. Pleasant Park is probably the most interesting location in St. Louis (outside of the Bri-Zone). Why do I like Mt. Pleasant? How can you NOT like Mt. Pleasant (regardless of the heat index)??
you didnt really have to list all the reasons. my question was more of a rhetorical question, i wasnt really expecting you to list all the reasons. but you really came through there. nice...
thats weird. where did you find that picture of my mom?
At lindenwood now. Hot polo
Music video filmed one block over from Mt P featuring little kids and unlicensed boxing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=4SBN_ikibtg&a=xDKcVy6gySI&playnext_from=ML
I just heard a rumor that Those Darlins are playing an unannounced show at the Wedge tonight at 9. I don't know if it's true or not, but to me it's worth going over there to find out.
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2010/06/secret_show_tonight_at_the_wedge_monads_those_darlins_twangfest_2010_review_june_11_june_13.php
Those Darlins?? I'll be there!
Trent said it was canceled.
Fact? Fiction?
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wedge-in-South-St-Louis/285003623896
It's canceled. Sad.
These are the cities that Bloomington had heard from as of June 8th: Decatur, Grand Rapids, STL, Fort Wayne, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Lafayette. There may be more by now, but I don't know. Is Louisville any good?
What are Bloomington's rinks like?
Asphalt? Tennis courts? Boards?
They play on tennis courts. When I was there they didn't have boards, but they mentioned that they have some kind of board now.
Once again, I have an explanatory link! They just posted this:
http://www.bloomingtonbikepolo.com/2010/06/indiana-invitational-this-saturday.html
Thank you, Rose.
I feel informed now.
I think STL should try to bring home every prize.
MVP.
Best Crash.
Most Heart.
Mr. Congeniality.
Oh yeah. And winning team!
i predict awesomeness. after getting spanked and bloodied by BEN FRANCIS EVAN. you can call your team...
BEV
VEB
E.V.B.
BENCIS. i like that last one the best.
www.nashbar.com has 26" mtn road tires for $5 each. If i was a mtn bike frame rider i would get these. They are $9.99 on the site, but the catalog i got yesterday says 4.99.
Source code S=65751
Good luck.
I set a blistering pace from the Riverfront Trail back to Turtle Park last night. I was riding hard and solo. I felt strong. Then I got lost in Forest Park and ended up climbing several large hills. Looking back, it was definitely late night polo training.
Trent-
Are we signed up for NAs? What's our team name?
love forever
drew
jesus if our team name isn't love forever drew i'm gonna be totally bummed
-trent
Ben next time this happens CALL ME
it's rehab time. Doctors are gutless.
Pain is stupid
so am I
looks like perfect weather for Wednesday polo!
-Patrick
I think we need to stop and get some fireworks on the way to Bloomington.
We need to borrow the kicker ramp too.
I agree with Polite, Dignified Gentleman #1. Also, I won't be able to make it tonight.
I hit a snag last night building up the new polo bike. I will be out tonight if I can straighten it out in time.
Evan and I are for sure going to Madison for NAs. Who's our third? Who else has the time off and the bucks to go? Kayce, Francis, I'm looking at you. It's 30 a person to register, plus gas, hotel, and off-court eating and drinking. I'm guessing you could spend around 200 bones.
will father's day affect your schedule? I plan on playing during the family gathering with y'all.
lindenwood? 6 pm? or maplewood. i want lindenwood, if thats cool with you guys.
Toph
i vote lindenhood also. I will sacrifice a couple of night games in order to play on a nice, non slick surface.
Father's day wont effect our polo schedule. Most of our dads are either dead or in jail.
My Dad is in jail for killing Anchovy's Dad.
i'll be at lindenwood and i'll be bringing anchovy $10 if he's still got poles.
I will have the poles with me.
Anchovy
see you guys at lindenwood around 6-ish. 100 comments. Boo-Ya!
Toph
I fucking hate being broken. I'm almost half way healed... Fuck bones
have fun killing eachother. I'm jellous.
Poop
Be patient Jake. We'll have a huge party when you get back.
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