How Will Hydros Fare With Seafair’s Change in Air Fare?

“With Blue Angels out and Patriots in, Unlimited Hydroplane Racing has an opportunity to draw attention at Seafair. Is the sport – and the fan base – up to the challenge?”

Agreed, the title is a bit cute. However, it does succinctly capture the essence of what is a very complex topic for us to discuss. There is a lot more to the issue of the change coming to Seafair’s aerial participants than just changing the name on the marquee. There are potentially significant ramifications for the sport of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing.

Opportunities During Times of Change

Opportunities can arise in business, in sports, and in all cultural pastimes in spite of times not necessarily being “good.” Opportunities often arise when times are simply “changing” even if times are, well, “bad.”

For example, a company that is downsizing to adjust to market conditions needs to restructure the organization to accommodate a workforce with fewer people. When that happens, the best and brightest will be considered for key positions to help the company get through the transition. In this example, times are “bad” but opportunities exist.

If we carry this line of thinking through to Seafair, the change in the headlining flyboys (and girls) gives Unlimited Hydroplane Racing a chance to capture some of the focus.

Brand Recognition – And Loyalty

In the 1990s, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Navy’s Blue Angels didn’t see eye-to-eye on the relative safety of the maneuvers performed by the team. Result? No appearance at Seafair. The Canadian Snowbirds filled in and were part of a turkey dinner by the media when their show wasn’t the same shock and awe brought by the Blue Angels.

The Snowbirds have never flown south to Seattle again. You can read more about this in a 1995 article in The Seattle Times.

In this year’s Seafair, history may just repeat itself with the Patriots. This time though, the sport of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing may benefit from being a History Major – and anticipates well.

Importance of “Bench” When Starters Injured

Think about how valuable a benchwarmer gets when a starting player, a star, a “headliner” gets injured. Immediately, that benchwarming player is sent in and is looked at as someone to save the day. If it’s a serious or lengthy injury to the starter, the value stays high when the benchwarmer negotiates next year’s contract.

One can only assume that as a member of the bench, H1 Unlimited has had challenges negotiating agreements with the Seafair team in the past. The Blue Angels have been the headliners, so “oh yeah, we also have boats.”

Unlimited Hydroplane Racing may be considered “3rd string” since the Patriots are coming off the bench to replace the Blue Angels. However, if the Patriots get Snowbird droppings on them, fast boats may just be called up to the big leagues next year.

After all, it’s Seafair, right? It’s not Airfair.

Drawing Up A Play

At the end of a game, when a lot is on the line, the coach usually draws up a play on a white board, or sends in a certain play, using wild arm gestures. It would seem that we could be at that point in our competition.

There seems to be mixed opinions on social media and in the forums about the impact of the aerial changes.

Not only is that not relevant, but we can’t do anything about it, nor can we make any substantive changes to the way Seafair will be structured.

What we can do is engage. Let’s play what-if, shall we?

• Suppose the Patriots are great. Seafair will have dominated “the game,” won the title and will be smiling all the way to the trophy presentation.
• Suppose the Patriots are good. Not great, but good. Seafair will have survived the game but really didn’t win any championship.
• Suppose the Patriots are, well, Snowbird material. Seafair will have dropped the ball and lost out.

Regardless of which of these outcomes take place, the sport of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing has an opportunity to be the “dark horse.”

Our Game Plan

The best way for fans to help the fast boats rise in the standings is to come out in full force for Seafair. Yes, I know that’s obvious, but think of the impact it could make. We have an opportunity to show Seafair that it doesn’t matter who’s in the air, but that the real value to them is who’s in the water. As fans, we hold the key to helping H1 in future negotiations by getting out there – and then the benefits cascade from there.

If H1 gets a better negotiation position from increased numbers of rabid fans, there are financial benefits. There is also leverage to improve the scheduling and venue planning details next year. Increased venue planning could lead to better fan experiences and TV coverage, which could lead to more fan turnout in future years. More fan turnout increases H1’s negotiating positions, and…

You get the idea.

But it all starts with making sure the world knows that Seafair is all about very fast craft best enjoyed in the “sea” – not in the “air.”

So my questions to you are these:

• Is this a valid way to look at the changes coming to Seattle this summer?
• Do you see this as an opportunity, or just a distraction?
• Can we fans stir the social media pot sufficiently to get obscene numbers of fans attending Seafair this summer?

Your perspectives are needed to win the game!

Dave