
Charging a spectator fee for strength sports events has been a debated topic for years. Some believe free admission increases attendance, while others recognize that a fee ensures financial sustainability and improves event quality. Our experience has shown that as we gradually increased our spectator fee from $5 to $20, we received fewer complaints and saw higher attendance. More importantly, the additional revenue has allowed us to enhance the overall experience for both athletes and spectators by ensuring a higher level of quality, professionalism, and consistency.
The Case for Charging a Spectator Fee
1. Financial Sustainability for Strength Events
Strength sports competitions require significant financial investment, including venue rental, equipment maintenance, insurance, security, staffing, and marketing. Unlike mainstream sports with big sponsorship deals, strength events often rely heavily on competitor fees and ticket sales to cover costs. Charging a reasonable spectator fee ensures we can continue running high-quality events without cutting corners.
2. Increased Attendance and Engagement
While some worry that charging admission will discourage attendance, our experience has proven the opposite. Studies show that free events have a 40% no-show rate, whereas even a small fee drastically reduces this number. Since implementing our higher spectator fee, we’ve seen more committed attendees who actively engage with the competition and bring more energy to the event.
3. Higher Perceived Value of Strength Competitions
A free event can unintentionally send the message that it lacks value. When spectators pay for admission, they see the event as more legitimate and professional. Strength sports deserve to be viewed on the same level as other competitive sports, and charging a fee helps reinforce that perception.
4. Supporting Athletes and Competition Growth
One of the most critical aspects of event revenue is how it directly benefits the athletes. Ticket sales allow us to:
- Provide better equipment and venue setups
- Offer higher-quality judging and officiating
- Support competitors with better prizes, travel stipends, and resources
This not only attracts more top-tier athletes but also raises the overall standard of competition, making for a more exciting and competitive event.
5. Transitioning from Volunteers to Paid Officials
One of the most significant improvements we’ve been able to make with increased revenue is paying officials and event staff.
- Our volunteers have been incredible, and their dedication has played a huge role in the growth of our events.
- However, as we continue to expand, moving toward a fully paid staff ensures greater consistency, professionalism, and quality in every aspect of the competition.
- By compensating judges, spotters, and event coordinators, we can retain skilled officials, reduce burnout, and create a stronger infrastructure for future events.
Our goal is to ensure that everyone involved in making the event a success is fairly compensated for their hard work. While we will always appreciate and acknowledge our volunteers, this transition to paid staff allows us to deliver a better, more professional experience for competitors and spectators alike.
6. Improved Event Organization and Quality
Since increasing our spectator fees, we have been able to make significant improvements, including:
- Improvements to the Venue – Expanding infrastructure with a new patio cover for additional shade and comfort, building additional bathrooms to accommodate larger crowds, and making overall enhancements to the facility to improve the spectator and competitor experience.
- Higher Quality Equipment – Investing in better warm-up equipment, duplicating competition equipment to ensure consistency for athletes, and incorporating custom-fabricated equipment specifically designed for our events.
- Enhanced Spectator Experience – Upgrading seating, lighting, and sound systems to create a more immersive and enjoyable viewing experience.
- More Staff and Officials – Transitioning to trained staff with consistent attention to event operations and securing certified referees to uphold fair and professional competition standards.
Without the additional revenue from ticket sales, these improvements would not have been possible. Instead of struggling to balance the budget, we can focus on making each event better than the last.
7. Supporting the Growth of Grinder Gym and Its Members
Grinder Gym is not just a competition venue—it is a training ground for athletes and a home to a dedicated community of lifters, competitors, and coaches. Because Grinder Strength Sports offers a large number of strength events across various disciplines—including Strongman, Powerlifting, Strict Curl, Armlifting, Armwrestling, Power Curl, and more—these events take up a significant portion of gym space throughout the year.
For this reason, it is crucial that our events provide real value to our members, whether they choose to compete, spectate, or simply train at Grinder Gym. By reinvesting spectator fees into facility improvements and equipment upgrades, we ensure that every member benefits from these events, not just those who attend.
The revenue generated from our competitions helps fund necessary repairs, upgrades, and expansions within the gym. Events offer a practical solution for maintaining and enhancing our facility, ensuring that all members have access to:
- Well-maintained equipment for training year-round
- Upgraded training areas that meet competition standards
- A continually improving gym experience that reflects the commitment of our strength sports community
Additionally, events serve as a built-in marketing tool for Grinder Gym and the team of coaches who offer their services. The exposure generated by these competitions helps attract new members, sponsors, and partners, strengthening the gym’s reputation and expanding opportunities for athletes and coaches alike. Our goal is to ensure that the increased visibility of Grinder Gym benefits everyone—athletes, spectators, and gym members.
By structuring our events as a win for all, we reinforce our commitment to growing the strength sports community, improving the gym experience, and providing the best training environment possible.
8. Crowd Management and Event Flow
Free events can lead to overcrowding, safety concerns, and logistical challenges. A reasonable spectator fee helps regulate attendance, ensuring a better viewing experience, clearer pathways, and an overall safer event for both attendees and athletes.
Our Considerations When Setting a Spectator Fee
1. Fair Pricing Reflecting Event Value
Our gradual increase from $5 to $20 has been well received because it aligns with the value provided at our events. We fee our pricing should always reflect the experience offered, ensuring that spectators feel they are getting their money’s worth.
2. Accessibility and Sustainability
To ensure our events remain accessible, we often consider offering discounts or free admission to select groups, such as:
- Children under a certain age
- Seniors
- Veterans
This keeps the event welcoming and inclusive while still maintaining financial sustainability.
3. Transparency About Where Fees Go
We know the importance of letting know and understand how your money is being used. We make it clear that ticket revenue goes toward:
- Paying officials and event staff for their expertise and time
- Improving the event experience for both spectators and competitors
- Providing financial support for athletes and prize pools
Being transparent about these factors builds trust and appreciation among attendees.
Conclusion: Investing in the Future of Strength Sports
Charging a spectator fee is not about maximizing profits—it’s about ensuring sustainability, professionalism, and continuous improvement in strength sports events. Our experience has proven that increasing the fee has resulted in fewer complaints, higher attendance, and a stronger, more engaged audience. The additional revenue has been directly reinvested into the competition, allowing us to deliver a higher level of service, professionalism, and excitement for everyone involved.
By implementing a fair and transparent spectator fee, we are investing in better competitions, better experiences, and the overall future of strength sports.