Originally published at: https://discgolf.ultiworld.com/2018/08/14/decreasing-pro-worlds-masters-attendance-split/
In years both Open (men’s and women’s) and Masters divisions participated in a combined PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championship, the Masters divisions almost always drew more players. Since the events split in 2017, Masters divisions attendance has decreased at their stand-alone event as combined Open and Open Women’s attendance has risen.
Last week, Ultiworld Disc Golf was alerted to a pattern in attendance at Pro Masters World Championship tournaments. The pattern is pretty clear: once the age protected divisions were split from Open and Open Women’s Worlds, attendance has dropped. It has also been observed at the last year’s first independent Professional Pro World Championships, in Augusta, Georgia, that on-site spectator attendance was somewhat diminished compared to what was seen at previous combined Worlds. And it would seem, based on the registration evidence, that a combined Worlds is a draw for age protected eligible players to not only compete themselves but spectate as the top two professional divisions play.
The 2019 Pro Masters World Championship will be held at Smugglers’ Notch, in Vermont, the site of this year’s Professional World Championship – the PDGA indicated that it was the only bid they received to host the annual Major.