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Another take on Backgammon is in trouble posts

Posted By: Henrik Bukkjaer
Date: Monday, 11 June 2012, at 7:40 p.m.

In Response To: Another take on Backgammon is in trouble posts (Bob Koca)

Hi Bob - I don't know for US, but for Denmark we do see declining numbers, not just in the big tours.

Our Team League has yet diminishing attendance, for about 10 years straight now, a few teams have left the league. We used to have the following divisions of 12 teams in each:

Elite 1stEast, 1stWest 2ndEastA, 2ndEastB, 2ndWestA, 2ndWestB 3rdEastA, 3rdEastB Series1EastA, Series1EastB Series2EastA, Series2EastB

Now we only have: Elite 1stDivision 2ndEastA, 2ndEastB, 2ndWest 3rdEastA, 3rdEastB

With the addition that 3rd division has been cut from 4 players per match, to 3 players per match (in order to make it easier starting up new teams).

Roughly it's been cut in half.

The same goes for DBgF memberships over the same period.

One highlight though is, that the members left, are more active on average, than it used to be. Perhaps that's because it was the lesser active members who have left.

Avg. age has skyrocketed.

The federation has been through two patches of financial challenging times, partly because of the declining numbers (and thus income), partly because of bad investments in new IT systems that was never completed.

Now, the economy is as good as it has ever been. What used to be done by payed employees are now taken care of by voluntary contributions from members. IT has helped as well, we don't need an office anymore, there are less manual work in handling the leagues, rating, payments and other administration, etc.

So in a couple of months, we're cutting 60% of the membership fee, and hopefully also add attractive start-up offers for new (or returning) players.

Finally, we have cash at hand to invest in projects promoting backgammon. DBgF have a couple of pools/funds you can apply for, if you have ides of projects that needs initial backing (as a person or club).

We've been included (positively) in the new national gaming legislation, explicitly stating that tournament backgammon as offered by the DBgF is a skill game (mind sport).

All in all, I'm positive for our future, but it needs careful attention and work, it's not something we can take for granted anymore!

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