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Agreed. Athlete income is a direct function of demand in a free market economy. The popularity of the sport, which is monetised through broadcast deals, sponsorship deals, and attendance figures, determines how much money is generated. It's nothing to do with 'deserving' something just because its more risky.
Yeah. For example one topic that comes up again and again specially here in europe is people (women) demanding higher or even equal pay for women's soccer. How exactly should that work out? Nobody is watching it, the stadiums are completely empty, why should they make the same money as men?
Injuries aside, I always thought that being a MX pro athlete gotta be the coolest shit ever. Not only can you make a living out of the best sport in the world (and some of these guys never have to work again when they retire), you can also live a normal life and not get overwhelmed or overrun by fans when you go out.
A lot of fighters also complained about that. But this isn't about top ranked fighters at all.
The main issue in the UFC is with unranked/new fighters, they basically start their first contracts getting around 10-12k per fight. Double that if they win. They fight 2-3 times per year, this is in case they don't get injured of course, because they only get paid if they show up. The money for the next contract depends on how you perform in your first fights and how you sell yourself. Some of them retire broke, while other fighters can become multi millionaires.
Definitely a rough sport, but as Flatliner said, nobody is forcing them to be professional UFC fighters. For some of them it's the absolute dream to make a living out of fighting. One of the biggest issues though is that fighters aren't allowed to represent sponsors inside the octagon. Makes sense when they make less money so they're more likely to accept fights on 2 weeks notice lmao.
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My initial comment wasn’t about the economics of fighter pay. It was to point out that fans of other sports also feel the same/have the same complaints, despite the size of the numbers being different.
It’s a common theme since pay isn’t based on risk, and they aren’t the ring leader.
You are correct in your UFC assessment. No shortage of bodies lining up to be sent into the grinder so no reason for Dana or Davey or K. Feld to pay more.
I’m surrounded by guys/girls doing it for free or $150 or $500.
Same same moto.
I am also surrounded by martial artists who do it for the love.
Same same moto.
I'm not sure what other countries have issues with the difference in pay for their national soccer teams, but the issue in the US wasn't quite so simple. Traditionally the men's national team had brought in the majority of the revenue, but after 2015 that reversed for most years. That led the women to ask for pay commensurate with their share of the revenue, or at least an even amount as the men. But there were/are a lot of variables involved and each year one of those teams might have a great revenue year and the other not, and vice versa. And the issue was really only about the pay that the athletes earned from the national teams, not any of the professional contracts that they had with private teams, etc.
The European debates may be completely different, and even in the US I think it would have been wise to look at a longer time period and average out the revenues before asking for a complete overhaul, but it is what it is.........
Correct me if I’m wrong.
1.8m is the contract, so deduct operating expenses (trainer, travel, practice track expenses, vehicle, tax, manager fee) and then you get a more accurate salary
Holy fuck
This post should be pinned and remembered in the vital HOF
Which is why i might have a very unpopular opinion but here it comes. The top riders in this sport earn an insane amount of money when we look at the size of the sport from a completely objective perspective. Disregard risk, and how gnarly it is because that has nothing to do with how much people are getting paid when it comes to sports.
The money is freaking good.
nice job, everyone
I was thinking about this the other day. I hope these factory guys know how good they have it. Especially compared to us peasants that work for wages. Especially some of us have spent years in school and may have student loans. Then working from 8:00 to 5:00 everyday doing something that isn't too exciting working with s***** coworkers and/or boss. Stressed all the time 😂
Then they make great money and get to enjoy their lives as a normal human being. Yes to us, they are celebrities. But to the world they are just another person on the street. Probably 1 in every 3 people who LeBron, Mahomes, Tswift, Bieber, Messi, Ronaldo etc is. Then maybe 1 in every 300 knows who Tomac, Jett, or Deegan is.
I agree with this. It's just facts. Of course us fans believe they deserve more.
Not sure why you’re getting down voted, this seems pretty accurate to me
Travel and practice track expenses don’t seem likely but everything else does
I'd be surprised if more than 50k people could pick Tomac out on the street, maybe deegs/Jett are double that, still not many.
No I don't, I believe the others down the starting line deserve more of the pie. Without them the show would be weak.
Without your comment, I never would have read his. Thank you.
There's close to a million people watching each race and he's got over a million followers on Instagram so I'd bet it's more than 50k.
I usually just scan the first and last part to see where he started, and where he ended up.
Pit Row
I'd say my estimates are correct. In USA atleast 1-3 people know the most famous celebrities. Tomac/Deegan (even Kroc) have over a million followers on Insta. Someone like Bieber is around 300m. So 1 in every 300-400 people in the US know our riders.
Self awarded “I am correct” trophy for an estimate.
Vital is on brand lately.
Yeah that'd be a nah for me dawg
Bro, that’s not how the math works. “Salary” is your gross income. After taxes and expenses is your net income.
The $1.8 figure AC quote was his gross income between Kawasaki and Fox. He’s a 1099 and sole proprietor, so yes, he’s paying himself to run a business. He’s still probably putting a few hundred grand in the bank at the end of the year, after all those business expenses, cost of living, etc… still doing really good for a dirt bike rider.
“Salary” figures are gross, not net. This goes for W2 and 1099 tax returns.
"70k after taxes"
Moran!
1099? I was thinking he was W2. 1099 would be worse since they have to pay the full 15.3% tax rate. W2 pay half that.
Wow
I…mean…damn. Just…wow.
Someone like Adam shares his perspective and opinion and this is the spin we get?
Uh, no. Hell…no.
Sometimes…y’all look and sound like you fucking hate this sport and the people in it. Sometimes, far too many of us seem to think we’ve got an exclusive take on the correct understanding or interpretation of all things Moto…well…again…uh, no…you don’t.
Personally, I like hearing all of the things he’s commenting on from his experiences and I’ve got just one thing to say to him…
Thanks for sharing your experiences with your fellow racing geeks!
Manny, you were doing so well it seemed. AC doesn't need you to come in here and blast all of us who disagreed with him. Calm TF down.
The irony of AC sharing HIS opinion, and some of us sharing OUR opinion, and then you basically saying we don't have a right to have a conversation about it? If we do, we "hate the sport and the people in it"?? Seriously?
AC had a black and white take on a very nuanced conversation, which was seemingly out of character for him. Some of us discussed that. Apparently that isn't ok with you and you come in THAT hot? Wow.
As I disagree with AC, you can certainly disagree with me. No sweat here brother.
That 15.3% only applies to the first 160k or something like that, so when you're talking large figures it's not as big of an issue.
You’re both wrong, the majority of factory riders are corporations and have an EI number. Most are payed with a W2 through that corporation.
The exception is MCR, they’re all W2 because Mike and Tony think it’s the right thing to do.
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