| Capablanca 2005-08-19, 12:31 am |
| "Bruce" <> I don't think anyone knows nor will anyone ever know the exact
reasons
quote:
> why, but some kind of a paradigm change occurred and those who ran USCF
> failed to recognize it or address it and now it's WAY too late in my
> opinion for it to ever be the same.
>
One major reason that Chess membership has declined is that you get ZILCH
for $49? or whatever the membership fee is. For that price I can subscribe
to at least two major glossy magazines if not three. It is more than many
X-Box or Playstation video games, including any version of Chess; etc.
The membership and the fees are too expensive to draw in casual fans who
might want to participate in a local tournament if they could do it for a
reasonable fee. I checked a local tournment near me, and they have three
rounds and want $40.? Plus I have to be a member of the USCF in order to get
rated. So that is $90. just for 3 rounds of chess? I can play unlimited
chess on the internet for free, and for a small annual fee I can get all
kinds of bonus access, etc.
Did I mention that Chess Life SUCKS??? When I was last a member of the USCF,
membership was $19.99 and it included the magazine. Even then, it was more
expensive than other magazine subscriptions. There is very little substance
to Chess Life, and half the mag is the listings of the ratings and members.
I believe after I had been a member for a couple of years they raised the
price to $29. or $34., and that was the end for me. Chess Life and the USCF
are not worth more than $19.99 per year. And the tournaments are
"over-rated" for lack of a better word, and the fees for being rated are
ridiculous. Any computer can do it for free.
So aside from shitty management, what has lead to the decline of chess in
America is the greed and lack of value that the USCF gives any prospective
member.
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