X games at the circuit of the Americas

[ralewis]

Don't think the athletes are professionals. Wondering if the COTA is posted. Anyone been there lately?

[CleverNickname]

Don't think the athletes are professionals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Games

"Participants compete to win bronze, silver, and gold medals, as well as prize money."

[ralewis]

Don't think the athletes are professionals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Games

"Participants compete to win bronze, silver, and gold medals, as well as prize money."

It ended up being a moot point as my opportunity for a few tickets tonight fell through.

We've discussed the definition of a professional sporting event a over the years, and I've probably started 1 or 2 of the threads. I do believe the intent of the law is meant for stuff like the XGames though. Had I gone today, I was leaning toward not carrying just because it does sort of at least feel like a 'professional' sporting event. I guess if the threshold is money though, I can't carry at golf tournaments at my golf club because prizes (pro shop credit from the course, cash out of a player $$ pool) are awarded. That doesn't seem reasonable. I'm sure the real answer is somewhere in there, but it's still not always obvious.

[Scott in Houston]

Don't think the athletes are professionals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Games

"Participants compete to win bronze, silver, and gold medals, as well as prize money."

It ended up being a moot point as my opportunity for a few tickets tonight fell through.

We've discussed the definition of a professional sporting event a over the years, and I've probably started 1 or 2 of the threads. I do believe the intent of the law is meant for stuff like the XGames though. Had I gone today, I was leaning toward not carrying just because it does sort of at least feel like a 'professional' sporting event. I guess if the threshold is money though, I can't carry at golf tournaments at my golf club because prizes (pro shop credit from the course, cash out of a player $$ pool) are awarded. That doesn't seem reasonable. I'm sure the real answer is somewhere in there, but it's still not always obvious.

If there's a national governing body for the sport(s), And there's money, it's a slam dunk... Do not carry.
The X Games would definitely be off limits.

Your golf club example is clearly amateur even though here are prizes, but I get what you mean. I'm sure if someone tried to prosecute under those conditions, the "would a reasonable person..." standard would be applied. No reasonable person would call that a professional event.

[TVGuy]

It's not 100%, but if it is televised it's pretty safe to say it's a sporting event you can't carry at.

X Games is clearly a professional sporting event.

[ralewis]

Don't think the athletes are professionals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Games

"Participants compete to win bronze, silver, and gold medals, as well as prize money."

It ended up being a moot point as my opportunity for a few tickets tonight fell through.

We've discussed the definition of a professional sporting event a over the years, and I've probably started 1 or 2 of the threads. I do believe the intent of the law is meant for stuff like the XGames though. Had I gone today, I was leaning toward not carrying just because it does sort of at least feel like a 'professional' sporting event. I guess if the threshold is money though, I can't carry at golf tournaments at my golf club because prizes (pro shop credit from the course, cash out of a player $$ pool) are awarded. That doesn't seem reasonable. I'm sure the real answer is somewhere in there, but it's still not always obvious.

If there's a national governing body for the sport(s), And there's money, it's a slam dunk... Do not carry.
The X Games would definitely be off limits.

Your golf club example is clearly amateur even though here are prizes, but I get what you mean. I'm sure if someone tried to prosecute under those conditions, the "would a reasonable person..." standard would be applied. No reasonable person would call that a professional event.

Certainly agree that it seems like a professional sporting event. And it does appear to be prize money for the X Games, but ESPN is a private corporation not a governing body. But seeming like a professional sporting event and meeting the legal definition of one is 2 different things.

What about 2 other examples?

What about the US Amateur Golf championships? Televised, national affiliation, but no prize money.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Sta ... ampionship_(golf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

How bout the Olympics?

[Scott in Houston]

The PGA, NFL, NBA... Etc. all private corporations and governing bodies for their sport.

[ralewis]

The PGA, NFL, NBA... Etc. all private corporations and governing bodies for their sport.

But they aren't the professional affiliation to which all the participants belong or are represented by. That's what I meant. They are a for profit broadcaster that brings together a collection of athletes.

Not trying to perpetuate an argument. Point I'm making is it's not always clear what the definition of a professional sporting event is.

[E.Marquez]

Not posted, Im there often.
But almost EVERY event is a professional sporting event. Not all, but most, and ALL I have gone to,,,with the exception of track days that use the track as a venue.

[TVGuy]

The PGA, NFL, NBA... Etc. all private corporations and governing bodies for their sport.

But they aren't the professional affiliation to which all the participants belong or are represented by. That's what I meant. They are a for profit broadcaster that brings together a collection of athletes.

Not trying to perpetuate an argument. Point I'm making is it's not always clear what the definition of a professional sporting event is.

Yes, but they are professional athletes competing for prize money.

Olympics, not even going there. It will be 17 years before there is even a possibility of having the Olympics in Texas. I'd actually guess a minimum of 50 years until it's over a 10% chance and even that's optimistic.

[ralewis]

The PGA, NFL, NBA... Etc. all private corporations and governing bodies for their sport.

But they aren't the professional affiliation to which all the participants belong or are represented by. That's what I meant. They are a for profit broadcaster that brings together a collection of athletes.

Not trying to perpetuate an argument. Point I'm making is it's not always clear what the definition of a professional sporting event is.

Yes, but they are professional athletes competing for prize money.

Olympics, not even going there. It will be 17 years before there is even a possibility of having the Olympics in Texas. I'd actually guess a minimum of 50 years until it's over a 10% chance and even that's optimistic.

So it's about the type of participant? What about a community baseball league that has players that are students? What about a softball game between competing professional firefighter's union locals? Has the word professional in it?

Again, the point of the question wasn't so much to get an answer as illustrate that it's not always clear/obvious what's a professional sporting event. X Games certainly feels like one.

Sure woulda been nice to have had HB 308 eh? Wouldn't be a need for the debate at all....

[TVGuy]

The PGA, NFL, NBA... Etc. all private corporations and governing bodies for their sport.

But they aren't the professional affiliation to which all the participants belong or are represented by. That's what I meant. They are a for profit broadcaster that brings together a collection of athletes.

Not trying to perpetuate an argument. Point I'm making is it's not always clear what the definition of a professional sporting event is.

Yes, but they are professional athletes competing for prize money.

Olympics, not even going there. It will be 17 years before there is even a possibility of having the Olympics in Texas. I'd actually guess a minimum of 50 years until it's over a 10% chance and even that's optimistic.

So it's about the type of participant? What about a community baseball league that has players that are students? What about a softball game between competing professional firefighter's union locals? Has the word professional in it?

Again, the point of the question wasn't so much to get an answer as illustrate that it's not always clear/obvious what's a professional sporting event. X Games certainly feels like one.

Sure woulda been nice to have had HB 308 eh? Wouldn't be a need for the debate at all....

Frankly, I feel like it is pretty clear what a professional sporting event is.

Your baseball and softball scenarios are a bit silly.

Yes, HB 308 would have been great, but it didn't happen.

[ralewis]

The PGA, NFL, NBA... Etc. all private corporations and governing bodies for their sport.

But they aren't the professional affiliation to which all the participants belong or are represented by. That's what I meant. They are a for profit broadcaster that brings together a collection of athletes.

Not trying to perpetuate an argument. Point I'm making is it's not always clear what the definition of a professional sporting event is.

Yes, but they are professional athletes competing for prize money.

Olympics, not even going there. It will be 17 years before there is even a possibility of having the Olympics in Texas. I'd actually guess a minimum of 50 years until it's over a 10% chance and even that's optimistic.

So it's about the type of participant? What about a community baseball league that has players that are students? What about a softball game between competing professional firefighter's union locals? Has the word professional in it?

Again, the point of the question wasn't so much to get an answer as illustrate that it's not always clear/obvious what's a professional sporting event. X Games certainly feels like one.

Sure woulda been nice to have had HB 308 eh? Wouldn't be a need for the debate at all....

Frankly, I feel like it is pretty clear what a professional sporting event is.

Your baseball and softball scenarios are a bit silly.

Yes, HB 308 would have been great, but it didn't happen.

Of course they are silly. Making a point, and I actually don't feel it's completely clear what the definition of a professional sporting event is. I'm not going to persist with this anymore as it'll just be unnecessarily argumentative.