Fifty Shows and Counting
By: John Henry
Wow, fifty shows have come and gone. Where do we go from here? SPW President Dale Barnett has touched on this subject awhile back with his thoughts but I thought I’d share mine on the official SPW blog.
From the onset of our first show critics were already signalling the end and you know what? They are still saying it! With 50 live events, 40+ DVD releases, 95+ episodes of SPW iTV and more than 100 hours of wrestling in our video library I think we’ve been able to prove the critics wrong. We’ve even had appearances from independent stand outs, former world champions and WWE legends. Heck our Heavyweight Title has been defended in 4 provinces and in the United States.
Now with 50 shows behind us and a foundation solidly built, where do we go from here? There are so many directions we could take and choosing the right path is never an easy task. It’s imperative to choose the direction that will most benefit the promotion and its growth. What would I like to see SPW do over the next 50 live events?
1. For several months we’ve been tinkering with the idea of a new broadcast property. In a perfect world it would be 30+ minutes long and available both online and on terrestrial television in our territory. So far we’ve tested out two pilot TV tapings with more to come as we move forward with this ambitious project. Getting this project up and running is definitely at the top of my list.
2. I would love to take the SPW video library digital and offer it online in a video-on-demand format. It’s where the world is headed, movies and TV shows included. With that in mind I’d also like to see SPW iTV available for download on iTunes. Heck even a live stream internet PPV isn’t even a far fetched idea anymore. The rapid evolution of technology makes it technically and fiscally plausible. The world in online and so to should be SPW.
3. Aesthetically I’d love to enhance the live event experience; a new entrance way with lights, lasers and a fog machine; a video screen and projector featuring graphics, in-ring action, entrance videos, music videos and even backstage vignettes.
4. And what about merchandise; I’d love to expand our line! One day I’d love to see the SPW ProShop with wrestler t-shirts, wall posters, bumper stickers, action figures and even more trading card sets such as special sets with different themes and schemes. Maybe even, one day, an SPW themes video game!
5. Our territory has been primarily the Interlake and south central Manitoba. There are untapped markets across eastern and western Canada not to mention Northern Manitoba that expands our territory in the province itself. Not to mention the many border towns along the Manitoba/Ontario, Manitoba/Saskatchewan, Manitoba/North Dakota and Manitoba/Minnesota borders that could extend the territory into 3 provinces and 2 American states. Wishful thinking? Yes and no!
Some of these ideas are much easier to implement than others, some are already in motion but each can be an important part of SPW’s growth. Nothing happens over night but as we expand all these ideas get discusses, thrown around, critiqued and researched. We’ve been around two years and you never know where we can be five years from now. It’s a grand vision but an attainable vision none the less. All it takes is what we’ve been doing for the last two years: planning, organizing, hours upon hours in the office and on the road and of course A LOT of blood, sweat and tears!
If you’re going to think, might as well think big! Now bring on the next 50 shows!
