Why did Keith Crawford Resign from KOTC?

[denarius13]

Why is keith leaving kotc?does anyone know?whats going on kanada kidd?

[kanada kidd]

When you put your heart and soul into something (like Keith has) and it doesn't seem to work, you have to move on. We work for two to three months setting up a fight and then we only get 2,000 people show up? You have to sit back and wonder why you're doing it and if it's worth it.

Keith has a lot of other talents and has things he can do without the frustration we have to deal with setting up fights. Not to say that it's all bad, we've had a lot of fun together an have become best friends in the year we've worked together. I have asked Keith if he would still do the announcing (something he really enjoys) so you will still see him there. I'm not sure what else to say, he really loves the sport and I'm sure he'll always be involved in some capacity, but not the day to day position that we're all used to.

KOTC Canada will continue as planned. Of course there will be a few changes and it will take a litttle time to work out.

I guess there's two things I really want to point out. First, Keith and I had a great working relationship and I wouldn't hesitate to work with him again. Second, he is not leaving me in a pinch, but rather at a time where we have breathing space and making sure all the loose ends are tied up.

[mike northside]

Well Why don't you change venues?

Get a fan base going then go out for the bigger venues?

[Zues1500]

heres some VERY solid advice!

#-1 SUNDAY SHOWS DO NOT WORK!!!!!!!!! Period. They never have for combat events like boxing etc, and they will NEVER work for KOTC or any mma show.

#-2 Keep the show in the same city (i.e Calgary or Edmonton) for every second or thord show and BUILD a solid fan base. Shows that are CONTINUALLY moving around have NEVER had great gates!

#-3 Continue doing what your doing as the show DOES work...great pyro, great fighters etc but venue and date choices HAVE to be bette mader as you don't hold shows on Fathers day and a SUNDAY for gods sake!!

#-4 Promote your Champions and have them front and center as fans want to see the belt one someone etc and...........

#-5 Stay positive as this sport has a way of tiring promoters out but KOTC has the best product in the sport in Canada so keep going Ken!!!!!

[fighter83]

I agree with the belts, fans want to see champions. You guys need to establish all of your belt holders and have more title fights. People want to have a favorite fighter and its usually a champion or a up and comer promote some of the new stars that are coming through the rankings. Get programs for your fights too.

[Zues1500]

I agree. A show NEEDS to have a solidly built fanbase ESTABLISHED in a city beofre takin the show on the road. Look at the UF C where they are basically based in Vegas and have consistently and slowly built up there show to where it's outselling boxing......IN VEGAS!!

Sure every now and then they will go to Atlantic city or now L.A but 85% of there shows are in Vegas......and why not it works there!

When shows start becoming gypsey like and every show is in a new place it gets too watered down and you can't survive. Look at Pavelicks show.........he went bankrupt after moving his show everywhere in Alberta until his last show in Slave Lake of all places turned out to have 100 fans............Ouch! Now I will give it to the dirtbag he has finally realized that Edmonton is his fanbase and he's bulding his show there (Despite the fact that he's building it around CFL players that know shit about mma and a furry mascot.........and I don't mean his kid LOL)

[kanada kidd]

First of all, thanks for your input! I appreciate it and consider everything that's brought up. I'm just going to reply my thoughts on Zues1500, not saying anything one way or the other. Just thinking with all of you.

#1 Actually Sunday shows can work very well. I've had a lot of people tell me they attended the show because it was on Sunday. Terry (KOTC) tells me his Sunday shows do just as well as Fri or Sat night. Other promoters have told me the same thing. No doubt Fathers Day hurt us a bit, but probably not as much as a hockey game the night before and after. The good thing about Sunday is that you have very little competition for the evening. May not be the best, but definately will not wash out the show.

#2 We've seen attendance drop in the same cities too often. Each new city is excited about having kotc there and the tickets sell very well. Calgary has been a good market and Edmonton is home so the shows in these cities are a priority. There are other promoters working with us now from other cities and having the home base work with you is a huge advantage for both parties.

#3 See #1

#4 Agreed! I need to get pictures of Ryan and Travis up on the site asap. Our champions are important to us and the fans.

#5 Thank-you! I have no intention of giving up. I am very fortunate that I don't have to rely on KOTC for a living. If it never makes a dime, so be it. (here's where I tell you I'm doing everything to help the sport) Bull! I'm doing this because I'm enjoying it. I'm having fun, and learning so many new things, having some big challenges, but that's what motivates me. Met lots of awesome people and built lifelong friendships (Keith being one of those)

#6 Oh, there was no #6. Okay, I'll add one. You are being a litttle hard on Victor. http://www.keepersofthecage.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

Anyway, I'm always willing to discuss these things and I'm the first one to admit I still have a lot to learn . There are also some big things in the works, as soon as I can talk about them, I'll let you guys know first.

fighter83, most shows we've had a program (I think Karnage didn't) We started out selling them, but now we just hand them out. Anarchy and Widowmaker had free programs with the fight card inside.

Thanks again!!

[kanada kidd]

Here's one more thing to think about. Most of the people that support the shows are not fight fans. I've heard numbers as high as 95% are NOT fans. They are there because it's entertainment.

I had Rampage and Royce Gracie walking around the venue and most people didn't have any idea who they were. Chuck Liddell and Rich Franklin were signing autographs in Calgary and they had a big line up. But, when Ken Shamrock was there, you couldn't move!! People at the airport, people when we're eating, people on the street all knew him. Why do you suppose that is?

[RYENCOKE]

http://www.keepersofthecage.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

[kanada kidd]

Yeah, I'm sad too. But I glad that Keith will still be announcing for us, so we still get to hang out!!

[fighter83]

thanks for answering all of zues questions/comments.I was very interested in the responses. Of course I went to karnage so thats why I made to program comment, I flew from ontario to watch that show.

[kanada kidd]

I would like to start putting more fighter info in the programs. Sometimes it's hard to get the fighters to send stuff in, they get so busy training before a fight.

We missed it completely at Karnage and that was our fault, just ran out of time.

[RYENCOKE]

kanada kidd Would it be a risk to bring a Event to Red Deer Alberta.

The crowed is great during most events. But it would be ticket prices that my have to come down .
easy travel for northern and southern Alberta fighter..

and theirs a lot of [b]blood is not thick here yet like in the states

I would avoid sunday fights. and if you do find the proper venue a head of time

like a bingo hall !! lol http://www.keepersofthecage.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[kanada kidd]

Would love to go to Red Deer, but they do not have a boxing and wrestling commission. We would be shut down before the show happened.

[the old days]

I dont really feel for Keith. He's just used to his old ways with Miles when they rules MT and KB. If anyone spoke up they would crush them. People say what they want regards to mma and who you are its a little different.

Either way Im sure he aint a bad guy but have seen of his true colours in the past.

Perhaps a rematch with Lee Mein mma style before you hand them up ?

[RYENCOKE]

Update on Keith CrawfordApex Entertainment Group and Championship Fight Series, both Canadian-based mixed martial arts promoters, announced Tuesday that they've joined forces to create Hardcore Championship Fighting, which has signed with Score Media to broadcast 52 episodes of MMA action per year to 5.8 million homes across Canada on The Score television network.

Hardcore Championship Fighting will premiere on The Score Nov. 15 featuring fights from Apex's Oct. 14 card.

"MMA is the world's fastest growing sport and our partnership brings Canadian Promoters to the level of the world's top promotions with this exposure," CFS CEO Keith Crawford said in a prepared statement. "Partnering with APEX and their team has culminated in the largest deal in Canadian Television history for MMA. Our partnership is precedent setting in Canada as the two main forces on television have joined to create an infrastructure unparalleled for Product."

"APEX is pleased to be teaming with a person the caliber of Keith Crawford," APEX President Adis Greco was quote as saying in a HCF press release. "He is by far one of the most influential figures in Canadian MMA. He is intelligent, genuine and pioneer for the sport and it will be a pleasure to work with him for years to come. I would like to thank The Score for having the vision to give Canadian MMA an opportunity to shows its potential to be a true mainstream sport. Anthony Cicone deserves a lot of credit for this vision and his place in Canadian MMA history has been established with this deal."

[superiorninja21]

keith works for apex now

[BUNDY]

it because ken wanted to just put on shitty shows after TG won his belt.
so Keith left because his partner is a tool.

[kanada kidd]

Not true at all, you should talk to Keith.

[beldaran6]

from my understanding, both you and keith are still on great terms, keith just wanted to do something else.

there is nothing with that, and i think he'll do good working with apex and HFC. he's working on the rumble shows, too. there should be no bitterness between keith and KOTC.

[kanada kidd]

Yes, Keith and I are on good terms and still friends. We talk a lot.

It's also obvious where Bundy comes from, but as long as he only states his opinions, I'll allow him to stay.