How do we bring more fans into professional and amateur bodybuilding?

[Tudor1558]

With the explosion of bodybuilders and physique athletes on social media, new waves of participants are coming into the fitness world, Many will seek to make a living doing what they love. To support this expanding base of athletes there need to be more fans. People who work out in gyms are a huge audience only partly tapped into. There could be more consumers of fitness products among this group. Motivational pitches should reach the unexceptional too. Another demographic where additional fans could come from is straight women. Many women respond favorably to the "strong but gentle" image. The benevolence of a protector (e.g. a superhero) attracts women who might otherwise be put off by a macho perception.

I think these fans are ripe for recruitment. Does anybody have ideas for expanding the pie?

[BartPimpson]

I don't think it's our job to promote the sport. I think it's the IFBB's.

Is the IFBB doing a good job? Is it representing the sport well?

Well, here's food for thought. Last year we had the New York Pro, the third biggest event in the sport (after the Olympia and the Arnold), on a stage that looked like this.