Ways the IFBB could make bodybuilding more mainstream.

[Bicepbraw]

Just thinking of ways that they could make it more mainstream. The reason for this would mean, bigger rewards for the competitors, as at the moment not many make good money, with the amount spent on other things. I think bigger rewards would encourage more young people to chase the dream of being a pro. There are other benefits if it became more mainstream such as better quality shows for the fans.

SO does any one have any ideas to get this to happen. The first one of my would be posing thongs, being serious here and not trolling. I just think it they wore things like short tight boxers it would be better for numerous reasons, but the stigma if men in their thongs is just bad.

Any one else got any ideas.

[tumtum]

the fact is.. most ppl are just not into bodybuilding.. most ppl think they are simply juiced gym rats that just "work out a lot"..

i honestly dont know of any way to convince the general public otherwise

posing boxers? so... no more striated glutes?

phuck mainstream

[bazookasword]

remove the so called "natural bodybuilding" and just call everything bodybuilding.

you don't see "natural football" and normal football... just sayin

[rad_rex]

remove the so called "natural bodybuilding" and just call everything bodybuilding.

you don't see "natural football" and normal football... just sayin

this^ stop trying to separate natural and not natural bodybuilding...to be succesful in this sport you need to ride the stationary bike...hence why i will never be a bodybuilder...everyone knows you need celltech for all professional sports...no one wants to go watch a drug free show

[jackcraig]

unfortunately i don't think bodybuilding will ever have a huge following due to the general public being completely against the idea of steroids and something that breaks the mould of looking like a normal human being


EDIT: to actually answer the thread title; i agree with the idea of the posing trunks, whenever bodybuilding comes up in conversation the thongs always get brought up and taken the piss out of.

[JanesLastResort]

or maybe we stop caring and carry on with our lives.

why would it be good for bb if it was mainstream?

[TLF84]

If the current ifbb judges fire themselves and try change the criteria as in judge on athestetics and condition and symmetry rather ugly mass monster .... It's meant to be a men's beauty contest and some of the guys are far from it eg Kevin English , branch warren etc Bring back the classic physiques

[HydroShake]

it's because the mainstream public don't understand it. they've never done it themselves and think that bodybuilders are dumb juiced up narcissists. the bodybuilding mindset is just too difficult for people to grasp. it's not just a game like baseball or basketball where people can relate to. you don't play bodybuilding. you either live it or you don't.
even if the celltech stigma is lifted, it still won't be mainstream. again, people have to understand it to enjoy it.
look at all the drug "scandals" in baseball. 30 days house arrest and still making millions.

[DavisForman]

Get rid of the drugs for start.

[Iceman1981]

Bodybuilding was mainstream. The public has certain views about bodybuilders that probably won't change.

In my opinion bodybuilding is what it is.

[DavisForman]

Bodybuilding was mainstream. The public has certain views about bodybuilders that probably won't change.

In my opinion bodybuilding is what it is.

Well, roids became illegal in the 90s. Bodybuilding lost its popularity in the 90s. Coincidence?

[EnhancedAthlete]

Maybe the IFBB could stop some it's competitors from banging grapefruits. This might help.

[Iceman1981]

Well, roids became illegal in the 90s. Bodybuilding lost its popularity in the 90s. Coincidence?

Yeah, it's the whole drug thing that makes the media talk bad about bodybuilding. Bodybuilders are so big now, the average person can't even relate to them. Before the 90's bodybuilding popularity was very high due to bodybuilders being smaller than they are now. Maybe if they change the judging criteria and look for smaller mainstream physiques then that will force guys to come in smaller and hopefully that may attract more fans.

[uchoom]

Posing in boxer brief like shorts, but then there wouldn't be judging of them glutes.

[Big Slim DaDDy]

Bodybuilding as a watched sport is farking boring unless you are actually into bodybuilding yourself. You don't have to play football to watch football and be entertained. 250lb+ dudes in little skimpy underwears with shredded physiques flexing their muscles looks straight up odd to someone who doesn't even know what a trapezius or gastrocnemius is.

[uchoom]

Actually it'd be pretty cool if they did like a build up tv series kinda like the ones they have for big ufc matches, where they follow the fighters and their training and give details about that background, some bbers have pretty interesting stories.

[ROMMYromboid]

Get rid of the drugs for start.

or legalise steroids, afterall I can barley think of any sport that does not use them, maybe lawn bowls and pro online casino poker players.

[gomez26]

Well, roids became illegal in the 90s. Bodybuilding lost its popularity in the 90s. Coincidence?

yes i believe it is mainly coincidence. some things do go in & out of popularity regardless of anything else. bb'ing had its peak in popularity in early 90s but it was never at mainstream levels.

bodybuilding in general will never be mainstream because ppl simply dont like that sort of extreme look, whether or not it requires illegal drugs. saying the public is turned off mainly because of illegal stuff surrounding the activity is giving the public way more credit than they deserve. do they think any less of rock stars & rap stars when they find out they are hardcore junkies? public couldnt care less, if anything it gives them more notoriety & popularity. hell many top songs are about taking illegal drugs. and id love to see the quality of a rolling stones performance onstage if they were forced to be clean. my guess it would be as crap as a natty show compared to an ifbb show.
so no, the public are by no means scared of idolizing those who break the law. if they like something they will follow it regardless. & the truth is they simply dont like the look of advanced bb'ers & never will.

[Boba_Bulk]

Well, roids became illegal in the 90s. Bodybuilding lost its popularity in the 90s. Coincidence?

Pardon my naivety because I don't use drugs or know a lot about them, but weren't steroids always illegal?

[Gorky88]

Why are people so crazy about this bb becoming mainstream chit. i dont care at all I only wish we could easily watch every show on tv thats it but there will be a day when they stream all shows. I like that it is a private sport.

[Nikonguy]

IFBB bodybuilding=freak show

freak show>mainstream

[HydroShake]

Pardon my naivety because I don't use drugs or know a lot about them, but weren't steroids always illegal?

nope. dbol used to be sold at gas stations. they were marketed as a wellness supplement and i think people used them when they had a cold.

[RobbieBoy672]

Why are people so crazy about this bb becoming mainstream chit. i dont care at all I only wish we could easily watch every show on tv thats it but there will be a day when they stream all shows. I like that it is a private sport.

I like that its a private sport too, but I just think it would be awesome to be able to turn on sportscenter in the morning and see some bodybuilding coverage. and even though they stream the olympia and arnold they are nowhere near the quality of even my towns local station for highschool sports.

[Boba_Bulk]

Bodybuilding as a watched sport is farking boring unless you are actually into bodybuilding yourself. You don't have to play football to watch football and be entertained. 250lb+ dudes in little skimpy underwears with shredded physiques flexing their muscles looks straight up odd to someone who doesn't even know what a trapezius or gastrocnemius is.

This. There may be a few non bb'ing fans that will watch a show or documentary once in a long while because it's some sort of novelty act, but unless you are a bb'ing fan the interest wanes off really quickly. Unlike other sports (i.e. basketball, baseball, football etc.) where you don't actually have to play the sport to be entertained. At the same time those sports aren't deemed as novelty acts either because people can relate to those sports in one way or another, whether they actively still participate in it or not. More people have probably kicked a soccer ball, shot a basketball, hit a baseball or just watched the Superbowl than they have lifted weights. In the US most kids have actually participated in those sports as part of the grade school PE curriculum.

bodybuilding in general will never be mainstream because ppl simply dont like that sort of extreme look, whether or not it requires illegal drugs. saying the public is turned off mainly because of illegal stuff surrounding the activity is giving the public way more credit than they deserve. do they think any less of rock stars & rap stars when they find out they are hardcore junkies? public couldnt care less, if anything it gives them more notoriety & popularity. hell many top songs are about taking illegal drugs. and id love to see the quality of a rolling stones performance onstage if they were forced to be clean. my guess it would be as crap as a natty show compared to an ifbb show.
so no, the public are by no means scared of idolizing those who break the law. if they like something they will follow it regardless. & the truth is they simply dont like the look of advanced bb'ers & never will.

Great post. I'd also like to add there are many stereotypes about all sports that play into mainstream acceptance or rejection. A lot of people that watch mainstream sports assume you either have the talent or incredible athletic ability and give athletes a certain amount of respect for that (whether the athlete is enhanced or not).

Whereas in bodybuilding, there are the fallacies that will always make it a cult sport:

One is the drugs. Yes drugs are prevalent in all major sports, but you could make a case about who or how many are on them. In bodybuilding the valid assumption is all the pros are on them. So in other sports people can rightfully (or wrongfully) argue and debate whether their favorite athlete or teams are on them or not. In bodybuilding the drug use is obvious and too controversial for mainstream.

Next is the retardedness and egos of non bb'ing fans. The one thing I always hear from others whenever there is an Arnold movie on, or whenever strongman or Olympic weightlifting is on is: "Anybody could be that big on steroids" or "That's all steroids" or " I could look like that if I did steroids". Most people disregard bodybuilding because they think it's just that easy.

To all those people I just ask them "Do you even lift?"

[caconway]

Maybe the IFBB could stop some it's competitors from banging grapefruits. This might help.

[DavisForman]

More people have probably kicked a soccer ball, shot a basketball, hit a baseball or just watched the Superbowl than they have lifted weights.

Not sure about that one man, lol. Where I live, every single f*cking person thinks they are a training expert.

[Boba_Bulk]

Not sure about that one man, lol. Where I live, every single f*cking person thinks they are a training expert.

I hear ya. There's tons everyday "experts" here as well. I guess that's another argument that could be made though. Everyone knows the secret of bodybuilding so there's no real interest, lol.

To be honest though, I could care less if it's not mainstream. Sure there are times when I wish that some of the shows we fans here all keep track of are on TV and I can watch from my soft comfy couch like I do football. But in all honesty, if bringing bb to the mainstream will lead to more know it all, but don't know how lift, 2 inch rom, curling in the squat rack douchebags than I just prefer to keep it a smaller fanbase. Some gyms I go to have too many of those guys already. Besides I do enjoy talking bb'ing with the few other loyal fans I know.

[BOUNTYHUNTERMK2]

This thread has been flogged to death so many times................

Bodybuilding will NEVER be mainstream. It's a niche 'sport'. End of story.

[BartPimpson]

I hear ya. There's tons everyday "experts" here as well. I guess that's another argument that could be made though. Everyone knows the secret of bodybuilding so there's no real interest, lol.

To be honest though, I could care less if it's not mainstream.

I do. Being able to watch the Mr Olympia on TV instead of on a crappy livestream, having more guys like Ced McMillan and David Henry earning enough money to quit their jobs so they can chase the dream 24/7, having multiple big feds so the IFBB has to treat its athletes properly...there's a lot to be said for being a mainstream sport!

[Boba_Bulk]

I do. Being able to watch the Mr Olympia on TV instead of on a crappy livestream, having more guys like Ced McMillan and David Henry earning enough money to quit their jobs so they can chase the dream 24/7, having multiple big feds so the IFBB has to treat its athletes properly...there's a lot to be said for being a mainstream sport!

Well that's why I said there are times I wish it were, so I could enjoy it on tv like other sports, but since it's not I just do what everyone else does and that's go to the live shows or watch the streams. But you are right in regards to bodybuilders in general being paid more, I totally agree with you there.

But while the pros should be paid more, saying Cedric McMillan and David Henry would quit their day jobs are bad examples. They stay at their present careers, because they are career military men, voluntarily doing it because they are proud to serve their country. I bet either one could leave the military and still find jobs that pay roughly the same, but they continually stay in and commit for years for a reason. I doubt the lure of money or an "all out" bodybuilding career would change it for either one of those two.