Mike,
As someone who hosts trial here in the Northeast (NY) I will try to give you a little perspective from MY point of view. Trials in the northeast are very VERY small. We need to offer a format that will draw competitors for both days of a trial - competitors who will ENJOY the format and want to return. We need to offer something for EVERYONE not just those who only want a NATCH as fast as they can get it for as cheaply as they can. For MOST people agility is not only about getting the NATCH it is about enjoying a weekend of recreation with their dogs and their friends.
Personally, at the trials *I* host, I offer ONE of each event each day - That way I can serve ALL my competitors at all levels and everyone is happy and gets to play agility all day long. Most people travel to trials and spend the weekend - they are not lucky enough to live close to a trial site - I for example generally travel 2-3 hours minimum to the trials attend.
I know MANY people, including myself who do not like the 2,2,2 format (ie: 2 Reg, 2 TN, 2 CC or whatever combo you choose) b/c some of us have dogs who do not play ALL the events and therefore those dogs are not served - these people generally SKIP trials under that format -why travel that far to only play agility for one day?? - ( I personally don't b/c my younger dog plays all the events and my older dog does not does not travel with me much anymore b/c she is pretty much retired from agility )
I serve the masses, NOT the Elite only competitors.
Also, I kind of take offense to your comment about we in the Northeast trying to make as much $ as possible - First of all - I am not sure you really understand what is actually COSTS to hold a trial - The site costs $ and the indoor sites are at least DOUBLE what we pay for outdoor sites, The porta potty costs $, we have to pay our judges and ALL of their travel expenses, we have to pay OUR travel expenses, we have to pay NADAC before and after the trial for trial application fees and recording fees, we have to pay for Equipment rental and/or equipment maintenance, purchasing new up to date equipment that is safe, we have to pay a trial secretary , we have to spend $ for worker snacks, shade tents, volunteer raffles, ribbons don't forget the ribbons! A NATCH ribbon alone costs around $20 - yearly ribbon budget is about $1000 depending on how many trials a *club* hosts .... We all also offer generous entry discounts to help people be able to enter - that is also taking $$ away from our profit - we don't care - we just want to be able to host a trial!
Generally we clear MAYBE $500 and lay out THOUSANDS. I have actually had trials where I haven't made a single dollar profit.
So, yes when you say we use a format that will make us money you are partially right, but in reality we use a format that will BRING PEOPLE so we can AFFORD to have the trial where everyone can come a play.
FYI - I am not a "club" - nor are the *other* northeast clubs (the other 2 that come to mind -who hold the most trials) - we do not collect dues each year - we do not have a membership base- we pay for the trials based on what they bring in - and if people do not come - then we can't host trials -
We need to offer what will make ALL of our customers happy and want to return - that is the bottom line.
Hope that helps clear things up for you