now for something completely ...different

Active Network Targets 'Mob' Adventure Races SportsOneSource Media Posted: 6/20/2012

Active Network launched a brand new Mob experience on its flagship web site, Active.com to reflect and celebrate a new and rapidly growing generation of mass participatory events where individuals and teams compete and socialize by jumping over fire, crawling through mud, outrunning zombies and getting splashed with paint.

The Active.com Mob portal taps into the hyper social nature of the latest craze in adventure races, zombie chases as well as mud, obstacle and paint runs, and helps consumers from all demographics find, prepare for and share their Mob experience. The site provides targeted resources and rich content including how to train for an upcoming race, how to develop a costume, profiles on Mob race directors, as well as user-generated content, social components, featured events and more.

“Mob events represent a new genre of social sporting events that illustrates perfectly the gamified culture we live in today. Moving well beyond traditional racing competitions like running, cycling, triathlons and even 5Ks, they appeal to a much wider audience comprised of both competitive, thrill-seeking athletes as well as participants just looking to do something fun with their friends,” said Eric McCue, general manager for sports at Active Network. “Recognizing this surge in participation and the opportunity it represents our customers, we have created a unique Mob experience for our Active.com consumers and provided proprietary technology to our race organizers to help them capitalize on this growing market.”

Many race organizers have been quick to adopt Active Network’s activity and participant management software to manage various aspects of Mob events, from online registration and secure payment processing, to social media integration, volunteer recruitment and management to targeted marketing services. The ActiveWorks Endurance technology platform includes tools that are well suited to managing Mob events such as the group management feature which allows friends to register for events in teams, social media plug-ins which allow race directors to push deals and discounts to participants via Facebook, and an integrated ActiveGiving fundraising tool to help Mob teams drive digital donations to their favorite charities.

Spartan Race, Color Run and Walking Dead are among the many pioneers in this emerging race category who work with Active Network to help them deliver successful events from start to finish.

“We are creating the sport of obstacle racing and manage dozens of races across North America every year," said Spartan Race founder, Joe DeSena. "At our rate of growth, we needed Active Network’s expertise to help us effectively manage all of our events and promote them to a broad audience. And because the company’s software is cloud-based, it has the ability to scale with us as we grow, and evolve with us as our needs change.”

Serving over 50,000 global business customers and driving over 80 million transactions annually, Active Network helps organizers get participants, manage their events and build communities. Headquartered in San Diego, the company has over 30 offices worldwide.

Not interested since it has nothing to do with fishing or kayaking