Timeline: Industry Innovations and Trends
Did you ace our industry quiz? Enhance your knowledge even more with our comprehensive timeline of industry trends and innovations—from rebate plans to stay-to-play to custom uniforms—and find out how they came to fruition. (Please note: this is a living document! We are continually updating and adding more information. If you would like to add updates to our timeline, please email us at info@thecheerprofessional.com).
CHEERPROFESSIONAL INDUSTRY TRENDS & INNOVATIONS TIMELINE
Rebate Plans
2005 — Spirit Celebration creates its own rebate plan (attend 2 events = 15% back; 5 events = 20% back; 6 events = 20% back + a cruise)
2006 — Varsity Family Plan is introduced
2008 — The JAM Brands introduces the JAM Rewards
2010 — Cheer Ltd. and Mardi Gras Spirit Events join the Varsity Family Plan
2011 — IEP launches its I-Deal rebate program with companies like US Spirit on board
2011 — Epic Brands introduces Epic Rewards
2012 — Twisted Spirit introduces “Totally Twisted” gym profit program including elements of business advising, branding help and choreography service
2013 — Xtreme Spirit introduces Partner Brand Rebates (with partners such as Elite International Championship Series, Allstar Apparel, GlitzGirl Cosmetics, and Platinum Bows)
2014 — 15 companies including ACDA, Epic Brands and WSA join forces to introduce the “Season Pass”
1999 — Teamleader launches its line of custom uniforms made in the U.S.A.
2008 — GK Elite makes its debut
2011 — Xtreme Spirit launches Allstar Apparel
2012 — Spirit Innovations merges with Varsity
2013 — Rebel Athletic signs on as Title Sponsor for Spirit Celebration’s 2013-2014 season
2014 — GK Elite launches a new sublimation line, “ink’d by GK”
Free Admission
2003 — All JAMFest events (except JAMFest Cheer Super Nationals) adopt a free admission policy
2011 — Spirit Celebration comes on as partner for “Cheer for Charity,” a free competition in Waco, TX benefiting cancer research co-hosted by Heart of Texas all-star gym
2011 — All Great Lakes Cheer Championship events (except Showdown Nationals) adopt a free admission policy
2011 — Epic Brands’ Reach the Beach Daytona event starts offering free admission to attendees
2012 — Reach the Beach Daytona adopts a free admission policy
Multi-Brand End of Season Events
1996 — Xtreme Spirit debuts its Elite International Championship
2004 — USASF hosts the first Cheerleading Worlds competition in Orlando, FL
2006 — NLCC companies (American Cheer Power, AmeriCheer, Eastern Cheerleaders Association, Cheer America, Spirit Unlimited and American Cheer and Dance Academy) hold the first Final Destination event in Baltimore
2008 — JAM Brands and NLCC (Epic Brands and Spirit Brands) collaborate to rebrand and reimagine Final Destination as The U.S. Finals
2009 — UCA/UDA hold the first International All Levels Championship
2010 — Xtreme Spirit holds the first Elite International Championship series, to which teams earn bids throughout the season at partner brand events
2013 — US Spirit debuts THE ONE Cheer & Dance Finals
2013 — GSSA signs onto the U.S. Finals team to produce its West Coast event
2013 — Varsity debuts The Summit, an all-levels national championship, to replace the International All Levels Virtual Championship
2014 — Powered by Twisted Cheer & Dance, the “aerial sporting event” All Star Games has its inaugural event in Las Vegas with multi-brand partnerships with Nfinity, GK Elite, COP Brands (Mexico), New Zealand Cheer Union and the All Star Games Federation.
2014 — Nfinity and Aloha Spirit Productions launch The Champions League with accompanying feature film debut
Stay-to-Play
2005 — The Aloha International Spirit Championships in Honolulu begin requiring stay-to-play
2011 — Epic Brands events including Reach the Beach (Daytona, Ocean City All-Star and Ocean City Rec/School) and Battle of the Boardwalk join the stay-to-play fold
2011 — American Cheer Power adopts stay-to-play policies
2012 — Spirit Celebration switches from stay-to-play to “inform to perform” (providing flexibility to stay anywhere as long as accommodation information is provided)
2012 — NCA/NDA All-Star National Championships move to stay-to-play
2014 — JAMFest Cheer Super Nationals and Coastal Battle at the Capitol adopt stay-to-play policies
2014 — Cheersport institutes a stay-to-play policy starting with its 2014 National Championship
2007 — The JAM Brands debuts LIVE! The Authentic Red Carpet Experience
2010 — Varsity introduces Encore Championships
2012 — Spirit Celebration launches AMAZING Championships, where teams compete to benefit a charity of their choice and get to promote their cause on the red carpet
2013 — Xtreme Spirit debuts Premier Series events
2014 — Spirit Celebration debuts the Crown Jubilee, a “royalty-themed” end-of-year event with a masquerade ball/awards ceremony the night before the competition and a red carpet at the event
Note: All U.S. Spirit Nationals events are now red carpet events (no date available)
By-Invitation Events
2012 — The JAM Brands debuts The Majors
2013 — GK Elite signs on as official outfitter of the All-Star Games
2013 — Epic Brands debuts The Reveal, The Debut and Future 5
2014 — GSSA/Aloha Productions partners with Nfinity as the event producer for The Champions League
Consolidation and Acquisitions
2003 — Spirit Celebration becomes official partner and host of CGA Small Gym Nationals; State Fair of Texas Championship; State Fair of Louisiana Championship; Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Fall Championship/Nationals events
2007 — The JAM Brands acquires America’s Best and Coastal
2008 — The JAM Brands acquires Great Lakes Cheer Championships and COA
2008 — America’s Best Championships and Spirit Innovations join the JAM Brands
2011 — ACDA/Spirit Unlimited become The Epic Brands
2012 — Spirit Innovations announces that it will now operate under Varsity Spirit Fashion
2013 — Xtreme Spirit acquires Wisconsin Spirit
New on the Scene
2010 — Twisted Spirit expands its focus beyond choreography to start offering events, starting with the Twister Treat event in New Zealand and Makin’ Noise for Toyz in Bloomington, followed by the launch of custom “3D events” (with live performances by Kickfull band) in 2012, and Unplugged (smaller-scale events) in 2013