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Has anyone ever tried to put together a nation wide event that envolved select buildings from certian cities in the US? Like the tour in Malaysia. Or even in one city like the skyscraper festival in Frankfurt. I think it is possible. Any info or feedback would be appreciated.

Too many fucking lawyers in the US.

They'd find some parking lot attendant to sue (insert power drink company here) and the building owners for the noise trauma from echoing slider down noises.

I guess the buildings would HAVE to be slider up quality in order to keep the noise down.

Most buildings in the United States are owned by development / investment groups, of which, on the board sits general counsel. Their response due to obligations to shareholders and risk aversion is "No F@*#ing way." Also, if it doesn't financially benefit the corporation, it is not in their interest to bother with. My company has remodeled lobby's of high rises for several large property groups, of which, all contracts go through legal. I asked one of the attorneys that I had a rapport with of the possibity of doing this type of thing as this one corporation owned 780 commercial properties, mostly in metro areas throughout the US and his response was "You would have an easier time getting them to sell you all our properties for a penny!" They were sold last year for $36 Billion. Apparently my Penny offer would have done no good.

I've tried a scaled down version of this several times, the last time just a few years ago in San Diego. They put up jumpable condos and office buildings like mad here and they often have elaborate opening day ceremonies, ribbon cuttings, toping out parties, and things like that. Showing up in my funeral suit with videos and a waiver a skydiving attorney friend wrote I've always gotten in to talk to them but it's always the same story. The real estate sales folks, and the building managers, once they grasp the publicity angle are always, "Yes, Yes, and Yes!!!"

But Para-Frog nailed it. It never makes it past the lawyers. Some of the things I've heard from them, when I pressed for a reason, included, "If it’s such a good idea why isn’t everyone doing it?" Or, "Sorry, my client isn’t in the carnival business." One idiot told me on the phone he thought a jump of that nature would be impossible and much too dangerous. I really had to bite my tongue on that one as I'd made six jumps from the same building while they were constructing it.

On tip I've learned is any waiver or hold harmless agreement you bring to the table is useless. The building's lawyers see them as "not invented here" and would want to create their own. And you can bet you'd be liable for everything including the old lady who faints, falls down, and splits her head open during your performance.

I do however believe if someone just cracks the door on this it might catch on. But it doesn't seem possible on the individual level as they'd surely require an insurance policy, and if you could find one, it would be very spendy. And while I hate to admit it I think it would take another corporation to pull this off. Like if Red Bull got involved it might fly, but rather than sell out BASE in that way, I rather just go downtown at three in the morning and just jump it as usual . . .

I've only so far been involved in one successful corporate sponsored BASE jump in the U.S. outside some Hollywood type stuff. That was when a team from Basic Research opened the season for Six Flags Magic Mountain in California in the mid-90s. They let the team jump from their "Sky Tower" and after the show I went around getting reactions from the crowd. "What's the trick," was the most often heard comment followed by, "No way, those were dummies or something." I recall walking away shaking my head and thinking maybe we were . . .

NickD
BASE 194

I feel like Donald Trump would be the only person I could think of that would have the personal ability to approve something like this. He has a pretty nice little number going up right next to the rive in chicago. Barge landing area, grand opening celebration?

Didn't the Reb Bull boys do a building tour around Reno a year or two ago?

I think another problem...

All the taller buildings in the US are owned by large bureaucratic trust investment funds or multiple investors...

In other places in the world, oil money, and princely wealth, have allowed individuals or single companies to own large properties.

It is easier to sell one person than a trust fund owned by firefighters or teachers....???

how about a building they're gonna demo . . .
jump off - BOOM

 
Plus it would lead to press and media exposure, and we all know there is almost no GOOD media exposure, but plenty of the BAD media exposure, as discussed in the thread about TV specials (dutch reporter looking for swiss jumper).

There's got to be an insurance company out there with a building over 150ft... If you could convince them to insure it, then you're all set.

Travis. Nick is politely saying "man up you pussy."


hahaha

Ha very funny. I actually like throwing myself off objects at 3 am. Im planning a "B", and hopefully ill get to jump it within the next week or so. I just think a successful event of this nature could provide good media coverage to the sport, which could possibly make some nps officials think differently. The more support we get the less ground they have to stand on. It would be great to be able to do legal buildings and big walls in the US.

Yes. And it looks like they are doing it again

Sounds like they're working on their SkiBase number.

I was talking to the marketing manager at the space needle corporation about a year ago, trying to see if he would let a group of local base jumpers jump the space needle for publicity. I had a friend that's dad works there and he said it was their slowest time of year, so it seemed worth trying. The marketing manager told me that Red Bull had made a similar proposal, and that he was convinced that it was safe and would go off without a hitch, but that the company didn't have any reason to do it at that time. The way he described their proposal was that they were planning on doing McConkeys.

I was hoping for 3 seconds