Frontstretch Message Board Shutting Down?

[FS Bowles]

To All It May Concern,

After much discussion during the offseason, we've decided that the Frontstretch Message Board - a dedicated, lively part of the site for many, many years - may have finally run its course. Between the evolution of Facebook and Twitter, our vibrant community that comments on the articles themselves each day and the gradual shift of our readership population, and the occasional use of our live blogging system there's so many ways to discuss racing here now it seems like the board has become a last resort of sorts for general conversation.

But that doesn't mean we're opposed to continuing on some sort of board in another way. Jeff Meyer, one of the moderators and a longtime writer here suggested a Frontstretch group "Discussion Board" on Facebook led by either him or one of the longtime Message Board Members, where both of you could act as admins and patrol a smaller version of this board on a site people visit much more frequently. How would people feel about that choice? If you're interested, we need to know now otherwise this idea will die on the vine.

At this point, the board is scheduled for shutdown on Sunday, February 13th, 2011. We hope you'll continue to read the site - our growth continues, and with a new podcast / radio show and several other exciting ideas on the agenda we won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Hopefully, this Facebook idea is one that catches on with everyone here and takes off! It'll still be the same ol' Frontstretch faithful - just a little different...

Sincerely,

Tom Bowles
Owner / Managing Editor
Frontstretch.com

[Chris]

Well let me be the first to comment here.
FIRST of all I want to say a big THANK YOU to Tom, and all the other staff who have been here to moderate the board and provide us a place to meet and discuss racing.
I had a fear this may be coming,.. but I was hoping things would pick up.
I am sure we all know that these things cost money to run (what with bandwidth, time for moderators, etc)... so it's just not possible to keep throwing money at something that doesn't drive much traffic to your Front Stretch.com web site.
THANKS AGAIN for all you have done here (and at the OLD forum site).  It's a shame to see it go.  I am sure we'll miss a lot of old friends.
I want to thank you for providing the Front Stretch site, and all the up to date info it provides (although I admit I usually come to the forum, and hardly visit the FS site)

I do want to add that trying to do something on Face Book might work.  I know personally I was all into FB a while back.. but got so involved I now try to avoid it.
IF the face book idea dies on the vine,... I would like to let everyone know that I have just started a small race chat board where those of us "die hard" folks here might still get together and talk racing.  I won't publicize it here now... so as not to interfear with the FB idea you are trying to cultivate

If that falls apart,.. Maybe at some point I can post the web link if all else fails.
I think I speak for everyone when I say "Thanks again for all you folks have done.  It's been a lot of fun"
Chris