The start of the 2025 CrossFit season has been anything but normal.
The Games team announced several significant changes at the outset, including the introduction of online In-Affiliate Semifinals and 10 In-Person-Qualifying-Events (IPQEs). Then there’s the upstart World Fitness Project (WFP), which is launching its season and will fight for fan attention.
- Undoubtedly, there were those who questioned whether these changes, coupled with the divisive nature of the off-season within the CrossFit community, would diminish fans’ interest.
Well, if the 2025 Mayhem Classic in Cookeville, TN — the first of this season’s IPQEs — is any indication, it’s safe to say people are very interested. Very.
For the record: The livestream numbers peaked at 16,000 concurrent viewers during the competition, and the recorded stream from Day 1 topped 150,000 views within the first 24 hours. At the time of publication, Day 1 had 197,000 views, while Day 2 had 188,000 views.
What We’re Hearing From Cookeville
Second-place finisher Abigail Domit told the Morning Chalk Up that the Mayhem Classic “sealed the deal” for her regarding her confidence that the 2025 season will be great.
Domit, who earned a 2025 Games spot at the Mayhem Classic, commented on the competition itself, saying, “Everything ran very well,” the judges held a high standard, and the athlete briefings were brief and “to the point.”
- “Even though it’s obviously a huge gym, it felt more like a local comp than anything else,” she said. “There were fewer of us competing, and the crowd was smaller but more tight-knit and stacked up close…And you could really tell that everyone involved was really locked in for whatever their role was that weekend. You could tell they really put their hearts into it.”
Similarly, Emily Rolfe, who finished third overall, called the event “excellently run.”
- “Punctual and very organized. From what I hear, the commentary was great on the live feed also,” Rolfe said. “And it was easy for athletes to warm up, and nice that the competition floor was literally next door, so no long waits between warm-up and competing, which is a big deal. The crowd was intimate, and they were all real CrossFit fans.”
Brute Strength coach Matt Torres noted that fans are telling him it was one of the best competitions from a spectator standpoint. His athlete, Fee Saghafi, won the women’s competition and earned the first invite to this summer’s Games.
- “I think it was a really great way to kick off the Semifinals portion of our season. I’m sure it created a lot of buzz and excitement for the Semifinals to come,” he added.
Finally, Mayhem Classic broadcaster Sean Woodland offered this: “The Mayhem crew provided a first-rate on-site experience for fans and athletes, and I think people at home appreciated the quality of the livestream. I think a lot of events should take note of how Mayhem was able to give the sponsors some valuable airtime during the stream.”
- “I hope we can keep this momentum for the remainder of Semifinals,” he added.
The Big Picture
The Mayhem Classic undoubtedly set a high bar for other events to follow this season. More importantly, it showed fans that the 2025 CrossFit Games season might be more than all right, after all.
As Rolfe put it: “Yeah, the Games season will be just fine.”
More CrossFit Stories
- PODIUM Drops New Formula for FUSE 2025 Pre-Workout
- 3 Ways Rich Froning Would Fix CrossFit (If He Were CEO)
- How Haley Adams Dominated Everyone (Men Included) in Event 4 at the Mayhem Classic
Featured Image: @mayhemclassic / Instagram
