I can agree that they are certainly putting themselves through a lot, but your point about the paywall being a negative for the hype of this event is something I disagree entirely with.

The paywall in question was specifically meant to make sure the athletes get paid and you're arguing that the paywall is bad because it prevents exposure, correct?

It's fair to say that the athletes in general make most of their earnings via sponsorships/paid promotions rather than purely prize money, so by that logic, the exposure itself wouldn't be too beneficial as it would be strictly to people who can't afford the small cost.

It's reasonable to assume anyone who can't afford the small cost will likely not be able to buy products from the key sponsors of the event, no?