Copyright yardbarker
Longevity is a rare commodity in the Internet age. Websites come and go quickly, regardless of the focus. Lasting for an extended period of time is a challenge each site faces. Paul Lukas, founder of the famed sports uniform and aesthetics website, Uni Watch, announced plans to shut down the site on Friday. Uni Watch has run for nearly 26 years. The news has shocked fans and media members around the sports world. Lukas first started Uni Watch with a weekly column in "The Village Voice," then moved to Slate.com and, in 2004, to ESPN. Their independent website launched in 2006, but the ESPN column continued until early 2019. In a farewell post, Lukas explains that the decision to shutter the site is due to several factors, including a dramatic drop in ad revenue in recent months and his partner/co-owner dealing with a serious health concern. Operating Uni Watch like they used to is no longer viable. "Obviously, I love Uni Watch and am very proud of what we all created here, but my passion for this passion project just isn't what it used to be. In short: We have a declining financial situation, an absentee owner (me), and a compromised developer/tech guy (John). That's not sustainable, and Uni Watch deserves better than to limp along under those conditions." Lukas did attempt to sell Uni Watch to someone interested in keeping the site going, but those efforts fell short. Uni Watch has already deleted its social media channels. The website's archives have been taken down, and the site itself is expected to be gone sometime next week.
