Eurobricks not moving to Fan CoLab

[Jim]

As you have probably heard, TLG is abandoning the LAN (LEGO Ambassador Program) and setting up a new program called LEGO Fan CoLab. Unfortunately we have not met the requirement to transition to the new program.

This results in Eurobricks not being part of the Ambassador program anymore. Obviously, we are sad that we are not moving to the new program. On the other hand; this felt like something long coming. 

So, what does this mean? Basically, it means we won't be getting support from TLG in Denmark, so no contest prizes anymore. We might still have some support from LEGO Benelux, but I am not sure about that at this point.

We like to thank TLG for getting great support over the last decade(s) and wish them all the best with the new program!

I will be posting another topic shortly on our thoughts of moving forward.

[amorti]

It's a shame, after such a long time.

Did TLG share which criteria were not met? Is it anything that could be caught up - and would the admin/mod/owner team of this forum want to do that?

[Jim]

7 minutes ago, amorti said:

It's a shame, after such a long time.

Did TLG share which criteria were not met? Is it anything that could be caught up - and would the admin/mod/owner team of this forum want to do that?

A lof of RLOCs have been rejected. The most prominent argument is not having a branded presence (T-shirts, logo's, banners, etc) and not having enough activities/events. While this might be (partially) true for Eurorbricks, a lot of other sites have submitted numerous pictures of events where they are wearing branded shirts etc. They still got rejected. 

[aFrInati0n]

Just my personal impression: I have the feeling their management may have decided to follow the vibes of the internet - so to speak, influencers may get more attention. But again, I do know nothing, nor can I speak on behalf of TLG..  so please consider this only my very personal and singular assumption.

[Jim]

7 minutes ago, aFrInati0n said:

Just my personal impression: I have the feeling their management may have decided to follow the vibes of the internet - so to speak, influencers may get more attention. But again, I do know nothing, nor can I speak on behalf of TLG..  so please consider this only my very personal and singular assumption.

I find it very odd that basically every Tom, Dick and Harry YouTuber is allowed to transfer to Fan CoLab and long lasting communities like Eurobricks are getting questions about their leadership structure, Ambassador election, etc. Does not makes sense to me. But hey, I'm not running the show.

[aFrInati0n]

Yeah, I also can't really understand the basis of thoughts if my impression would be somehow correct. The things I can understand:

• I am an old fart already, not being part of the young generation - as much as I feel this being true in my head still..
• Social Media has its traction and is widely accepted in the way how it is working (fast paced, attention centric)
• Technology allows for former to be consumed for pleasure of mind

So within the circumstances of how our societies & cultures are developing the decision may make sense.

Still I find it sad for communities like Eurobricks (and other similar ones) are considered a appreciated place by me and others which may not be the fast-paced platform with a constant stream of (image/video)-content, but instead allow for slow paced & deep discussions.

For me it is "Stay calm and let's look forward - when one door closes, another one may open.." 

[Jim]

2 minutes ago, aFrInati0n said:

For me it is "Stay calm and let's look forward - when one door closes, another one may open.." 

Amen! We will be opening new doors shortly 

[Kaijumeister]

That’s a real shame, I’m sorry to hear it everyone.

For what it’s worth, despite Eurobricks’ lack of being / having a ‘brand’ (not that that ever struck me as being the point anyway), it probably is the best Lego community on the internet for a lot of us. Appreciate what you all do to give us a platform to share our passion for this hobby and have some well natured discussions in ways that social media platforms can’t facilitate.

Hope you can find an alternative to Fan CoLab to keep things like competitions going, but thanks for everything you all do 

[Jim]

13 minutes ago, Kaijumeister said:

For what it’s worth, despite Eurobricks’ lack of being / having a ‘brand’ (not that that ever struck me as being the point anyway), it probably is the best Lego community on the internet for a lot of us. Appreciate what you all do to give us a platform to share our passion for this hobby and have some well natured discussions in ways that social media platforms can’t facilitate.

Thanks for the kind words. These are more important to us than everything else.

14 minutes ago, Kaijumeister said:

Hope you can find an alternative to Fan CoLab to keep things like competitions going, but thanks for everything you all do 

We definitely will, no worries.

[JesseNight]

3 hours ago, aFrInati0n said:

Just my personal impression: I have the feeling their management may have decided to follow the vibes of the internet - so to speak, influencers may get more attention. But again, I do know nothing, nor can I speak on behalf of TLG..  so please consider this only my very personal and singular assumption.

That would make sense. I can imagine them wanting to cut cost on communities that may not directly lead to more sales. While in 2026, influencers and streamers is THE way for free advertising and reaching large crowds.
It is a shame, I'm just not surprised anymore. Personally (old fart too) I'd say let's not feel pressured to meet new criteria and keep it fun the way it is.

[Toastie]

Well, in my opinion, TLG is moving farther and farther away from what it was and what it pretends to be. And maybe they have to, I don't really care. In my universe, TLG is moving to a location in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy, orbiting a small unregarded yellow sun at a distance of roughly ninety-two million miles. Other, way more interesting locations have emerged, and will certainly continue to do so.

Eurobricks on the other hand is a place of true knowledge, with people around who are always willing to help. A resort. A school. A workshop. A power house of creativity, wisdom, and motivation. Full of energy.

Places full of energy and diversity often require careful administration and regulation, but without any Ambassodorian Guidelines or other way too tight corsets. This is what is happening on EB, as a result of the work, care, and devotion of all staff.

So with a slight nod, I am tipping my hat, with a very deep bow. Thank y'all so much!!! And welcome to a place in the universe that is a lot more fashionable - and orbiting a regarded bright sun.

Yours
Thorsten        

[Jim]

39 minutes ago, JesseNight said:

That would make sense. I can imagine them wanting to cut cost on communities that may not directly lead to more sales. While in 2026, influencers and streamers is THE way for free advertising and reaching large crowds.

Yeah, that's the conclusion most of the Ambassadors have. We don't fit the TLG marketing machine.

41 minutes ago, Toastie said:

So with a slight nod, I am tipping my hat, with a very deep bow. Thank y'all so much!!! And welcome to a place in the universe that is a lot more fashionable - and orbiting a regarded bright sun.

[BrickBob Studpants]

Well, I’m not too surprised. The program seems to be for influencers, and we’re a forum  Thank you for all the work you’re putting into it! EB will always be my “home” on the Internet, whether it’s part of that network or not

[Jim]

5 minutes ago, BrickBob Studpants said:

Thank you for all the work you’re putting into it! EB will always be my “home” on the Internet, whether it’s part of that network or not

[XG BC]

thank you from me agswell! you guys do a lot of work, not being in a lug or anything isnt a huge deal for me personally but its still sad lego is abandoning long lasting relationships like that. not that i dont understand it, its a business and they have to make money after all, i dont judge them for this.

Edited Saturday at 02:36 PM by XG BC

[Jack Sassy]

2 hours ago, Kaijumeister said:

is the best Lego community on the internet for a lot of us.

Hear hear!

 

A shame indeed. Could be as @aFrInati0n said, nowadays social media platforms like Instagram and Youtube are the source of most LEGO MOCs being shared. They even get more interaction in certain instances, albeit much shorter than on forums. I joined EB seven years ago because this place still manages to keep a small part of the old internet culture alive. Most importantly, EB is a place for mature conversations, unlike Reddit, Youtube and others. It is a shame that LEGO does not recognise these values anymore. Nevertheless, hope that their new program will not eradicate much of the old one.

[SpacePolice89]

Eurobricks is better than any official Lego website.

[2GodBDGlory]

That's disappointing to hear! I have all the sets I need, and am too cheap to justify buying ones I don't need, so pretty much my only source for new sets the past several years has been attempting to win Eurobricks contests! 

Other than that, though, it doesn't sound like much will change. It's definitely better to let Eurobricks continue being what it always has been without interference than to make compromises just for a few free sets to distribute. Unless there were other benefits, but it doesn't sound like there were!

Thanks to everyone running the forum for navigating this change, and for the excellent community you've built!

[Murdoch17]

1 hour ago, SpacePolice89 said:

Eurobricks is better than any official Lego website.

Agreed!

[aFrInati0n]

Thanks!

I believe any culture may be understood to be only the outcome of will for participation of the people.

So I can just reflect with: It is an honor to me for serving such great community - the strongly lived appreciating culture is just wonderful and already making any effort emotionally "worth". 

[Daiman]

This is not a bad thing in my eyes as TLG moves furter into the swill of merch and oversaturated production volumes,

We all enjoy chatting about up and coming sets but mostly we are here to show and chat about our own builds in the old 'non collectable' version of the product produced.

As I see by the poll the staff are poised to venture down new paths and I support that movement entirely.

[aFrInati0n]

I can personally not understand their picked way - but still I wish them the best luck, as I believe they know what they do. If in any future we can have any partnership again I would believe we would be happy to work with them again. Sometimes business decisions are not logical to the customer.

Nevertheless they supported our community for a very long time steadily, that may easily be forgotten - I am very grateful for their past support as it helped much to allow Contents to have prizes handed out & in the bigger picture them encouraging creativity with that.

[icm]

Sorry to hear this news. I can understand it, but it's still a shame.

[danth]

This is a good thing.

Affiliation with Lego is bad. Being independent is better. I don't really want them having any influence here. 

[Mylenium]

21 hours ago, aFrInati0n said:

Just my personal impression: I have the feeling their management may have decided to follow the vibes of the internet - so to speak, influencers may get more attention. 

Doubtful. Influencer marketing isn't anywhere as efficient as everyone believes. Perhaps selling garbage from Temu on TikTok kind of works, but I see a lot of more legit influencers struggling with more serious products. Unless you have millions of followers, those measly conversion rates don't amount to much. I personally can see it working even less in the LEGO realm. Most influencers in that niche are small fish compared to other stuff. Not sure what LEGO hope to get out of it.

Mylenium

18 hours ago, JesseNight said:

I can imagine them wanting to cut cost on communities that may not directly lead to more sales.

As per above - probably not. At least not in the strict sense of LEGO as a product. You may get occasional bursts of a e.g. Harry-Potter-centric creator recommending a set, but I don't think you could generate a steady flow this way. And with regards to the cost - let's be real. It basically costs them nothing beyond the internal write-off of the actual manufacturing and shipping costs.

Mylenium