mikebv

Pretty much it... Add in almost zero atmosphere due to hardly any (if any at all), away fans, and it certainly isn't an "event" that stirs the blood... The Play Offs are similar to when a small football team get to Wembley... All their "followers" turn out, yet the week later, the usual "fans" are in the ground with the "followers" sat at home, (maybe), checking the score now and again.... The sport needs root and branch radical change if it wants to carry on.. Having to charge £25 to stand and watch, so you can pay riders what they want to ride for you, riders who will put hardly one extra person through the turnstile, meaning you have minimal budget for marketing, or enhancing "the match day experience" is truly barmy from a business perspective... Yet they continue to slavishly follow the same business and unfit for purpose operating model... Amazing...

If the line ups stay like that then Czestochowa have a chance of a draw!!!!

All that dirt must weigh the bike down... So that's why he struggles at the NSS....

To be fair, the Aces followers do make up a large portion of the GP crowds, easily the largest single contingent... As you would imagine given the locality... Therefore I can see why crowds drop, (like last year), in the weeks leading up to the meetings, given the cost.. You also have people like myself, and nine others, who will attend the GP's but are not regular visitors to the NSS, due to, as you say, not having any real engagement for UK Speedway meetings that have little importance.. There are many more "Followers" than regular "Fans", like at most tracks, with the GP's bringing them out... The key for the UK version of the sport is to re-engage those "Followers" to become "Fans" again, as it would seriously boost the attendances around the country...

Won £50 on Cook v Zagar,. Bricking it that he would be in Ht15 given he won Ht14.. ..😁

It's Speedway and Tractor Shows in Ipswich isn't it?😁 The hammering of Ipswich predicted doesn't look like it is happening...😮

Too many counter attractions and piss poorly publicised to even try and get people there... Loads of pro football clubs in Grt Manchester, and several non League ones that themselves can get big four figure crowds.. Then add professional Rugby League and Union, Cricket, Ice Hockey, Basketball, Women's pro football, and even Netball, and getting a crowd on a Monday will be a challenge .. Plus, six teams in a league where winning has little reward, is hardly worth being interested in...

Advance sales look poor, probably the lowest I have seen in the Grandstand. Blocks A and B are usually three quarters full by now, I would say one third full at best currently... And seats behind the tapes are a fifth full at best... There is even South Stand Car Parking available which usually goes a few days before the meeting.. BSN impacting maybe? There isn't any real threat of rain (admittedly it is Manchester).. Hopefully the South Stand is full given it is a whole £2 cheaper... To be honest £50 for a couple to stand watching Speedway does seem to be a tad too much...

I see you've factored in the Tac Sub ...

Ben Barker said it was a fiver per race... And Charles Wright said the best quote he got was £1200 a month for personal cover... The "old" insurance got the riders around £900 per month, without any minimum stay in hospital... The main issie appears to be that the cover might be "fine" for "hobby riders" in Speedway and other disciplines, but those who earn their living riding Speedway can significantly be out of pocket with no income...

I will this season, like last, attend more meetings overseas than in the UK... Why? Because I love watching Speedway... But love watching it more when (pardon the pun), something is "riding" on the outcome.. If the UK could deliver the same level of jeopardy, consequence and prestige in victory that other countries, and organisations do, then I would attend more in the UK... The sport now is very much followed by the die hards who will happily go along and collude with their promoters that the meeting is relevant and great to attend... Sadly, many, many more thousands than those who currently still go, don't agree with that outlook and have drifted away from attending regularly, but, crucially, haven't lost touch and still follow the sport... Given little is spent on attracting "newbies", through national marketing, getting those who still follow the sport back attending regularly really is the key to success... I am amazed no market research gets done so as to ascertain the thoughts of the regular fans and those who have lapsed... ie Why do you go? Why don't you go? Etc. etc.. There are dozens of fans Facebook pages that have current regulars and non regulars on them, which could be perfect to use .. When any business receives feedback, both good and bad, it can then make changes to the top reasons why the bad feedback was provided.. UK Speedway would benefit enormously from this...

There's not enough bandwidth for the forum to cover that off!... The three 3rd tier meetings in Poland last week had crowds over 3,500 with 5,000 the highest.. Germany had nearly 5,000 for their international meeting on the 5th of April.. Vastervik in Sweden averaged over 4,200 last season with the league just under a 3,000 average.. As you say, "where are we going wrong?"..

As I say, it can still be a great night out... If you go for the racing and not take the team sport angle too seriously.. If they could harness the racing into a "proper team sport" operating model, (like other countries do), then that would truly be a game changer for many who no longer regularly attend, and may also then generate some sponsorship interest from "outside" the sport.. Tom Brennan will be up against the Aces this Monday and has so far this season ridden for fhe Aces as many times as he has for hs own team... That is the kind of thing that makes it more "sports entertainment"....

100%..... Spot on...

I won't... It's not a bona fide sporting contest, because, simply, clearly, it cannot be using the operating model.. However, collude with the promoters that it has some relevance and prestige, and enjoy... As I say, it can still be a cracking night out, watching the racing...