mikebv

Any business needs a vision, and a plan to deliver that vision... UK Speedway, basically, runs season to season with no one knowing who will run the next year, or which league some teams may decide to compete in, or what the team strengths there will be, or what competitions will take place, or what formats these competitions will follow.. You cannot keep "hoping for the best", by living season to season, and doing the same old thing that you always do that prevents you from ever having any vision, never mind a plan to deliver that vision... Millions and Millions of pounds of TV money has gone up in smoke over two and a half decades... Money which seemed to have bailed out a fair few issues which never got resolved... That money isn't there any more....

The reach of YT is literally billions, with tens of millions in the UK... And you even can make money out of views and subscribers... With their algorithm sending you into similar type of videos.... A perfect media for UK Speedway to "piggy back" off other more popular sports, either two wheel, four wheel, or local professional teams in football... "How much?" No chance, we have to pay our riders (who hardly anyone in the UK have heard of, and will never hear of), around three million quid a season between them"... An absolute crackers business model...

Open the track, hold the meeting, hopefully win closely, then lock up the track when the last one is out... Rinse and Repeat two weeks later, (maybe), with pretty much exactly the same fans in attendance... Find a guest for someone missing in Poland or Denmark, or is injured/banned over here but not anywhere else.... Aim to win at home to keep your own crowd attending, with all your riders in attendance... Agree to ride away on nights you know your No1 can't be there and book a guest instead... Don't be too successful as it can close you down... UK Speedway...

Sadly, the operating model has been allowed to evolve into what it currently is... Meaning neither league runs with any real prestige or financial rewards... Win your league? Yay!... Finish bottom of your league? Oh well, there's always next year... Many meetings are ran with almost zero jeopardy or consequence, which is "perfect" for those promoters who don't want any pressure... "Having to win" to keep a crowd level, costs money, time and brings with it some anxiety... The result of the meeting being, for a good number of promoters, "perfection" if it is a 46-44 win.... And, given that lack of prestige, and financial gain available, I 100% get their outlook... Sadly, it appears only us fans that want to see the sport grow, however, to get that growth means a completely new operating model, but, to bring in a "proper" operating model costs money.... A proper vicious circle... You cannot have jeopardy, consequence, credibility, integrity and prestige in victory, without having some serious financial rewards for success, which in turn delivers big publicity... However. You will never get those serious financial rewards, and big publicity, and prestige for victory, by running meetings without jeopardy, consequence, credibility, and integrity... A real race to the bottom currently...

I think, to be fair, when a rider isn't aware of such a significant change then the comms. process probably needs looking at.... In my old job employment law changed almost weekly, so I got notified of the updates ongoing, meaning I would follow the "new rules" when making decisions... I wasn't expected to read the whole employment law each year to pick out the changes.. The BSP put out their operating model changes from their AGM, therefore maybe the ACU should do the same?

Drive in and sit in your car between races... You could sit on the bonnet and stay warm during the race too, before getting back into a heated car....... Buxton is "rustic" and delivers what it does... Great to have it back....

Similar to English football circa 92... Butchers, Bakers and Candlestick makers all ran clubs... Then Sky came in and "Chief Execs" also came in and the Premier League was born with an independent leader, (agreed, and paid for, by the clubs).. People with the skill set required to move the whole entity forwards... Well meaning amateurs soon disappeared... UK Speedway truly is "prime" for relaunch given its tiny following. (20k a week?), with just another 500 at the remaining tracks giving a huge % increase... Did I read it was now the 16th best supported sport in the UK?? What an opportunity for growth....

For me, "the hobbyists" are those who, year in, year out, are quite happy to lose a budgeted amount of money... League position, and aspirational growth of their club and sport, has little meaning for them, just getting to the end of the season "within budget" is their sole ambition.. Usually ex riders or ex sponsors of retired riders, who come into promoting, replacing someone with a similar background, and just enter the "Speedway Bubble Echo Chamber" knowing no different, so just carry on doing the same old, same old that has been the way "for a long, long time"... Ensuring riders get plenty of rides is an aim for some of them, given many will be mates of current riders, and, with many being ex riders themselves, they will have a certain level of empathy for those who ride the bikes... However if by doing this it mpacts the credibility, prestige or authenticity of the sport, it doesn't really matter, hence doubling up and guesting is rife, without any aim to stop either... Which all means that UK Speedway looks more like a "Gentlemen's Club" than a bona fide professional team sport, with many within it, I would imagine, enjoying more the social aspect of being in charge of their clubs, without needing the pressure of leading a "proper" professional sport, that has jeopardy, consequence, and high rewards , but, inevitably, the high pressure that comes with it.. Rinse and Repeat Ad Infinitum...

Did I read that the monthly rent in total, for Dogs and Speedway, was £20k?.. If so, I presume Oxford Speedway's rent contribution would be some part of this £20k total? Could they pay the £20k themselves? (If that is the rental?)... Two matches per month would require an extra 500 or so at each meetng to cover this in totality... Would an extra 500 (non regulars) attend given they will understand a possible threat of total closure? If the NDL is a money loser then taking time out from that might also help the overall cause?

"No. We're not doing that"... "No. We're not doing that"... "No. We're not doing that"... "No. We told you last time we weren't doing that"... "No. We're not doing that".... "No. And we're not doing that".. "Well, that's another meeting over. Thanks for your attendance. See you all next month"..

With the Championship "product" solely reliant on being subsidised by the top tier also paying the same riders that the Championship want to use... Crowds of 600/700 would only support NDL racing, and not support top tier HL's leading their teams... One Big League was suggested, and, personally, with so few teams in total, I feel that would resonate to a wider public number, however, the logistics would mean it couldn't happen as these teams with 600/700 crowds couldn't afford to solely pay top tier HL's who no longer could double up... Hence, two tiers will need to remain... With the tail wagging the dog...

Let's be honest, the "improvements" made have pretty much all been suggested on here down the past few years... All very basic, cosmetic changes... Fundamental change was never going to happen, given so many promoters are quite content with their lot... Fans say that want to see the sport have credibility, integrity, and able to be taken seriously, however, to be fair to the promoters, I have never seen those apirational aims ever being quoted from themselves as objectives to be achieved... To run UK Speedway "properly" as a team sport, takes more money, and also, brings close scrutiny, which UK Speedway doesn't stand up to well when it happens.. Phil made those obvious, quick win, changes, (which was more than had been done by others), however, ultimately, those running UK Speedway know that their skill sets are not what the sport needs, (hence it is where it is), but definitely won't relinquish control of it to someone else who may be able to lead it in delivering its true potential... I presume the lack of a TV deal meant no more job for Phil? As, again I presume, this helped pay his salary?.. The sport, 100%, needs grabbing by the scruff of the neck, with someone showing ambition, vision, and drive... It sadly just will never happen...

Not a dead rubber... Three wins for Leicester and they will be in the final!! It's all very exciting...

A novel approach.....

A side set up for home wins... Close ones hopefully to keep the crowd engaged enough to keep coming back.. A home win by six tonight?