mikebv

Those losing money are obviously quite content to do so... An affordable hobby... Hence, they return each season, and keep doing the same things, as, for them, (and the riders), it all works well...

Don't need one... Got my cushioned seat... Surrounded by people smelling of Werthers Originals... And Lemon Steradent...

Well, that's made my mind up... An effing bargain.... Where's me rattle and tartan blanket, and matching flask...

Just had an email to renew my season ticket at United for £35 a match... Hmmmm.. £35 to watch around 65 mins of Premier League football, which is authentic, has jeapordy, has consequence, prizes worth winning, and no Mickey Mouse operating model, or £30, (or "just" £25 in the pauper seats), to watch 15 mins of Premiership Speedway without any of the attributes a team sport requires... Decisions, Decisions...

You get a cushioned seat... #jealousb*stards....

Because they know that the attendance potential to afford, (and justify), any large increase in costs, simply isn't out there to make it viable... Riders are happy, (hence they don't stop and do something else), and Promoters are happy to share costs to pay these riders, and run their sport at the level each of them want to...

The answer indeed appears an obvious one.... However, they simply don't have the money to improve the standard, nor market the sport... Although I should say they do have money (a quite considerable sum will be spent), but they choose to spend all of it on riders rather than promotion and marketing.... The sport is now down to how many attendees? 20,000 average (at most), at the 14 clubs across the country, collectively, last year? That is too far off the radar of the general public now to ever deliver an "Elite" offering, given the considersble costs involved of doing so... The sport is basically set up for a few World Class riders to live over here, and top up their Polish earnings with a circa high five figure/low six figure package, and then let "experienced average riders" earn two salaries, which, combined will be a very decent sum. And, at the lower end of teams, give young UK lads and overseas young lads an opportunity to see if fhey can go further up the ladder.. With the Promoters being happy to run at the level all are, as they know "speculating to accumulate" won't provide much "accumulation" given the (lack of), rewards on offer... It is really only the fans that would suggest the sport is "broken", and make suggestions to improve it.... I very much doubt the Promoters, (who are all obviously quite content with their lot, hence nothing changes), think there are any issues at all...

A different version... Like the UK used to do before it came a free for all... I can see then using the current UK model next year if Poland get their way...

100%, I agree. . Utopia... But a pipe dream.. Crowds of 1400 wouldn't support an "Elite" level as the riders to make it "Elite" would need to be paid enough NOT to DU... And the second tier "developers" simply wouldn't want to sell to their fans a "lesser product" with no DU riders in their Heat Leader positions anymore, and their fans simply wouldn't pay £20+ to watch a lesser standard than they have been used to.. The current operating model has gone on for far too long now to ever be unravelled, and, to be honest, I doubt there is any enthusiasm at all to do so, from any of the promoters... Why? Because all can pick and choose what they want to do, and, with the current model, all teams get subsidised by others through sharing rider costs, therefore, all are content with what they have and deliver... If Poland next season do insist on "one extra league only" then DU'ing could even become a real advantage in getting riders. As, instead of less than 20 meetings in Sweden and Denmark, "journeymen" foreign riders could have circa 40 over here.. It is only the fans, (mainly the tens of thousands of ex fans who still closely follow the sport), I would suggest, who want changes to be made, and see potential in the sport should it ever get ran with authenticity, jeapordy, consequence and reward for success.. With the many "wear the club shop die hards", who attend each week, happilly colluding with the Promoters that the sport is a bona fide team sport, with the other section of regulars, being quite content in just watching the racing with no particular emotional attachment to the outcome.. Promoters know that they will never be able to deliver "Utopia" without a huge influx of cash from a major sponsor or/and a massive TV deal, as attendances won't ever be high enough to deliver it.. Therefore they are quite content to carry on with what we have, as it ticks a lot of boxes for them to remain as Promoters...

Saved the second tier too... Those five or six riders which Northampton will use, who DU, will now get the other part of their two part salary covered.. The only reason for two tiers of racing existing is so the majority of riders can DU, and clubs can therefore share the costs of this majority of riders... There simply isn't any other reason for two tiers of Speedway in the UK.... There is no promotion or relegation due to no aspirational, organic growth being possible due to crowd numbers at the majority of UK tracks, and there are no higher rewards for winning either league.. Northampton have been "parachuted" in to the top tier, just to ensure the operating model and business plan keeps going.. No one knows if crowds will be on average (like they are at most tracks (with the odd outlier), "tier one level" (1200/1400), or "tier two level", (600/800) however, it is just vital they go into tier one as some riders would have missed out on a DU place.... It surely must be one league of fifteen teams next year? Five rider teams if needed... That would actually then look like a "Championship" worth winning and give a good geographical spread across the nation to promote the sport as a "National" one... And look more secure, and relevant, from the view of any potential track developers, with safety in numbers, and collective resistance, being possible...

Iainb??? (I agree).!!!!

Well meaning amateurs.... They will happily lay out a good seven figures to riders each season, as a collective, who no one outside the UK Speedway bubble will know who they are .. Yet "Jack S**t" to a modern day marketing team who may stimulate interest.... Ridiculously daft.....

And then give £10,000 of that to someone who will bring them back over the next day, to get another £40,000... Kerching!!!

It is all a bit typically "UK Speedwayish" isn't it?. I would think it is a really important event for the sport in the UK, hence the desire to make it happen... Those tracks trying to come back can now point to Northampton, and use it as an example of the sport not being in "terminal decline" as developers around the country have suggested when requesting planning permission.. It obviously also ensures both leagues can keep going as doubling up can still share rider costs... Let's hope it's a success, keeping in going will certainly change the optics somewhat as to the current downward spiral of closures... Buxton and Northampton, two "new" tracks for 2026.... Over to the UK Speedway's Director of Marketing and Media, and their team, to go into overdrive to let the wider sporting world know about them!!!