mikebv

It clearly needs radical change Phil... And has done for around two decades when the GP's and Poland started to impact it... A contrived, Mickey Mouse operating model simply doesn't cut it in a 24/7 digital media age... Winning either league carries almost zero prestige, publicity, or rewards... With the Play Offs usually sorted by the end of May meaning dead rubber after dead rubber to September... The inescapable fact is that the UK version of the sport can be perceived as no more than a hobby for many promoters and a money making exercise for the riders... Hence doubling up is rife so costs can be shared and riders get what they want from two teams, and both those teams can then afford them... And guesting is rife because (as one ex rider once told me), "It's the cherry on top of the icing on the cake. Kerching!".... Covid should have seen root and branch change, yet they decided to carry on doing the same old nonsense that still exists today... They need to sort it, and quick...

According to the Unofficial Fans Facebook page, the lowest seen at the NSS.... No idea when pre sales are so low why hundreds of tickets are not given free to local kids' sports clubs and schools, or even local businesses... It is always clear by Monday morning how sales are tracking so nothing to lose... And the 300 or so seats behind the start line up to bend four, rarely get used to any degree every meeting... Personally, I would close the South Stand and put everyone into the Grandstand to at least generate some atmosphere, charging the standing price of £25... Fill the South Stand with huge sponsors banners, and maybe leave one section for those adamant they want to stand...

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...

Two of your HL's scored nine off eight rides... Never blame a reserve for any defeat with those numbers.....

Then blame the top five who allowed that to happen....

To be fair .. A reserve scoring nil doesnt influence a meeting more than a No1, scoring five..

If we are honest... It's not really is it?... More like "Sports Entertainment"... Which can still be a decent night out.. As for Scott? A fantastic rider and career, and also very good in front of a camera.. Hope he enjoys, safely, what (maybe} his last season.. He owes the sport nothing...

It's what Jeopardy and Consequence brings to a sporting occasion... The Wroclaw fans, management, and team, will be ecstatic... The Gorzow fans, management, and team, will be gutted.. But the fans of both teams in attendance would have walked away thinking "What a great meeting and atmosphere".. If only we had something even half the same over here... Hope springs eternal!!!

"One track Kowalski" coming of age tonight... Come on the Wroclaw Aces ...😁

The young lad has rode great tonight....

That's the difference between UK fans watching and Polish fans of the two teams... We, over here, measure Speedway in "Entertainment Value" ie the racing is the main reason we go, given win or lose, there isn't any major reward, or prestige .. The fans of both teams there in the stadium, or watching at home, won't give a monkeys as to how good, or not, the racing may be, all they will want is the win!!!