mikebv

Just watched it... Superb....

They should be made to build the track and stadium at the Abbey site as that is the stipulation legally bound as part of the planning permission.. It doesnt even matter if it is viable or not to run Speedway there, as that is irrelevant as part of any planning permission requirements... And surely a track "up to 45 mins away" has to have less chance of being "viable" than a brand new one on the very site where Speedway has ran for decades? Absolutely no guarantee that this track "somewhere else" will be viable so what is there to lose by "staying put"?.. Surely someone is asking these questions within some kind of organised fans' pressure group?

But you have to park the new one 45 minutes away from where you live..

But you would have from Nov to March, 5 months of income and no outgoings... Keeping cash flowing through your business, and earning interest.. You can then use this cash to pay the bills created by such scenarios you describe... I would also suggest having this steady income may help any possible investors see the business as being on a sound footing...

The NDL of around 4 years ago was for me "the perfect level" for so many teams who struggled at a higher level to generate enough income to pay the riders of top league standard who compete in Div 2, eg Newcastle, Birmingham, Eastbourne, and even Worky themselves.. Used to love watching the Colts for a tenner and free for my U18 lad.. (Bargain)... Maybe if the NDL of four years ago was still in existence so would a few more teams? If it is a stepping stone to a higher league then great, but if it doesnt materialise and Worky make money, and develop talent they can then sell on by riding in the NDL for ever more, then it will never be a bad thing... Good luck to them and I look forward to going next season, followed by a "quiet night" in the town....

An amazing level of apathy... You can only presume Swindon Speedway isnt worth saving in the eyes of the majority of their fans and promoters..

Maybe clubs would get more mileage in running a membership scheme rather than Season Tickets? Eg £20 a month for 12 months and you get a free programme when you attend however many meetings there are.. Plus maybe several goes on the centre green per season to watch the racing..? Make the membership transferable for meetings the person paying may miss.. The benefits for the club are a constant cash flow, emails and communication details of fans so they can target them with merchandise offers, send them birthday and Xmas cards etc, meaning they stay in contact all year, not just during the season.. Maybe run prize draws too, once a month, to provide more interest and stimulate take up, cash prizes, merchandise, free food or drink vouchers etc... And non attendance on those "dodgy weather nights" is irrelevant as the money has already been taken.. For the fans they get to pay over 12 months so can budget and get to feel a bit like a "VIP" if the club runs the scheme well enough, seperate entrance, newsletters, etc thus making that so important emotional connection which stimulates loyalty.. A "500 Club" with fans paying £20 a month delivers £10k a month, and £120k a year..

Do they not know that a purpose built site should be built in Swindon directly on the site where Swindon Robins used to race by the very people looking for another site?.... Maybe someone should mention it to them...?

Wow... A near 54% price increase in a "cost of living crisis"...? Not sure that is the best idea, especially when a business such as Speedway relies on the "grey pound" so much... Hope it works out for them...

And you get emails from the BSN team, advertising their product, and making sure I dont forget they exist... Almost like they understand the way that to be successful today your online presence and targeted marketing is key... Who'd have thought that? Will be signing up as an extra Xmas present to my wife... I am sure she will be delighted...

With averages used that will have been delivered by riding at other tracks.. A 38 point overall team could be several points up on that at home if filled by track specialists.. Delivering big enough home wins to get the aggregate BP is the aim this year..

It's like the American Baseball version of the British Speedway Premiership Play Off Final... But with massive crowds, huge financial rewards, loads of publicity, everlasting fame, credibility and kudos...

World Series seats behind the umpire £5000 dollars...

I think the way that some tracks simply almost "gave up" over the years, and just produced a "racing card" suggests that programmes were "on their way out" at their tracks, and were not cost effective for them... As has been said, there really should be a "real time" app available that updates each heat, aggregate score, times of each rider, average speed of each rider, averages up to the very moment, riders head to head history etc etc .. Considering Speedway almost drowns itself in figures, it is a huge opportunity to use them more publicly. Baseball is an example where "stats" get used to engage its punters, and keep then informed and hopefully interested..

You cannot put an 'App' in the loft...

It is a shame the BSPL dont be more "open", as all it does, by not divulging information, is to give off the impression that they must be concerned about their own rationale used to set up the rules... Maybe a little fearful that the rationale would be "ripped to bits" on the various social media channels and the letters page of the Speedway Star? It does often appear that within a hour or so of some "rule or regulation" getting launched , the various overlooked obvious issues with it get brought up on here and other Speedway forums, so maybe there is a wariness to fully go public on their operating model given the feedback..? You do get the odd promoter at club functions be more transparent so not really sure why the collective dont do the same via press releases.. It would paint them in a much more professional light... Riders averages in particular are always something the "die hards" like to know and use the info to put together their own septets.. Not for me personally, but keeping your most loyal punters engaged is extremely important...

Thought the RS was scrapped...? Brennan and all the RS's from last year got a 25% reduction in their average but are not RS's this year... (I think)... But, you never know...

What you read in them is invariably on the internet via a club website or on here, already.. And some are months out of date if the initial meeting was rained off... And at circa £20 now to get in "a night at the speedway" has become something many now need to plan in as part or their disposable income post all the living costs being paid.. A family of four in particular will be having to make some serious juggling of spending to afford attending their local track over the next season I would think... Programmes, Car parking fees and even food may be getting a swerve just so people can afford to watch the action.. The really important part of the night...

The Poles wouldnt put the standard of rider in their top league as a "junior" that this country does... The 2nd and 3rd Divs are the place for Rising Stars of all levels and ages, with the best then progressing to a protected No7 slot in the top league, with a 2 yr max protection...

A great call, long overdue by tracks if they want to encourage Season ticket sales.. Personally, I would find a pre paid charge too restrictive in running my business as it would prevent me doing adhoc marketing through the year to encourage less loyal punters each week, but Speedway seems to see some value in them.. Not sure it has the same cash flow impact that in "days of yore" it had though... My only add on would be to ditch the free programme and do a season ticket with the free programme value removed.. I never buy a programme, so knocking 3 quid off each meeting may persuade me to get a season ticket.. Good to see a promotion thinking with innovation though isnt it?

£5k a meeting...? That's £10k to find from your home meeting to pay for the away one as well.. £14k before VAT... At £20 to get in that would mean the first 700 punters just pay for him... Or someone brings in a BIG sponsor... Might be "someone else" I would guess....!!

Dont think he really means it...

Which to be fair was always how it used to be in both leagues... Teams will always start building teams from "the top" unless no riders left are available of that level. These teams will then go for "strength in depth"... When points limits are reduced the middle level riders invariably become the ones that lose their places.. It does though mean better rider availability for replacements to riders of a similar level through the season...

A very solid team which should be play off certainties... Covers a lot of bases... A top class No1 so plenty of top class guests if needed to replace him.. A still improving No5 who isnt far off reaching the top level.. Charles Wright is more a natural No4 than a No3 but if he does drop anything off his average then the expectation would be Lidsey improves his numbers by at least the same, meaning always a solid back up to the top two.. And Brennan and Blodorn will no doubt swap places during the season meaning the Aces always will have a "very decent" reserve, meaning Mulford shouldn't be under any pressure to perform above his current level.. The Aces can score 50 plus against any team at the NSS so come head to head play off time they will feel very confident...

The way the majority of fans now watch it I would say... A great spectacle and can still be a great evening out, but best not to take the outcome too seriously given the often contrived nature of its operating model.. I attended five meetings last year in the UK domestic leagues, including both play offs, and they were great entertainment, with some good "old school" hard riding and plenty of controversy.. The fact the Aces won was "a bonus", but if the Tigers had won I would still have felt that I had watched two excellent sporting contests to rival anything else, entertainment wise, that I had paid to see in 2022... No point putting a club under financial pressure simply to try to win any Speedway league given the lack of financial reward and publicity generated by "success"... Only one team can be Champions at the end of each season, but all need to be in existence at the end of each season...