mikebv

Plenty of empty seats when not on TV, too... "Big Names" are only that to the less than 0.1% of the polulation who follow the sport... They mean nothing to the 99.9+% of the population who don't.... What an opportunity for growth though if you could make admission affordable for more people, allied to a properly joined up national marketing campaign to try and make many, many millions of people aware that they have a Speedway track within a 45 minute drive of their home...

Too many seem to want to join in a race to the bottom... Which is quite baffling given the actual "rewards" available... Some see this, and quite rightly, cut their cloth accordingly and sensibly, and ensure Speedway can continue each season at their venue...

Hence whenver I go to watch United away, given so many more fans are in attendance than usual at those grounds that don't sell out.. Eg The Etihad .. We sing.. "Come to see United. You've only come to see United"... In Speedway terms, upon the likes of BV visiting all the current 2nd tier teams, (if there was one league), the crowd levels for their visit would be significantly higher than normal I would suggest.... The novelty would wear off, and probably quickly, but that initial visit would definitely see a decent amount more in attendance..

Most teams are now at die hard levels who will turn up regularly regardless of league position, as, for many, a "night out at the speedway" is their main reason for being there.. I would be very surprised if promoters budget for any crowd increases at all when planning in their forecasted income.. Especially given the age demographics of the vast majority of their fanbase..

Maybe Tony Knowles could do the Prem version?

Also, to be fair... In football your team is your team... You build an emotional attachment to them.. In Speedway you could have any number of "soldiers of fortune" representing you, from one meeting to the next, with your opponents doing exactly the same.. Which means often "your team" hasn't really won or lost, given they were not really there in the first place.. You also have jeopardy and consequence in football, with relegation meaning fans will still attend a failing team in numbers hoping to stave off this "disaster".. In Speedway, you can choose what league you want to ride in, and win, lose or draw, you choose your future... The bottom line is no trophy delivers enough kudos or financial rewards to take winning one too seriously, therefore many who attend do so for the racing rather than the result, thus seeing UK Speedway as "sports entertainment" rather than a bona fide professional team sport... Which is pretty much fine until admission prices keep rising to that certain level where the individual sees the entertainment value no longer justifying their outlay..

With,before a wheel is turned each season, the undeniably major issue that any trophy that you can win is seriously devalued, almost beyond parody, by the very operating model put together by the same promoters who expect you to take the sport seriously and turn up to watch it... An incredible concept really isn't it?

But what does "winning" bring? Definitely not rich financial rewards, in fact, you could close down due to the cost of being successful, (as has been shown in the sport).. Winning at home wlll be Scunthorpe's target, with putting on some entertaining racing, on a very good track, being the back up to it... With Stox helping to cover any shortfall Speedway may need... No idea what crowds Scunthorpe get but a title winning team won't grow crowd numbers hugely, whilst a wooden spoon team won't lose crowd numbers hugely... The wooden spoon team would be seriously cheaper to run though...

Seeing if Guest numbers are well up from their pitifully low 196 in 2025? Seeing if £30 admission can be the norm in the top tier? Seeing if you can watch your team race at every track in the top tier within a month of the season starting? Seeing which rider can have the best excuse for missing UK meetings, whilst still riding in either Poland, Sweden, or Denmark or following his own individual ambitions? Seeing which promoter can have the best reason for calling off a meeting, (with a special bonus for the one who uses the longest ranged weather forecast)? Exciting times indeed do lie ahead...

I used to watch the Colts for a tenner, with my then teenage lad, getting in for free... On a Friday night... With crowds of around 800... The racing was more than on a par with what was getting served up at top league level, and, for the two of us, was around £12 cheaper... Hence, we watched the Colts far more than the Aces... And, given most people in Manchester wouldn't have known their Matej Zagar from their Kyle Bickley, anyone new to the sport would have seen the racing for what it was... ie "the racing".. Personally instead of promoters clubbing together to put out a sixth team, they would be far better clubbing together and marketing a 14 team league with teams across the nation... At what level? "Reasonable"... As the audience they would be trying to attract probably won't know any of the competitors, so "big names" would mean absolutely nothing to them.. Time to "Rip it up and start again"...

Because, errrr. Because errrr. Because errrr.... Oh Yes..... WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES, THAT'S WHY, END OF!!!!"... (Remembered it in the end).... I presume having two professional leagues is just another "necessary evil"?... Like "guests", and "doubling up", and bringing over dozens and dozens of journeymen after journeymen from abroad down the years, on five point averages, rather than developing UK riders and giving them team place opportunities.. Oh, and add in riding on nights to accommodate your employees wishes, rather than your customers... So many "necessary evils".... In fact, I am amazed any promotion could lose money given such a fantastic, fit for success, operating model...

So the 6th team, looks like a "joint venture" led by all/some of the existing promoters?.. Makes sense from a shared loss point of view... But seriously, why bother? It wont give any more credibility to any of the trophies to be won across all leagues, as the operating model used will still stay exactly the same as always..

RIP Terry....

He might not be an official UK Speedway Homologised logo draw-er...

As has Alan Brazil and both him and Mcoist do a show together... And both are pals with "Arry.. 10 mins on Talksport Breakfast would be much better I would suggest .. Maybe the Prem could do this... Although, they would need to pad it out a bit after the teams have been drawn in 45 secs...

A few years ago this division was as almost perfect as it could have been... Competitive meetings with a mix of experienced riders and new riders developing... I can only presume it was seen by some as "too good", and much better than what was being delivered, for considerably higher entrance fees, in other leagues, so changes were made..

Just the saddle? I believe someone told her it was an "upright"...

It isn't the best sales pitch is it? "I am selling up as what is being planned won't work for me"....

Similar to the BV fans "unofficial" FB page... Plenty are "disgusted" and "disappointed" at the non running of the Colts, but no one seems prepared to put up the fair few grand needed for them to continue... I am sure if fifty fans gave Mark Lemon a couple of grand each he may look at the situation again.. As you say, the sport is only heading one way...

I presume four teams means no teams? The optics of even five/six random clubs scattered across the country for the "Flagship League" is bad enough but four would be ludicrous...

Maybe Linda Lusardi has made a last minute "gazumped" offer when she realised the huge potential of the sport after doing the draw?...

Roy Keane just said... "That's her job!"....

I am not sure that the "paper bag" used is a recognised official BSP Homologated draw dispenser... Therefore, the draw should be rendered "Null and Void" for me, and only re drawn as and when said "paper bag" has been trade marked and officially endorsed by an ex World Speedway Champion.. The salubrious surroundings, and of course Ms. Lusardi's presence itself, are actually things that accurately, and clearly, reflect the stature, and importance of fhe Championship KO Cup, therefore, ensuring that the "paper bag" used to dispense the team names has the same level of gravitas is fundamentally important... Hats off to those in charge though,, as many of us on here have often said that they needed to employ a well respected, results delivering, professional marketing company, to publicise the sport, even if it costs a fair few quid to do so... This certainly looks like they have listened, and done just that... NB. May I humbly suggest Mr Timmy Mallett to do the Premiership draw? (If they can get enough teams obviously)...

100%... Without doubt, hardly anything, (if anything at all), has been done to engage those different ethnically diverse communities now found around many track locations.. But, you could also say the same about engaging the indigenous population who make up the majority of the fanbase too...

One of the biggest (non self inflicted), reasons for the demise of the sport for me.... As an example, I ran a supermarket in Bradford with over 30,000 customers, with an 80% "Asian" customer base.. Many major cities and towns have changed demographically, hugely, since the halcyon days of the 60's... And also became filled with commercial and apartment buildings, rather than the replaced traditional terraced residential properties which used to hold "working class" families, who made up a huge portion of the fanbase for many tracks...