mikebv

Same reasons why the PDC Darts is "booming" and the BDO darts is "on its arse"... Marketing and Hype! Two Governing Bodies in exactly the same sport, sometimes using the same competitors, but one is ran by an independent leadership team, made up of successful business people who bring in experts in sports administration and marketing to bring credibility, integrity and 'Brand awareness'. 'Brand awareness' that results in excellent TV coverage and sponsorship from National Companies, eager to be associated with it knowing that their target audience will be in attendance. This then allows admission charges to be set at a level that encourages rather than dissuades that attendance.. Whilst the other tries to 'self govern' and is led by (no doubt) well meaning people, who may be successful in their own field, but simply don't possess the necessary skill sets to administrate and effectively promote a National Sport, nor, it would appear to have the acumen to surround themselves with the people needed who can.... Which all results in 'cobbled together' Competitions, of very little worth, with very little TV presence, meaning hardly any major sponsorship is forthcoming as the demographic (and total numbers) of the audience doesnt justify the outlay... This then leads to admission costs which inhibit rather than attract followers as they have to be set at a level that tries to recover the costs involved from an ever dwindling fanbase.. The most concerning barometer of where the Sport is for me, is the simple fact that at many tracks kids are allowed in for free or just a nominal amount, yet there are hardly any of them there... "Even free Speedway isnt deemed to be worth attending", seems to be the clear feedback... It really now has to be time for the Sport to go "all in" and get itself a proper marketing company with a strong track record to promote it.. Redirect some of the millions it currently pays out to riders each season and see if it can be marketed or 'hyped' to get people in through its doors.. It is said that the definition of insanity is "Always doing the same thing over and over again, but each time you do it, you are expecting a different result".. If Speedway doesn't change, (and radically) soon, the men with the straight jackets might not be too far away... And maybe, sadly, followed closely behind by the undertakers..?

Great point Steve.. Dan's Achilles Heel seems to be his gating as passing comes second nature to him.. Therefore riding on a track that doesn't allow such passing might be just what he needs... And at the same time, develop his Supercross skills, giving him another string to his bow, should his Speedway career not work out...☺

Agree 100%.... Unfortunately I don't think the Sport can wait until Hell freezers over...! It does though need a much increased fanbase and NOW.. The incredible irony is of course, that rather than work collectively to improve the 'Brand' of British Speedway, the promoters seem to (perpetually), try and gain (individualy), every little ounce of advantage from the Mickey Mouse rules they contrive to make up.. All to win Competitions, which by their very own Operating Models, have almost zero credibility and kudos.. Somebody needs to give it direction and do it quickly.. National Promotion and Marketing. National Collective Merchandise Sales. National Collective Ticket Sales... Start selling the four lads racing. Start selling the 'Speedway Brand'. Start having credibility and integrity.. Must be a chance for the Sport over here if they do that..?

Pretty sure it was the same person who also said it should be a £20 Sport when it cost about £12 at BV.. To back up his rationale he quoted how much it cost to watch a show in the West End and how much it cost to watch Premier League Football in London... Who said Britain doesn't do great comedy anymore?...

Spot on.. One of the biggest issues the Sport has is that it actually thinks 'small time'... Therefore is, and will remain, 'small time'... All the tracks will individually try and drum up fans by various, (well meaning but ultimately amateurish) low level, local marketing campaigns... Surely it's now time for them to work as a collective to fund a proper professional National Marketing Campaign and then do their own local work on the back of that..? The 'Brand of British Speedway' needs to grow in the consciousness of the wider sporting public and each club will then reap the benefits..

Spot on.. One of the biggest issues the Sport has is that it actually thinks 'small time'... Therefore is, and will remain, 'small time'... All the tracks will individually try and drum up fans by various, (well meaning but ultimately amateurish) low level, local marketing campaigns... Surely it's now time for them to work as a collective to fund a proper professional National Marketing Campaign and then do their own local work on the back of that..? The 'Brand of British Speedway' needs to grow in the consciousness of the wider sporting public and each club will then reap the benefits..

You make many good points... But one of the major issues the Sport has is exactly that it does all the 'Promotion' at such a very low level... All well meaning I am sure, but visiting Schools or standing in a Supermarket lobby with club memorabilia on a folding table is miles away from a 21st Century advertising plan.. Instead of all doing their own advertising 'small time' at a local level, the Sport finally needs to run a properly executed National Marketing plan to see if that will change its fortunes.. The Nineteen Prem and Championship clubs should all have a directive to put £50k into a fund to hire a Company to advertise the Sport nationally.. To deliver the money, it would mean that over the 28 matches in the Prem you would need to trim your costs by less than £2k a match so I would suggest doable.. That would release £950k to hire a marketing company... With crowds so low and so many people who 'used to go' living on the doorstep of so many tracks it surely would be a huge opportunity for some 'proper' marketing Company to make plenty of money on a commission basis.... They grow crowds and income, and get a share of the spoils... Instead of paying almost a Million quid to todays riders who, with the greatest of respect, have little impact to crowd levels, it surely now is the time to invest that money in a Company that could increase those crowds..

I have been once this year, (Pooles 'all conquering' septet tempted me)... And have to say the crowd wasn't great even for that meeting and from what I have heard even less have attended the other Prem matches.. Over the past two years the Grandstand has looked most weeks I have been there around two thirds to three quarters full... Against Poole I would suggest it was around half full... And as the Grandstand holds around 1800 that alone is a few hundred missing... In the South Stand where I go, I would suggest at least 150 - 200 less given the gaps between spectators that last year weren't there.. The 'Entertainment and Leisure' business do their promotions and 'specials' on a Monday for a reason... And I am sure it's more necessity than any 'enthusiastic' choice that makes them do that...

The result of a totally nonsense operating model which benefits no one.... Running any business which shares employees with others, and whose availabilty dictates to their employer when the operation can 'open for business', is pretty much doomed to failure I would suggest..

Phil, everyone knew Denmark had priority for Wednesdays... It's their night... Hence British Speedway was granted Monday and Thursdays as theirs... Then they changed.. Why? Well, once again, the tail wagged the dog...

'Each rider can have a maximum of seven rides per meeting'... 'Each rider must have a minimum three rides per meeting, unless signed off by the track medical team with illness or injury before he has completed those three rides'... 'A rider excluded from any race for a starting offence will not have this race counted towards his minimum three races'.. Would that not cover it? The details of complying with the who, what, why, when, would be down then to the Team Manager's tactics for the various different scenarios that Speedway present.. (RR/IRR/TS/Reserve rides)... It would also prevent any 'professional fouls' by deliberately getting exclusions to bring better replacements in.. Seven rides max, three rides minimum.... Next.....

Once again Matt has pulled a rabbit from the hat... Matt again shows he is one step, if not several steps, ahead of his rivals with the Polish lads he has brought over.. Middlo will ensure our new lads settle in quickly and start banging in the points.. It's great to have Leon over here till Chris can start riding for us. The work done on the track should definitely mean great racing this year.. There's only one clear winner of the 'Premchamship League' this year.. We have to get rid of (insert name here), he will never even achieve his average never mind what everyone thought he would do.... We need to bring (insert name here) back, we should never have left him out in the first place.. The tide was in so that meant the third and fourth turns were bumpy.. Etc etc etc...

"British Speedway's Premiership will be ran on two fixed nights on Monday and Wednesday to avoid clashes with Championship clubs" "British Speedway's Premiership will now be ran on three fixed nights, Monday and Wednesday and Thursday which will now clash with Championship clubs" "Riders must not get off their bikes at the tapes and prepare their start area".... "Riders can now get off their bikes at the tapes and prepare their start area"... "We won't be using rolling averages this season".... "We will be using rolling averages this season"... "To me Barry".. "To you Paul"... "To you Barry" "To me Paul".... "To you"... "To me"... "To you"... "To me".... etc etc etc for the next six months... British Speedway, sponsored by Chucklevision...

British Speedway is the Darts equivalent of the 'BDO', whilst Polish Speedway is akin to the 'PDC'... Exactly the same sport, but a world of difference in how each are led from the top, organised, marketed and followed..

Simply no one can be a success when they all share the same 'employees'... The credibility (or lack of it) effectively puts every track at a huge disadvantage as no one can in all honesty take the Leagues seriously... .. Running at weekend, with settled sides of 'your riders' can only be a major step forward... The Entertainment and Leisure industry invariably does 'Specials' on Monday to Wednesday to attract punters after the money spinning weekend... British Speedway must have expected to buck that trend and have thousands climbing over each other to get out to their local Speedway track.... I admire their optimism..

Surely that is the ONLY answer 'W'?... Well it appears to be the only 'MO' used for the past 30 or so years. . What's that definition of insanity? "Doing exactly the same thing time and time again and then being amazed you end up with exactly the same result"... You would laugh out loud at the sheer ridiculous way the Sport is ran in Britian if it wasn't so sad... Unfortunately the never fit for purpose constantly changing Operating Model, won't ever deliver even the remotest of chance to be succesful....

Agree 100% about the marketing, however British Speedway just by the plethora of guests, double uppers and the way teams are dismantled every year, can never hope to bring loyalty to its fan base.. Riders come and go now so it would hardly be much different if they left the country to ride in Poland... And let's be honest most of our lads don't ride over there due to the level of ability required so it wouldn't be a huge problem... In fact, for the marketing of the Sport, it would be a nice problem to have as it would mean we had lots of British lads doing well, which could only be good for the National team and therefore wider media coverage... Media coverage which would then bring even more riders to the Sport wanting to emulate others and seek their own fame and fortune.... And all businesses or entities need aspirational levels to develop and move forwards.... Otherwise they stagnate, then regress, then die.... And British Speedway has been in regression far too long...

Spot on... Very, very basic business practice for those entities that rely on the patronage and footfall of individuals to be succesful, is that they need to be open when their customers can get there in their highest numbers.... British Speedway however has a 'better idea' than that... To be honest I am surprised Messrs Sugar and Branson haven't tried to use the BSPA's business model in their businesses...

Don't think there is any doubt... Friday, Saturday, Sunday are the best days to attract a crowd if you run a Sport, or are in the Entertainment and Leisure industry, (Speedway you would say ticks both boxes).. No surprise therefore that Poland run on these nights and at the meeting to agree each Countries race nights they didn't suggest Britain takes their days' over and that they would run Monday/Thursday (or even Wednesday as it transpired)... If Mondays were such a great night to attract a Speedway crowd you would have to think the Poles would have ensured they took it... British Speedway simply cannot compete with Poland so shouldnt even give it a consideration and plough it's own furrow.. Run at the weekend with lads who are happy earning a 'normal' job's weekly wage for four or five races a night.. Run with lads who reside over here to keep hotel and air fare costs out of the equation and, if needs be, run with five or six man teams to shave even more off the expenditure.. And run consistently, either once a week, or once a fortnight if all the League runs on the same night... Do that and maybe admission fees could gradually come down to attract even more numbers through the gate to add to what 'Weekend Speedway' would bring. It would be a lot easier to sell the sport media wise, and market it nationally collectively, (rather than individually) too, having a full fixture list over say three days, rather than the fragmented way it is currently ran..

And part time Stockport County in the 2nd Tier of Non League Football got over 6000 yesterday for their play off... And have averaged around 4000 all season... 6000 fans would be around 6 matches worth at BV... Shows how far Speedway (over here) has been allowed to fall off the wider publics radar..

The other problem then is running three or four times in a fortnight to cram meetings in to meet play off deadlines, and running in front of reduced crowds due to the cost of so many meetings so close together, and riders missing due to their countries getting priority for meetings being ran over there on the same night as the re-staging over here.... Who'd be a Speedway Promoter?

Freddie on Fire....!! Some speed he is getting...

Don't mess about getting the next race on do they? Several clear breaks for TV interviews/track grades which must help the food and drink outlets too.. Race finishes, next four riders ready to go out.... Simple really.. Very Fast Freddie this evening...

They would never get the meetings finished before midnight as he paddled around at the back getting lapped race after race... (Is it obvious I am still bitter spending around £100 to watch him do exactly that a couple of seasons ago?)..

A fair point... It was something that struck me last weekend when watching my third Polish match over two days... Big crowds in modern stadia, atmosphere being 'literally' drummed up by sections of the crowd, (crowds that are made up of plenty of people under 30 never mind 60!). An announcer engaging the fans in celebratory chants and riders giving absolutely everything on well prepared circuits (Probably through fear of losing their team place and the good money that comes with it).. Absolutely light years away from what British Speedway offers, and now being on TV every weekend it doesn't do British Speedway any favours I would suggest. .. As Jim Bowen used to say on Bullseye... "Come an 'ave a look at what yer could 'ave won! "...