TonyH

In the main I’m with 4thbender on most of this, people will find something else to do, particularly as the Promoters have taken away what we’ve all been accustomed to over the years - and that’s Speedway once a week whoever you support. The already reduced fixture list is yet another nail in the coffin, and brought about in an effort for the Promotion to lose less money. It’s my theory that far too many clubs are run by people who have other business interests that give them a core living, they can then spend a good few quid buying a speedway club to run as a toy. If it were their core business to make speedway stand on its own feet I’m positive that there’d be a completely different approach. I also don’t believe that calling a meeting off early in the day (or before) is as costly as some suggest, and if that’s the case then there will be an appetite to knock it whenever possible with a dodgy weather forecast on the horizon. Let’s also not forget that many fans are so used to being in a stadium when the meeting is cancelled that they will take one look at the weather and if there’s any sign of rain or drizzle they will stay away. It never used to be like that. Things have changed dramatically in our sport over the past few years, especially engines which rev at something near double from that of 20 years ago. This allegedly makes them almost impossible to control on anything less than a perfect track. Take last night at Swindon as an example, they tried to get it on and ended up with a dramatic crash in the 1st heat because riders couldn’t turn and ended up calling it off. Who was at fault there, riders? Ref. ?track? weather?........more likely it was what they are trying to control. The whole industry needs to take a good look at where it’s heading and consult the old guard (riders & Promoters) of yesteryear very quickly. They knew how to make it viable. There is an answer somewhere, but I’m afraid it won’t change until it’s too late.

The lack of an answer to TV screening from either BT or BSPA suggests to me that negotiations are still ongoing. Personally I can't see the previous big money ever happening from either BT or Sky, if they ever do it again it will be vastly reduced to reflect the decline of our sport. I also think speedway is at such a low point the BSPA will grab any amount on offer in their desperation to survive. There are so many negatives surrounding speedway which urgently need addressing, and it will only begin to improve when Promoters actually start to promote again. Reducing the number of meetings will save money short term but will have a more detrimental effect when the hard core (lifeblood) supporters turn away. I really fail to understand why speedway is difficult to 'sell' - it's a fast, dangerous, colourful, noisy, and exciting team game which is family friendly and has all the ingredients to attract new faces. It's almost like a best kept secret and that doesn't help it survive - neither will increased entrance fees.

I’m new to posting on here, although followed with interest for some years. I now feel it’s time to have a say before speedway disappears. It’s not just Sheffield that has a lack of regular meetings this season, the Championship have followed suit with top league. I believe it’s been done to reduce the losses almost every club is suffering. Promoters don’t promote and that’s the real problem. Jenga is correct when he says riders won’t invest in machinery with so few meetings to pay the bills. And I believe lots of fans will vote with their feet too. It will be interesting to know how season ticket sales have suffered on the back of the decision to run so few meetings. The sign outside Owlerton Stadium says “every Thursday March till October” - that needs changing to “When we feel like it” or “April till August”. Someone said the end is nigh, I disagree, the end is here.