bigeddiechek

That's encouraging to know, thanks!

Not seen his name mentioned for a wee bit, but I'd take Alden back at a snap, if he decides to come out of retirement.

Maybe not spectacular, but a solid enough looking team.

Having watched Doolan at Edinburgh, Ipswich, and Redcar - as well as his latter home form - I'd definitely have him starting next season. I was unsure about him early season, but he fairly stepped up to the mark, and you just can't dismiss that, still got the hunger to be a solid team man.

I'm still getting ever excited (in the real world).

I take due cognisance of your concurrence

Good to see in the newsletter that a top rider is showing interest in the club. Very exciting times!

We all know in reality that is what sponsorship is, though.

The associate sponsor idea I think is a very good one as it opens up an opportunity for small local businesses to get some good coverage at an affordable cost. Well thought-out approach from the Promotion, in my opinion.

Yep, I guess you are right. We might just not be able to afford professional sport at this level in years to come

Yep, and it backs up my point. It needs lots of regular small amounts that is sustainable. Almost everyone who has come with me has enjoyed it. 2 out of 30-odd said it wasn't their cup of tea. Some who have become regulars get frustrated when there are hold-ups waiting for ambulances. That is the only grumble I get from them, but it is a big grumble. The product really isn't that bad, it could be better, but it will need investment to do that. That isn't going to happen with the current fan base. Need to be progressive and brave.

I'm not saying you haven't got your positioning right for you business, Taffy. Based on what you mention above about the demographic, and I don't disagree with that for a second, why do you think dropping the price to £10 did not boost numbers? Incidentally, I haven't found a niche market, far from it. I just found that increased pricing took me to a different market. Crucially it is a market with available spend. Lower pricing had me in sectors that didn't have cash to spend, and were being increasing squeezed. Once I had the increased revenue, I was able to further improve the services, make a higher margin, improve the end product, and secure an ongoing contract. I know it is counter-intuitive, and it takes a hell of a lot of balls to do, but it invariable works. I will give one example where it didn't. Travel Inn went 1p too far and it was a disaster for them.

Take Stella Artois for a perfect example of a poor quality product (well packaged, nonetheless), marketed as price driven. Huge success, officially one of the worst beers going according to many World beer experts. I stuck my prices up considerably last year, won a contract 10 x my previous biggest, and 5 x my usual hourly rate. It opened up a hugely different market. My product has always been good, but I am able to make it excellent due to the extra resources at can utilise due to higher revenue. That's the smart way to do business. Year after year there is talk of improving the product. I have yet to see anything radical enough to really attract new supporters. Furthermore, attracting new supporters is a long-term strategy and takes a lot of hard work for small returns. You do not suddenly change the product (which costs a lot of cash), and then magically get a massive increase in crowds. It takes a lot of hard yards. Incidentally, I think this is something that Berwick does very well. Now, we know drops in prices do not work. We know sponsorship is getting harder. Dropping rider costs, lowers the quality of the product, and that can only go so far as well. So what do we do? If we were to stick by higher pricing, there might be extra cash to the push the product forwards, and start building a larger - and very different - fan base. I have seen pricing increases work time and time again in business. You don't see many bargain basement businesses around, and supermarkets are masters at being expensive, yet tricking the masses into thinking they are cheap. Business is sophisticated, and all I am saying is speedway is running out of things to try. Want another benefit to higher prices? Do not apply it to season tickets. It makes them more attractive and drives up-front revenue which is also very valuable. Lots of it makes sense as part of an overall strategy. In one scenario, you could lose 40% of your attendance, yet still have the same revenue. In the same scenario, you maintain crowd levels, you are looking at an increase of revenue of circa £20k over a season. The reality could lie somewhere in between. It is not as pie in the sky as some may think.

If doesn't tip people over the edge, it could make a massive difference to the club. We have to keep our minds open to all options, in my opinion. I'm not saying you're wrong, just that there could be a flipside.

There is also a very well tried and tested business strategy whereby making something expensive increases the customers' perceived value of the product. Business is far from being about low prices, or quality of product. If we (the fans) rely on the club getting a major sponsor, then that is high-risk. This is the point I keep coming back to. I'd happily pay a wee bit extra each week to help the stability of the sport.

Yes, it is basically what I am saying. It's a very sad fact, and it is not of the fans' making either.

Refusing good sponsorship deals? In terms of the tipping point with regard to entrance fee, certainly lowering to £10 had no effect on numbers at Berwick, it's not unreasonable to assume that similar increase would make no different to attendance either, but help out the finances.

I agree that sponsorship and media is the preferable route. The hard fact is that revenues from both are very difficult at the moment. At this point in time it is the fans who will make or break the survival of the sport. That might mean digging a bit deeper, but it still isn't that deep at £20 surely?

That's what we have at the moment. It will either boost the sport's finances, or kill it off more quickly. Either way, better than the slow painful death at the moment? £20 isn't a lot of money for a night of entertainment. If folk really don't think it is worth that, then I truly can't understand why they go. They cannot value the sport that much. Before anyone jumps on me, let me be clear that I do not think a price hike should include concessions.

I stand corrected. I did point out that it was based purely on the fact that there have been spectators in wheelchairs there in the past. Back to topic, £20 entry is really what we need to be looking at, especially on here. With a bit of thought, it can clearly be seen that it has a number of benefits. I can't quite see how being prepared to pay £20 is boastful, or attention seeking, it is unlikely that Screm will elaborate on that comment, though. He is only attention seeking, after all

Cool, that works out at £18 per head for the real world people then

Adrian Rymel Ricky Ashworth Graham Jones Steve McDermott

I'm not sure, to be honest, I wonder if access is via the pits before they are closed off?

I'm only basing it on the fact that there have been a few spectators in wheelchairs there over the past couple of seasons.

Naturally