Bavarian Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 It is interesting to compare the average attendance figures for some of the major Polish League clubs in the last three years from 2004 til 2006. Here are the actual figures (club/2004/2005/2006): Tarnow - 12,700 - 11,500 - 10,500 Bydgoszcz - 7,500 - 11,111 - 7,900 Leszno - 7,900 - 10,278 - 9,770 Zielona Gora - 8,200 - 9,438 - 7,778 Czestochowa - 11,600 - 9,150 - 8,900 Torun - 9,350 - 8,833 - 6,235 Gdansk - 8,111 - 8,625 - 4,750 Wroclaw - 6,750 - 4,778 - 7,450 Rzeszow - 6,166 - 6,600 - 7,350 Rybnik - 5,950 - 5,200 - 4,500 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Schumi Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 I don't know much about Polish speedway, though I've been slowly trying to learn. Would be interesting to know if there is a pattern in that, for example, if attendance is proportional to success, riders or just random? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Yes,i would have thought Gdansk and Zielona Gora is down to relegation.Wroclaw down to success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Schumi Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Looking at the line-ups I'd say Wroclaw look pretty good for the next season too. Why did Nicki leave Zielona Gora? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darth raider Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 (edited) What strikes me though was, at the elite league play-off final at Peterborough the attendance figures were being mooted as around the 6000 mark. Yet in poland that figure is considered to be average. Where does Britain go wrong? Edited December 29, 2006 by darth raider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Looking at the line-ups I'd say Wroclaw look pretty good for the next season too. Why did Nicki leave Zielona Gora? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> GP riders were not allowed in the lower leagues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazzman Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 I don't know much about Polish speedway, though I've been slowly trying to learn. Would be interesting to know if there is a pattern in that, for example, if attendance is proportional to success, riders or just random? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Roughly yes. The pattern basically shows if a team is at a top level, its bound to get bigger attendances. Rynbik and Czestochowa are expectations to this. Rynbik happily plied their trade in Liga I (the second tier), mid-table often but an enforced promotion because of Gdansk's money probelms and other rules stopping other teams moving/staying in the division, they were promoted this season but because of constantly losing with their weakened team, it seems to have affected them. Another probelm maybe that when in Liga 1, they had more local teams to race against, Rynbik is far south of Poland. Czestochowa just moved into a new stadium this season and had one of their best seasons finishing second. So I can not explain that pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazzman Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 GP riders were not allowed in the lower leagues <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Although not this season. Bjarne Pedersen for example is at Gdansk and the Bomber Harris at Rynbik. Liga 1 looks this year set to be more competitive and balanced than the E-Liga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Although not this season. Bjarne Pedersen for example is at Gdansk and the Bomber Harris at Rynbik. Liga 1 looks this year set to be more competitive and balanced than the E-Liga. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That is the reason i put "were not"answering a specific question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PanthersChamp06 Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 Where does Britain go wrong? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Easy, Speedway in Poland is one of the main sports. Here in England, its not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazzman Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 Easy, Speedway in Poland is one of the main sports. Here in England, its not. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Speedway in Poland is only popular in certain areas, if you look at a map involving all the Polish teams. You notice the sets of teams within 150 miles of each other. Appartently, if you ask someone about Speedway in Warsaw or Krakow, they dont have a clue what you are on about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawrence Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 I don't know much about Polish speedway, though I've been slowly trying to learn. Would be interesting to know if there is a pattern in that, for example, if attendance is proportional to success, riders or just random? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sometimes attendance is proportional to success and sometimes is not... Look at Wroclaw`s team....They have won Polish Extraleague Title, but for over 3/4 of the season the attendance was about 3000-5000. Only at the last meeting against Czestochowa there was about 18 000 to celebrate success in 2006... The other example - Bydgoszcz - the attendance here was about 6000-7000 [the lowest attendance in last 20 years I think], but the matches agains Tarnow, and especially Torun accumulated approximately 15000 - 17000. In the 1st league the highest attendance was in Zielona Gora - about 10 000- 12 000 although more than half matches wasn`t attractive at all... if You would like to see some actions of polish league - just write me - I can send You some polish matches on DVD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 Speedway in Poland is only popular in certain areas, if you look at a map involving all the Polish teams. You notice the sets of teams within 150 miles of each other. Appartently, if you ask someone about Speedway in Warsaw or Krakow, they dont have a clue what you are on about. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Isn't that the same the world over though?I mean look at Germany.The concentration of teams in the north and south with very little in between.Or Denmark.Look at the concentration in Jutland and very little elsewhere.Brovst in the north.Slangerup and Glumso by Copenhagen.But so many tracks.....Holsted,Vojens,Skaerbaek,Esbjerg,Grindsted,Vejlby,Fjelsted,Outrup within a short distance of each other.This happens to an extent because they feed off each other.I can think of only Exeter that was out on a limb so to speak and still survived for long.I think the tracks in Sweden are also quite concentrated together.There was a track on one of the islands.Not sure if that survived Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverstam Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 Isn't that the same the world over though?I mean look at Germany.The concentration of teams in the north and south with very little in between.Or Denmark.Look at the concentration in Jutland and very little elsewhere.Brovst in the north.Slangerup and Glumso by Copenhagen.But so many tracks.....Holsted,Vojens,Skaerbaek,Esbjerg,Grindsted,Vejlby,Fjelsted,Outrup within a short distance of each other.This happens to an extent because they feed off each other.I can think of only Exeter that was out on a limb so to speak and still survived for long.I think the tracks in Sweden are also quite concentrated together.There was a track on one of the islands.Not sure if that survived <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You are talking about Galgberget in Visby, Gotland. Home of Bysarna. There is to be construction of houses on this hallowed ground, although just a few days ago the politicians made a decision to let Bysarna use it for 2007 aswell and put the construction on hold. The tracks in sweden are also geographically concentrated to the southern and middle part of the country. There is rarely any speedway north of Avesta, even if for example Östersund have a track and some history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazzman Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 Isn't that the same the world over though?I mean look at Germany.The concentration of teams in the north and south with very little in between.Or Denmark.Look at the concentration in Jutland and very little elsewhere.Brovst in the north.Slangerup and Glumso by Copenhagen.But so many tracks.....Holsted,Vojens,Skaerbaek,Esbjerg,Grindsted,Vejlby,Fjelsted,Outrup within a short distance of each other.This happens to an extent because they feed off each other.I can think of only Exeter that was out on a limb so to speak and still survived for long.I think the tracks in Sweden are also quite concentrated together.There was a track on one of the islands.Not sure if that survived <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Absolutely but in the expection of Poland, I was making out that it's not necessarly the biggest sport in the country. I think Basketball and Volleyball are generally bigger sports in the country, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 1, 2007 Report Share Posted January 1, 2007 Absolutely but in the expection of Poland, I was making out that it's not necessarly the biggest sport in the country. I think Basketball and Volleyball are generally bigger sports in the country, <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Any figures to show this?What are the attendances for these sports? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leliwa Posted January 1, 2007 Report Share Posted January 1, 2007 (edited) Number of spectators does not necessary translate into overall popularity of the sport on a national level. Without a doubt, number one sport in Poland is football, despite the fact that just few years ago number of spectators at the football games was just half of what we got at speedway meetings. Football gets bigger crowds now with the rise of the level in our leagues. But as far as popularity, speedway could not even compare (except for 60s and 70s when 100 thousand crowds were turning up for some large speedway events, but that is a thing of the past). Unfortunately, speedway cannot compare with many other sports like volleyball, track and field, winter sports and some other, simply because speedway is a niche sport, popular only is some places in Poland and it gets very limmited covarage in the media. Just like someone mentioned, try to ask about speedway in Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz and some other major cities and you are in for strange looks and 'what the heck you mean' answers. Try to find information about speedway on national TV in Poland. Close to impossible. You will get extended coverage of anything but speedway. And coming to speedway towns, just look at the indicators. Tarnow, Zielona Gora, Leszno are places where apart from speedway you do not get other chances to watch sport on the higher level. And than you have Wroclaw, large city where you have more of a choice. And despite their speedway team being on the top in Poland right now they get just and average attendance. Maybe this last example shows the real popularity of our sport. We do not need to like it but that is the fact. Edited January 1, 2007 by Leliwa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 1, 2007 Report Share Posted January 1, 2007 An interesting answer Leliwa.Obviously the whole thing is complicated on what is popular and not.To an extent lots of popular sports are regional.Look at Rugby in England and then Rugby Laegue.Look at Rugby in France(think that is very regional,but popular).Look at Handball here in Germany.Think that is mainly a northern + eastern sport.Speedway generally does thrive in areas not dominated by football.It is in most countries madness to compete with football.I once went to a meeting in Güstrow and when i arrived at the station was met by hundreds of people getting on the train to watch Hansa Rostock.Very sad to see all these people leaving their town to go and watch another sport.Crazy to have a speedway meeting on when a football match is on down the road.But they have to arrange the fixtures now,while the football fixtures for september and october will be arranged in the summer. Also media coverage cannot always be used as a gauge of popularity.I mean i see poker and lumberjack sport coverage on the tv all the time.Doesn't make them popular.And it is a strange one with winter sports.Ok they are on every weekend,but how popular are they?This cross country skiing is often on as is the speed skating.How popular is that?Not very i would say.A lot has to do with prejudice in the media.Why they pick one sport against another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leliwa Posted January 1, 2007 Report Share Posted January 1, 2007 Agreed. I used media example because for us speedway fans in Poland it is a sore issue. Seems like the only time they talk about speedway on national TV is when something bad happens, accidents or any kind of "scandal". I do not have to explain what it does to sports popularity. Indeed it is a complex issue. I would really like speedway to be amongst most popular sports in Poland but I do not think it is there (yet, and any more at the same time). But than again, maybe I'm biased because being a speedway fan I'm not happy with what we have and would like more and more of it But one thing is certain, and I'm sure most speedway fans in Poland would agree, our speedway authorities are not doing enough to extend sport's popularity right now. Hope this will change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarabanko Posted January 2, 2007 Report Share Posted January 2, 2007 (edited) The problem with media is that Speedway isnt a clean sport, as fotball, track and field etc, speedway has a bad attitude to people in general, they say they are just going around in circles and that the guy who traps best wins... They dont see the or understanding the relative simple rules in speedway. Speedway is as a orgasm!!! plenty of speed, close racing that send chivers down the neck, riders who not gets on with each other, teamriding, explosive; a heat is 1 minut and four riders without brakes are going for the win!!! oohhh, ahhhh!!! Just so wonderful! I belive strong that the persons who has the power of what to show on sports tv are thinking of their personal intrests and show, fotball, fotball and even more fotboll, and some track and field, and so on,..... Horrendous. / Mikael Edited January 2, 2007 by tarabanko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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