Drac Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 LITTLE or no chance these days but once the football season starts, with cricket and the paralympics, forget it. Thirty years ago when Gary Havelock won his World title I was working for the News of the World and they afforded his win an inside page lead despite the football. Times have changed sadly. 30 years? Show some respect man! 1992 isn't 30yrs ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Phil... Does this tell us more about the press, the state of the sport in the UK, or a bit of both? BIT of both really. British speedway really doesn't warrant any national newspaper coverage these days in my opinion. The lack of a British World Champion or British success in the SWC doesn't help either but national newspapers are now notoriously dis-interesrted in most motorsport, especially the two-wheeled variety. Ironically, there are now far more pages devoted to sport than there were 20 plus years ago when the likes of Dave Lanning, Peter Oakes and I afforded some space oif most days of the week. And, as mentioned earlier, the News of the World were brilliant when Havvy won despite have a full programme iof soccer that same day. Much of it now is down to the mentality of those in charge. Sports Editors used to have a wide-ranging interest in all sports and that influenced their decision making. I took over as speedway correspondent for the Daily Express when they were involved in the Spring Classic. The then SE, Ken Lawrence, liked and enjoyed speedway but more importantly he saw it as a genuine sport which was worthy of equal billing when the occasion demanded. But in those days the likes of Bruce Penhall were household names despite not being British. When John Davis won the Spring Classic Wimbledon I had to do a running report of 29 paragraphs followed at the end by a complete re-write. The report was on the back page of all editions of the Daily Express the following morning. Interest in speedway began to wane when Denmark kept winning everything. One night I called the Express Sports Desk before filling a report and was asked "who won?" I replied "Denmark" and was greeted with "not those bloody Danes again. When are England going to win something." Would it ever change? Don't honestly know but a British winner in front of 40,000 people at Cardiff would push a few buttons. But that ain't going to happen any time soon! 30 years? Show some respect man! 1992 isn't 30yrs ago SORRY but it seems like it! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emerald tyke Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) LITTLE or no chance these days but once the football season starts, with cricket and the paralympics, forget it. Thirty years ago when Gary Havelock won his World title I was working for the News of the World and they afforded his win an inside page lead despite the football. Times have changed sadly. 1992 ......was 20 years ago when I last looked !!!! Says alot At least Bradford had their Exhibition opening (Bradford Industrial Museum,Moorside Rd, Eccleshill, Bradford BD2 3HP) to coincide with this momentus date for Havvy........heard the Great Arthur Wright was there too (Bradford legend!). Edited August 27, 2012 by emerald tyke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Ironically, there are now far more pages devoted to sport than there were 20 plus years ago when the likes of Dave Lanning, Peter Oakes and I afforded some space oif most days of the week. And, as mentioned earlier, the News of the World were brilliant when Havvy won despite have a full programme iof soccer that same day. Well of course, the traditional press is on a slow and inextricable decline and I'd imagine they simply don't want to spend money covering minority sports any more. I'm not really convinced that mass coverage in the tabloids would make that much difference these days anyway. Of course, speedway also doesn't help promote itself by being run in such an amateurish fashion. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emerald tyke Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) Bout time you started using them then. I WAS there, unlike you and Philip's stalker iris123, and the figures just about stack up. Spaces in the lower level on the 3rd/4th bend, but much more tickets sold this year in the upper tiers, especially on the back straight. If you don't want to believe things, don't make a mug of yourself. I found that people had made the obvious choice to sit in the cheaper seats (sign of the times unfortunately! ) and the prices they charge for the home straight on all tiers and the back straight on lower tiers is ridiculous and maybe a more fairer pricing system would work. Why would you pay £90 to sit on 1st bend top tier when you can pay £29/37 on back straight and have the same view??? We bought tickets on the friday in Cardiff and only "available" spots were back straight top tier £37 or over by 1st bend top tier £90!! but there were plenty of empty seats in other areas when we got inside on the night. Edited August 27, 2012 by emerald tyke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) IN that case why would they should it at all and devote a huge amount of resources and expense to cover the British GP in the manner in which they do? I'd imagine still very small beer compared to what Sky spend on football, rugby, cricket and now F1. Edited August 27, 2012 by Humphrey Appleby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Another issue was the rubbish advert. Nobody knows Harris, Hancock, Holder and Crump so them saying on camera talking about winning Cardiff meant nothing. You need to show racing, crashing and fireworks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emerald tyke Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Another issue was the rubbish advert. Nobody knows Harris, Hancock, Holder and Crump so them saying on camera talking about winning Cardiff meant nothing. You need to show racing, crashing and fireworks. Precisely!!! ADVERTISE the speed, colour and generate excitment, not boring old chat by 'stars@ you mightn't actually know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidncohen Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 BIT of both really. British speedway really doesn't warrant any national newspaper coverage these days in my opinion. The lack of a British World Champion or British success in the SWC doesn't help either but national newspapers are now notoriously dis-interesrted in most motorsport, especially the two-wheeled variety. Ironically, there are now far more pages devoted to sport than there were 20 plus years ago when the likes of Dave Lanning, Peter Oakes and I afforded some space oif most days of the week. And, as mentioned earlier, the News of the World were brilliant when Havvy won despite have a full programme iof soccer that same day. Much of it now is down to the mentality of those in charge. Sports Editors used to have a wide-ranging interest in all sports and that influenced their decision making. I took over as speedway correspondent for the Daily Express when they were involved in the Spring Classic. The then SE, Ken Lawrence, liked and enjoyed speedway but more importantly he saw it as a genuine sport which was worthy of equal billing when the occasion demanded. But in those days the likes of Bruce Penhall were household names despite not being British. When John Davis won the Spring Classic Wimbledon I had to do a running report of 29 paragraphs followed at the end by a complete re-write. The report was on the back page of all editions of the Daily Express the following morning. Interest in speedway began to wane when Denmark kept winning everything. One night I called the Express Sports Desk before filling a report and was asked "who won?" I replied "Denmark" and was greeted with "not those bloody Danes again. When are England going to win something." Would it ever change? Don't honestly know but a British winner in front of 40,000 people at Cardiff would push a few buttons. But that ain't going to happen any time soon! Not much else to add, as you've summed it up quite well, and agree from my memories of the 70's period that it was quite often down to whether someone higher up was a bit of a fan, or it caught their eye. It remains to be seen whether GB's great Olympic success has an effect on Olympic sport participation or even TV coverage outside the Olympics, but there's no denying that British speedway success would help enormously. This aspect also cuts through all those people who say "if only they changed the tactical sub system, speedway would be big again etc. etc. etc." ("tinkering" I call it), and have posted several times before on it in various places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I'd imagine still very small beer compared to what Sky spend on football, rugby, cricket and now F1. VERY true but my actual point was why Sky didn't bother with the presentation. Like not reading the last page of a book... seems odd to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldswindonsupporter Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 The ceremony possibly wasn't shown due to live golf from New York at 21.00? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreverblue Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Well sadly thats it for another year,thoroughly enjoyable weekend, thought the racing was pretty good myself especially early on,Scotty very unlucky not to make the semi's and it seems alot of people arn't like Stevebrum and don't bet! Won a small fortune myself which paid for the weekend so thanks Noddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backless Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Live Golf from New York or not, it's totally indicative of the lack of regard Sky has for speedway. There's always ways of sliding back the beginning of the next programme, especially sport and in particular American sport where it happens all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 iLive Golf from New York or not, it's totally indicative of the lack of regard Sky has for speedway. There's always ways of sliding back the beginning of the next programme, especially sport and in particular American sport where it happens all the time. This doesn't happen a lot. BUT - I totally agree with you backless. I was saddened that the Presentation wasn't shown. It would have been had it been Cricket, Football, Rugby or Golf. Obviously SKY don't consider there are enough Viewers to worry about keeping us Speedway Supporters happy. :sad: It's great that SKY show the Event - but - it is always nice to see the Prizes awarded at the end. Here's hoping for the next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellevueace Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 If getting column inches in the media is dependant on the sucsess of a sport on the international stage as Philip points out with the express example given our pathetic football teams performances for the past 40+ years there should be no mention of football at all 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wackie Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I found that people had made the obvious choice to sit in the cheaper seats (sign of the times unfortunately! ) and the prices they charge for the home straight on all tiers and the back straight on lower tiers is ridiculous and maybe a more fairer pricing system would work. Why would you pay £90 to sit on 1st bend top tier when you can pay £29/37 on back straight and have the same view??? We bought tickets on the friday in Cardiff and only "available" spots were back straight top tier £37 or over by 1st bend top tier £90!! but there were plenty of empty seats in other areas when we got inside on the night. I wonder how many complementary tickets IMG issue then, cos we brought tickets off a tout outside which were for the upper tier in middle of 3rd/4th bend and marked "Complementary". Paid £15 each (cheaper than an EL meeting!!) and speaking to the people around us they'd all done the same. We chose 3rd/4th bend, but had the choice of upper tier seats pretty much anywhere around the stadium! Moved down to the middle tier 3rd bend after 6 heats cos there were plenty of empty seats down there too, and you felt closer to the racing. W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
full-throttle Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 not been for a few years, but watched on TV and enjoyed the event. Might make an appearancce next year. As for tickets, last time I attended got a £59 ticket for £30 and had a great view from the lower teir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emerald tyke Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) I wonder how many complementary tickets IMG issue then, cos we brought tickets off a tout outside which were for the upper tier in middle of 3rd/4th bend and marked "Complementary". Paid £15 each (cheaper than an EL meeting!!) and speaking to the people around us they'd all done the same. We chose 3rd/4th bend, but had the choice of upper tier seats pretty much anywhere around the stadium! Moved down to the middle tier 3rd bend after 6 heats cos there were plenty of empty seats down there too, and you felt closer to the racing. W I wonder how many complementary tickets IMG issue then, cos we brought tickets off a tout outside which were for the upper tier in middle of 3rd/4th bend and marked "Complementary". Paid £15 each (cheaper than an EL meeting!!) and speaking to the people around us they'd all done the same. We chose 3rd/4th bend, but had the choice of upper tier seats pretty much anywhere around the stadium! Moved down to the middle tier 3rd bend after 6 heats cos there were plenty of empty seats down there too, and you felt closer to the racing. W Don't the stewards ever ask for your tickets as proof of seat area when you are going into the different area? maybe IMG do give out lots of complementary seats so a fair minority or maybe majority are Freebies!! I'm tempted to try this next year but then again if we all keep trying to not pay our fair share the event will not be there anymore. Wonder did the date of this years Gp affect the crowd or are less people inclined/cant afford to go?? Edited August 27, 2012 by emerald tyke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 If getting column inches in the media is dependant on the sucsess of a sport on the international stage as Philip points out with the express example given our pathetic football teams performances for the past 40+ years there should be no mention of football at all SADLY that doesn't apply to soccer ... and I say that as a football fan too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickthemuppet Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I said months ago that the attendance for Cardiff would be down . What do you expect . Every single GP this season has been down on the previous season. The gates at Ullevi and Italian GP's were truly terrible. People have only so much money to spend and coming after the Olympics a little less .Then there was the problem of Cardiff with the cricket in competition and the hotel prices going through the roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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