Humphrey Appleby Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Valid point, but I'm still not convinced about the feasibility of having more than one. It's difficult to think where else a GP could be held in Britain at moment. Coventry would be the only suitable speedway venue, and even that's too small. All the other largish stadia are for rectangular sports, with the exception perhaps of the likes of Crystal Palace and Don Valley who I'd guess wouldn't be too happy to have a speedway track laid over their nice running tracks. Nobody seems to question the attendance figures at Cardiff though, so how do we know it's actually getting 40K paying spectators given that the FIM doesn't appear to publish these figures any more? Even when they did, the figures for a number of GPs were suspiciously rounded. I admittedly haven't been to the Cardiff GP for a few years now, but the last time I did, I wouldn't have estimated the attendance at much more than 30K going on the number of sections that were filled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 It's difficult to think where else a GP could be held in Britain at moment. Coventry would be the only suitable speedway venue, and even that's too small. All the other largish stadia are for rectangular sports, with the exception perhaps of the likes of Crystal Palace and Don Valley who I'd guess wouldn't be too happy to have a speedway track laid over their nice running tracks. Nobody seems to question the attendance figures at Cardiff though, so how do we know it's actually getting 40K paying spectators given that the FIM doesn't appear to publish these figures any more? Even when they did, the figures for a number of GPs were suspiciously rounded. I admittedly haven't been to the Cardiff GP for a few years now, but the last time I did, I wouldn't have estimated the attendance at much more than 30K going on the number of sections that were filled. If agreement could be reached would Wembley get a better crowd than Cardiff? is there only ever NOW going to be 40000 plus crowd.I believe Wembley would get a better crowd for the g.p. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImpartialOne Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Nobody seems to question the attendance figures at Cardiff though, so how do we know it's actually getting 40K paying spectators given that the FIM doesn't appear to publish these figures any more? Even when they did, the figures for a number of GPs were suspiciously rounded. I admittedly haven't been to the Cardiff GP for a few years now, but the last time I did, I wouldn't have estimated the attendance at much more than 30K going on the number of sections that were filled. Did you write this?: http://www.methanolpress.com/2010/01/attendance-queries/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 (edited) Did you write this?:http://www.methanolp...ndance-queries/ I didn't, and I wouldn't quibble over the odd discrepancy in quoted attendance figures. However, it does raise some interesting questions as to what attendances really are, or more to the point, what the paying attendances are. Edited December 14, 2011 by Humphrey Appleby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 It's difficult to think where else a GP could be held in Britain at moment. Coventry would be the only suitable speedway venue, and even that's too small. All the other largish stadia are for rectangular sports, with the exception perhaps of the likes of Crystal Palace and Don Valley who I'd guess wouldn't be too happy to have a speedway track laid over their nice running tracks. Nobody seems to question the attendance figures at Cardiff though, so how do we know it's actually getting 40K paying spectators given that the FIM doesn't appear to publish these figures any more? Even when they did, the figures for a number of GPs were suspiciously rounded. I admittedly haven't been to the Cardiff GP for a few years now, but the last time I did, I wouldn't have estimated the attendance at much more than 30K going on the number of sections that were filled. Er, but the Millenium Stadium itself is for a "rectangular sport" and no probs laying a temporary track there!! As sidney says, not only could Wembley be adapted in exactly the same way as the MS it would without question attract a far bigger crowd and far more media attention... I'd go back to my old chestnut, though (and no, 'knot' to start up the tree gags again!!), that I really don't think that an early-season, largely inconsequential SGP would warrant using Wembley... Simply not a big enough event at all... Of course when it comes to tracks where Speedway could be staged rather easier because of their shape and the presence of a track then there will very soon be an eminently suitable (and rarely used at that..) venue in the capital...: the Olympic Stadium..!! Noing more about the London scene, is there ever any chance of Wimbledon the great plough lane returning Parsloes? I think we should remain cautiously optimistic.. There are spare weekday nights at Wimbledon with no events on. A track could be laid relatively easily. There's still motor sport there (Spedeworth-promoted Stocks/Bangers) - so a Speedway promoter wouldn't have to overcome planning and noise hurdles. All it would take would be a change of owner of the stadium or of the GRA; and let's be honest in these harsh economic times surely the current speculator owners might well soon be considering giving it all up as a bad job and selling on. Or even possibly relenting on their anti-Speedway stance... So it may never re-open but I still believe there's hope it could... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 WEMBLEY doesn't have a roof ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 WEMBLEY doesn't have a roof ... Nope and it never did for the World Finals of 1936-60, '62, '63, '65, '67, '69, '72, '75, 78 & '81...! As I recall none of these got rained off did they..?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 WEMBLEY doesn't have a roof ... So ? because of that would theyre be a noise issue? or are you worried about getting wet?.Wembley for me, i am sure could be a option they are looking for every money making scheme going .American football, concerts,the pitch gets relaid every two minutes there ,but are bringing in alot of revenue.Maybe it might not happen for a while well worth looking into?Maybe even rival the G.P with all revenue going back into British speedway everyone a winner not just individuals having all the cake just a thought a? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 BUT they didn't have to lay a track at the old Wembley, just tart up the one that was permanently there. Of course they are worried about 'getting wet' as you put it. Why take the risk when there is such a fantastic facility as the Millennium Stadium ready and willing to stage speedway and a town like Cardiff which has much more going for it than the neighbourhood in which Wembley is situated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dietbowers Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 BUT they didn't have to lay a track at the old Wembley, just tart up the one that was permanently there. Of course they are worried about 'getting wet' as you put it. Why take the risk when there is such a fantastic facility as the Millennium Stadium ready and willing to stage speedway and a town like Cardiff which has much more going for it than the neighbourhood in which Wembley is situated. Cardfiff is a city,has been for years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 BUT they didn't have to lay a track at the old Wembley, just tart up the one that was permanently there. Of course they are worried about 'getting wet' as you put it. Why take the risk when there is such a fantastic facility as the Millennium Stadium ready and willing to stage speedway and a town like Cardiff which has much more going for it than the neighbourhood in which Wembley is situated. Goodness, Phil...! Think back to when we did have the WF at Wembley..: how would you have reacted to the suggestion, oh, we're going to stop using this venue in London and go to, er, Cardiff instead!! Wembley is in LONDON... - you know London? One of the greatest cities in the world and one of the most visited by tourists! Funny how all those tourists don't share this view that Cardiff's a better place!! And you're very behind the times about the facilities around the Stadium itself.. Besides which what would be wrong with an English GP at Wembley or the OS and a Welsh GP at the MS? Throw in Hampden Park for a Scottish GP too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 BUT they didn't have to lay a track at the old Wembley, just tart up the one that was permanently there. Of course they are worried about 'getting wet' as you put it. Why take the risk when there is such a fantastic facility as the Millennium Stadium ready and willing to stage speedway and a town like Cardiff which has much more going for it than the neighbourhood in which Wembley is situated. Rival it have both,?theres room surely someone like Barry Hearn would make a killing if he came in and used all his vast Knowledge of business.By the way Philip is Cardiff set in stone for ever now i am convinced Wembley could out do Cardiff even though Cardiff is a nice place shopping centre ect]. BUT they didn't have to lay a track at the old Wembley, just tart up the one that was permanently there. Of course they are worried about 'getting wet' as you put it. Why take the risk when there is such a fantastic facility as the Millennium Stadium ready and willing to stage speedway and a town like Cardiff which has much more going for it than the neighbourhood in which Wembley is situated. Cardiff having more going for it than London you are joking?you wouldnt spend the day around the neighbourhood would you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Nope and it never did for the World Finals of 1936-60, '62, '63, '65, '67, '69, '72, '75, 78 & '81...! As I recall none of these got rained off did they..?!! In those days, the fans would just have got wet. These days there's television schedules to think about, and as BSI derives a significant proportion of its income from that, they've obviously got to take that into consideration. That said, the 1992 World Final was interrupted by a huge downpour, and they still managed to complete it after they brought in a fire engine to pump off the water. Think back to when we did have the WF at Wembley..: how would you have reacted to the suggestion, oh, we're going to stop using this venue in London and go to, er, Cardiff instead!! Was it Jack Rollin who was working for the Speedway Star at the time, who famously objected to the World Final being moved anywhere but Wembley? Er, but the Millenium Stadium itself is for a "rectangular sport" and no probs laying a temporary track there!! Errr.. yes, but that's because the pitch was deliberately laid on pallets that could be moved. I suspect the likes of Wembley and Twickenham would be more reticent about having their hallowed turf damaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Errr.. yes, but that's because the pitch was deliberately laid on pallets that could be moved. I suspect the likes of Wembley and Twickenham would be more reticent about having their hallowed turf damaged. Twickenham certainly would but the Wembley authorities..? Nah not a chance, they'd hire it out for anything..! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Cardfiff is a city,has been for years City, and apparently a county as well these days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 City, and apparently a county as well these days... Sounds a tad greedy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Sounds a tad greedy! The British open at White City[ Sigalos took Nielsen from the back]? was a one off maybe Wembley could be the same again.Why not i think alot of people who support the GPS havent even seen it from the other side.What they no now, is all they no, that,s why i am a bit surprised with Philip,s attitude.He has vast knowledge and of course i respect his opinion but he is not that flexible.Wembley i believe could be rented i think someone with expertise and capital would do very well.Is there anybody who thinks maybe a one off event individual whatever could not attract 40,000? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midland Red Posted December 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 If not Wembley, what about Twickenham ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 If not Wembley, what about Twickenham ? Probably about as much chance as holding it in the Royal Albert Hall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 If not Wembley, what about Twickenham ? Midland Red anywhere, if i new that the money say 60/40 was going back into British speedway[60per cent speedway] would that be great, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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