mickthemuppet Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Although the last two GP's have been excellent, it is a worrying feature this year that the crowds have been down. It looked like the smallest Parken crowd I have ever seen. The Swedish GP at Ullevi was the worst ever there. Let's face it Goteberg is not a Speedway city anymore with no speedway clubs there. It must be only a matter of time before they stop having GP's there. The Czech GP at Marketa was only half full. Even Leszno had big gaps in the crowds which is most unusual for a Polish GP. which used to be sellouts. What with the Olympics ,the cost of petrol , people not using their cars as much and the downward trends of attendances how much of this will affect Cardiff GP. Looks like these are quite worrying times and they will certainly not be expanding the rounds in GP's if this trend goes on. They are more like to contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Although the last two GP's have been excellent, it is a worrying feature this year that the crowds have been down. It looked like the smallest Parken crowd I have ever seen. The Swedish GP at Ullevi was the worst ever there. Let's face it Goteberg is not a Speedway city anymore with no speedway clubs there. It must be only a matter of time before they stop having GP's there. The Czech GP at Marketa was only half full. Even Leszno had big gaps in the crowds which is most unusual for a Polish GP. which used to be sellouts. What with the Olympics ,the cost of petrol , people not using their cars as much and the downward trends of attendances how much of this will affect Cardiff GP. Looks like these are quite worrying times and they will certainly not be expanding the rounds in GP's if this trend goes on. They are more like to contract. Why do you continually have a downer on the GP`S ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryW Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 I would think it almost certainly was the smallest Parken crowd, but the unfortunate clash with Denmark playing their first match in the Euro championships almost certainly explains that. I am sure on any other weekend the Parken crowd would have been nearer it's normal size, although maybe not quite the same as there seemed to be less Poles than usual, who have possibly stayed home and saved their money for the football. As for the other ones you mention. The problems with the recent years at Gothenburg will undoubtedly have taken their toll, and I would be surprised if the contract is renewed when it expires after next year. Prague has certainly seen it's crowd appear to shrink, which isn't a great surprise as it has gotten itself a reputation as one of the dullest tracks in the series. Despite what you say about Polish GP crowds, Leszno hasn't been even close to full in any of the recent years, and the changes to the stadium and related change in ticket pricing looked to shrink the crowd slightly further this year. Whether Cardiff can survive a drop this year will be interesting to see. As you say, the economic climate isn't great and there are a few other major sporting events for people to be splashing their cash on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DEAN MACHINE Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 i went to the the czech gp and it was full pretty much all the way round except for the big main stand where the expensive tickets were , when you can watch a czech league match for around £3 on the day before its hardly surprising that many czechs didnt want or could afford to pay £50+ to sit and watch a gp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickthemuppet Posted June 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Why do you continually have a downer on the GP`S ? Rather a silly statement when I start off with " the last two GP's have been excellent " As the crowds at the GP's have been down this is just stating facts not a downer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchesterpaul Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 (edited) A lot of pertinent points in this translated article http://www.nyheterna...slaar-till-igen With a gravedigger thrift pulls speedwayens sovereignty back and do the most to bury the origin and the real with the speedway.Country resort and permanent speedway stadiums. The latest is that the World Cup organizer, BSI, is set to the new National Stadium in Stockholm. Cheating and mutbygget Friends Arena in Solna. Somehow it feels like BSI has come to the right ...Up in the capital, cheering, of course, so-called experts and other speedway fans. And with the new organization, SSI, sitting Board and rubs his hands. We remember very well the proposed SSI came with a few months ago, to arrange league matches at Friends Arena. Even fyrlagsmatcher. Law Dackarna, Vetlanda and the pirates would have to run their home games in Stockholm.Talk about stupid proposal and that rural clubs are fighting against stupidity. clubs said no, and could say no to this proposal from SSI. But the BSI can not clubs or SSI do so much. And SSI will NOT do anything but stand with hat in hand and welcomes Paul Bellamy, Managing Director of BSI Speedway. SSI is on the same wavelength as BSI - the speedway to run in the big cities.Well, the Premier League and Division 1 may safely provinces get to keep. There's not much money to squeeze out. I personally think that both SSI and BSI are on a short track. It is clear that there will be GP races in Sweden next year in Stockholm and Gothenburg. Målilla get a pat on the shoulder and thanks for the interest. What the genuine speedway audience thinks rubbishs both SSI and BSI in. The big cities draws VIP fans, but certainly not the large audience that BSI fantasize about. 13 000 saw the GP race in Gothenburg for a few weeks ago, despite the good weather. As many looks GP races in Målilla. Guess which stadium is by far the highest mood? Any facility that does not leave a single spectator unmoved? A half empty or fulsatt Ullevi stadium in Målilla? And how will it feel with 15,000 at Friends Arena - which enroll 50,000 people? desolate is probably only the first name. I'm pretty sure that Målilla only need to sit out the next year before the BSI realizes that Booth is incredibly empty without G & B Arena in the GP series. It becomes Gothenburg receiving step back. Now, if we dare to be sure of anything when BSI or SSI involved. Edited June 12, 2012 by manchesterpaul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 As the crowds at the GP's have been down this is just stating facts not a downer. And the facts are where exactly? All I've seen are opinions so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchesterpaul Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 We're getting another great year of Grand Prix speedway and i can only see it going from strength to strength. One thing where i do think they get it repeatedly wrong is in the pricing of the tickets, simply too high many a time. The prices 'Dean Machine' quotes above of the 'expensive' seats in comparison to the local market is something i've mentioned several times over the years. I remember reading an article about three or four years ago which described the Czech GP as a circus coming to town but out of reach of the locals. It stated there were relatively few Czechs in the stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasseHolmqvist Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 Why not give free tickets out; WWE just to do that and look where they are now. Worth way more than the SGP series and all the speedway clubs in the world combined. Bet you have all the action figures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 Why not give free tickets out Quite simply because local promotions have to pay to stage GPs and need to try to recoup those costs. For those GPs promoted by BSI themselves, I'd imagine they also have substantial hosting costs that need to be clawed back. Whilst people are willing to pay the prices, they're going to keep charging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 (edited) They could take a leaf out of the restaurant game and do a pay what you can afford deal.Or even better pay after the meeting on your way out, what you think it was worth...... Edited June 12, 2012 by iris123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPNY Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 I was watching the Lezno GP on stream and just before the telecast started, it was interesting hearing NP say to Tatum that there definatly not as many people here this year (obv didnt realise people could here them..) How much lower was Parken this year? Lower then 20k? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 I was watching the Lezno GP on stream and just before the telecast started, it was interesting hearing NP say to Tatum that there definatly not as many people here this year (obv didnt realise people could here them..) How much lower was Parken this year? Lower then 20k? I would say yes-the top section on the 3rd/4th bend was curtained off-the TV coverage definately concentrated on the more populated sections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Crowds do look down in general which is understandable in the economic climate I suppose,Cardiff will be the real test if the trend is down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted June 24, 2012 Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 Although the last two GP's have been excellent, it is a worrying feature this year that the crowds have been down. It looked like the smallest Parken crowd I have ever seen. The Swedish GP at Ullevi was the worst ever there. Let's face it Goteberg is not a Speedway city anymore with no speedway clubs there. It must be only a matter of time before they stop having GP's there. The Czech GP at Marketa was only half full. Even Leszno had big gaps in the crowds which is most unusual for a Polish GP. which used to be sellouts. What with the Olympics ,the cost of petrol , people not using their cars as much and the downward trends of attendances how much of this will affect Cardiff GP. Looks like these are quite worrying times and they will certainly not be expanding the rounds in GP's if this trend goes on. They are more like to contract. Another worrying sign last night with blocks of empty seats at Gorzow for the Polish GP.Reading the speedway star the crowds in Poland seem to be significantly down in League racing.With only a 17,000 capacity this is the 2nd round in Poland which has attracted a below par crowd. Traditionally the Gorzow club used to fill this stadium with their own supporters for league matches,could the Poles be falling out of love with speedway ?.BSI may be thinking twice about potentially taking the Sgp to a huge stadium in Warsaw away of the speedway heartlands.What with the increased costs and having to promote it themselves this would be a large financial gamble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted June 24, 2012 Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 MANY of the people I spoke to over the weekend said that, as in most European countries right now, people have less money to spend, some have been going to the Euro soccer championship but most significant was the lack of Polish representation. Last year they had Gollob, Hampel, Holta and Kolodziej. With TG on the decline and with Hampel out many of the fickle Polish fans, who want to see one of their own win, ducked out. But it is a concern. Torun's league crowds are down by 3,000. Reason? Lack of a winning team I was told. However, GP at Torun is already a sell-out with only a few of the top priced seats still available and they will go shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted June 24, 2012 Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 Certainly the pricing of the tickets wasn`t to blame-the later one booked the cheaper the price-under £20 before Saturday, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pawel115 Posted June 24, 2012 Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 (edited) Tickets are too expensive for lots of Poles when you consider that casher at supermarket in Poland takes home about 1000 polish zloty a month paying 1/10 of it for speedway ticket is a lot there was a long discussion about that during yeaserdays GP,lots of people simply cant afford it Edited June 24, 2012 by pawel115 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 MANY of the people I spoke to over the weekend said that, as in most European countries right now, people have less money to spend, some have been going to the Euro soccer championship but most significant was the lack of Polish representation. Last year they had Gollob, Hampel, Holta and Kolodziej. With TG on the decline and with Hampel out many of the fickle Polish fans, who want to see one of their own win, ducked out. But it is a concern. Torun's league crowds are down by 3,000. Reason? Lack of a winning team I was told. However, GP at Torun is already a sell-out with only a few of the top priced seats still available and they will go shortly. Interesting to see another poor crowd in Poland for the 1st round of the world cup.On paper this meeting seems to have the lot,Home nation Poland involved,the meeting at Bydgoszcz in Polands speedway heartland and a venue without a GP for 2 years,Bydgoszcz legend Gollob returning,cheap ticket prices and good weather.I'm sure the organisers will be disappointed this event has not caught the Polish public's imagination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 Interesting to see another poor crowd in Poland for the 1st round of the world cup.On paper this meeting seems to have the lot,Home nation Poland involved,the meeting at Bydgoszcz in Polands speedway heartland and a venue without a GP for 2 years,Bydgoszcz legend Gollob returning,cheap ticket prices and good weather.I'm sure the organisers will be disappointed this event has not caught the Polish public's imagination. I was thinking the same thing with the camera shot of the empty seats in front of the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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