spin king Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Did think that this was a bit of bluff, but thinking about it the Sheffield Promotion have insisted that they will be competing in the 2nd section of the play offs although they were not certain to finish 2nd from bottom, so could be element of truth. I hope not the sport can ill afford to lose another track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinny Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 One thing is for sure, threatening the fans with closure wont tempt fans back, we had it at Newport last season and crowds didnt pick up at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Judging by the success of his company outside of Speedway, it suggests he`s a very able person and businessman. I see parallels here with Leicester in the sense that Hemsley is a thoroughly successful person outside of Speedway but he`s targeted no doubt partly due to his success. Of course, there's no suggestion Leicester are struggling but it does seem that at leicester, at Workington,and elsewhere so-called fans demand everything but they are the ones who can for a whole number of reasons can chose not bother to attend - work, childcare, unemployment, change in circumstances, the last match was crap, the team is woeful, we are winning by too many, just getting bored with it, we are not winning enough, a new relationship, its on Sky - but the promotors have to be there and they don't get to choose which bills they have to pay! Lets be frank about it, most of the tracks in the UK are being funded and subsidised by promotors out of their own pockets and perhaps occasionally fans should realise that and stop knocking them at every conceivable turn. Its obvious some promotors do themselves no favours but in the main they are fans who have done fairly well in life and are effectively funding most fans Speedway entertainment most weeks out of their own pockets. Fine post Not sure you will get the chance to read it, but there was a terrific article about promoters in last Friday's Edinburgh programme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roo Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 read on the newspaper website that denham claims someone said they fans should only have to pay half price last weekend because the comets had three guests. what a mentality. no wonder comets fans have a reputation in certain quarters. what else could he do? sign three riders for the sake of it? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballroom Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 One thing is for sure, threatening the fans with closure wont tempt fans back, we had it at Newport last season and crowds didnt pick up at all. I see, Denham spends all his own personal money funding yours (if you are a Comets fan) and other peoples entertainment. Would you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buttons Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Speedway is now too expensive and costs have to be lowered, which means less rider wages, not that they don't deserve what they get and more but some riders want too much such as a big signing on fees, help with machinery, help with accomodation, and the problem is Speedway has not got enough support to warrant this outlay, on the other hand look at the cost riders have to pay for tuning, servicing etc.. Perhaps if Speedway brought in standard machinery which would be cheaper for the rider to maintain, which in turn would make rider costs lower, then hopefully costs through the turnstyles could be cut encouraging supporters back through the gates, just an idea don't know if it could work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arson fire Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 So lunchtime approaches at work and sitting here pondering over not seeing my beloved Comets race again . What a thought !!! Then suddenly it came over me, on a lighter note (well I'm trying ) oh my god who would I support , would it be the Newcastle Diamonds and Rough Park , .......quick I need a double vodka Howay pet you know it makes sense 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan 1991 Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Is the threat to close right now, surrendering all the assets, rights to league share-out of big-event income and bond -- or to complete season and then close or sell the club and assets on? People criticise the BSPA, but they don't half get some problems thrust upon them! Here's the thing. Since they have not completed their PL programme with two home matches against Leicester and Berwick to be fitted in by this weekend, immediate closure would require ALL Workington results to be expunged from table. Would this change the standings? Indeed, would Ipswich find themselves "promoted" to play-offs? Ippo might get an extra bonus of a bye into the league cup final too every cloud has a silver lining eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KEITH M Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 read on the newspaper website that denham claims someone said they fans should only have to pay half price last weekend because the comets had three guests. what a mentality. no wonder comets fans have a reputation in certain quarters. what else could he do? sign three riders for the sake of it? Depends on the choice of guests as I know Newcastle were not happy with the make up of Plymouths team last week and the crowd was well down because of it. Bet Newcastle would of been happy if all the missing fans had of paid half price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Speedway is now too expensive and costs have to be lowered, which means less rider wages, not that they don't deserve what they get and more but some riders want too much such as a big signing on fees, help with machinery, help with accomodation, and the problem is Speedway has not got enough support to warrant this outlay, on the other hand look at the cost riders have to pay for tuning, servicing etc.. Perhaps if Speedway brought in standard machinery which would be cheaper for the rider to maintain, which in turn would make rider costs lower, then hopefully costs through the turnstyles could be cut encouraging supporters back through the gates, just an idea don't know if it could work. Buttons, a lot of people have been saying the same on here and for a few years now, me included. But I fear that it will only happen when it will be too late. However, if the penny does eventually drop, perhaps speedway will rise from the ashes, but with a different model and structure. Other motor sports have done it, such as road racing and that is now a success as moto gp and the superbikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandit59 Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Read all the posts on here dont know what the answer is pleased the Berwick promotion reduced helped me all i can say hope Workington Comets are allowed to finish their fixtures and are still running next year 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJC71 Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Haven't read all of the posts but isn't it true that promoters have to pay some sort of licence fee to the BSPA (someone mentioned as much as 30 grand) and wouldn't get it back if the track closed? If there's any truth in that you would think he'd be desperate to sell not close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciderman Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Ippo might get an extra bonus of a bye into the league cup final too every cloud has a silver lining eh? didn't want to but must "knobhead" 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinny Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 I see, Denham spends all his own personal money funding yours (if you are a Comets fan) and other peoples entertainment. Would you? Certainly not am just saying, newport also had expensive teams and low crowds but constant threats in the press done us no favours at all Id never invest in a speedway club in this day and age unless i had a bottomlessnpit of millions and millions and i give a certain amount of respect to anyone who does invest but just like the malletts at newport, people were longing for a successful business man like denham to come in and splash the cash and since he has it just hasnt worked out sadly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backless Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Virtually since Day One, it's been "my way or the highway" with Denham. Add that to the recession & the rain and it's an overpowering combination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kester Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 (edited) Actually Leicester charge £15 for adults and Coventry's went up to £17 this season but concessions are the same price - £13. Agree with you though speedway is too expensive for the amount of racing we see. I'm not sure that argument, regarding 15 mins of racing, stacks up. When you you go to a sporting event you pay for the event, regardless of length. Otherwise speedway would cost £2.50 and one day cricket £150, it doesn't work like that. If I look at my local non league football club, Halesowen Town, who play in some lowly tier, it costs £8 to get in - and that's to watch plumbers and postmen play football. For £17 I could watch Moseley rugby club in the second tier of British rugby (I think- can't be bothered to check it up). I can watch the current world championship leader ride a speedway bike for the same cost. What's more If a PL club cuts admission costs to £10, with presumably similar discounts to concessions, then each promoter is going to need another 50% extra fans to turn up just to be in the same position. If Worky, or any other club, did so would another x hundred fans suddenly turn up and then keep on turning up, I'm really not sure they would Edited September 18, 2012 by Kester 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roo Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 (edited) Depends on the choice of guests as I know Newcastle were not happy with the make up of Plymouths team last week and the crowd was well down because of it. Bet Newcastle would of been happy if all the missing fans had of paid half price pricing is a big part of the financing and whatnot, where figures will be used to project income and a break even points. it doesnt really make financial sense to alter the budget in hope that it will have a massive effect on the crowd. if people dont want to watch guests, i don't think reducing the price to 7.50 for one week will put 800 back on the crowd. 15 x 500 people equals 7,500 in taken revenue, 7.50 x 1300 equals 9,750. it would be financial suicide, considering those 800 fans would've only raised an extra 2.5k, meaning he'd still be 500 down. bare in mind this is the best case scenario, if they had reduced the admission and even an extra 500 turned up, then he'd be making the same as he did off 500 at full price. only hope in hell they'd have by dropping prices is banking on A) these extra supporters turning up, and B ) them spending money on extras such as food and drink. it would be financial suicide to try that on a dreary, wet september night with a massive rugby match the following day. to make that work, they shouldve done it during the summer, on a weekend where the weather was good, before the football season started and when workington town were away on the sunday. they could have offered an extra dimension to the product, some other attraction on or gimmick whilst also offering cheap speedway. also where there was a full team to support, this extra, one off income would go some way to cover any such rainy days in future. Edited September 18, 2012 by roo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 I'm not sure that argument, regarding 15 mins of racing, stacks up. When you you go to a sporting event you pay for the event, regardless of length. Otherwise speedway would cost £2.50 and one day cricket £150, it doesn't work like that. If I look at my local non league football club, Halesowen Town, who play in some lowly tier, it costs £8 to get in - and that's to watch plumbers and postmen play football. For £17 I could watch Moseley rugby club in the second tier of British rugby (I think- can't be bothered to check it up). I can watch the current world championship leader ride a speedway bike for the same cost. By the same token, you can watch a Grasstrack meeting for around £10.00, including programme and watch race after race for about 4 hours, which I call value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan 1991 Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 didn't want to but must "knobhead" Try reading the post i was responding to do you honestly believe as a comets fan i get pleasure from someone else taking our place in competitions?.It was a sarcastic reply obviously wasted on you ,and you call me a dickhead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kester Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 By the same token, you can watch a Grasstrack meeting for around £10.00, including programme and watch race after race for about 4 hours, which I call value. You can and it is. But that can be done due to the calibre of rider and the amount of money they'll be taking from a meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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