waiheke1 Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 the fact is that its not just speedway where cluns are struggling for survival. Pretty much all the premier league football teams make a loss. In NZ, the stronghold of wolrd rugby, one of our major Rugby unions (Otago) had to be bailed out to save it from extinction . In the World's best Rugby League comp, the NRL , many teams are battling to stay afloat. It's the nature of sport that teams will spend money they don't have to get ahead of their rivals. Cricket has possibly shown the way to go, reinventing itself in the form of 20/20 to drive revenues up by making a version hich is tv firendly, adn friendly to casual vieers, much as purists may vie this as "horing itself." I'm a test fan myself, but 20/20 has in some ways ensured the survival of test cricket by driving up revenue streams. The thing is, clever marketing doesnt need to cost a fortune - social media is basically free. Why don't clubs spend a bit of money sprucing up their facilities, have a decent bar playing moden music, invest in a decent sound system and have a different up and coming local bands play a set (couple fo songs before the meeting, couple of songs in the tractor grading and interval, a couple at the end), put together some clips (crashes, close races, set to some decent music) and put them on youtube/facebook. If you're going to have start girls, pay a bit of money to have ones ho can actually dance and look like they are enjoying themselves. Make sure meetings are regular, even if only once a fortnight. Invest in quality track covers , so it doesnt matter if its pelting with rain the day before or the morning of the meeting, unless its pelting when the meeting is running it can be run. Meetings to be all over in an hour and a half, so people can then head off to do whatever else they want to do ith their evening (and parents can bring their kids knowing the meeting wont still be going at ten o clock). Just thoughts anyway, but i think if the sport is to thrive, the emphasis needs to be on improving the quality of the whole speedway experience, not trying to find ways to save a few quid (though obviously i'm sure there are arears where savings can be made without reducing quality). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Nick Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 I am fairly certain that any efforts to restrict riders from EU countries is against the law. But no reason why restrictions should not be placed on riders from non-EU countries/ At least, that's my assesment of employment law as it currently stands. It can be done if all the promoters agree. There are no Poles in the Premier League. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 I remember the compulsory 2 point British rider that every side had to have back in1986. None of them, as far as I remember, went on to be anything but a poor reserve. I may be wrong though. Can anyone name all the 2 pointers from that year. one English 2 point rider comes to mind who did well that started at reserve jason crump. There are probably a number of others,I think 2 Brits in a team would be a good thing and then in 5 years time up it to 3 Brits,however the sport needs to invest in track time for these British kids. Anyone know the costs of overseas riders compared to a local Brit ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 one English 2 point rider comes to mind who did well that started at reserve jason crump. yes, but he didn't start as a mandatory English 2 pointer. Plenty have started out there careers as 2 or 3 point riders, the point was that they didn't do so due to a rule mandating they be given a chance, they were given a chance because they showed they were good enough 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReturn Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 Should never happen , teams places should be given on merit not charity plus the bigger teams would just paid bigger money to the better brits also what happens when one of these brits get injured ..yet again another idea that put the crowds down and loses more money that it would save . You dont care about British Speedway then, just your own club? For the good of British Speedway, within 5 years it should be at least 4 British riders per team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 You dont care about British Speedway then, just your own club? For the good of British Speedway, within 5 years it should be at least 4 British riders per team. Of course i care about British Speedway haveing 4 or 5 Brits who are not very good will mean crowds will go down to nl level and teams will go under ..be a great day for speedway thou 4 people you can't turn a corner being cheer on by 150 fans . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 You dont care about British Speedway then, just your own club? For the good of British Speedway, within 5 years it should be at least 4 British riders per team. Out of interest, which 40 British riders would you like to see in the Elite League? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Turner Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 You dont care about British Speedway then, just your own club? For the good of British Speedway, within 5 years it should be at least 4 British riders per team. So we are actively recruiting now? The only way such a feat would be possible is if British Speedway were to address the most important issue first which is growth. There are a lot of very simple modern day marketing techniques being blatantly missed by promoters in the UK. When these issues are addressed speedway will be able to grow again. Bigger crowds = more money. More money pays for the sponsorship of British riders, assistance with their equipment and tools, and a leg up on the international circuit. Then we will be in a position where British riders will of earned positions on their own merit. By forcing teams to adopt a policy of compulsory British riders you will struggle to fill quotas and see inexperienced riders of a much lesser standard in our leagues. In an ideal world this would be the opportunity they need to succeed with regular racing experience, but in reality the level of racing would decrease and as a result of this crowds across the UK would be reduced and there would be even less money to support British riders who now due to their lack experience riding with the best riders in the world stand little to no chance of developing on to the international circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Potter 2 Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 Out of interest, which 40 British riders would you like to see in the Elite League? Bit difficult to answer as there are only about 42 British riders racing in the Elite & Premier Leagues. Out of a total of 161 riders. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 Bit difficult to answer as there are only about 42 British riders racing in the Elite & Premier Leagues. Out of a total of 161 riders. Oh well. That's the Premier league down The Swanee then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 Oh well. That's the Premier league down The Swanee then. If IT goes - it will take the so called Elite League with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 If IT goes - it will take the so called Elite League with it. I think you're missing the point. If, as someone suggested, there should be 40 British riders in the Elite League, then pretty much all the British riders in the Premier League would have to ride in the Elite League. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Potter 2 Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 I think you're missing the point. If, as someone suggested, there should be 40 British riders in the Elite League, then pretty much all the British riders in the Premier League would have to ride in the Elite League. Or scrap the Elite League as against Trade Description Act. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted September 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 I think you're missing the point. If, as someone suggested, there should be 40 British riders in the Elite League, then pretty much all the British riders in the Premier League would have to ride in the Elite League. Fourty riders is unrealistic but as SCB suggested one is that to much to ask?. If they were all at the level of say Ellis Kerr,Howarth,Birks, not a problem anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyfan Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 (edited) Edinburgh and Glasgow fans would love having 2 compulsory ENGLISH riders in their teams. The same as the English teams fans would love to have 2 compulsory SCOTTISH riders in their teams!!! Edited September 4, 2013 by scottyfan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryW Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 Andy Phillips at wolves went on to make a British final and possibly even an England cap. being biased but i thought declan eccles was the pick of the bunch, think he averaged about 4.5 that season, but also suffered major injuries - he was pretty wild- and don't think he rode speedway again.Barry ayres was the other aces rider, whittakrr and graves at Bedford, surname and de'ath? at oxford, fry and leaver at ch, cobby and Phillips at wolves, that's about all i can do off the top of my head. Sean Wilson at Sheffield was surely the pick of the 2 pointers in 1986. Of course, he would always have made his way into a team regardless of whether that rule had been there anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 Sean Wilson at Sheffield was surely the pick of the 2 pointers in 1986. Of course, he would always have made his way into a team regardless of whether that rule had been there anyway! i didn't realise he was one of the two pointers , yes he was comfortably better than the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 (edited) Or scrap the Elite League as against Trade Description Act. The Elite league name Would pass with flyingl colours unlike the Premier league name . Edited September 4, 2013 by orion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 The Elite league name Would pass with flyingl colours unlike the Premier league name . You reckon. :rofl: :rofl: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Potter 2 Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 The Elite league name Would pass with flyingl colours unlike the Premier league name . But how can it be the Elite of the Elite When it has the premier League riders who are supposedly not the Elite of the Elite. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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