EssexPanther Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Until the sport adopts a professional approach both on and off the track its not going anywhere. The fact that the BSPA website currently makes hardly any mention of Panthers demises shows how much they care. If a major club walked away from any other sport it would be headline news immediately. I rest my case your honour! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Although the loss of a team is never good, there was scant sympathy from many in the Peterborough direction when their previous owner closed down Oxford and essentially ensured it will never re-open. Now sadly their time also seems to have come. It's astonishing though, to read the grumbling about the league being continually watered down etc.. etc.. Why is not understood that teams have been living far beyond their means for far too long, sustained only by the television 'largesse' and fan promoters with more money than sense? Speedway is in absolutely desperate straights and its whole survival is now at stake - far from wasting ever money on trying to attract 'stars' who turn up when they please and do nothing to improve the profitability of the sport, the league needs to be going back to basics. If using more part-time NL standard riders is what it ultimately needs to survive, then so be it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) The fact that the BSPA website currently makes hardly any mention of Panthers demises shows how much they care. If a major club walked away from any other sport it would be headline news immediately. I rest my case your honour! Your comment reflects how important speedway is to the sports media. Coverage of sport by the media is reflected in attendances figures from which they calculate a per centage as readership - I think its 10 per cent. So for a 1,000 crowd at Peterborough that's a possible 100 readers spread over several mainstream newspapers. Overall, calculate on the basis that in a week attendance figures for all tracks has been estmated at 32,000 overall making 10 per cent 320 people who want to read about it in a national newspaper. Divide that 320 by say six newspapers means each has a possible 53 readers interested in speedway - not quite enough to take Man Utd, Chelsea or Steven Gerrard out of the headlines. Edited November 18, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudflaps Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 It was the inbred clowns that nearly killed speedway not Frost. What have Kings Lynn fans got to do with this sorry state we find ourselves in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irk Deflector Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Although the loss of a team is never good, there was scant sympathy from many in the Peterborough direction when their previous owner closed down Oxford and essentially ensured it will never re-open. Really!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crump99 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) Although the loss of a team is never good, there was scant sympathy from many in the Peterborough direction when their previous owner closed down Oxford and essentially ensured it will never re-open. Now sadly their time also seems to have come. It's astonishing though, to read the grumbling about the league being continually watered down etc.. etc.. Why is not understood that teams have been living far beyond their means for far too long, sustained only by the television 'largesse' and fan promoters with more money than sense? Speedway is in absolutely desperate straights and its whole survival is now at stake - far from wasting ever money on trying to attract 'stars' who turn up when they please and do nothing to improve the profitability of the sport, the league needs to be going back to basics. If using more part-time NL standard riders is what it ultimately needs to survive, then so be it. Horton should never have been allowed to be at the helm of two clubs. In fact most of the intelligencia thought that he shouldn't be in charge of one club. Panthers fans didn't want him anywhere near Oxford so who sanctioned it? We could have gone down with Oxford so self preservation sets in at such times. We know that speedway is living beyond its means, we've been told that for years. It's astonishing that the BSPA didn't realise that and bring in changes gradually over several seasons when speedway was in a reasonable state. Speedway is in a huge mess (at EL level (can we still call it Elite?) anyway) and they come up with a dogs dinner which must be done. I hope your faith in the establishment is justified, it looks like I'll not be watching speedway's Grand Design! Edited November 18, 2013 by Crump99 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Your comment reflects how important speedway is to the sports media. Coverage of sport by the media is reflected in attendances figures fom which they calculate a per centage as readership - I think its 10 per cent. So for a 1,000 crowd at Peterborough that's a possible 100 readers spread over several mainstream newspapers. Overall, calculate on the basis that in a week attendance figures for all tracks has been estmated at 32,000 overall making 10 per cent 3200 people who want to read about it in a national newspaper. Divide that 3200 by say six newspapers means each has a possible 530 readers interested in speedway - not quite enough to take Man Utd, Chelsea or Steven Gerrard out of the headlines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAST Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Trev Likewise, Speedway has lost another 3 fans here, Its on 'black days' like this when you tot up how much is spent on :- Season tickets Transport Food Speedway related clothing Speedway Star Sky Sports Movies and Sport TIME That you realise how much opportunity cost has been wasted over the years. What we will miss the most is the people and the banter - not sure we will miss the bodged up product mislabelled as "Elite League Speedway 2014' Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcatdiary Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Although the loss of a team is never good, there was scant sympathy from many in the Peterborough direction when their previous owner closed down Oxford and essentially ensured it will never re-open. Now sadly their time also seems to have come.It's astonishing though, to read the grumbling about the league being continually watered down etc.. etc.. Why is not understood that teams have been living far beyond their means for far too long, sustained only by the television 'largesse' and fan promoters with more money than sense? Speedway is in absolutely desperate straights and its whole survival is now at stake - far from wasting ever money on trying to attract 'stars' who turn up when they please and do nothing to improve the profitability of the sport, the league needs to be going back to basics. If using more part-time NL standard riders is what it ultimately needs to survive, then so be it. Humphrey I object to that, I and many other Panthers fans were disappointed when Oxford closed not least because it was a track close enough to travel too to watch my team. Oxford fans voted with their feet when Horton put the team together and that's why Horton pulled out, all EL clubs struggle with crowds ALL of them, Panthers are no worse than many others so if Peterborough are losing thousands do you really think the rest are any different, Birmingham cough, Swindon cough, and I was told that even Poole were struggling with crowds by someone who would know. The league needs to pay less to riders, pay what they can afford, if that's only £75 a point then that's it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirates Of Poole Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Very sad news to hear. Sadly EL racing could not be supported with the amount of people coming through the gates, that is the fact. I'm sure someone will step in and make it fantastic PL/NL club and I'm sure sustainable. Its just these horrible times of just not knowing, a lot of clubs have been there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crump99 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Trev Likewise, Speedway has lost another 3 fans here, Its on 'black days' like this when you tot up how much is spent on :- Season tickets Transport Food Speedway related clothing Speedway Star Sky Sports Movies and Sport TIME That you realise how much opportunity cost has been wasted over the years. What we will miss the most is the people and the banter - not sure we will miss the bodged up product mislabelled as "Elite League Speedway 2014' Terry Good to hear from you Tel, not for much longer unless there's a miracle of some sort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semion Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Awful News. really sad that British Speedway will lose ( IMHO) the best racing circuit we have. I guess No one can blame Frost for walking away if he has done 500k on the Sport, there must come a time when the ligght bulb cmes on and he thinks of better things to do with his dosh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crump99 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Awful News. really sad that British Speedway will lose ( IMHO) the best racing circuit we have. I guess No one can blame Frost for walking away if he has done 500k on the Sport, there must come a time when the ligght bulb cmes on and he thinks of better things to do with his dosh. It's like you dropping 5p: Frost added: “There are losses at Peterborough every year but myself and Julie are very fortunate in that our companies make a lot of money. “Without wishing to sound blasé, it is not big bucks to us. Financing the club has been part of our advertising and branding budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Why did Frost pay his riders money he couldn't afford? He knew what the crowd numbers were, he's been involved for long enough! Have to say it was always top dollar to support Lynn at Boro, be it carparking, entrance or programme! Let alone the £30 diesel cost! Always enjoyed the racing/banter though :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 I think the added problem of fitting in more fixtures, with the established difficulties of regular availability of the EOES, may also have been an issue! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Nothing to do with money then!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crump99 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Nothing to do with money then!!!!! Apparently http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/speedway/speedway-news/losses-on-and-off-the-track-won-t-drive-away-the-panthers-owners-1-5631561 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudflaps Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Humphrey I object to that, I and many other Panthers fans were disappointed when Oxford closed not least because it was a track close enough to travel too to watch my team. Oxford fans voted with their feet when Horton put the team together and that's why Horton pulled out, all EL clubs struggle with crowds ALL of them, Panthers are no worse than many others so if Peterborough are losing thousands do you really think the rest are any different, Birmingham cough , Swindon cough, and I was told that even Poole were struggling with crowds by someone who would know. The league needs to pay less to riders, pay what they can afford, if that's only £75 a point then that's it. Far Cough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Nothing to do with money then!!!!! I did say 'added' problem!! When you're losing money anyway due in part to low crowds, why commit to extra stadium rentals and costs etc?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudflaps Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) When you're losing money anyway due in part to low crowds, because of pissing around with the race night,, Who wants to watch regular home speedway meetings on a Monday night? Who wants to tackle the M11/A14/A1 on a Friday night? Thursday was always the best race night at the EOES in my opinion - a great night out building up to the weekend without having to worry about SGP's? Edited November 18, 2013 by Flyin Panther Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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