British Speedway Promoters Meeting

[orion]

 

We fell into a trap, with good intent, of setting the regulations in order to save the struggling clubs. A huge contributing factor to the decline of British Speedway. In my opinion.

Spot on .

[seanmuffe]

Had two seasons. I went to many Buccs meetings at Poole - always tremendous enthusiasm and good turn out. Won the League & Cup double in the first season.

Are they still going now? No. So did Matt Ford decide to pull the plug on the experiment? Yes. Does that make the Bournemouth Buccs a failure?: not in any way.

No-one suggests a top club (and let's be honest they don't come any bigger than Poole!) running an NL club should have to do it for ever but there's no doubt it's a good idea; and I'm sure people actually involved with a club like the Buccs (as I was) will tell you it was a 100% fulfilling and worthwhile experience.

Thank you, when I went the crowd was impressive for that level,was surprised when the experiment was curtailed.

Doesn't quite add up surely it was a supply line for the Pirates?

[500cc]

One issue though is that the average age of a speedway supporter puts many of them in the group that don't understand what a podcast, app, smartphone etc etc is!!!!

 

You can put the speedway authorities in that category. Not sure if I can think of worst example of a business that has not only failed to embrace the modern social media but more pertinently is also actively antagonistic towards it's customer's who do.

 

I'm aware that by posting this I'm just adding further fuel to their view. I'm not a fan of social media, but have come to realise that is the new way of the world. Many of the rider's have grasped the reality and have enhanced their reputation by their behaviour in this environment. Whilst I appreciate its not easy, those with influence in the sport need to avoid the confrontation that occurs. Speedway does tend to specialise in criticising its customers.

[TMW]

Those clubs with a podcast (official or unofficial) could co-ordinate that!! One issue though is that the average age of a speedway supporter puts many of them in the group that don't understand what a podcast, app, smartphone etc etc is!!!!

But they already go. So no need to attract them!!!!!

ps. phone votes to a premium number at 50p a time??????? Tony Millard would be turning in his grave!!! God rest him!!

That's the problem constantly looking back. Tony would be doing cartwheels if there were more people on the terraces paying top riders wage.

 

The problem is there are too many 'mature' fans who reject any ideas to drag the sport kicking and screamimg into the 21st century and they just want to reminisce all the time but...... the 'good old days' don't pay modern wages i'm affraid.

 

I'm constantly being accused of not being a 'true' supporter or don't know what i'm talking about. All because I've only watched the sport since 2008 and know the square route of bugger all about 'the past'

Edited November 26, 2013 by TMW

[Tom Turner]

You can put the speedway authorities in that category. Not sure if I can think of worst example of a business that has not only failed to embrace the modern social media but more pertinently is also actively antagonistic towards it's customer's who do.

 

I'm aware that by posting this I'm just adding further fuel to their view. I'm not a fan of social media, but have come to realise that is the new way of the world. Many of the rider's have grasped the reality and have enhanced their reputation by their behaviour in this environment. Whilst I appreciate its not easy, those with influence in the sport need to avoid the confrontation that occurs. Speedway does tend to specialise in criticising its customers.

 

Exactly what I have been saying all along! They are completely out of touch and because they don't understand it they become hostile towards it. Typical old people. That is the reason speedway is on the decline and the changes agreed to at the AGM this year are the final nail in the coffin for British speedway.

 

We can all pretend this isn't true (why not, the BSPA have been for the last 10 years), but it is, and the longer the promoters take to react to this, the harder it will be to pull speedway out of this nose dive they are responsible.

But they already go. So no need to attract them!!!!!

 

That's the problem constantly looking back. Tony would be doing cartwheels if there were more people on the terraces paying top riders wage.

 

The problem is there are too many 'mature' fans who reject any ideas to drag the sport kicking and screamimg into the 21st century and they just want to reminisce all the time but...... the 'good old days' don't pay modern wages i'm affraid.

 

I'm constantly being accused of not being a 'true' supporter or don't know what i'm talking about. All because I've only watched the sport since 2008 and know the square route of bugger all about 'the past'

 

This hits the nail on the head. We really need to scream and shout about this until somebody listens. We know you are reading this promoters, take note before it's too late.

You need a product that is marketable. The EL Speedway I have viewed over recent years is neither fantastic or thrilling. Stupid complicated rules, poor governance and track preperation will never attract and retain newbies. How can you possibly entertain with such a gulf in ability / experience. Get the product right then you have something to market. I keep going as a harderned supporter knowing what it can be like.

 

We fell into a trap, with good intent, of setting the regulations in order to save the struggling clubs. A huge contributing factor to the decline of British Speedway. In my opinion.

 

The product we had in 2012 was not ideal but it was marketable, and we could of built upon that. The product agreed to at this years AGM is completely unworkable and will be a shockingly poor and boring product, it is no different to a pub watering down it's drinks. The crowds will drop like flies!

 

I know for a fact in 10 years time (maybe even 2 or 3) I will be saying "I told you so", but it will be a very hollow victory on my part indeed.

[Vince]

 

The product agreed to at this years AGM is completely unworkable and will be a shockingly poor and boring product, it is no different to a pub watering down it's drinks. The crowds will drop like flies!

 

I know for a fact in 10 years time (maybe even 2 or 3) I will be saying "I told you so", but it will be a very hollow victory on my part indeed.

 

Considering that we don't actually know exactly what has been agreed to at this years AGM yet that is a stroke of pure genius on your part!

[SteveLyric2]

Why do you assume the 2014 product will be 'shockingly poor and boring'? There is absolutely no evidence to support that! If the revised race format gets it right and we have riders of similar ability in the same heats then the racing should be ok. Also if there's a local Brit lad in at least one of the reserve places, then that gives all local and social media something to bang their drum about as well as the top riders!!

[Starman2006]

Thank you, when I went the crowd was impressive for that level,was surprised when the experiment was curtailed.

Doesn't quite add up surely it was a supply line for the Pirates?

Not at all. Matt did it with the best intentions.

[weatherwatcher]

I must be an odd one out not only do I still go to speedway I take my son-in-law and my 2 grandsons to watch speeway and they love the youngest grandaughter is still a little bit to young to go but, She will be there in the grandstand on a race night.

Perhaps if more children where brought along to watch the sport instead of letting them stay at home play on their computer games or what ever then we would have that younger generation watching.

I do my bit for the sport, why not get it back to what it was a family occasion. With poor old grandad being pushed shouting about the old days with his son or daughter and all the screaming kids in tow.

That is the only way to get the sport to continue. Because without the sons and daughters and the granchildren the sport will be, just 4 riders riding around a track, with no one there to watch them and that time will be here before we know it.

Get the kids from off their phones, computer, or in front of the telly and take them along.

Some will hate it, other will love it and they will be the spe3edway fans of the future.

All the moans and groans will achive nothing. It is up to the parents to do what is need..

It is the only way to go forwad to the future. Full Stop

[Gemini]

I could never get my two interested in speedway, in spite of being dragged around all over the country to watch it when they were small. Once they were in their teens and old enough to stay at home that's what they did. (Have you ever tried to make a teenager do something they don't want to?) I took my son, daughter-in-law and 2 granddaughters to Peterborough in the 1990's because I knew the racing was good there and they could sit in the grandstand to watch. It was a terrific match and Coventry won by one point. They enjoyed it but they've never been since.

I greatly admire my friends at Coventry who go as a family with their two sons and one wife, (the other isn't too keen) plus their 5 year old grandson.

[spencebel]

I have two daughters, eldest one has always been interested in speedway ever since she was a little girl, does not go much now, only odd times (money).... Goes to Cardiff though. Other daughter loved in when she was little (Stoke riders at the

time would take the both of them on the truck at the end of the meeting, also any collections that they had , they would

come and fetch them to help..... Stopped speedway in her early teens, and now shows no interest whatsoever....

[TMW]

I could never get my two interested in speedway, in spite of being dragged around all over the country to watch it when they were small. Once they were in their teens and old enough to stay at home that's what they did. (Have you ever tried to make a teenager do something they don't want to?) I took my son, daughter-in-law and 2 granddaughters to Peterborough in the 1990's because I knew the racing was good there and they could sit in the grandstand to watch. It was a terrific match and Coventry won by one point. They enjoyed it but they've never been since.

I greatly admire my friends at Coventry who go as a family with their two sons and one wife, (the other isn't too keen) plus their 5 year old grandson.

I agree I have 1 that does(boy 23) 1 who will come if pressured(boy 26) and 1 that flatly refuses(girl 20).

[Bryce]

Likewise. I used to take both my kids to Lakeside with me. My son (19) still attends, but my daughter lost interest when she turned 15. The main attraction for my son is the ability to wander round the pits prior to the meeting. He loves all the technical stuff and would happily stand watching the mechanics work for hours. Speedway offers so much accessability for the fans to the riders, nuch better than any other sport. This is an aspect that should be promoted more.

[Hodgy]

Considering that we don't actually know exactly what has been agreed to at this years AGM yet that is a stroke of pure genius on your part!

Maybe we know enough to hazard a dam good guess. What's the point in watching the same riders race each other. Team Speedway is about racing against everyone at some stage of the meeting, in most cases. I'm all for promoting the Brits but don't really want to see Blackbird scoring a 9 point max by beating Josh Bates 3 times.

[Vince]

Each to their own but I would much prefer to see 4 riders line up with every one of them having a realistic chance of scoring decent points.

[foamfence]

Maybe we know enough to hazard a dam good guess. What's the point in watching the same riders race each other. Team Speedway is about racing against everyone at some stage of the meeting, in most cases. I'm all for promoting the Brits but don't really want to see Blackbird scoring a 9 point max by beating Josh Bates 3 times.

He won't get a 9 point max, they have four rides.

[Tom Turner]

 

Considering that we don't actually know exactly what has been agreed to at this years AGM yet that is a stroke of pure genius on your part!

 

We already know enough to come to the conclusion it will be rubbish!

 

Why do you assume the 2014 product will be 'shockingly poor and boring'? There is absolutely no evidence to support that! If the revised race format gets it right and we have riders of similar ability in the same heats then the racing should be ok. Also if there's a local Brit lad in at least one of the reserve places, then that gives all local and social media something to bang their drum about as well as the top riders!!

 

Why do I assume it will be shockingly poor and boring? Because it is obvious!

 

This post pretty much sums it all up:

 

Each to their own but I would much prefer to see 4 riders line up with every one of them having a realistic chance of scoring decent points.

 

Anybody who truly believes our speedway will be anything near entertaining or even good value next season are out of their minds. Just go on YouTube now and look at some Polish Ekstraliga or Swedish Elitseriean and then tell me you still believe our speedway will be able to hold a candle to theirs?

 

I don't care if you will attend no matter what, and I couldn't care less about "real fans" paying out hard earned money for a frankly insuperior product. The fact of the matter is there is only supposedly "real fans" left, and that's the reason why there is no money in the sport. Social Media won't give a toss about British riders, it will only respond to the best riders involved in the best action.

 

We aren't trying to attract "real fans", we are trying to attract thousands of new attendees! Speedway need's to be run like a business, not a charity. Why is this so hard for some people to understand?

Edited November 26, 2013 by Synikalle

[New Science]

How do you know this? Fact or speculation?

 

£80,000 can go a very long way when it comes to online marketing but it does have to be in the right hands.

 

I know you are reluctant to accept marketing but it is absolutely essential. Speedway is a fantastic and thrilling sport! There is nothing wrong with the product, there is simply not enough people who know about it.

There are plenty of people who know about speedway but now choose not to attend because the speedway they were watching was neither thrilling or exciting !

How do you know this? Fact or speculation?

 

£80,000 can go a very long way when it comes to online marketing but it does have to be in the right hands.

 

I know you are reluctant to accept marketing but it is absolutely essential. Speedway is a fantastic and thrilling sport! There is nothing wrong with the product, there is simply not enough people who know about it.

Why isn't this exciting and thrilling speedway on TV every week ? Edited November 26, 2013 by New Science

[Tom Turner]

There are plenty of people who know about speedway but now choose not to attend because the speedway they were watching was neither thrilling or exciting !

Why isn't this exciting and thrilling speedway on TV every week ?

 

Doesn't that further emphasise my point that the product should not be diluted further? Who are these "plenty of people"? I have spoken to every friend I've made and every colleague I have worked with about speedway at one point or another and I don't recall a single one who had previously been to or heard of speedway. This exciting and thrilling speedway is on TV every week... but being on TV is not enough to drive attendances. Have you ever discovered a sport on TV and then converted into a regular attendee? Has a single person on this forum discovered speedway through Sky Sports? I don't think they have.

[ColinMills]

 

Doesn't that further emphasise my point that the product should not be diluted further? Who are these "plenty of people"? I have spoken to every friend I've made and every colleague I have worked with about speedway at one point or another and I don't recall a single one who had previously been to or heard of speedway. This exciting and thrilling speedway is on TV every week... but being on TV is not enough to drive attendances. Have you ever discovered a sport on TV and then converted into a regular attendee? Has a single person on this forum discovered speedway through Sky Sports? I don't think they have.

couldn't agree more, when you go to work to next day, you ever here anyone talking bout the match on tv last nite?..