British Speedway Promoters Meeting

[Trees]

It's all about the racing, soooo listen to the riders!

[BWitcher]

That's a problem that the two promotions near to me must address is it not? Presentation can be fixed in a nano-second. The key point you missed is, "if the racing was good you could get away with the other failings to a degree". If there is good racing then that provides a platform to fix the rest and it provides something that can be marketed. If the racing is no good......

I still don't buy into this 'good racing' brings in the crowds fallacy.

 

Which track in the EL for years has been getting plaudits for its great racing?.... Which one has gone out of business?

 

Meanwhile another track in the south-east and its not Eastbourne, is constantly criticised for its 'racing' yet seems to be one of the most stable clubs.

 

If Poole were bottom of the league, but with fantastic racing every week, they'd get half the crowds they would if they were top of the league with average racing

[oldtimer]

you spot on mate, agree with you totally..

It's mostly the older generation because we don't get bored so easily and are easily pleased.

[weatherwatcher]

A point on getting speedway noticed. I live 20 miles from my speedway stadium. I contacted my local daily paper, asking them if they could do a feature on the local teal. Was disguted by the response from the said newspaper.

The sports corespontent stated, that we where out of the area that thier newspaper published and they where not in the least interested in putting an article in the paper.

So if you can't get them to put anything in a paper about a speedway statdium just a few miles away from them then just tell me how else can you do anything to spread the word.

Unless you bother going on the internet, to see where speedway is being held, and a local rag can't be interested in doing anything,

then what chance have we got of helping the sport along.

Other than going around the area fly posting when the next meeting is.

I think sky could help to let people know when and what day and where the stadiums are, when they show the live matches.

All it would take is a feww moments before the racing started and it would probably help to draw some people along.

Lost for anything else we can do to help. If other people just don't give a thought that poeple in another area a few miles away from a stadium can't be bother to do a write up on the sport. All they are interested in in the paper are the local football teams.

And to be honest, what they write not once a week on the match but every day is just a load of old rubbish and could easily be filled with more interesting and varied items that would interest other readers.

Anyone got any ideas

[Guest]

A point on getting speedway noticed. I live 20 miles from my speedway stadium. I contacted my local daily paper, asking them if they could do a feature on the local teal. Was disguted by the response from the said newspaper.

The sports corespontent stated, that we where out of the area that thier newspaper published and they where not in the least interested in putting an article in the paper.

So if you can't get them to put anything in a paper about a speedway statdium just a few miles away from them then just tell me how else can you do anything to spread the word.

Unless you bother going on the internet, to see where speedway is being held, and a local rag can't be interested in doing anything,

then what chance have we got of helping the sport along.

Other than going around the area fly posting when the next meeting is.

I think sky could help to let people know when and what day and where the stadiums are, when they show the live matches.

All it would take is a feww moments before the racing started and it would probably help to draw some people along.

Lost for anything else we can do to help. If other people just don't give a thought that poeple in another area a few miles away from a stadium can't be bother to do a write up on the sport. All they are interested in in the paper are the local football teams.

And to be honest, what they write not once a week on the match but every day is just a load of old rubbish and could easily be filled with more interesting and varied items that would interest other readers.

Anyone got any ideas

 

A newspaper usually only covers sports which are based within their catchment area, i.e where they actually have sales outlets for their newspaper. Usually if they decline for this reason. most would advise you to contact and give details of a newspaper where the speedway track is based. Did you get back and ask the newspaper which turned down your bid to get coverage if they could advise you of an alternative?

Edited November 28, 2013 by Guest

[weatherwatcher]

yes the local newspaper there already do a good coverage. Shame one a few miles away can't do the same though.

[Humphrey Appleby]

A newspaper usually only covers sports which are based within their catchment area, i.e where they actually have sales outlets for their newspaper. Usually if they decline for this reason. most would advise you to contact and give details of a newspaper where the speedway track is based. Did you get back and ask the newspaper which turned down your bid to get coverage if they could advise you of an alternative?

Some local papers have produced decent coverage of speedway, but like speedway they're dying a slow death and I think have diminishing resources to really do anything much these days. I also suspect the readership of local papers is somewhat ageing, so I'm not sure they're the best way to gain more exposure for the sport.

[SteveLyric2]

Some local papers have produced decent coverage of speedway, but like speedway they're dying a slow death and I think have diminishing resources to really do anything much these days. I also suspect the readership of local papers is somewhat ageing, so I'm not sure they're the best way to gain more exposure for the sport.

Don't forget the readers of the 'online' version of local newspapers - not so aged as the readers of the actual printed copy!!

[A ORLOV]

Don't forget the readers of the 'online' version of local newspapers - not so aged as the readers of the actual printed copy!!

I would think many of all ages read the online versions, I do.

[John Leslie]

Synikalle-i have worked out who he is. It`s been like watching "through the keyhole" when David Frost(or was it Loyd Grossman) said "the clues are there ".

 

I`m pretty sure it`s someone with a Speedway past-maybe the goal-posts were moved,the ball was taken away and he`s pitched up somewhere else I don`t take all this masquerading as a poole fan either.

 

Synikel - A Walter Mitty Marketing guru pretending he's something he/she's not??? Surely not! Are we heading for a "he/she is KKS" revelation?

[Guest]

yes the local newspaper there already do a good coverage. Shame one a few miles away can't do the same though.

 

But if the track does not fall within what they term their catchment area they will not.

[mikebv]

Whilst many of the points made re marketing and the use of modern technology to do it, is laudable, the truth is speedway simply has to face many other challenges before even dreaming of orchestrating an IT inspired marketing campaign...

 

I sometimes think that the promoters have over the years had an almost arrogant outlook as to how they thought 'their sport' was perceived, however, finally, this year many of them seem to have had an alarming reality check and saw the need for action....

 

Given the sports' true stature in the grand sporting scheme of things, the sport to be honest on a local level would be better advertised akin to the way the local fair/circus does when it comes to town, ie flooding the town with posters everywhere, free tickets to local businesses, schools etc etc...

 

It's ironic that everyone knows when the circus or fair has hit town yet the same people wouldnt know that speedway permanently exists in the same town or city...

 

The only way for an orchestrated campaign to work would be for something along the lines of the NFL to take place, examples would be 'fair' rules around team strengths, rigid expectations and enforced rules re professionalism of the owners and equal collective sharing of media and merchandise income and those who run the sport are miles away from that happening.....

 

Most tracks seem to just need another 300 - 500 people a night to turn a profit therefore it is a sad indictment that whatever marketing campaign is used this may never be achieved..

 

Maybe this years 'reality check' will also see a less egotistical approach from those in charge with regards to facing up to what the sport really is and isn't and in the long run, a bit of 'back to basics' will naturally and organically move the sport forwards making it a more viable proposition to market more progressively in future.. ...

Edited November 29, 2013 by mikebv

[skthecat]

Speedway has issues, and some of the more fundamental ones are its not proper/serious sport because of;

 

1) Guest Riders

The uneducated potential fan does not understand why they are needed, probably put better would be surely the team sport runs a 7 man team, crikey!

And they only have 7 team members!!!!! Why have they not got a squad? (Heard newbies laugh at this...)

 

2) Only able to replace an injured heat leader (in meeting) with a reserve! !!? (Doesn't reward real trying) falls and can't ride again that night, gets replaced by reserve. (Again, see squad post) why not a substitute of equal ability? (Don't forget these are new to the sport people)

 

3) R/R week after week, why no squad replacement or sign replacement? (Again, new to sport people don't get it)

 

4) Match rained off (many hours or even day before!) Why? Its not raining now? (Newbie thinking)

 

5) Rider not riding because he's riding for another team, same country, different team????? (Newbie now thinks its not a real pro sport)

 

6) Is this team good enough to get promoted/poor enough to get relegated? ? (Yea, Gaz, [newbie] you don't get promoted or relegated, you can choose ti go up/down/stay where you are) When they have picked themselves up off the floor from laughing, they ask why!!!!

 

These are comments and thoughts from people who have been to say... a handful of matches and then don't go again, they are put off for life; and spend there £25 somewhere else...

 

Anybody disagree? How can we change these issues? We know as loyal fans why some of the above are necessary evils of our sport, newbies don't. . and don't come/go ti speedway again..

[manchesterpaul]

Sorry, haven't been there yet, it's so far north from where i live i got beaten back by polar bears when 30kms away.

 

Ooooh! be honest now, Jenny the Spudette won't let you out of the house lol.

 

Got to admit i do think speedway does lend itself to gladiatorial music and displays etc, you can see that when video collages are set to music they look very impressive and appealing. Although the sport even messes that up as with the mortifying embarrassing Cardiff Grand Prix Dracula/Batman/Whatever cape thing. As i said at the time i've yet to see Manchester United or any top/professional sports team come on to the field in such a manner. Yes the wrestling pantomime in America will likely do it but i'm talking about actaul competitive sport and not entertainment shows.

Edited November 29, 2013 by manchesterpaul

[Trevor]

Speedway has issues, and some of the more fundamental ones are its not proper/serious sport because of.....

 

 

You missed out the mockery of 'playing the Joker' and scoring double points when loosing! Trying to explain to my non-speedway wife, why a team should be allowed to score double points just because they are loosing was very difficult.

[The Doctor...]

 

Ooooh! be honest now, Jenny the Spudette won't let you out of the house lol.

 

Got to admit i do think speedway does lend itself to gladiatorial music and displays etc, you can see that when video collages are set to music they look very impressive and appealing. Although the sport even messes that up as with the mortifying embarrassing Cardiff Grand Prix Dracula/Batman/Whatever cape thing. As i said at the time i've yet to see Manchester United or any top/professional sports team come on to the field in such a manner. Yes the wrestling pantomime in America will likely do it but i'm talking about actaul competitive sport and not entertainment shows.

 

 

Haven't we been here already ?

 

Those capes were used as blackouts so that the riders wouldnt be seen til the spotlight came on. The slowness of a few riders made things look a bit daft, but in what world do you think they were going for a batman or dracula effect ?

 

We had this conversation on the weekend after the gp. Nothing has changed.

[Vince]

^{I find it difficult to imagine that somebody completely new to the sport gives a toss about guests, R/R, riders racing elsewhere. After all unless somebody tells them they wouldn't realise a lot of this for a while, explain that guests and R/R are a necessary evil because of the extreme danger of the sport and it would probably become an attraction! The only real exception being the joker in the SWC which is so blatant and even has a silly name to make the sport look bad.}

 

^{In my experience newcomers either love or hate Speedway within a couple of heats and it's little to do with anything other than their personal opinion of seeing four blokes flat out. In the long term all those other things may start to grate but not for newcomers in my opinion.}

Edited November 30, 2013 by Vince

[manchesterpaul]

 

As i said at the time i've yet to see Manchester United or any top/professional sports team come on to the field in such a manner. Yes the wrestling pantomime in America will likely do it but i'm talking about actaul competitive sport and not entertainment shows.

 

 

 

 

Haven't we been here already ?

 

Those capes were used as blackouts so that the riders wouldnt be seen til the spotlight came on. The slowness of a few riders made things look a bit daft, but in what world do you think they were going for a batman or dracula effect ?

 

We had this conversation on the weekend after the gp. Nothing has changed.

 

Indeed nothing has changed, so, be it because they were 'hiding in the dark' ooooooh! or whatever the inane reason for the capes was - i can only say...... i've yet to see Manchester United or any top/professional sports team come on to the field in such a manner. Yes the wrestling pantomime in America will likely do it but i'm talking about actual competitive sport and not entertainment shows.

 

Come back to me when you've got TV footage of Manchester United or Barcelona sneaking on to the pitch in the dark and then each player unveiling themselves from under a cape! Incidentally it doesn't make much difference AT ALL if the manner of unfurling the cape was done in the 'style' of emerging from hiding in the dark ooooooh!

 

For sheer banality it was on a par with Jon Cook's pending announcement a few years ago that had fans waiting in excited anticipation as he had proclaimed....."The Lakeside Hammers Elite League Speedway Club will be making an important announcement tomorrow.... This announcement will not relate to team matters but is likely to result in a great deal of interest not only from the Hammers supporters but also from Speedway supporters in general."

 

Turned out it was nothing other than a poor class individual meeting, i think a good majority of the field were second strings and Premier League riders....oh hey people!....so how is the resurrected London Riders Championship going since that initial great fanfare and claim of boosting and being wonderful for the whole sport??? has it gone from strength to strength? Have the attendances risen year on year? is it near the top of the best supported meeting of the year lists, well surely even if only at Lakeside? Has a world class field taken part every season? You know come to think of it i can't seem to recall who won the subsequent stagings? when were they staged? who won them? Surely it didn't go the way of the Knock-Out cup which underwent a fanfare due to a renewal with exciting changes? Those changes that had not only the fans but the riders not having a clue what gate, which RACE! or WHEN they were racing. Hmmm who was behind that farce? It certainly sounded the death knell for a competition that had lasted for years and through previous depressions in the sport.

 

I did actually hope the LRC would be a success, but strongly doubted it but i struggled to think if i had ever been soooooooo annoyed and deflated at 'breaking' news in speedway. Like most i was on tenterhooks waiting with bated breath for this announcement that would have some sort of life changing effect on any speedway fan. What a total shocker....i genuinely laughed out loud when i saw what it was all about.

I can picture 'litttle Jonnie Cook' when he was younger. "Mum! Mum! you must gather the whole family around tomorrow, i've got an amazing announcement to make it will affect everyone in the universe". "Yes mum i do know sis is an intensive care nurse but she'll just have to pull all the plugs out for one day only, she really needs to be here to listen to it in person"

 

Cue next day....everyone gathered around excitedly....mum says "ok Jon please please tell us we can't wait any longer" and Jon replies full of pride with an announcement that is forever cemented in the annals of mankind.... 'you know when i woke up on monday morning....i yawned!'

Edited November 30, 2013 by manchesterpaul

[Nikko]

Some interesting posts on here about marketing which I have only just had time to catch up with.

 

While I am not going to come down on one side or the other on the particular posts going on, let me tell you about speedway from my perspective, and that's someone who has been a speedway Commercial Manager for many years, has helped save a club (twice), has helped setup a new club, has been to marketing meetings at BSPA in Rugby and still is asked my advise from promoters and speedway track owners today.

 

Speedway in this country is slowly dying and one of the reasons is that a lot, not all, of the promoters are living in the past.

 

The marketing of speedway hasn't changed for years and it needs to.

 

Kids and young people are the future so the show has to keep the kids interested and don't forget they live in a world where everything has to happen fast and quickly.

 

Speedway as a sport should be made for this.

 

It's fast, it's dangerous that's what the kids want to see. They want excitement, thrills and spills.

 

They want to use social media to keep up to date with what's going on, chat rooms with the riders, pod casts with after meeting interviews.

 

It's all about the event, make it colourful, make it loud (if you can), make it exciting.

 

You go to some meetings and they are run the same way as they were in the 50s, 60s, 70s, but without the crowds. Slow boring meetings with lots of gaps with nothing happening

 

If you look at cricket with 20/20, the Red Bull X Racers events etc it's all about the event.

 

The biggest thing nowadays though is the internet, and speedway is shocking at this.

 

Most websites are, let's be honest, awful and very basic.

 

As above kids want interactive websites, podcasts, and use social media.

 

And now we come back full circle. Most current promoters don't like, want, or understand the internet yet it's their most powerful tool.

 

Here is a real example:

 

Last year I worked tirelessly with a professional web design company and we launched the official Kent Kings website for the club, but at the same time we launched a mobile version for iPhone and Andriod. It was massive, the hits we had were amazing. We setup a FB page, a twitter page, both very well received and popular, and both still very active today. We worked with sponsors on links or access to their sites. It was very successful.

 

The website was sponsored so it cost club nothing.

 

The problem, and here is the issue, is that the promotion didn't use the facilities set up, in fact they stated they didn't like the internet or want the internet, and didn't care what people said on the internet.

 

REALLY, this is your target audience!!!

 

The official Kent Kings site is still there, but only because the web design company are willing to keep it going for free at the moment as a favour to me, and I don't work for the club anymore!

 

You cannot run a successful business in this day and age with that attitude and I believe it's systematic of one of the problems with speedway in this country.

 

It needs to drag itself out of the past if it is to have a future.

[Jonny the spud]

Some interesting posts on here about marketing which I have only just had time to catch up with.

 

While I am not going to come down on one side or the other on the particular posts going on, let me tell you about speedway from my perspective, and that's someone who has been a speedway Commercial Manager for many years, has helped save a club (twice), has helped setup a new club, has been to marketing meetings at BSPA in Rugby and still is asked my advise from promoters and speedway track owners today.

 

Speedway in this country is slowly dying and one of the reasons is that a lot, not all, of the promoters are living in the past.

 

The marketing of speedway hasn't changed for years and it needs to.

 

Kids and young people are the future so the show has to keep the kids interested and don't forget they live in a world where everything has to happen fast and quickly.

 

Speedway as a sport should be made for this.

 

It's fast, it's dangerous that's what the kids want to see. They want excitement, thrills and spills.

 

They want to use social media to keep up to date with what's going on, chat rooms with the riders, pod casts with after meeting interviews.

 

It's all about the event, make it colourful, make it loud (if you can), make it exciting.

 

You go to some meetings and they are run the same way as they were in the 50s, 60s, 70s, but without the crowds. Slow boring meetings with lots of gaps with nothing happening

 

If you look at cricket with 20/20, the Red Bull X Racers events etc it's all about the event.

 

The biggest thing nowadays though is the internet, and speedway is shocking at this.

 

Most websites are, let's be honest, awful and very basic.

 

As above kids want interactive websites, podcasts, and use social media.

 

And now we come back full circle. Most current promoters don't like, want, or understand the internet yet it's their most powerful tool.

 

Here is a real example:

 

Last year I worked tirelessly with a professional web design company and we launched the official Kent Kings website for the club, but at the same time we launched a mobile version for iPhone and Andriod. It was massive, the hits we had were amazing. We setup a FB page, a twitter page, both very well received and popular, and both still very active today. We worked with sponsors on links or access to their sites. It was very successful.

 

The website was sponsored so it cost club nothing.

 

The problem, and here is the issue, is that the promotion didn't use the facilities set up, in fact they stated they didn't like the internet or want the internet, and didn't care what people said on the internet.

 

REALLY, this is your target audience!!!

 

The official Kent Kings site is still there, but only because the web design company are willing to keep it going for free at the moment as a favour to me, and I don't work for the club anymore!

 

You cannot run a successful business in this day and age with that attitude and I believe it's systematic of one of the problems with speedway in this country.

 

It needs to drag itself out of the past if it is to have a future.

Sad but oh so true. I remember getting daily ( and sometimes twice daily) press releases / updates on the kent twitter feed / website etc. sometimes I thought it was overload at times but still checked every day to see what was happening and then ...... It stopped. We know there's conflict at the club but to the casual observer they've ceased to exist. Even in the closed season people like to be kept informed. I follow a few clubs and riders on twitter and it's the best way of keeping up to date on what's going on. I'm nearly 50. If I get it , why can't the promotors ?? It seems to be a question of " I don't understand internet. Therefore it's rubbish"