Berwick 2015

[Arson fire]

about time people get behindjohn and the boys put up or shut up

Biged is constantly behind him surely??

[screm]

I'd been told of a rumour going around but I would be shocked if that was anything other than garbage!

 

Agree, that rumour is barking up the wrong tree.

[Goodiepatchie]

 

Agree, that rumour is barking up the wrong tree.

were not going EL again !!!

[bigeddiechek]

Biged is constantly behind him surely??

 

Hoy!

 

[screm]

were not going EL again !!!

 

The PL may not be perfect but giving the state the EL has been in over the last few seasons would you really want to.

[Robinh88]

PL is certainly the best league Britain has to offer

[YAMYAMBANDIT]

I'm going to come to the aid of Taffy here.

He does more than a lot to financially support speedway in Berwick (I include myself).

 

Great to see he is supporting 2 local youngsters this season.

 

To question his support is a bit insulting really.

Thank you Scott ( what you after)

 

A thought Scott, instead of the promotion constantly asking the fans to part with their cash to support our financially ailing club. What about the club finding ways of reducing the direct costs to themselves by finding sponsorship for riders point money as one example, it does not give them money directly, but reduces the expendeture side of the business. It does appear at times that the club is blaming the fans for not supporting them financially when they could do much more to help the situation themselves. By getting more advertising in the programme and around the stadium at a sensible price, the prices at the moment are more than double of other local sports clubs (Berwiick Rangers, Berwick Rugby Club), Look at any other area where the club pay their riders directly, and find a way of getting sponsors to cover the cost, again reducing the cost to the club. The fan should only be asked on thing, please attend every week and try and bring a friend ( thats OK if you have any). Perhaps a serious look at the people they use to sell, sales is a very demanding and specialised field, and should bot be undertaken by someone who is giving it a go.

[topsoil]

Thank you Scott ( what you after)

 

A thought Scott, instead of the promotion constantly asking the fans to part with their cash to support our financially ailing club. What about the club finding ways of reducing the direct costs to themselves by finding sponsorship for riders point money as one example, it does not give them money directly, but reduces the expendeture side of the business. It does appear at times that the club is blaming the fans for not supporting them financially when they could do much more to help the situation themselves. By getting more advertising in the programme and around the stadium at a sensible price, the prices at the moment are more than double of other local sports clubs (Berwiick Rangers, Berwick Rugby Club), Look at any other area where the club pay their riders directly, and find a way of getting sponsors to cover the cost, again reducing the cost to the club. The fan should only be asked on thing, please attend every week and try and bring a friend ( thats OK if you have any). Perhaps a serious look at the people they use to sell, sales is a very demanding and specialised field, and should bot be undertaken by someone who is giving it a go.

Its a good point raised that sales is a specialised field, speedway in general and each club individually, could gain a lot by hiring dedicated sales contractors. Yes, I realise this will not be cheap, but hire them on a part time basis? This is taking nothing away from the people who currently do this job, on a voluntary basis, they are doing a thankless task. But a very good sales person could maybe be the difference between a sponsorship deal with a nationwide company rather than a local builder for e.g.

[YAMYAMBANDIT]

Its a good point raised that sales is a specialised field, speedway in general and each club individually, could gain a lot by hiring dedicated sales contractors. Yes, I realise this will not be cheap, but hire them on a part time basis? This is taking nothing away from the people who currently do this job, on a voluntary basis, they are doing a thankless task. But a very good sales person could maybe be the difference between a sponsorship deal with a nationwide company rather than a local builder for e.g.

In general, I think it's time to look at a different way of bringing in the finance to run a club, it's not fair to keep asking the fan to give more and more, a general concensus from the fan is that it feels like there is constant begging bowl, and they have become resentful of it.

[screm]

Its a good point raised that sales is a specialised field, speedway in general and each club individually, could gain a lot by hiring dedicated sales contractors. Yes, I realise this will not be cheap, but hire them on a part time basis? This is taking nothing away from the people who currently do this job, on a voluntary basis, they are doing a thankless task. But a very good sales person could maybe be the difference between a sponsorship deal with a nationwide company rather than a local builder for e.g.

 

Some decent points, though as you say bring in a dedicated sales person to sell the club to potential sponsors wont come cheap, especially if they come in with no prior interest in speedway as it would be a job of work to them. Maybe someone like that could be incentivised by a getting a percentage of any sponsorship brought to the club, more sponsors, bigger sponsors equals bigger pay out.

[bigeddiechek]

Thank you Scott ( what you after)

 

A thought Scott, instead of the promotion constantly asking the fans to part with their cash to support our financially ailing club. What about the club finding ways of reducing the direct costs to themselves by finding sponsorship for riders point money as one example, it does not give them money directly, but reduces the expendeture side of the business. It does appear at times that the club is blaming the fans for not supporting them financially when they could do much more to help the situation themselves. By getting more advertising in the programme and around the stadium at a sensible price, the prices at the moment are more than double of other local sports clubs (Berwiick Rangers, Berwick Rugby Club), Look at any other area where the club pay their riders directly, and find a way of getting sponsors to cover the cost, again reducing the cost to the club. The fan should only be asked on thing, please attend every week and try and bring a friend ( thats OK if you have any). Perhaps a serious look at the people they use to sell, sales is a very demanding and specialised field, and should bot be undertaken by someone who is giving it a go.

 

You know that I am pretty balanced with my views Taffy, you know when we chat that I appreciate you (and other guys) who support behind the scenes.

It's one of the reasons why I get a bit peeved when people take cheap shots on here.

 

Getting sponsorship is a difficult one, as is getting in sales "professionals".

Businesses are very tight for cash and sponsorship really has to be either from a passion for the club and the sport, or part of a large organisations overall marketing plan.

It is a very difficult thing to sell. I think if you look at the number of adverts in the programme and the number of associate sponsors, the club does pretty well. I'm sure they will be the first to say that they would like it to be better still.

 

I have had highly variable results when buying in sales generation, my overall conclusion was that it is ineffective. It's a difficult thing to buy in.

 

Cutting overheads, which is I think what you are getting at, is crucial. How it is done, where the responsibility lies: I really don't know. Probably in a number of areas. Riders, machinery, flights, travel: but, I'm really just guessing. I certainly don't see a lot of obvious overspending and decadence in the sport.

 

I also strongly agree that all you can ask of the fans is to come along every week and support the club. My £20 was just a little bit of Devilment on here, I think the cost of speedway is fair, probably pitched at the right level. The £12 for the footy match I went to was about right, but nowhere near as entertaining as the speedway.

 

Interesting points Taffy.

[Fromafar]

With ALL Promoters complaining regarding losing money you have to ask what do they discuss at the Annual AGM. They certainly don't come up with any radical ideas regarding cutting losses.Plenty of Ideas have been suggested by people within the sport.

[Robinh88]

drinking women and football probably...

 

Men's general topics of conversation

[topsoil]

With ALL Promoters complaining regarding losing money you have to ask what do they discuss at the Annual AGM. They certainly don't come up with any radical ideas regarding cutting losses.Plenty of Ideas have been suggested by people within the sport.

This is what annoys me, and I would think a lot of speedway fans. Look at the pages of Speedway Star on any given week and you will read about nearly every promoter complaining about losing money. Fair enough, they are the ones who put their money up, they are the ones who have to make up the deficits. But every year they have a get together to sort out the running of the sport. If things were that bad, you would think they would at least give the impression they were doing things about it. But instead of looking at fundamental changes, increasing the rider pool, TV deals, improving facilities, track covers, safety, training facilities, owning their own stadiums, they concentrate on tactical rides, taking a point of the team strength here or there, nothing of which does the sport any good.

[Robinh88]

Claus Vissing's Polish team declared bankcrupt, chucked out of 2 liga

Best track in the world, a sad say for myself and Claus

 

He must have been looking forward to emulating Czestochowa's favourite No 11

[YAMYAMBANDIT]

 

You know that I am pretty balanced with my views Taffy, you know when we chat that I appreciate you (and other guys) who support behind the scenes.

It's one of the reasons why I get a bit peeved when people take cheap shots on here.

 

Getting sponsorship is a difficult one, as is getting in sales "professionals".

Businesses are very tight for cash and sponsorship really has to be either from a passion for the club and the sport, or part of a large organisations overall marketing plan.

It is a very difficult thing to sell. I think if you look at the number of adverts in the programme and the number of associate sponsors, the club does pretty well. I'm sure they will be the first to say that they would like it to be better still.

 

I have had highly variable results when buying in sales generation, my overall conclusion was that it is ineffective. It's a difficult thing to buy in.

 

Cutting overheads, which is I think what you are getting at, is crucial. How it is done, where the responsibility lies: I really don't know. Probably in a number of areas. Riders, machinery, flights, travel: but, I'm really just guessing. I certainly don't see a lot of obvious overspending and decadence in the sport.

 

I also strongly agree that all you can ask of the fans is to come along every week and support the club. My £20 was just a little bit of Devilment on here, I think the cost of speedway is fair, probably pitched at the right level. The £12 for the footy match I went to was about right, but nowhere near as entertaining as the speedway.

 

Interesting points Taffy.

I think it's time to look at a different way of cutting costs for the club by raising funding in alternative ways, instead of going for the cash strapped fan every time, as has been said, the BSPA as a whole are fundamentally at fault for not coming with a radical new structure in running speedway, with the main aim of cutting costs across the sport. They always come up with a stop gap idea for saving small amounts of money, getting rid of bonus points springs to mind, saves a bit of cash for the club, while at the same time bringing in new rules that significantly increase the cost to the riders, inevitabely this cost will come back onto the clubs in increased point money to cover the cost. Perhaps it's time to go back to the beginning, and simplify the whole sport.

 

Cost of entry is a hard one to get right, £15 in Edinburgh, Glasgow & Newcastle might be right but could be too expensive for Berwick. Ineresting bit of statistics this week on Berwick, it is the 3 rd highest amount of employed people on minimum wages not attaining 'The Living Wage'. Berwick has been in the bottom 10 lowest paid areas in the UK for a long period now.

Edited February 28, 2015 by TOURETTES

[bigeddiechek]

I think it's time to look at a different way of cutting costs for the club by raising funding in alternative ways, instead of going for the cash strapped fan every time, as has been said, the BSPA as a whole are fundamentally at fault for not coming with a radical new structure in running speedway, with the main aim of cutting costs across the sport. They always come up with a stop gap idea for saving small amounts of money, getting rid of bonus points springs to mind, saves a bit of cash for the club, while at the same time bringing in new rules that significantly increase the cost to the riders, inevitabely this cost will come back onto the clubs in increased point money to cover the cost. Perhaps it's time to go back to the beginning, and simplify the whole sport.

 

Cost of entry is a hard one to get right, £15 in Edinburgh, Glasgow & Newcastle might be right but could be too expensive for Berwick. Ineresting bit of statistics this week on Berwick, it is the 3 rd highest amount of employed people on minimum wages not attaining 'The Living Wage'. Berwick has been in the bottom 10 lowest paid areas in the UK for a long period now.

 

Agree with most of that.

I think you have to agree that the Promotion have worked hard and kept prices comparatively low compared to a lot of other PL tracks.

 

They ever tried £10 a meeting and it made no difference whatsoever - I still can't figure that one out.

So dropping prices is risky as hell as you can very easily end up losing even more money.

 

Dropping costs to riders and clubs looks to be imperative to me, as sponsorship in the current climate is very difficult to secure.

 

I don't know anything about the supporters club changes, other than Lisa's post shed some light on it for me.

But the VIP offering looks to be a reasonable way of offering something extra for fans that want to pay a bit extra for a VIP experience, and purely individual choice, not forced in any way.

 

It's all a tough one, and I certainly don't have the answers!

[BBSC]

Apart from getting discount in the box providef you get 35 people in its the same that supoorters club offered for £10 as you say uts up to the individual

[YAMYAMBANDIT]

 

Agree with most of that.

I think you have to agree that the Promotion have worked hard and kept prices comparatively low compared to a lot of other PL tracks.

 

They ever tried £10 a meeting and it made no difference whatsoever - I still can't figure that one out.

So dropping prices is risky as hell as you can very easily end up losing even more money.

 

Dropping costs to riders and clubs looks to be imperative to me, as sponsorship in the current climate is very difficult to secure.

 

I don't know anything about the supporters club changes, other than Lisa's post shed some light on it for me.

But the VIP offering looks to be a reasonable way of offering something extra for fans that want to pay a bit extra for a VIP experience, and purely individual choice, not forced in any way.

 

It's all a tough one, and I certainly don't have the answers!

I don't follow why certain people chose to pick a fight with the supporters club, from my perspective they have done everything and more to accomodate the demands from the club. The VIP club has the same benefits that the supporters club had previuosly, so other than control I see no benefit to changing anything. The members of the supporters club are the reason why events happen, they are the doers in Berwick, it is the same people that run the dances, the same people who run The Supporters Club Hall of Fame, the same people who oganise the busses for away trips. My understanding is the Supporters Club will continue to organise everything they did before and more, and will still support speedway in Berwick in any way they can. The only difference I can see is, they will make their own decisions they feel are beneficial. Havn't got a clue why they have had to create their own logo, and have to operate wholly without the stadium but hey! if they are still going to do the same good work, then long may they prosper.

Apart from getting discount in the box providef you get 35 people in its the same that supoorters club offered for £10 as you say uts up to the individual

Supporters club is now £5 for adults £2.50 for kids, because all the benefits that were previously given from the Supporters club have been withdrawn.

 

Worth noting, they are running a bus down to Sheffield for Ricky Ashworths day, £10 for supporters club members £20 for non members.

[screm]

I think it's time to look at a different way of cutting costs for the club by raising funding in alternative ways, instead of going for the cash strapped fan every time, as has been said, the BSPA as a whole are fundamentally at fault for not coming with a radical new structure in running speedway, with the main aim of cutting costs across the sport. They always come up with a stop gap idea for saving small amounts of money, getting rid of bonus points springs to mind, saves a bit of cash for the club, while at the same time bringing in new rules that significantly increase the cost to the riders, inevitabely this cost will come back onto the clubs in increased point money to cover the cost. Perhaps it's time to go back to the beginning, and simplify the whole sport.

 

Cost of entry is a hard one to get right, £15 in Edinburgh, Glasgow & Newcastle might be right but could be too expensive for Berwick. Ineresting bit of statistics this week on Berwick, it is the 3 rd highest amount of employed people on minimum wages not attaining 'The Living Wage'. Berwick has been in the bottom 10 lowest paid areas in the UK for a long period now.

 

While there`s no doubt the BSPA could've done more surely the biggest hike in costs in the last few seasons has been on equipment, titanium parts, silencers etc, that has lead to riders looking for better contracts from the clubs. Non payment of bonus points was a wrong move as it meant team mate racing against team mate as well as the opposition riders, though surely some clubs must pay bonus points still.

Simplifying equipment might be the way forward, Honda did look at that a few seasons ago, but nothing came of it, IMO we need a motorcycle company to mass produce an engine that could be used right across the sport, maybe even to the extent of clubs buying the bikes to supply their riders, sadly that is never likely to see the light of day.