Guest Posted December 27, 2014 Report Share Posted December 27, 2014 This in-depth article reflects SGP attendance trends prior to this season. Has there been any indication for 2014 on which way attendances are going? http://www.methanolpress.com/speedway-grand-prix-series-average-attendances-fall-continues-in-2012-2013/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 This in-depth article reflects SGP attendance trends prior to this season. Has there been any indication for 2014 on which way attendances are going? We can only guess because I don't think the FIM publishes official attendances any more - which probably says something in itself. In any case, the official figures were often suspiciously rounded, so were probably lower than what was published anyway. NZ was certainly down, presumably the same with Copenhagen if it's being moved to a smaller stadium. Riga was a disaster, and I think the Polish GPs saw substantial declines in 2014 (although womens' basketball tournaments will no doubt be blamed for that ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 (edited) Think i saw a figure of around 12,000 for Copenhagen,which was very surprising as i seem to recall the figure being 25,000 or so when i was there a couple of times in the last around the turn of the decade!!!!Maybe memory playing tricks.And of course we had the Bydgoszcz disaster and the clash with the mighty womens basketball game Edited December 28, 2014 by iris123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 Nz was up on 2013, though well down on 2012 still. 9000-10000 seems to be the consensus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 I find it odd how british Speedway is always the poor relative, yet pulls the biggest GP crowd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike.Butler Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 Because over a period of time the promoters have alienated much of the potential speedway going public who are left with just one remaining meeting that still appeals. However the Cardiff 40K will tail off as fewer younger faces attend bread and butter meets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 I find it odd how british Speedway is always the poor relative, yet pulls the biggest GP crowd. Britain probably still has the biggest latent fan base - possibly bigger even than Poland. Poland also distributes it's potential audience across three GPs that are held in limited capacity stadia. Obviously this is done because speedway is largely a regional sport in Poland, and because Polish cities were, at least until recently, prepared to spend silly money to attract a GP. I think as well, Cardiff is marketed as something of a shop front for BSI. Promotion of the other GPs is limited to non-existent, but the British GP gets some attention and is of course the only GP held in Britain. It will be interesting to see how Warsaw does next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 (edited) Think i saw a figure of around 12,000 for Copenhagen,which was very surprising as i seem to recall the figure being 25,000 or so when i was there a couple of times in the last around the turn of the decade!!!! Allegedly that's because most of the fans come from Jutland and are put off by the price of the bridge. Not that they weren't years ago when they still had to come over the bridge... Maybe they could move the Danish GP to Legoland to be closer to the fans, racing on an experimental surface of lego bricks rather than shale? Edited December 29, 2014 by Humphrey Appleby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Maybe they could move the Danish GP to Legoland to be closer to the fans, racing on an experimental surface of lego bricks rather than shale? would remove the need for the surface materials to be stored in a climate and moisture controlled facility.in fact, you could stack it in a variety of shapes, not just a cylinder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 (edited) Allegedly that's because most of the fans come from Jutland and are put off by the price of the bridge. Not that they weren't years ago when they still had to come over the bridge... Maybe they could move the Danish GP to Legoland to be closer to the fans, racing on an experimental surface of lego bricks rather than shale? I know Phil comes out with some strange stuff sometimes,but he might have a point.It could well be a combination and that probably plays a part over a few years.Also what got me is that as everyone is travelling the same route back to Jutland(and i then went south to Hamburg)the queues at the petrol stations etc were massive and i think i had about a 30 minute wait to get served just to pay for some petrol as lots were buying beer,fags,food...... Was probably my mistake to go that route instead of the ferry to Puttgarden,but the Danes don't have that option.But whether that would put thousands off going??? I'd think more likely the number would be in the hundreds Edited December 29, 2014 by iris123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Was probably my mistake to go that route instead of the ferry to Puttgarden,but the Danes don't have that option.But whether that would put thousands off going??? I'd think more likely the number would be in the hundreds The toll is (what) EUR 53 for a day return, or slightly more for a weekend return? Fairly expensive, but not in the grand scheme of things if you take into fuel, beer, parking and general Danish prices. I'd think it's far more attributable to the recession and the novelty of Parken having worn off. There's only so many times you can watch poor racing on temporary tracks, and maybe also, Swedish fans were coming from the other direction and are no longer doing so. How are attendances holding up at domestic Danish meetings in the past couple of years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 The toll is (what) EUR 53 for a day return, or slightly more for a weekend return? Fairly expensive, but not in the grand scheme of things if you take into fuel, beer, parking and general Danish prices. I'd think it's far more attributable to the recession and the novelty of Parken having worn off. There's only so many times you can watch poor racing on temporary tracks, and maybe also, Swedish fans were coming from the other direction and are no longer doing so. How are attendances holding up at domestic Danish meetings in the past couple of years? 2012 clashed with the European Championship Denmark v Netherlands match. Speedway is very Jutland centric in Denmark - Slangerup is the only senior track on Zealand Must admit I was surprised when I looked up the Danish attendances: 2009 2014 Holsted 1532 1964 Esbjerg 1457 2948 Slangerup 1090 1139 Fjelsted 967 977 Grindsted 805 1507 Brovst 644 --- Vojens 555 --- Holstebro 484 1976 Munkebo --- 1274 Outrup --- 667 League Ave: 942 1556 up 65% It suggests to me that the British Elite League will soon slip to number four position in the world Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 THINK it is true, as HA alluded to, that the novelty of PARKEN wore off and let's not forget the cost and availability of hotel accommodation in Copenhagen and the fact that there was a second GP in Vojens last year which attracted an attendance in excess of 20,000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f-s-p Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 I know Phil comes out with some strange stuff sometimes,but he might have a point.It could well be a combination and that probably plays a part over a few years.Also what got me is that as everyone is travelling the same route back to Jutland(and i then went south to Hamburg)the queues at the petrol stations etc were massive and i think i had about a 30 minute wait to get served just to pay for some petrol as lots were buying beer,fags,food...... Was probably my mistake to go that route instead of the ferry to Puttgarden,but the Danes don't have that option.But whether that would put thousands off going??? I'd think more likely the number would be in the hundreds For many years (I was there 2004 and 2009) SGP was on the same week as some sort of a medical conference. Hotels were always booked that week. You had to have your trip sorted 6 months prior to have a selection of your bed. And even when you had some selection, it was from 150 euros double room upwards. It all adds towards the point, when you just decide that a 6pack and snacks on your own sofa is better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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