Poll: Age Of Speedway Fans....

[pugwash]

It's gustix.

[ruffdiamond]

It's gustix.

 

'gud laad',,,

[dirtdodger]

i'v waited 60+ years to be a boring old f--t so now I'm gonna enjoy it ,so there!

[weatherwatcher]

I can fall into 2 catagories as I am now 63 coming on to 64 and go to at least more than 3 meetings a year and also take my grandson and his dad if not working and my grandsons friend is going to start coming with us this season.

So an old timer who like to get the younger generation involved in our sport.

[customhouseregular]

I can fall into 2 catagories as I am now 63 coming on to 64 and go to at least more than 3 meetings a year and also take my grandson and his dad if not working and my grandsons friend is going to start coming with us this season.

So an old timer who like to get the younger generation involved in our sport.

Good for you.

[Gemini]

Surely I'm not the only female admitting to be 'Over 60' and a Speedway fan? I'm feeling very lonely all on my own......which is probably why I always have my dog Lucy with me. I miss her.

Edited February 8, 2015 by Gemini

[uk_martin]

Surely I'm not the only female admitting to be 'Over 60' and a Speedway fan? I'm feeling very lonely all on my own......which is probably why I always have my dog Lucy with me. I miss her.

 

First question is whether users of BSF are a representitive sample of the cross section of speedway fans who attend meetings. That is something I severely doubt.

 

Second question is whether those voting on this thread are a representitive sample of all users of BSF. No reason to suspect one way or the other really.

 

I have grave reservations about the split between male and female fans in these results. HOWEVER, the fact that 78.5% of males who voted are over 40 years old, although having to be taken with a pinch of salt, does seem to ring true from what I've observed.

 

Assuming that there are good reasons why females do not take part in this poll, my suspicion is that if the same number of females as males were to vote the age differential would still hold true.

 

What it does show is just how old the average age off speedway fans is. That has impacts on the future of the attendances on the terraces, it has an impact on how hard it will be to attract younger supporters to an "old peoples sport" and it will have an impact on potential sponsors who will look to see if the elderly are the ones who they can market their products to. Saga Holidays may be very interested, Club 18-30 may be less so.

 

The biggest question is...who's going to take any notice anyway?

Edited February 8, 2015 by uk martin

[The White Knight]

 

First question is whether users of BSF are a representitive sample of the cross section of speedway fans who attend meetings. That is something I severely doubt.

 

Second question is whether those voting on this thread are a representitive sample of all users of BSF. No reason to suspect one way or the other really.

 

I have grave reservations about the split between male and female fans in these results. HOWEVER, the fact that over 70% of males attending are over 40 years old, although having to be taken with a pinch of salt, does seem to ring true from what I've observed.

 

Assuming that there are good reasons why females do not take part in this poll, my suspicion is that if the same number of females as males were to vote the age differential would still hold true.

 

What it does show is just how old the average age off speedway fans is. That has impacts on the future of the attendances on the terraces, it has an impact on how hard it will be to attract younger supporters to an "old peoples sport" and it will have an impact on potential sponsors who will look to see if the elderly are the ones who they can market their products to. Saga Holidays may be very interested, Club 18-30 may be less so.

 

The biggest question is...who's going to take any notice anyway?

Ergo - our little Poll is relevant to the state of Speedway today. If only for that reason - the Poll was worth doing. :approve:

[uk_martin]

 

First question is whether users of BSF are a representitive sample of the cross section of speedway fans who attend meetings. That is something I severely doubt.

 

Second question is whether those voting on this thread are a representitive sample of all users of BSF. No reason to suspect one way or the other really.

 

I have grave reservations about the split between male and female fans in these results. HOWEVER, the fact that 78.5% of males who voted are over 40 years old, although having to be taken with a pinch of salt, does seem to ring true from what I've observed.

 

Assuming that there are good reasons why females do not take part in this poll, my suspicion is that if the same number of females as males were to vote the age differential would still hold true.

 

What it does show is just how old the average age off speedway fans is. That has impacts on the future of the attendances on the terraces, it has an impact on how hard it will be to attract younger supporters to an "old peoples sport" and it will have an impact on potential sponsors who will look to see if the elderly are the ones who they can market their products to. Saga Holidays may be very interested, Club 18-30 may be less so.

 

The biggest question is...who's going to take any notice anyway?

Ergo - our little Poll is relevant to the state of Speedway today. If only for that reason - the Poll was worth doing. :approve:

 

Yes...sort of...You cited my comment about my observations about males being over 40...well my other observation is that 40%-50% of fans are female, and that isn't represented here. Ony 10 women from the entire nation have voted. There are more speedway teams than female voters. Ths is where the salt is needed, because you have to pinch an awful lot of it to be bold enough to draw conclusions from a poll of a third of a female fan per team in Great Britain. You'd get better results with people armed with clip boards pens and questionnaires, getting actual data off fans who are really on the terraces and not behind keyboards.

Edited February 8, 2015 by uk martin

[Woz01]

Goin by my twitter followers I have a wide range of age groups. Lots the 16-24 age bracket but I suppose twitter is trendy compared to the bsf. I'm surprised how low the family vote is as I know plenty that follow the sport with their kids but that's probably because I attend with mine and it's an easier way to interact and make friends. Speedway is probably one of the cheapest sports to take your children too unless you support Poole.

Edited February 9, 2015 by woz01

[pugwash]

i'v waited 60+ years to be a boring old f--t so now I'm gonna enjoy it ,so there!

I think that it's ok to say 'fart' on here.

Surely I'm not the only female admitting to be 'Over 60' and a Speedway fan? I'm feeling very lonely all on my own......which is probably why I always have my dog Lucy with me. I miss her.

Not anymore. Mrs P (another doggie person, I suspect) has joined you.

[Gemini]

 

 

......pugwash..... Not anymore. Mrs P (another doggie person, I suspect) has joined you.

 

Thank you Mrs P.

[Wiseguy]

I remember my first visits to a speedway track when I was a kid and the majority of supporters were male 40+

 

The fact that most still are is hardly a revelation, My dad took myself and my sister

 

I now take my 2 kids

 

Unless we all try and make a small difference, It will of course eventually lose its fanbase, unless a new generation are introduced A lot of males/females 40+ will either have children or grandchildren and it down to all of us to try and encourage younger family members to attend

 

The fact I can take my 2 kids with me to Kent and it costs £12 for the 3 of us should be a massive selling point, where else can you have a decent family afternoon/evening out for that price

 

I have to say I'm amazed so many clubs are still running really, considering we were down to less than 20 teams in the mid 90's

[Skid Sprocket]

I remember my first visits to a speedway track when I was a kid and the majority of supporters were male 40+

 

The fact that most still are is hardly a revelation, My dad took myself and my sister

 

I now take my 2 kids

 

Unless we all try and make a small difference, It will of course eventually lose its fanbase, unless a new generation are introduced A lot of males/females 40+ will either have children or grandchildren and it down to all of us to try and encourage younger family members to attend

 

The fact I can take my 2 kids with me to Kent and it costs £12 for the 3 of us should be a massive selling point, where else can you have a decent family afternoon/evening out for that price

 

I have to say I'm amazed so many clubs are still running really, considering we were down to less than 20 teams in the mid 90's

 

Wise words from a Wiseguy. Well said.

[Mrs P]

 

Thank you Mrs P.

Delighted.

[AndyJ]

For reference, the British Speedway Sliders community comprises mainly of Speedway fans and our demographics (of active members who provided age details) are visible here http://speedwaysliders.com/stats_site/index.php?id=xyz&c=S&s=9

 

Typically 10-15% are aged 40+ (up to 24% this season).

35-40% are 25-40yr olds

35-50% are under 25

 

Whilst our numbers are a tiny percentage of the British Speedway fanbase, and also have some non-UK players, we're perhaps in the same ballpark as the number of respondees to this poll. Perhaps one of the findings of the BSF poll is that younger fans aren't active on here?

[SCB]

For reference, the British Speedway Sliders community comprises mainly of Speedway fans and our demographics (of active members who provided age details) are visible here http://speedwaysliders.com/stats_site/index.php?id=xyz&c=S&s=9

 

Typically 10-15% are aged 40+ (up to 24% this season).

35-40% are 25-40yr olds

35-50% are under 25

 

Whilst our numbers are a tiny percentage of the British Speedway fanbase, and also have some non-UK players, we're perhaps in the same ballpark as the number of respondees to this poll. Perhaps one of the findings of the BSF poll is that younger fans aren't active on here?

Or you have just discovered that young people play computer games. Older people, generally, don't.

[weatherwatcher]

It is time that everyone started to bring lads of around 10 year old to try and hopefully get more young fans interested. Lucily at Leicester we have a great following from the younger members of fans, and it is very good to see.

[Alan_Jones]

It is time that everyone started to bring lads of around 10 year old to try and hopefully get more young fans interested. Lucily at Leicester we have a great following from the younger members of fans, and it is very good to see.

If I tried to do that I'd be arrested...

[uk_martin]

With all due respect, 10 year olds aren't the answer. Or at least not the imperative answer. What the sport needs is the people in their mid to late teens and in their 20's. These are the people who either pay full fare or are only a year or two away from paying full fare. These are the people who the sport needs to provide the revenue that will enable it to survive long enough to still be around for your 10 year olds to enjoy in the future.

 

Poland has managed to get this demographic on board so it can be done.