Elite League 2016 - What Is Required?

[MattK]

who will make up the numbers when Wolverhampton drop out because ladbrokes have dog racing on wed/thurs. and Coventry drop out because no one wants speedway on thursdays at coventry .

Wolves don't have dogs on a Wednesday according to this:

 

http://www.monmoredogs.co.uk/when-we-race/race-days-and-times/

 

Coventry, Lakeside and Leicester are just as affected by teams turning up with guests and R/R (if not more so riding on Fri/Sat) so what they gain by riding at the weekend they lose out on by fans being turned off by teams turning up with half their riders missing.

[RobMcCaffery]

But its a myth that good racing leads to bigger crowds. Or do the likes of Somerset and Peterborough get bigger crowds than poole? I would suggest that star riders, a successful team and good marketing contribute more to attendances than the standard of racing.

The key for me is that meetings should be completed in 90 minutes and there should be entertainment throughout that period

Poole is based in a rather larger well-off conurbation than Somerset or Peterborough (or Scunthorpe) and has a much longer history so such a simplistic comparison is not valid.

 

I find it sad that people believe that good racing is not important. Not all teams can win!

 

I do suspect though that the support left in the sport follows wins and names, not the quality of racing. Perhaps that's a symbol of the appalling state of affairs across the sport?

 

When the wins stop coming then what happens?

[Christopher Bcmma Cook]

If we're saying 34 points

 

Nicholls 7.24

Covatti 5.53

Morris 3.51

Cook 7.74

Newman 5.00

Lunna 3.38

[sparkafag]

It (and the PL) could go a long way simply by looking after the presentation of the product rather than tinkering with points limits.

 

Some clubs appear to be in the mind-set that you need to keep people in a stadium for 2 hours plus if you are charging them £15 +, you really don’t.

 

I understand from cash flow point of view, revenue etc intervals, raffles etc are required, but Christ they are dated and utterly dull, draw them during a quick 10 min half time at best.

 

If nothing else I would introduce a rule where clubs where fined in a meeting runs over 1hr 30 mins unless there was genuine mitigating circumstances.

 

I would change the race format personally, it seems things like tac subs etc are seen as what has shredded the sports credibility, I would argue that basically openly admitting half the riders are crap before a meeting has even started isn’t doing people many favours either.

 

Surely from a cost cutting/fairness point of view you just give Stefan Nielsen, Starke, Bates etc double money for their points (Although even I can see the downside of that, eg over paying for mediocrity, but there needs to be a way to attract riders to ride EL etc)…decent reward if they do manage to beat others, if they have a great season they have earned their money etc, you also offer the riders credibility and fans “moments” across the season….”that night Branford led Harris for 3 laps” or “that night Newman took Doyle from the back” etc, seeing the underdog beat a better rider, is part of the magic of any sport….. who knows riders might actually progress again, take another step rather than hitting a plateau because they beat guys they beat every other race.

 

Uber pedantic but I would also introduce a rule where sides could declare their top 5 in any order, but that is neither here nor there in the short term

Edited August 20, 2015 by sparkafag

[marko]

Actually when i really think about this, there is really only one important thing that is required!

 

And that is for the BSPA to actually admit to themselves there is a big problem in the first place, no more burying heads in the sand thinking what a great product it is and only minor tweaks are needed, if the racing was out of this world people would still be going, the whole f'n show "as they say" needs looking at.

 

I know a lot of us fans talk a lot of BS but use your eyes, people are not going anymore in numbers you require to stay solvent!

Think carefully now! this could be your last chance to save the patient and indeed your business.

Edited August 21, 2015 by Claret73

[Pogo1]

What I would like to see is the Elite clubs show the door to there GP riders as they are the ones that are taking money the clubs can't afford, do you really think the likes of Zagar, Jonsson, etc don't see what little fans there are on the terraces, they don't care as long as there getting paid, time to start again, 8 EL clubs and 13 PL clubs need to join together before it's too late, 42.5 limit on PL averages and build it up from there, if Berwick, Scunthorpe, Redcar etc can't afford it join the Birmingham, Cradley, Stoke ,Eastbourne etc in a stronger NL, people might say from the EL , don't want to watch that, well it's better than the meetings you have ATM, full of guests and RR at almost every meeting, that why people ain't going, Let's see the Somerset, Edinburgh , Glasgow , Sheffield race the Poole, Swindon , Kings Lynn etc, at least you know what your getting every week, Remember any speedway is better than no speedway and that's the way we are heading, The EL is dead and the PL with doubling up/down is heading the same way, now is the time for change, we can't afford another season like this with 7 of the 14 riders at meetings guests or RR

[New Science]

Eight teams two X home and away on Wednesdays and Thursdays only. Same team strengths as now including fast track for at least one position in the team or minimum requirement of 2X english in the team. Anyone only able to race on one of the two nights due to stadium availability must be given preference or maybe every fifth week left blank to accommodate this and rainoffs. Riders must be available for all weeks between 15 March and the playoffs except for the World cup. This is the only real change that hasn't been tried and must be. And don't tell me anyone would rather ride in the Allsvenskaan or Danish league as opposed to 28 matches here. Coventry, Lakeside and Leicester on those nights is a complete joke with doubling up / FIM events etc.

You can scrub Belle Vue from your plans as they have declared Friday as their race night in the new stadium.With Lakeside,Swindon and 2017 Coventry having potential stadium issues maybe you could try asking Peterborough, Birmingham and A N other if they fancy moving up to save the Elite league AGAIN.

[MattK]

You can scrub Belle Vue from your plans as they have declared Friday as their race night in the new stadium.With Lakeside,Swindon and 2017 Coventry having potential stadium issues maybe you could try asking Peterborough, Birmingham and A N other if they fancy moving up to save the Elite league AGAIN.

 

That's the kind of self-serving attitude we love to hear. Maybe you could sit on the BPSA?

[Agrotron]

Every year I say the same independent body with no self interest

Also a free Kinder Egg with race program every week

[Joe Beevers]

And I would like to see

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

all teams that are currently competing in British Speedway to keep participating the following year and not be over run by huge financial losses just because a few fans want one GP rider who would beat every rider in the league and make it uninteresting.

[weatherwatcher]

Deos British Speedway need the top GP riders, without them the clubs would be more viable finacially as they are being held over a barrel by a feww riders who are asking far above the odds to ride over here. Most of what we get over here now are riders that are coming into the twilight of they racing careers. There are maybe 4 that are in the GP's now the rest a what they call in boxing journeymen. But they are still asking forbig over infalted wages, money that most of the clubs can only just manage to find, do they bring in the fans no. British speedway needs to go back to basics to survive, because in less than 4 years the EL will be dead.

It is a patient with a terminal illness, it started a few years ago, it has now got to the stage that the doctors are struggling to find a cure.

The only way forward, that I see is to make it a 2 league sytem North and South. For all those who like the plays off, which I hate, to me the team who are at the top of the league at the end of the season are the outright winners, we don't need the play off's, it was just one of Sky Sports stupid dreams.

So we have a winner in the North and one in the South. Full stop they win the Leaguge.

Lets end the season with a competition between the top 2 clubs from each region and race for a trophy, call it what you like, for a laugh you could even name it the Kelvin Tatem trophy, for all the hard work he puts in for the sport. Yes he does do quite a bit behind the scenes, with his trials of the new engine etc.

The EL is dead and whatever they do to it ,it is only prolonging its death sentance.

[New Science]

 

That's the kind of self-serving attitude we love to hear. Maybe you could sit on the BPSA?

Just being a realist ! Lots of pie in the sky ideas knocking around at the momment

[Christopher Bcmma Cook]

There is no guarantee the top riders will return, the bspa is like fifa, all for self gain not the sport.

 

There needs to be more meetings to give the riders more opportunities to earn domestically, a north/south league is the only way forward

[MattK]

Just being a realist ! Lots of pie in the sky ideas knocking around at the momment

 

Looking at the number of teams who have ridden with guests and R/R this season, something has to be done.

 

I think the leagues agreeing to race on different nights would be beneficial for all (PL teams suffer from missing riders due to doubling-up/draft, as much as EL teams) and is very simple to implement if promoters are willing.

[orion]

What I would like to see is the Elite clubs show the door to there GP riders as they are the ones that are taking money the clubs can't afford, do you really think the likes of Zagar, Jonsson, etc don't see what little fans there are on the terraces, they don't care as long as there getting paid, time to start again, 8 EL clubs and 13 PL clubs need to join together before it's too late, 42.5 limit on PL averages and build it up from there, if Berwick, Scunthorpe, Redcar etc can't afford it join the Birmingham, Cradley, Stoke ,Eastbourne etc in a stronger NL, people might say from the EL , don't want to watch that, well it's better than the meetings you have ATM, full of guests and RR at almost every meeting, that why people ain't going, Let's see the Somerset, Edinburgh , Glasgow , Sheffield race the Poole, Swindon , Kings Lynn etc, at least you know what your getting every week, Remember any speedway is better than no speedway and that's the way we are heading, The EL is dead and the PL with doubling up/down is heading the same way, now is the time for change, we can't afford another season like this with 7 of the 14 riders at meetings guests or RR

ZZZ ...Maybe you should come to Swindon and see the Fans Ward is bringing in ...As I said many times in what sport would people be trying to get rid of the people who bring fans in . one big league has been try before and it was total crap and the crowrds still dropped ... So why on earth would you what to try something they has already failed .

 

I don't think the crowds have dropped in the El at all this year and the only way it won't survived is if Lakeside ,Swindon and Cov lose there stadiums . What is needed is better race nights so we can have fuller teams and less riders missing . Speedway is never going to be the same as it was in the uk and the worst thing we can do is get ride of the riders who fans come to see to make one big pl league that is watched by one man and his dog .

Edited August 23, 2015 by orion

[1 valve]

Any good reason why we couldn't have Elite League run on Thursdays and Fridays with all promoters agreeing that this means where possible each team rides one match at home and away each week (yes I know there will be rain offs) and teams taking a even share of race nights.

The exception being when there is a GP at the weekend when no meetings will be run on the Friday.

As an example (to make things simple) if the league remained as current with eight teams meeting each other four times during the season then team one rides the A fixture on a Friday at home and the away A fixture on a Thursday takes place at team two. The fixtures are then reversed so that team 2 has home advantage for the B fixture on a Friday and away on a Thursday for the B fixture at team one circuit.

By adopting this approach teams would save on costly rider travel and each team have a none school next day fixture night.

 

Recognizing that there would be some Fridays missed then maybe bank holiday Mondays could still be used as well as providing good bank holiday crowds?

[MattK]

Any good reason why we couldn't have Elite League run on Thursdays and Fridays with all promoters agreeing that this means where possible each team rides one match at home and away each week (yes I know there will be rain offs) and teams taking a even share of race nights.

 

Your main problem with Fridays are the number of clashes with PL teams. Most EL teams have three or even four riders racing in both leagues so if you were doing to move for fixed race nights wouldn't it make sense to keep EL and PL apart as much as possible?

[1 valve]

 

Your main problem with Fridays are the number of clashes with PL teams. Most EL teams have three or even four riders racing in both leagues so if you were doing to move for fixed race nights wouldn't it make sense to keep EL and PL apart as much as possible?

Yes it would and maybe the answer is that the PL teams move to a Saturday as there is the strong possibility that their riders are not required in Poland for Sunday or GP practice/meetings

 

I appreciate that this may look like the Elite League taking presidence..and yes it is, but only to ensure that there is a basis to begin the process of reestablishing top tier UK speedway of which many steps are required. but even the longest of journeys begin with first small steps!

 

Or as I look at it, UK speedway cannot continue to do what it is currently doing as we will finish up with only with what we have and not what we need

[MattK]

Wouldn't it make more sense for the EL to run on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and the PL on Friday, Saturday and Sunday?

 

That gives clubs a choice of three nights with which to negotiate with landlords, local councils etc. and still avoid clashes.

[SteveLyric2]

That would be a very sensible way forward - if all speedway clubs were masters of their own destiny with decent landlords and equally flexible other sport users.