Play Offs Should They Be Scrapped.?

[Vincent Blachshadow]

I like plays off as without them the fans would stop going in most places by may. but they need to do something about the semi finals and having two on tv on the same night does not work and does not help the crowd figures and is a pain in the backside for people therewho have to wait around I would twice before going again ...the crowd for the second leg at Swindon was poor lower I would say for a lot of league matches . As I said and on that topic show one leg live in each semi final and the other on the others race night .

But did fans stop going in most places by May before these play-offs came in?

 

That is, however, the reason why the play-offs will carry on, because the sport's current devotees - or enough of them anyway - have been brought up with them and will probably stop going as often if finishing third or fourth meant nothing more than finishing third or fourth. And thanks for posting the low crowd at the Swindon play-off (we have been told that crowds are always bigger at these matches). Shows they could be losing their appeal after all.

[stratton]

But did fans stop going in most places by May before these play-offs came in?That is, however, the reason why the play-offs will carry on, because the sport's current devotees - or enough of them anyway - have been brought up with them and will probably stop going as often if finishing third or fourth meant nothing more than finishing third or fourth. And thanks for posting the low crowd at the Swindon play-off (we have been told that crowds are always bigger at these matches). Shows they could be losing their appeal after all.

Shocked me Vincent i know we were fourteen points behind the crowd i thought was poor no discount no tenner a head and loads of freebies still getting free entrance. Edited September 24, 2015 by sidney

[orion]

I think if you are honest at Swindon we were 14 behind but i still believed we had a chance but the bottom line was we were not good anough.This Play/off thing is a myth is it good NO in my view why is it WRONG to have a Winner who wins over a long period! you can still have your SKY Mickey Mouse x4 knockout cup competition.

Nothing wrong with having a winner over a long period of time Sid I am sure in I ideal world and all being fair we would all like that ..the trouble is speedway needs crowds to survive and the modern fan wants matches that mean something and there clubs be still in with a chance of winning things otherwise clubs go bust and we would have no speedway at all... that is why we have play offs ....As I explain no one wants a play off cup that does not involved the league title being on the line yet again no one would go and clubs would lose money and yet again put clubs in with chance of going bust . You said you loved watching Ward this season if Swindon had no chance of making the play offs Swindon would never have sign him in the first place and Swindon crowds would have been half what they were in the summer .

 

Play offs are nearly in all sports in one or another and they must work unless everyone is wrong of course .

Edited September 24, 2015 by orion

[stratton]

Nothing wrong with having a winner over a long period of time Sid I am sure in I ideal world and all being fair we would all like that ..the trouble is speedway needs crowds to survive and the modern fan wants matches that mean something and there clubs still in with a chance of winning things otherwise clubs go bust and we would have no speedway at all that is why we have play offs ....As I explain no one wants a play off cup that does not involved the league title being on the line yet again no one would go and clubs would lose money and yet again put clubs in with chance of going bust . You said you loved watching Ward this season if Swindon had no chance of making the play offs Swindon would never have sign him in the first place and Swindon crowds would have been half what they were in the summer .

 

Play offs are nearly in all sports in one or another and they must work unless everyone is wrong of course .

Agree to a point but i cannot see why there is not a place for a Champion who deserve it over a period.Then you can add the added excitement of a four teamer in a real cut throat cup Scenario of a knockout cup anyway for me the play/offs is dying.

[orion]

Agree to a point but i cannot see why there is not a place for a Champion who deserve it over a period.Then you can add the added excitement of a four teamer in a real cut throat cup Scenario of a knockout cup anyway for me the play/offs is dying.

As I said Sid no one wants to watch it bar a few die hards ..without the league title on the line there is no excitement .

[Vincent Blachshadow]

that is why we have play offs

In 1999, Sky had a full camera crew and entourage at Saddlebow Road to watch Poole win the EL title, live, on Sky. Leigh Adams had different ideas and won heat 15, and with it blowing Poole's title aspirations. They only had a man with a hand-held camera at East of England Showground which was unfortunate because that was where the EL title was won.

 

In 2000, Sky had arranged the end-of-season schedule so that they got the Eastbourne v King's Lynn title decider live on Sky. Unfortunately, The Knights lost a match in the run-up to that meeting handing Eastie the title. The match shown was too late to decide the title so again, Sky missed showing the title decider live.

 

In 2001, Oxford won the title without knowing it (at the time) with future results (by other teams) putting the title out of everybody else's reach. Sky did not have the title decider live.

 

That is why we have play-offs - to ensure Sky got the title decider live every time.

 

And crowds in those matches were far bigger than anything the sport gets now, play-offs included.

Edited September 24, 2015 by Vincent Blackshadow

[ColinMills]

shame theres no incentive to end as high as possible with financial gain like the footy league, wouldn't get teams see out the season that way

[orion]

In 1999, Sky had a full camera crew and entourage at Saddlebow Road to watch Poole win the EL title, live, on Sky. Leigh Adams had different ideas and won heat 15, and with it blowing Poole's title aspirations. They only had a man with a hand-held camera at East of England Showground which was unfortunate because that was where the EL title was won.

 

In 2000, Sky had arranged the end-of-season schedule so that they got the Eastbourne v King's Lynn title decider live on Sky. Unfortunately, The Stars lost a match prior to that handing Eastie the title. The match shown was too late to decide the title.

 

In 2001, Oxford won the title without knowing it (at the time) with future results (by other teams) putting the title out of everybody else's reach. Sky did not have the title decider live.

 

That is why we have play-offs - to ensure Sky get the title decider live every time.

 

And crowds in those matches were far bigger than anything the sport gets now, play-offs included

So what time on Sky is the pl play off final on this year then ?

[stratton]

As I said Sid no one wants to watch it bar a few die hards ..without the league title on the line there is no excitement .

You are right Orion,but you start out in March/April for me Longevity wins a title Birmingham the other year were so unlucky also most of the year they named the same seven.Orion you are right maybe because we don't have added fixtures midland cup,Knock out cup as in yesteryear we look at it more who knows? any news on the stadium? i am worried to be honest.

[Vincent Blachshadow]

So what time on Sky is the pl play off final on this year then ?

Weren't play-offs introduced at PL level as 'promotion/relegation matches' in tandem with the bottom two EL teams having their own play-off scrap to stay up to please Sky? You remember, the PL winners winning a much heralded promotion to the EL, with the losing EL club going the other way. Only the winners didn't want to go up and no way were the losers dropping a division!

Edited September 24, 2015 by Vincent Blackshadow

[orion]

You are right Orion,but you start out in March/April for me Longevity wins a title Birmingham the other year were so unlucky also most of the year they named the same seven.Orion you are right maybe because we don't have added fixtures midland cup,Knock out cup as in yesteryear we look at it more who knows? any news on the stadium? i am worried to be honest.

As I said Sid I never said it was fair thou clubs do know the rules before the start of the season ..it's a money based ideal but one that is needed ...As you know I never trusted Clark and co on the stadium and never thought it would be built ...now nearing the time the penny is beginning to drop for a lot of Swindon fans about not having any speedway any more ..you should be worried I know I am

Weren't play-offs introduced at PL level as 'promotion/relegation matches' with the bottom two EL teams having their own play-off scrap to stay up to please Sky? You remember, the PL winners winning a much heralded promotion to the EL, with the bottom EL club going the other way. Only the winners didn't want to go up no way were the losers dropping a division!

As I ask you before what time is the PL final on this year Seeing we only have them for television ?

Edited September 24, 2015 by orion

[stratton]

As I said Sid I never said it was fair thou clubs do know the rules before the start of the season ..it's a money based ideal but one that is needed ...As you know I never trusted Clark and co on the stadium and never thought it would be built ...now nearing the time the penny is beginning to drop for a lot of Swindon fans about not having any speedway any more ..you should be worried I know I am

 

As I ask you before what time is the PL final on this year Seeing we only have them for television ?

Bloody hell i am worried Orion, i always believed as long as the new stadium was not completed the old one stayed.Also when the stadium started in 49 i thought there was something in the deeds legally saying there will always have to be a sporting activity on that land bloody worried now.

[ouch]

I'm confused as if your team is not challenging for the play offs crowds are bad and you potentially go bust.

At Belle Vue we've not been in the play offs for years, had good support and managed to get a multi million pound new stadium built.

 

Real life events do sometimes scupper opinions.

[orion]

I'm confused as if your team is not challenging for the play offs crowds are bad and you potentially go bust.

At Belle Vue we've not been in the play offs for years, had good support and managed to get a multi million pound new stadium built.

 

Real life events do sometimes scupper opinions.

First of all Belle Vue stadium has hardly been funded by Belle Vue Speedway so that has no bearing at all ....I thought Morton said that Belle had had there best crowds this year in years .. that was even before the bumper crowds they have had in the semi and will get in the final ....as you say thou it's funny how real time events do scupper opinions .

Edited September 24, 2015 by orion

[Vincent Blachshadow]

As I ask you before what time is the PL final on this year Seeing we only have them for television ?

We have play-offs because Sky asked, insisted possibly even, to have them so they get to show the EL title being won every year.

 

Why we continue to have them is anybody's guess, but I'd go for the BSPA are happy to give a few of the teams a few extra quid at the end of the season though possibly at the expense of attendances in many of the qualifying matches.

 

But if you want to know what time the PL play-off final is on Sky, I suggest you look at their schedules or wherever you get you programme timings from because I no longer watch speedway on Sky nor do I care about play-offs. My domestic speedway is still watched live, less matches these days, but still live.

Edited September 24, 2015 by Vincent Blackshadow

[orion]

We have play-offs because Sky asked, insisted possibly even, to have them so they get to show the EL title being won every year.

 

Why we continue to have them is anybody's guess, but I'd go for the BSPA are happy to give a few of the teams a few extra quid at the end of the season though possibly at the expense of attendances in many of the qualifying matches.

 

But if you want to know what time the PL play-off final is on Sky, I suggest you look at their schedules or wherever you get you programme timings from because I no longer watch speedway on Sky nor do I care about play-offs. My domestic speedway is still watched live, less matches these days, but still live.

So to sum that up ..Speedway play offs are not just used so sky can show the final as you try to make out . we got there in the end .

Edited September 24, 2015 by orion

[ouch]

First of all Belle Vue stadium has hardly been funded by Belle Vue Speedway so that has no bearing at all ....I thought Morton said that Belle had had there best crowds this year in years .. that was even before the bumper crowds they have had in the semi and will get in the final ....as you say thou it's funny how real time events do scupper opinions .

So getting someone else to foot the bill who doesn't have the emotional connection to Belle Vue and looks at it from a purely buisness point of view is even more amazing. Hadn't thought of that, thanks.

Thinking Mort said something is very different to the reality of the situation. Crowds have been ok, even up to the point when Leicester won at Kings Lynn handing The Aces a play off life line. I'll tell him what he is supposed to have said when I see him next.

[Vincent Blachshadow]

So to sum that up ..Speedway play offs are not just used so sky can show the final as you try to make out . we got there in the end .

 

 

Talk about not seeing wood for trees. If you think that's what I've been saying you have it your way.

 

Where is that banging your head against a brick wall smiley....

Edited September 24, 2015 by Vincent Blackshadow

[orion]

You made a whole post going into great detail saying that speedway in the uk only has play offs because of sky wanting to show the final .do want me to quote the whole post to remind you ? As i ponited out the pl who also use the play off system has no final showed by sky meaning your post is incorrect.unless someone took over your keyboard for that post of course.

[Vincent Blachshadow]

You made a whole post going into great detail saying that speedway in the uk only has play offs because of sky wanting to show the final .do want me to quote the whole post to remind you ? As i ponited out the pl who also use the play off system has no final showed by sky meaning your post is incorrect.unless someone took over your keyboard for that post of course.

 

Right. Slowly.

 

Back in 2002, because Sky had missed showing the title deciders in the previous three years, they asked (or maybe demanded) that play-offs be introduced so that they can show the finals and definitely get the title decider live, as it happens. Therefore play-offs were introduced and we have play-offs to ensure Sky get to show the title decider live. Subsequent events may have shown that these matches do make a few quid for the competing teams but that does not alter the fact that we have play-offs because Sky want to show the (EL) title decider live.

 

Had events run differently back at the turn of the century and Sky had managed to show the title deciders in those three previous years live, they, in all probability, would have been content with things as they were and may not have asked for play-offs in the first place and the possibility is there that speedway would not have them now.

 

For whatever reason, the PL asked for play-offs (though initially as part of a much heralded by Sky promotion/relegation package which went off like a lead balloon since the PL play-off winners declined promotion and the EL losers insisted on staying up) but that doesn't alter the fact that play-offs are in to ensure Sky show the EL title decider live.

 

So, in a nutshell, the play-offs exist to ensure Sky get the EL title decider live on air as it happens.

Edited September 25, 2015 by Vincent Blackshadow