steve roberts Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I followed speedway for thirty plus years (Oxford) but due to relocating to York some twelve years ago I haven't been since. At my place of work recently I had a conversation with a Birmingham fan who gave me the impression that match attendances are very much up nationally. Historically promoters have never quoted official figures and I would be interested to know if this is in fact the case as it appears to be the contrary when one reads comments generally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I followed speedway for thirty plus years (Oxford) but due to relocating to York some twelve years ago I haven't been since. At my place of work recently I had a conversation with a Birmingham fan who gave me the impression that match attendances are very much up nationally. Historically promoters have never quoted official figures and I would be interested to know if this is in fact the case as it appears to be the contrary when one reads comments generally? From what I can tell, big meetings like play off's and the GP do OK but a lot of clubs can't get by on admission fees alone. You see meetings on SKY where there are very few there and riders parade to empty terraces. The whole thing is embarrassing and I'm very grateful for the coverage from SKY (but I would understand if they pulled the plug). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Crowds at Wolverhampton this year are the lowest I've seen in my 29 years of regular attendance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRKYLANE Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Crowds at Wolverhampton this year are the lowest I've seen in my 29 years of regular attendance. That is due to your worst season for 29 years probably !!!! Crowds at Wolves were alright last year when I went Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 (edited) Attendances do seem in the main to be one step down from fifth tier league football which is frankly embarrassing considering the speedway team in the town or city has no sporting rival from the same sport to contend with and is usually the only speedway team within a 25 mile radius... In fact, as crowds are now so poor around many tracks I have wondered why clubs don't try and get marketing people in on a commission only basis to see if they could drum up bigger crowds.. Lets face it. At most tracks a (sadly) pitiful 300 - 400 extra would be a large double digit percentage increase, therefore surely offering someone say 50% commission on any increase of say £5k or over from an 'average turnover' would deliver some people with real promotional and marketing ideas?? Edited October 9, 2015 by mikebv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I would say that gates at Swindon this season have been as low as 7-800 when we were struggling, up to as much as 1500 after Ward signed. The exception was when we did £5 entry and as many as 2500 turned up. To put these figures in perspective, five years ago 1500 would have been considered a fairly average attendance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 (edited) That is due to your worst season for 29 years probably !!!! Crowds at Wolves were alright last year when I went This year was nowhere near our worst season,finished bottom before and crowds have still been pretty good,Crowds have halved to what we got 5 years ago.Since the new silencers came in the product has dived and so has the crowds. Edited October 9, 2015 by New Science 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skid Sprocket Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I can never understand why, when it is a young participation sport, speedway seems to be known for its "older" supporters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I can never understand why, when it is a young participation sport, speedway seems to be known for its "older" supporters. Possibly because we are so sad, we have nothing else to do with our lives. :sad: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Many thanks for the comments. I did have my doubts whilst talking to him as when last at Oxford (2003) the crowds were very noticeably down on previous years and I can't imagine that things have improved generally over the last decade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I can never understand why, when it is a young participation sport, speedway seems to be known for its "older" supporters. Speedway does nothing to attract new fans, so by definition is existing fans will age over time. Couple this to the fact that speedway is run by old men, the presentation, music etc. are straight out of the 70s, then you can see why youngsters are not attracted to the sport. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnglishRoundabout Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I would say that gates at Swindon this season have been as low as 7-800 when we were struggling, up to as much as 1500 after Ward signed. The exception was when we did £5 entry and as many as 2500 turned up. To put these figures in perspective, five years ago 1500 would have been considered a fairly average attendance. The Leigh Adams days between 2006 and 2011, crowds at Swindon averaged around 1700. On occasions 2000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 (edited) That is due to your worst season for 29 years probably !!!! Crowds at Wolves were alright last year when I went They most definitely weren't in the meetings I attended when over in England. It's noticeable more than ever now when I only visit a few times a year, the gaps on the terraces get bigger and bigger. Edited October 9, 2015 by BWitcher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 It depends where you go. Glasgow's have doubled. Eastbourne's have probably slightly increased as have Birmingham's, despite the drop in leagues. Leicester's are still pretty healthy. They are, however, mostly poor - and by that I mean below breakeven - but I haven't noticed any sharp decrease from previous years at most tracks this year. Speedway does nothing to attract new fans, so by definition is existing fans will age over time. Couple this to the fact that speedway is run by old men, the presentation, music etc. are straight out of the 70s, then you can see why youngsters are not attracted to the sport. Again, that depends where you go. I don't think the presentation and music are 70's at most places but I'd say that some of the presenters are dreadful with about as much charisma as a moose. Worse still, some still think they are the star of the show or just don't know their speedway. Eastbourne had a new chap when I went down there and, with time and an announcer, he'll be very good. I do find, though, that presentation is very much about individual taste. What suits one often doesn't suit another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Judging by the number of times I've experienced programme sell outs this year it must have been a bumper year for attendances. Or maybe promoters are just printing fewer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Judging by the number of times I've experienced programme sell outs this year it must have been a bumper year for attendances. Or maybe promoters are just printing fewer? definitely the latter Arnie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van wolfswinkel Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 (edited) The Leigh Adams days between 2006 and 2011, crowds at Swindon averaged around 1700. On occasions 2000.The crowds were good 2006/7, only averaged around 1400 this year, the Darce signing stopped a further fall, and increased them by a few hundred, wouldn't have thought they have gone below 1000. Recall the 4000/5000 crowds in the last 12 years at The Abbey for the Cov/Wolves Grand Finals, Leigh Farewell, first Kilbs Memorial, and World Cup. It's only the Poole matches that attract over 2000 now. Hoping for a big crowd tomorrow for the last meeting. A few will remember being in the 16/17000 lock-out for the Crumpie Golden Helmet late 70s Read in SS that crowds have gone down by about 20% overall across all the tracks in the last 10 years, a few clubs have increased them, some such as Worky losing 50%! Edited October 10, 2015 by haydon hat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skid Sprocket Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 The crowds were good 2006/7, only averaged around 1300 this year, the Darce signing stopped a further fall, wouldn't have thought they have gone below 1000. Recall the 4000/5000 crowds in the last 12 years at The Abbey for the Cov/Wolves Grand Finals, Leigh Farewell, first Kilbs Memorial, and World Cup. It's only the Poole matches that attract over 2000 now. Hoping for a big crowd tomorrow for the last meeting. A few will remember being in the 16/17000 lock-out for the Crumpie Golden Helmet late 70s Read in SS that crowds have gone down by about 20% overall across all the tracks in the last 10 years. Where do you find these attendance figures? I have tried many times to obtain official figures but always draw a blank, or are they just a rough guess? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van wolfswinkel Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Where do you find these attendance figures? I have tried many times to obtain official figures but always draw a blank, or are they just a rough guess? just chatting with sponsors/club officials/stewards etc., and if the meeting is boring count them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 just witnessed a monster turnout at foxhall for stock cars!!.....not the biggest of sports publicity wise, butnice to see spedeworth at least getting out and about by advertisng on busy roundabouts at least Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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