Attendances

[Guest]

 

More likely the latter is correct. Spedeworth International are long-time and top class promoting group. Speedway needs an prganosation like the, IMO.

Spelling correction to above quote:

"More likely the latter is correct. Spedeworth International are long-time and top class promoting group. Speedway needs an organisation like them, IMO."

My apologies for the error - I failed to read my message before posting on this thread.

Edited November 3, 2015 by Guest

[The White Knight]

"only a handful of diehards are going to pay 17 quid to watch 15 heats dragged out over 2 hours. Races need to be run more swiftly"

 

That's nearer the problem but it's like banging your head against a brick wall. I don't mind the 17 quid (well for EL, not PL) as long as they get on with it and seriously improve the communications. How hard is it to tell you who is in the race before the riders leave the pit gate, or who's in heat 15 before everyone falls asleep?

 

I read in 2014 whereby a lad leaving a Sky meeting was heard to say to his dad that that was good and could they go next week? (he'd need to check the fixtures first to see whether we're on a 2 or 3 week break and what day the next meeting is)

 

Problem being that WYSI not WYG next week. Meeting efficiency and the best cutlery only appears when the cameras do, not a standard practice.

I'm sorry - I don't understand this??????

 

Probably everyone else does - but I don't. :sad:

[iris123]

I'm sorry - I don't understand this??????

 

Probably everyone else does - but I don't. :sad:

I take it to be "what you see is not what you get"

[The White Knight]

I take it to be "what you see is not what you get"

Cheers iris123. You are probably right.

[Stoke Potter]

 

Not necessarily in speedway?

 

During my time at Peterborough, I have done everything humanly possible to attract newcomers to our sport and all I might add on little or no budget. I have presented to over 2500 kids in various schools road show initiatives, I have invited and hosted whole organisations along for free and whole streets along for free. I have put up banners and posters, I have given away 1000’s of (sponsored) car stickers and more kids goodie bags than you can shake a stick at. I have offered free admission to members of the thriving local Polish club (one person came – once), 2 for 1 offers, Kids for a quid and Kids for free. We have on occasions been overrun by hundreds of Scout groups and I have undertaken umpteen radio interviews and quite a few local TV vox pops. I have put leaflets in newspapers, I have put leaflets through letterboxes, I have handed leaflets out in shopping malls and I have put 1000’s of leaflets on cars (with apologies to the owner of the Blue Vauxhall Astra in the Peterborough Railway Station Car Park in September 2007, honestly, it really did come off in my hand, so it must have already been broken). You name it and I’ve pretty much done it and all the time, our attendances have remained constant. Constantly poor.

 

borospeedway.proboards/Mick Bratley final-curtain

 

More confirmation that the basic product is flawed and just does not appeal.

Reason: Not enough excitement, i.e. passing and/or close racing. Fix the tracks!

Edited November 3, 2015 by Stoke Potter

[Crump99]

 

Oh yes! The biggest annoyance to me and the only thing I moan about really......well apart from sunbreaks and teams in alphabetical order. Why would I want to watch blinking tractors going round umpteen times when I've paid to watch Speedway? I'm sure half of the time it's not necessary and just something to prolong the meeting so we feel we're getting our money's worth. Must admit Coventry are pretty good with second half racing but that should be the norm at all tracks. Get the youngsters out there for a few races.

 

.......Crump99....... "only a handful of diehards are going to pay 17 quid to watch 15 heats dragged out over 2 hours. Races need to be run more swiftly"

 

Just to clarify that I didn't say that, it was a quote from Humpy's post.

I'm sorry - I don't understand this??????

 

Probably everyone else does - but I don't. :sad:

 

You must know what WYSIWYG is?

 

WYS (what you see) at a Sky meeting (in terms of presentation, swift running and above average effort by all concerned) is not WYG (what you get) next time around. Certainly applies at Peterborough (not so much when Rick & Julie were here but swiftness of running often went pear shaped) so I guess that it does elsewhere?

 

It irritates me that that still say about putting on a show for the Sky cameras. Rather hear them say that it's like this every week so come and experience it live, but of course next week we revert to the standard package.

[AndyK86]

Could the fact that shops and business operate a lot longer hours than they used to a decade or 2 ago, more 24 hour shops than ever and just generally longer opening hours which means either people can't go because working or got a very early next morning.

The product on offer does need to improve but I think the change in working hours could also be included as a factor for the drop in crowds, I bet football crowds would be bigger around country as well because it is hard to get a good Monday to Friday 9-5 job anymore, pretty much everything is shift work and weekends etc

[Crump99]

More confirmation that the basic product is flawed and just does not appeal.

Reason: Not enough excitement, i.e. passing and/or close racing. Fix the tracks!

 

The basic product is fine. It's the lack of quality and professional presentation that's the problem. I know that Tsunami would say that costs and who would pay for it, but that's what British speedway chose not to do and attendances reflect that as it continues to a grass roots level. It may recover if we discover a stream of British talent but you wouldn't put money on that.

[Bryn]

 

The basic product is fine. It's the lack of quality and professional presentation that's the problem.

 

Would be interested in hearing your thoughts then detailing specific action that you would like to see take place to solve what you see as the problem.

[Crump99]

 

Would be interested in hearing your thoughts then detailing specific action that you would like to see take place to solve what you see as the problem.

 

I'm sure that you could work that out for yourself, but if you think everything is fine and attendances are stable or increasing then you could just say that it's all tickeyty boo as it is and that I'm wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

[SCB]

 

Would be interested in hearing your thoughts then detailing specific action that you would like to see take place to solve what you see as the problem.

Presenters/announcers who were borns in the the 70s and 80s for a start, rather than presenters in their 70s and 80s! You're going to struggle to attract a crowd if your presenters is some old bugger. I cite the case of Ken Welch at BV. I remember a meeting where he "explained" Coventry had R/R at number 4 which means "each of the other Coventry riders can take a ride each" (not true) and then made a pigs ear of trying to explain later why one of the reserves was taking 2 of the rides! He then tried to explain the TR, he explains that the BV rider (I forget who now) would get double points if he beat a Coventry rider. When Morten Risager was excluded and Martin Smolinski won the race he explained it remained a 3-3 as the TR rider had not beat a Coventry rider. Only to have to correct himself minutes later. I had often critisized Ken and people come up with the "He's forgotten more about speedway than you'll ever know" which is fine, until he start forgetting that seasons rules! He also always sounded like he was being made to work at gun point and couldn't wait to go home, he never had any excitement in him.

 

It's not a job I couldn't do, I have all the charisma of a wet fart. But speedway is terrible at keeping old folk in the announcers box. Another thing is you see a great race, the crowd go wild, they're all excited and can't wait for the next race. Then you have a 10 minute break for track grading and they start playing some easy listening music that calms everyone down. The music should constantly be fast and upbeat - it can be old or new, it doesn't have to be music that I like, but if keeping people excited its much better than what some clubs play! Most people won't actually notice the music but it still has to be right.

 

 

edit - older people can do a good job tbf. Bob Radford who is quite a bit older than myself has always been good at it IMO. So maybe I'm being harsh moaner about older people presenting/announcing. but the thing with Bob is he retired while he was still good (but for the odd meeting) and didn't linger on tainting his legacy.

Edited November 4, 2015 by SCB

[Crump99]

And to think that Panthers had Darren Fletcher as presenter a few years ago but never used it as a selling point. I would have made that known for starters.

[Bryn]

 

I'm sure that you could work that out for yourself, but if you think everything is fine and attendances are stable or increasing then you could just say that it's all tickeyty boo as it is and that I'm wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

 

With respect I don't think that "it's all tickeyty boo" as you say, I asked a genuine question and would be, as I said, interested in learning your thoughts in terms of solving the problem you describe. So please express them.

[Gemini]

 

 

.....Crump99......Just to clarify that I didn't say that, it was a quote from Humpy's post.

 

Oooops! Sorry. Just checked back and I must have got confused because you hadn't put it in a quote so I thought it was your words. Apologies.

[The White Knight]

Presenters/announcers who were borns in the the 70s and 80s for a start, rather than presenters in their 70s and 80s! You're going to struggle to attract a crowd if your presenters is some old bugger. I cite the case of Ken Welch at BV. I remember a meeting where he "explained" Coventry had R/R at number 4 which means "each of the other Coventry riders can take a ride each" (not true) and then made a pigs ear of trying to explain later why one of the reserves was taking 2 of the rides! He then tried to explain the TR, he explains that the BV rider (I forget who now) would get double points if he beat a Coventry rider. When Morten Risager was excluded and Martin Smolinski won the race he explained it remained a 3-3 as the TR rider had not beat a Coventry rider. Only to have to correct himself minutes later. I had often critisized Ken and people come up with the "He's forgotten more about speedway than you'll ever know" which is fine, until he start forgetting that seasons rules! He also always sounded like he was being made to work at gun point and couldn't wait to go home, he never had any excitement in him.

 

It's not a job I couldn't do, I have all the charisma of a wet fart. But speedway is terrible at keeping old folk in the announcers box. Another thing is you see a great race, the crowd go wild, they're all excited and can't wait for the next race. Then you have a 10 minute break for track grading and they start playing some easy listening music that calms everyone down. The music should constantly be fast and upbeat - it can be old or new, it doesn't have to be music that I like, but if keeping people excited its much better than what some clubs play! Most people won't actually notice the music but it still has to be right.

 

 

edit - older people can do a good job tbf. Bob Radford who is quite a bit older than myself has always been good at it IMO. So maybe I'm being harsh moaner about older people presenting/announcing. but the thing with Bob is he retired while he was still good (but for the odd meeting) and didn't linger on tainting his legacy.

Yes - wouldn't it be good if the Rules and Regulations were the same every year.

 

It would be far better for the Sport if they stopped fiddling with Rules and Regulations every year to suit this or that Promoter.

 

People are not totally gullible - if they see things don't seem right- they walk away.

 

Far too many people have already done that.

[Humphrey Appleby]

Yes - wouldn't it be good if the Rules and Regulations were the same every year.

Double points have been the same for a while now...

[The White Knight]

Double points have been the same for a while now...

Wrong!!!

 

In 2014 you could use Double Points twice. You can't now. So, obviously you are wrong about that.

 

I didn't say that I had to like the Rules and Regulations ..................................

 

Or - are you trying to be clever as usual?

 

Oh - and until they remove the Double Points altogether, as you know, I will not go.

 

Doesn't alter the validity of what I Posted though.

[Humphrey Appleby]

In 2014 you could use Double Points twice. You can't now. So, obviously you are wrong about that.

Points still score double. What's changed about that?

[Halifaxtiger]

 

The basic product is fine. It's the lack of quality and professional presentation that's the problem. I know that Tsunami would say that costs and who would pay for it, but that's what British speedway chose not to do and attendances reflect that as it continues to a grass roots level. It may recover if we discover a stream of British talent but you wouldn't put money on that.

 

I don't totally agree.

 

Better a cracking meeting with crap presentation than a crap meeting with top quality presentation. People come for the speedway after all, not to listen to the bloke in the middle.

 

As I have said before, there are too many tracks where it seems to me that good enough track preparation is good enough, and it simply isn't. That must be the first thing that is put right. I do accept, however, that there are some pretty awful presenters out there - not so much because they belong to another age but because they are just plain tedious.

 

Its also about winning. As far as I am concerned, Scunthorpe get the whole thing right. Best racing track in the country, Rob Godfrey in the mic and Graham Tagg in the box and as few delays as possible - I have actually heard the aforementioned Mr Godfrey making comment to the referee about putting the two minutes on - no intervals at EWR.

 

Their gates crashed at the start of the season when they were losing at home.

[iris123]

I mentioned this a few years back,but it seems apt on this thread.But some years back we had a joint indoor speedway/mx jumps meeting.The speedway used the local Brokstedt dinosaur of a presenter and the jumps had a young lively presenter/announcer.The way the 2 sports came over was like chalk and cheese even to speedway fans/riders.In fact Smolinski made a statement that he thought the announcer made speedway look bad in contrast to the young guys upbeat style.Not long after the old bloke got pensioned off and the young guy has had a few speedway meetings.Normally the annual Whitsun holiday meeting at Güstrow where they attract a 6-8,000 crowd