Humphrey Appleby Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Running on the same 1 or 2 nights will actually help the economics in terms of cost per meeting. The challenge will be if restricted to one night, then there will be a reduction in actual meetings per season. this may be ok for clubs that rent the stadium given that stadium costs are variable in those instances (although the landlords may increase "the rent" to make up for lower income) For those clubs who own the stadium then 7 home meetings a year will be far from sufficient to maintain the cost of ownership. It's not just that, but also whether fans will turn up at midweek meetings. Some tracks in more urban areas do okay, but for others it's traditionally not worked well. For the likes of Coventry, it's just been a downward spiral ever since they moved away from Saturdays. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notenoughnerve Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 That's the crux of it. Family sport, so it really does need to tun at the weekend. When Belle Vue shifted to Monday night it was the start of a slow decline in attendances. I went from going every week to a handful of meetings a season. Looking at the crowd for the Swindon play off match, that would have seemed a poor turn out for a regular meeting not that many years ago. Weekend Speedway with or without the stars. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woz01 Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 (edited) It's not just that, but also whether fans will turn up at midweek meetings. Some tracks in more urban areas do okay, but for others it's traditionally not worked well. For the likes of Coventry, it's just been a downward spiral ever since they moved away from Saturdays. Id say crowds at Brandon have generally held over the last 4-5 years and that's including a season we finished bottom, obviously nothing like the Saturday crowds though. A move midweek would be difficult to hang on to the crowds we get at present. I could get to meetings but my kids on a school night? Not a chance. That's the crux of it. Family sport, so it really does need to tun at the weekend. When Belle Vue shifted to Monday night it was the start of a slow decline in attendances. I went from going every week to a handful of meetings a season. Looking at the crowd for the Swindon play off match, that would have seemed a poor turn out for a regular meeting not that many years ago. Weekend Speedway with or without the stars. Coventry had Poole on a bank holiday at 11am a few years back it was the biggest crowd ive seen at Brandon for an EL meeting in a long time. Lots of families there to enjoy an afternoon of speedway, if the sport wants to attract families back it has to be when its accessible to them. Edited March 3, 2016 by woz01 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingbee Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 The fixed race night will be on a Wednesday [/quotedon't think so John Cook is saying Thursday/Friday in speedway star a few weeks back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 What Jon Cook actually said was that he would be arguing for Thurs/Friday because Lakeside are a Friday track - But he would have to consider the other options if he was out voted, as he expects to be!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 What Jon Cook actually said was that he would be arguing for Thurs/Friday because Lakeside are a Friday track - But he would have to consider the other options if he was out voted, as he expects to be!! What's the point of having a fixed race day on Fridays where it'll still clash with GPs and all sorts of other events staged on Saturdays? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 What's the point of having a fixed race day on Fridays where it'll still clash with GPs and all sorts of other events staged on Saturdays? Surely you are getting confused, the EU thread is in the General Discusions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therefused Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Surely you are getting confused, the EU thread is in the General Discusions.Starman calling someone else confused, classic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notenoughnerve Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 What's the point of having a fixed race day on Fridays where it'll still clash with GPs and all sorts of other events staged on Saturdays? What's the point of staging meetings on a night that prevents a decent crowd turning out? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heathen chemistry Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 how has cook to that conclusion..there are 8 teams in the league i presume they wud have one vote each . how many ride weds? about2 out of 8 ....wolves monday coventry friday lakeside friday belke vue monday leicester saturday leaving swindon poole and kingslynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.N.T. Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 (edited) So if I understand you correctly. Take Leicester. They would run 7 Elite League meetings during the season every alternate Wednesday whilst staging weekly "British League "meetings on a Saturday (their current race night). This seems very workable, but how far do you believe the promoters will be able to promote two meetings in a week? also how many promoters would be up for it? 7 Elite League fixtures11 British League fixtures There will not be two home meetings in a week I think it would be a disaster. Having a two-tier system will just make the non-elite matches second class in the eyes of fans, and they'll just pick-and-choose their meetings even if British speedway could afford the 'top boys' anyway. Teams need to choose an appropriate level to run at for the entire season, and sign riders who can commit to all the fixtures. Maybe it's possible for the BEL to run a short 14-season home and away season (possibly throwing in some sort of supplementary cup) and be done with it, but I'd expect those teams renting stadiums will have agreements for more than 7 meetings a year. A Leicester fan is a Leicester fan A Poole fan is a Poole fan It may mean they have teams in two different strength leagues but both teams will still hold the team name. PLUS five (possibly 6) of the riders will feature in both teams Some may pick and choose but I firmly believe that if your team is riding you will have fans turn up if it's Elite, Premier or National League plus the entrance fee would be different for each League. How will this work with clubs that don't own there stadiums and have to run on the night set out by stadium owners? Every team in the Elite League now can run 7 or 8 meetings on a Monday if Sky ask them to. Well I don't think it'll be the current 8 EL clubs in the new 'streamlined' version, unless any that do drop out are replaced by a similar number of aspirational PL clubs?! Stranger things may happen..............I can see two possible tracks opting to ride in the Elite League if it is just 7 or 8 fixed nights on a Wednesday (or Thursday) while still having their regular race night for British League meetings using a team pretty much set to Premier levels. Yes there may be a team deciding to drop down but at present the teams in the Elite can run on a fixed Wednesday (or Thursday) with the occasional meeting switching to Monday for Sky. Swindon in the new stadium could help and Coventry should have a new track. Lakeside is the only track I am unsure of but when we are talking just 7 or 8 alternative nights racing I think they could operate. Premier League runs mainly Friday, Saturday and Sunday with just two teams on a Thursday ..... Could Sheffield and Ipswich move up or ride on a Friday ? Thursday is being talked about but with Sweden running that night I think Wednesday is more likley and we don't need two race nights. One race night with one meeting you each week switching to Monday for Sky who can then show highlighted action from the previous week's fixtures or reports from the meetings. It's a change but it Will work for the better and make British Speedway top again. MONDAY Poole v Swindon WEDNESDAY Wolverhampton v Lakeside Leicester v Belle Vue Coventry v Kings Lynn Remember that running just 7 or 8 Elite League meetings, these would not run each week and would run each fortnight so the 14 or 16 meetings would take 26 weeks to run and on the weeks where the Elite League doesn't run, clubs are free to ride on their usual race night. SIMPLES 🏁🏆 Example of a fixture list for Wolverhampton Week 1 BL home Week 2 EL away Week 3 BL home BL away Week 4 EL home BL away Week 5 BL home Week 6 EL home BL away Week 7 BL home Week 8 EL away BL home Etc etc etc Edited March 4, 2016 by T.N.T. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric i Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 Thursday is being talked about but with Sweden running that night I think Wednesday is more likley and we don't need two race nights. The Danish league is on a Wednesday which is stronger than the Swedish 2nd division that runs on a Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woz01 Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 (edited) how has cook to that conclusion..there are 8 teams in the league i presume they wud have one vote each . how many ride weds? about2 out of 8 ....wolves monday coventry friday lakeside friday belke vue monday leicester saturday leaving swindon poole and kingslynnBelle Vue ride on a Friday as do Coventry and Lakeside, Leicester also seemingly keen to ride Friday. Swindon and KL ride Thursday. If we move 6 clubs racenight to Monday and Wednesday it'll be a financial disaster for them so guess what some of them will likely do? Drop down to PL level. So then what would be the point of having a Monday and Wednesday as set nights? Don't think Belle Vue would be at all keen as they have a stadium to pay for, they also picked Friday nights for a reason. Edited March 4, 2016 by woz01 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 Belle Vue ride on a Friday as do Coventry and Lakeside, Leicester also seemingly keen to ride Friday. Swindon and KL ride Thursday. If we move 6 clubs racenight to Monday and Wednesday it'll be a financial disaster for them so guess what some of them will likely do? Drop down to PL level. So then what would be the point of having a Monday and Wednesday as set nights? Don't think Belle Vue would be at all keen as they have a stadium to pay for, they also picked Friday nights for a reason. Which if it happens will leave about 4 clubs in the EL, so that would be the end of EL racing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 The 'uptopia' perhaps would be a league that attracts a sponsor big enough to make the income from attendences almost irrelevant. Ironically that could also be the type of league that could attract the best crowds regardless of the day of the week it took place! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 Which if it happens will leave about 4 clubs in the EL, so that would be the end of EL racing. With some PL clubs keen to move up (Glasgow say they are considering 2017), Ipswich say they've ill return when it suits , Sheffield have a forward thinking management team that might be keen so as per usual there is likely to be a top flight as usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 With some PL clubs keen to move up (Glasgow say they are considering 2017), Ipswich say they've ill return when it suits , Sheffield have a forward thinking management team that might be keen so as per usual there is likely to be a top flight as usual. And after they have been to the first EL bspa meeting they will return to the PL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 And after they have been to the first EL bspa meeting they will return to the PL On I don't know, the PL one must be bad enough! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.N.T. Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 The Danish league is on a Wednesday which is stronger than the Swedish 2nd division that runs on a Thursday. It may be stronger in your opinion but more riders that ride here also ride in Sweden compared to Denmark who do have different nights I think. Belle Vue ride on a Friday as do Coventry and Lakeside, Leicester also seemingly keen to ride Friday. Swindon and KL ride Thursday. If we move 6 clubs racenight to Monday and Wednesday it'll be a financial disaster for them so guess what some of them will likely do? Drop down to PL level. So then what would be the point of having a Monday and Wednesday as set nights? Don't think Belle Vue would be at all keen as they have a stadium to pay for, they also picked Friday nights for a reason. Kings Lynn do Wednesday nights and those wanting to compete in the Elite League will switch to the selected race night and if it is just 7-9 home meetings and they get to ride on their regular race night in another League they will fit in Wednesday or Thursday nights next season. There would be a few tracks looking at entering the Elite League if it is run alongside another level and shorter fixtures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric i Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 It may be stronger in your opinion but more riders that ride here also ride in Sweden compared to Denmark who do have different nights I think. Denmark mainly rides Wednesday, and I am sure most people would consider it a stronger league than Swedish 2nd division. As the Elite league is trying to attract a better standard of rider I would suggest Thursday would be preferable over Wednesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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