Alarmingly Low Crowds

[speedibee]

50? is that genuine? just 50?

thats my guess . 50 is inclusive of a guess how many were in the bar . On the terraces 1-2 8 people . 3-4 gemini and her dog maybe 10 sitting in the grandstand . I could only guess at the amount in the bar because I was busy .but someoen said when they came in 28 cars in the carpark .

[Guest]

Is there something wrong in the way the reply to message 56 has been posted?

 

 

No, work it out. It's quite easy as even I can do it.

 

Gosh Gemini! As the old saying goes you have "...got your knickers in a twist.." I know that the Post was an error - he posted his own message inside the quote section. I just asked in case I was missing one of those much-famed BSF "...catch you out..." items.

Edited May 1, 2016 by Guest

[speedibee]

Gustix likes your post so that says it all. Personally I find it damn irritating that any past Speedway fan can take delight in knowing there was a small attendance but there you go. Just shows what the person is like.

I was there as usual and find it really sad that more people don't attend the Storm matches but that seems to be the trend unfortunately if a team is also in the Elite League. I wouldn't be able to confirm if 50 is right or not because I don't know how many were up in the bar ~ quite a lot if they had any sense because it was yet another cold night with the threat of rain again.

No, work it out. It's quite easy as even I can do it.

and there was a decent offer as well .keep your ticket and £5 off admission on monday . so the storm match would actually cost £7 .

[Gemini]

and there was a decent offer as well .keep your ticket and £5 off admission on monday . so the storm match would actually cost £7 .

To be correct there is not £5 off admission on Monday ~ it will be £10 to get in on May 9th with the Storm ticket.

 

 

 

 

Gosh Gemini! As the old saying goes you have "...got you knickers in a twist.." I know that the Post was an error - he posted his own message inside the quote section. I just asked in case I was missing one of those much-famed BSF "...catch you out..." items.

He was replying to my post and I understood it perfectly, as you did as well but decided to be awkward as usual. Yes. I've got my knickers in a twist but I won't from now on because you're going on 'Ignore' so I don't get banned.

 

thats my guess . 50 is inclusive of a guess how many were in the bar . On the terraces 1-2 8 people . 3-4 gemini and her dog maybe 10 sitting in the grandstand . I could only guess at the amount in the bar because I was busy .but someoen said when they came in 28 cars in the carpark .

Did you count me and Lucy twice because we were on the back straight not 3/4?

[Guest]

He was replying to my post and I understood it perfectly, as you did as well but decided to be awkward as usual. Yes. I've got my knickers in a twist but I won't from now on because you're going on 'Ignore' so I don't get banned.

 

 

Good idea. I have reciprocated your action. I know also that you won't see this but just want to get the fact in the public domain.

Edited May 1, 2016 by Guest

[RobMcCaffery]

 

Good idea. I have reciprocated your action. I know also that you won't see this but just want to get the fact in the public domain.

John, it's time to switch the pc off.

 

 

Permanently.

[Tsunami]

John, it's time to switch the pc off.

 

 

Permanently.

Quite agree. His light went out many years ago, so he may as well switch the pc off and stop acting like an annoying old tw&t. Here's hoping.

Edited May 1, 2016 by Tsunami

[speedibee]

To be correct there is not £5 off admission on Monday ~ it will be £10 to get in on May 9th with the Storm ticket.

 

He was replying to my post and I understood it perfectly, as you did as well but decided to be awkward as usual. Yes. I've got my knickers in a twist but I won't from now on because you're going on 'Ignore' so I don't get banned.

 

Did you count me and Lucy twice because we were on the back straight not 3/4?

I only saw you by the track shop and assumed you would have gone to your normal spot ,

[The Doctor...]

Oh gawd. Another negative misery has made a reappearance.

 

Strangely at the same sort of time his buddy TWK resurfaces 5 months after his tantrum.

 

Oh dear..

[Gemini]

I only saw you by the track shop and assumed you would have gone to your normal spot ,

All on my own on the 3rd bend in this weather? Have a heart. I usually find someone to sit with and annoy on the back straight for the Storm matches.

[Guest]

I think the smallest crowd that I have encountered for a speedway meeting was at Aldershot in 1956 - that gate was quoted to me by the then speedway manager as being 482 paying customers.

[LunnasPerm]

* I'm not sure why there are two topics, can someone delete the other?

 

I raised my point elsewhere in regards to the sport being somewhat boring in comparison to my memories, but that topic is simply a matter of opinion.

 

What can't be denied, I believe, is that the cost of speedway is scandalous.

 

This sport, in simple terms, must know it's role and know it's place. Speedway, as much as we wish it was, is as far from being a prime time sport as netball, badminton and GAA.

 

Let me put it into perspective; I paid £17.50 to get into Ashfield for the first meeting of the season. The following Sunday, I paid £18 for my ticket at the Scottish Cup semi-final, the Old Firm game. £1 more to watch a globally renowned derby, viewed by more than only the Superbowl, at the national stadium. An incredible addition to this is that my friend managed to get his 16 year-old son a ticket at £7. At Ashfield, he would have paid £13.50. That's unbelievable.

 

There are not enough people in this country, who class speedway as their first sport, to justify those prices. It's detrimental to attendances, I believe. Put it this way, if it cost £12.50 to get into Ashfield, I would go more often.

 

There are arguments for reducing the cost to increase the volume of punters, similar to what the Bundesliga has done, but I think that goes beyond the issue at hand; speedway does not have a right to charge those prices and if promotors, management and directors are in the sport for the money that's to be made, then they've made a grave error and should dismiss their financial advisor(s) ASAP.

[Halifaxtiger]

* I'm not sure why there are two topics, can someone delete the other?

 

I raised my point elsewhere in regards to the sport being somewhat boring in comparison to my memories, but that topic is simply a matter of opinion.

 

What can't be denied, I believe, is that the cost of speedway is scandalous.

 

This sport, in simple terms, must know it's role and know it's place. Speedway, as much as we wish it was, is as far from being a prime time sport as netball, badminton and GAA.

 

Let me put it into perspective; I paid £17.50 to get into Ashfield for the first meeting of the season. The following Sunday, I paid £18 for my ticket at the Scottish Cup semi-final, the Old Firm game. £1 more to watch a globally renowned derby, viewed by more than only the Superbowl, at the national stadium. An incredible addition to this is that my friend managed to get his 16 year-old son a ticket at £7. At Ashfield, he would have paid £13.50. That's unbelievable.

 

There are not enough people in this country, who class speedway as their first sport, to justify those prices. It's detrimental to attendances, I believe. Put it this way, if it cost £12.50 to get into Ashfield, I would go more often.

 

There are arguments for reducing the cost to increase the volume of punters, similar to what the Bundesliga has done, but I think that goes beyond the issue at hand; speedway does not have a right to charge those prices and if promotors, management and directors are in the sport for the money that's to be made, then they've made a grave error and should dismiss their financial advisor(s) ASAP.

 

It has a right to charge those prices (and indeed double those prices) if people will pay them. The question is, will they ?

 

To me, it was the price hike and the comparison with other clubs that made me raise my eyebrows at the cost of Glasgow yesterday.

 

There is an argument about reducing costs to attract more fans and I am sure more would go with a £5 reduction. The next question is, though, would there be enough to make up for the loss of £5 per person ?

 

1,000 at £17.50 is £17,500 takings. At £12.50, you need 1,400 to match it. Would you get a 40% increase ? Doubtful I'd say but whichever way you look at it its a huge gamble to risk such a cut in prices. Its also been tried, many times.

 

Incidentally, Halifax Town is £17.00 to go in and they aren't even in league football.

[Guest]

* I'm not sure why there are two topics, can someone delete the other?

 

I raised my point elsewhere in regards to the sport being somewhat boring in comparison to my memories, but that topic is simply a matter of opinion.

 

What can't be denied, I believe, is that the cost of speedway is scandalous.

 

This sport, in simple terms, must know it's role and know it's place. Speedway, as much as we wish it was, is as far from being a prime time sport as netball, badminton and GAA.

 

Let me put it into perspective; I paid £17.50 to get into Ashfield for the first meeting of the season. The following Sunday, I paid £18 for my ticket at the Scottish Cup semi-final, the Old Firm game. £1 more to watch a globally renowned derby, viewed by more than only the Superbowl, at the national stadium. An incredible addition to this is that my friend managed to get his 16 year-old son a ticket at £7. At Ashfield, he would have paid £13.50. That's unbelievable.

 

There are not enough people in this country, who class speedway as their first sport, to justify those prices. It's detrimental to attendances, I believe. Put it this way, if it cost £12.50 to get into Ashfield, I would go more often.

 

There are arguments for reducing the cost to increase the volume of punters, similar to what the Bundesliga has done, but I think that goes beyond the issue at hand; speedway does not have a right to charge those prices and if promotors, management and directors are in the sport for the money that's to be made, then they've made a grave error and should dismiss their financial advisor(s) ASAP.

 

An excellent post. It summarises to much in regard to what this thread is dedicated to.

[LunnasPerm]

 

It has a right to charge those prices (and indeed double those prices) if people will pay them. The question is, will they ?

 

To me, it was the price hike and the comparison with other clubs that made me raise my eyebrows at the cost of Glasgow yesterday.

 

There is an argument about reducing costs to attract more fans and I am sure more would go with a £5 reduction. The next question is, though, would there be enough to make up for the loss of £5 per person ?

 

1,000 at £17.50 is £17,500 takings. At £12.50, you need 1,400 to match it. Would you get a 40% increase ? Doubtful I'd say but whichever way you look at it its a huge gamble to risk such a cut in prices. Its also been tried, many times.

 

Incidentally, Halifax Town is £17.00 to go in and they aren't even in league football.

 

I disagree. Factually, yes, club's promotions can charge £1,500 for admission and £250 for a portion of chips, but I'm referring to the bigger picture; reality.

 

Your comments regarding the 40% increase are put into perspective by the fact that, via the current costing structure, the necessary numbers aren't coming through the gates. It's adapt or die.

 

A quick Google search shows that Halifax Town have a smaller average attendance than most clubs in their league, plus a number of clubs in the lower leagues of Scotland. A horrific example to support your point; it simply emphasises mine.

[Shale Searcher]

The problem with these analogies is there isnt really a comparator sport? Engine powered team racing on a small oval track.

[speedibee]

* I'm not sure why there are two topics, can someone delete the other?

 

I raised my point elsewhere in regards to the sport being somewhat boring in comparison to my memories, but that topic is simply a matter of opinion.

 

What can't be denied, I believe, is that the cost of speedway is scandalous.

 

This sport, in simple terms, must know it's role and know it's place. Speedway, as much as we wish it was, is as far from being a prime time sport as netball, badminton and GAA.

 

Let me put it into perspective; I paid £17.50 to get into Ashfield for the first meeting of the season. The following Sunday, I paid £18 for my ticket at the Scottish Cup semi-final, the Old Firm game. £1 more to watch a globally renowned derby, viewed by more than only the Superbowl, at the national stadium. An incredible addition to this is that my friend managed to get his 16 year-old son a ticket at £7. At Ashfield, he would have paid £13.50. That's unbelievable.

 

There are not enough people in this country, who class speedway as their first sport, to justify those prices. It's detrimental to attendances, I believe. Put it this way, if it cost £12.50 to get into Ashfield, I would go more often.

 

There are arguments for reducing the cost to increase the volume of punters, similar to what the Bundesliga has done, but I think that goes beyond the issue at hand; speedway does not have a right to charge those prices and if promotors, management and directors are in the sport for the money that's to be made, then they've made a grave error and should dismiss their financial advisor(s) ASAP.

If speedway was afforded the same luxuries as football maybe the promoters could afford to lower prices , sturggling football clubs get tax breaks , govenrment and local council handouts , you only have to look at Coventry city ,£30.000.000 in debts written off by the council and the taxman to get them to come back from self imposed exile in Northampton . so no problem keeping their prices low

[Daytripper]

The problem with these analogies is there isnt really a comparator sport? Engine powered team racing on a small oval track.

True. Part of the problem is that apart from F1 and to a much lesser extent Superbikes, motor sport in general is not even on the radar as far as the mainstream media is concerned. The days of massive crowds are gone forever. That's just the result of a changing world with so many alternatives available. However, within those constraints people will pay the price if the product is good enough.Speedway is broadly comparable with some stock cars, cricket and a number of others and as others have said soccer can charge twice as much a pull a huge crowd in, so there is no doubt that cost is not a major obstacle to most people who don't want to spend their lives in front if the telly.

[sparkafag]

Speedway has a core audience that is willing to pay £14 - £18.00 to watch it, that audience hasn’t massively differed or changed with price changes.

 

The majority of tracks have attempted free nights for televised meetings or opening nights which has seen a huge increase in attendances when it was free (naturally) but swelled by people who haven’t returned to pay full price the next week.

 

Speedway as a sport has had an average attendance in the 500/2,000 range for 15 years that is the market the sport lives in, that is the sports role and place that it has known for a long time now.

[Guest]

Speedway as a sport has had an average attendance in the 500/2,000 range for 15 years that is the market the sport lives in, that is the sports role and place that it has known for a long time now.

 

Sad but very true. The worry is "will things improve?" or "will they get worse?"