Alarmingly Low Crowds

[R87]

The crowds at Wolves have definitely dropped in the last 5 or 6 years. Something the promoter denied at last winters forum as "the books suggested otherwise".

[BWitcher]

 

I was responding to this comment by George Dodds, not his overall Post. Read more carefully - and thoughtfully - before getting on your high horse!

So basically if the BSPA can arrange for a six-year worldwide war which kills millions, uninvent TV and home entertainment, raze garden centres to the ground, and race in London all speedway's woes will be solved?

 

You introduced the 1946 season. George Dodds provided the reasons why those crowds were so high.

[Gemini]

It genuinely amazes me the volume of fans on here who respond to constructive criticism like an aggressive dog would if you attempted to steal it's bone. The saying "burying your head in the sand" doesn't even begin to cover it.

It depends how often the negative posts appear and always from the same people who don't even go to Speedway so why do they bother? The only conclusion I can come to is just to bring everyone down to their miserable level. Well, sorry but it won't work with me. I went to 3 meetings in 3 days last weekend - Coventry, Leicester and Peterborough - and enjoyed all three. All contained some excellent racing with Speedway at its best. Perhaps if some of the miseries actually made the effort to go they might also enjoy it rather than continually dwelling in the past. And believe me it's quite an effort for me to go these days but I do and if I ever have to stop attending I certainly won't come on here being negative in every post I make.

[lucifer sam]

It's pointless comparing with 1946 - a very different time with very different circumstances. And remember British Speedway was at its very lowest ebb in 1957/1958/1959, just a decade later. In 1958, there was one league of ten teams. That's all.

 

Instead of looking back, it's necessary to look forward, although that's not to say we can't learn from the past. For examples, meetings used to be far more controversial than they are now - and provide plenty of talking points.

 

But looking forward, are there ways of getting more fans onto the terraces? And, if not, what sources of alternative income are there?

 

I, for one, still very much enjoy my speedway in 2016, and I'd like to see the sport survive and thrive.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited April 26, 2016 by lucifer sam

[E I Addio]

 

Like many posts, this thread gives speculative comment on how attendances are going - up or down - but again an all important factor that is needed is missed - no figures either correct or speculative are given. I quote from the previous post "...but the crowd looked OK..." What size was that crowd? Was it 800, 8,000 or 80? And as for "..I believe Cradley will have a higher average attendance this season than last..." what numbers are we talking about?

Unlike certain posters I don't claim to have the ability to accurately judge the size of the crowd by simply looking at them, especially when it is dark. However based on the fact that the Bank Holiday derbies with Eastbourne used to bring in upwards of 2500 when the weather was nice the Poole and KL meetings appeared to be slightly smaller that that so I would guesstimate around 2000 or perhaps a little more.

Not exactly 1946 levels but better than most of the crowds last year when the club were having a tough time with home losses.

I agree with all your post till your last sentence... That is not a problem with modern speedway. Indeed at Elite League level it has never featured more equal riders in races. There has ALWAYS been widely differing abilities in races.

 

 

 

I agree. There are clips on you tube of England v Australia test matches in the 1930's before massive crowds but the races seem pretty well strung out. There are also clips of World Finals in the 1950's where there is not a lot of overtaking going on but they are still in front of huge Wembly crowds. Presumably these would clips of some of the best races.

[LunnasPerm]

It depends how often the negative posts appear and always from the same people who don't even go to Speedway so why do they bother? The only conclusion I can come to is just to bring everyone down to their miserable level. Well, sorry but it won't work with me. I went to 3 meetings in 3 days last weekend - Coventry, Leicester and Peterborough - and enjoyed all three. All contained some excellent racing with Speedway at its best. Perhaps if some of the miseries actually made the effort to go they might also enjoy it rather than continually dwelling in the past. And believe me it's quite an effort for me to go these days but I do and if I ever have to stop attending I certainly won't come on here being negative in every post I make.

People bother because they want change and I think it's evident that it needs change.

 

Someone hit the nail on the head, in another topic I believe, when they stated that if British speedway continued on it's current path, then in ten years, domestic speedway won't be around.

 

The falling crowds and yet the constant burial of heads in the sand reminds me of a recent article I read on Nokia; they were happy with what they had, failed to progress, adapt or change to combat dwindling numbers and now, they face extinction.

 

Unless a fuss is made at fan level, nothing will change.

[Gemini]

.....LunnasPerm......People bother because they want change and I think it's evident that it needs change.

 

The people I'm referring to wouldn't bother if every single thing about the sport was changed and there were 20,000 attendances everywhere because they still wouldn't get off their backside to go. It's much more satisfying for them to sit at their computer moaning about everything and saying how much better speedway was years ago.

Just as a matter of interest what would your idea of changes be? GP stars/top riders back over here will miraculously improve attendances enough to pay for their appearance? Unfortunately attendances have been dropping for the past 20 years when they did ride in the UK so that's obviously not the answer.

My ideal scenario would be one big league riding Friday/Saturday/Sunday without any disruptive GP riders and no foreigners who can't commit to riding in every UK match. Not going to happen in my lifetime though.

 

 

 

.........E I Addio.....................I agree. There are clips on you tube of England v Australia test matches in the 1930's before massive crowds but the races seem pretty well strung out. There are also clips of World Finals in the 1950's where there is not a lot of overtaking going on but they are still in front of huge Wembly crowds. Presumably these would clips of some of the best races.

 

One of the best examples is the 1981 World Final at Wembley that everyone seems to rave about. I was there and yes the atmosphere was amazing, but watching the video proves there were only 3 or 4 races that were any good.

Edited April 26, 2016 by Gemini

[TheScotsman]

The falling crowds and yet the constant burial of heads in the sand reminds me of a recent article I read on Nokia; they were happy with what they had, failed to progress, adapt or change to combat dwindling numbers and now, they face extinction.

 

 

 

Not really true about Nokia.

 

They are currently on the acquisition trail - http://company.nokia.com/en/news/press-releases/2016/04/26/nokia-plans-to-acquire-withings-to-accelerate-entry-into-digital-health

[Halifaxtiger]

I was at eastbourne on Saturday and rye house on Sunday. Both meetings had very poor crowds, I doubt if there was much more than 500 at both tracks combined. Freezing cold weather with a threat of rain is enough to put most people off.

 

There were more than that at Eastbourne - I estimated about 500. That's pretty good for NL speedway, especially given the fact that it was indeed very cold and its not in the holiday season.

 

It depends how often the negative posts appear and always from the same people who don't even go to Speedway so why do they bother? The only conclusion I can come to is just to bring everyone down to their miserable level. Well, sorry but it won't work with me. I went to 3 meetings in 3 days last weekend - Coventry, Leicester and Peterborough - and enjoyed all three. All contained some excellent racing with Speedway at its best. Perhaps if some of the miseries actually made the effort to go they might also enjoy it rather than continually dwelling in the past. And believe me it's quite an effort for me to go these days but I do and if I ever have to stop attending I certainly won't come on here being negative in every post I make.

 

Dead right, Gem. If they aren't going and have no intention of doing so why are they part of this forum ?

 

I really don't think you can decide that gates are falling based upon attendances during March and April. As some have pointed out, its been bloody freezing and there is always a heightened threat of bad weather.

 

I think its better if someone who goes to a track every week comments here, for the simple reason that they will be able to give a more accurate view than someone like myself who only goes occasionally but..........

 

Of all the matches I have been to, only Coventry (NL), Scunthorpe & Isle of Wight seemed noticeably poor. That's especially disappointing for the latter two, as Scunny's reputation for racing is well known and Isle of Wight have tried so hard to pull in punters.

 

Lakeside was very good, and Buxton's possibly the biggest I have ever seen there.

 

Of the others, there seemed to be little difference from previous seasons.

Edited April 26, 2016 by Halifaxtiger

[screm]

On the evidence of the first few meetings I am delighted to say Berwick seems to be bucking the trend as their crowds look to have held up well, granted they have raced local clubs, in the cases of Glasgow, Newcastle and Edinburgh the crowds have been helped by a decent travelling support, but it looks like the promotion work during pre-season to actually go out and promote has paid off.

[Mike.Butler]

they've stopped publishing Swedish and polish attendances in the speedway star over last couple of years...Ukmartin might me able to tell us about Poland first hand?

[LunnasPerm]

Not really true about Nokia.

 

They are currently on the acquisition trail - http://company.nokia.com/en/news/press-releases/2016/04/26/nokia-plans-to-acquire-withings-to-accelerate-entry-into-digital-health

I hate, sorry despise people who prettily attempt to correct people. Especially when their input is wrong. Your input isn't just wrong, it's irrelevant.

 

Nokia's CEO cried at a press conference late last year when discussing their technological status in comparison to Apple, Google, etc. They didn't move and they lost. They missed out on billions because, whilst they didn't do anything wrong, they didn't do anything at all; move, adapt, adjust, etc.

 

Your link is in regards to Nokia delving into the digital health market; nothing more than an acquisition at this point. While Apple dominate and continue to pioneer, Nokia's failings have forced them into this.

[Reviresco]

I hate, sorry despise people who prettily attempt to correct people. Especially when their input is wrong. Your input isn't just wrong, it's irrelevant.

 

"Prettily"? How do you know Scotsman is pretty?

 

Despise is such a harsh word to use. It makes your post..... not just wrong, but irrelevant.

 

If you think that was a correction, you are wrong again. That was a sensible, respected poster with something relevant to say, politely pointing out to you an error in your previous statement.

 

Signal, mirror, then indicate is a good check before you manoeuvre your finger pointing digit to the 'POST' button. You know it makes sense.

[speedibee]

I would say , about 50 at Coventry tonight

[mdmc82]

I would say , about 50 at Coventry tonight

It's a shame but most people tend to go to Coventry bees instead of Storm. The fact the team isn't great this year will also affect attendance

[Daytripper]

The people I'm referring to wouldn't bother if every single thing about the sport was changed and there were 20,000 attendances everywhere because they still wouldn't get off their backside to go. It's much more satisfying for them to sit at their computer moaning about everything and saying how much better speedway was years ago.

Just as a matter of interest what would your idea of changes be? GP stars/top riders back over here will miraculously improve attendances enough to pay for their appearance? Unfortunately attendances have been dropping for the past 20 years when they did ride in the UK so that's obviously not the answer.

My ideal scenario would be one big league riding Friday/Saturday/Sunday without any disruptive GP riders and no foreigners who can't commit to riding in every UK match. Not going to happen in my lifetime though.

 

Spot on. Nobody is denying the sport doesn't have problems, many of them self inflicted, but the fact is that people have many more alternatives than they did even 20 years ago. That is not the full reason but it is something to be thrown into the melting pot of discussion . Most regular fans are concerned about the state of the sport but at least recognise that there are complex problems that can't be solved by turning the clock back 30 years. Nothing worse than those ex-supporters who sit on the sidelines sniping because the sport is not what it used to be in the good old days when they used to go when all the meetings were great . It needs to go forwards not backwards.[/font][/color]

Edited April 30, 2016 by Daytripper

[ColinMills]

50? is that genuine? just 50?

[Guest]

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

Edited April 30, 2016 by Guest

[Guest]

I would say , about 50 at Coventry tonight

 

 

50? is that genuine? just 50?

 

I have seen an improvement on that attendance figure in the National League section on the BSF. It's given as a massive 60!

[Gemini]

I would say , about 50 at Coventry tonight

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.

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.