Alarmingly Low Crowds

[remembertheracers]

Spending an hour or so looking at various threads it seems that attendance levels have tumbled this year. Tracks mentioned have included Scunthorpe, Swindon, Coventry, Rye House Raiders and on updates tonight Cradley/Wolverhampton.

 

The Belle Vue debacle, Plymouth's problems and the weather have not helped but is the sport on the verge of imploding?

 

Does anyone have good news to report? Are Glasgow getting their rewards for investment and real promoting?

[Guest]

Spending an hour or so looking at various threads it seems that attendance levels have tumbled this year. Tracks mentioned have included Scunthorpe, Swindon, Coventry, Rye House Raiders and on updates tonight Cradley/Wolverhampton.

 

The Belle Vue debacle, Plymouth's problems and the weather have not helped but is the sport on the verge of imploding?

 

Does anyone have good news to report? Are Glasgow getting their rewards for investment and real promoting?

 

Judged by what I have so far seen on Facebook, those involved with happenings at Glasgow are reasonably happy about the present progression of happenings there.

Edited May 1, 2016 by Guest

[Guest]

Spending an hour or so looking at various threads it seems that attendance levels have tumbled this year. Tracks mentioned have included Scunthorpe, Swindon, Coventry, Rye House Raiders and on updates tonight Cradley/Wolverhampton.

 

The Belle Vue debacle, Plymouth's problems and the weather have not helped but is the sport on the verge of imploding?

 

Does anyone have good news to report? Are Glasgow getting their rewards for investment and real promoting?

 

A good point there remembertheracers and sadly I tend to share the misgivings you raise.

Edited May 4, 2016 by Guest

[LunnasPerm]

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.

[Guest]

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 so much in regard to what this thread is dedicated to.

Edited May 4, 2016 by Guest

[Gresham]

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.

Some very valid points...

 

I'm not really interested in seeing the GP type riders...So I'm quiet happy watching Premier league standard.

 

I'd be quiet happy if we went back to a time where Speedway riders in this country saw riding a bike as their second job.

 

A team of 7 riders and juniors/reserves that were contracted and paid to only race for one side.

 

I'd reintroduce a Northern and Southern League.

 

Bring costs down, by somehow only allowing standard off the shelf sealed engines, put into riders own rolling chassis.

 

I'd be quiet happy for Speedway to go part time for the riders.

 

I really don't care if a rider can be 3 seconds quicker, it only means he has to spend a fortune on services and tuning etc.

 

I'd personally be very happy to see riders who only race for my club...it then feels like a club and someone you can support and follow.

 

As for money...clubs shouldn't be allowed to fall into debt.

 

After costs of running the meeting...the gate receipts should be divided between the riders. Very Simple.

 

If it means the speedway rider I watch is a Postman or similar during the day, and he see's Speedway as a paid hobby, then it's fine by me.

 

Crowds dictate what type of Profession this sport has become. To me it shouts semi professional.

Edited May 4, 2016 by Gresham

[Fromafar]

Some very valid points...

 

I'm not really interested in seeing the GP type riders...So I'm quiet happy watching Premier league standard.

 

I'd be quiet happy if we went back to a time where Speedway riders in this country saw riding a bike as their second job.

 

A team of 7 riders and juniors/reserves that were contracted and paid to only race for one side.

 

I'd reintroduce a Northern and Southern League.

 

Bring costs down, by somehow only allowing standard off the shelf sealed engines, put into riders own rolling chassis.

 

I'd be quiet happy for Speedway to go part time for the riders.

 

I really don't care if a rider can be 3 seconds quicker, it only means he has to spend a fortune on services and tuning etc.

 

I'd personally be very happy to see riders who only race for my club...it then feels like a club and someone you can support and follow.

 

As for money...clubs shouldn't be allowed to fall into debt.

 

After costs of running the meeting...the gate receipts should be divided between the riders. Very Simple.

 

If it means the speedway rider I watch is a Postman or similar during the day, and he see's Speedway as a paid hobby, then it's fine by me.

 

Crowds dictate what type of Profession this sport has become. To me it shouts semi professional.

I have similar thoughts on a lot of your points,unfortunately we all know it is never going to happen.

[Gresham]

I have similar thoughts on a lot of your points,unfortunately we all know it is never going to happen.

When Speedway in this country eventually implodes, and a few more tracks close, I can see it eventually going this way.

 

As for someone's point regarding having two jobs...I think that's the norm for many these days.

 

One, maybe two race nights a week only would help.

Edited May 4, 2016 by Gresham

[waiheke1]

Out of interest, if the gate receipts didn't cover the costs, do you propose the riders pay to cover the shortfall? Or do you expect the promoter to do that, but not be entitled to profits if any are made?

You say you ate happy with Pl standard, but how many Pl standard riders would be willing to race if they could only ride in one league and didn't have a guarantee per point income to rely on?

[Gresham]

Out of interest, if the gate receipts didn't cover the costs, do you propose the riders pay to cover the shortfall? Or do you expect the promoter to do that, but not be entitled to profits if any are made?

You say you ate happy with Pl standard, but how many Pl standard riders would be willing to race if they could only ride in one league and didn't have a guarantee per point income to rely on?

If no one comes to pay and watch you race, how do you expect payment?

 

The whole mind set needs to change.

 

You say about the riders and whether they are willing...tough...Riders, imo, have too much power in this sport.

 

It may have to take one step back to take two forward again.

 

Run on a Semi Professional set up.

 

Crowds are dropping, Costs of running Speedway rise, and Speedway riders still want to make a full time living out of the Sport.

 

The two don't add up.

 

No body wants to see a merry go round of the same riders racing for different teams...that is a farce in itself. It's the one thing friends of mine scoff at.

 

It may even have to go to being Amateur for it to kick on.

 

It simply can't continue in the same vein without their being long term effects on the sport in this country imo.

[R87]

Just watching the Lakeside Belle Vue match back. This sums up exactly why people get so disillusioned with speedway. Constant delays with nothing happening and a meeting (league leaders against a highly fancied opponent) played out in front of one man and his dog with no atmosphere whatsoever.

[BWitcher]

 

 

No body wants to see a merry go round of the same riders racing for different teams...that is a farce in itself. It's the one thing friends of mine scoff at.

 

 

Ah the old 'friends of mine' scoffing, laughing line.

 

It's amazing how much these people who don't follow speedway know about the sport. They're always brought into arguments, laughing and scoffing...

 

Yet there was I under this misconception that anyone outside the sport wouldn't have the slightest clue who riders were or who they rode for.

Edited May 5, 2016 by BWitcher

[orion]

Ah the old 'friends of mine' scoffing, laughing line.

 

It's amazing how much these people who don't follow speedway know about the sport. They're always brought into arguments, laughing and scoffing...

 

Yet there was I under this misconception that anyone outside the sport wouldn't have the slightest clue who riders were or who they rode for.

This post really made me laugh ...and don't forget my mates at work who laugh at speedway when I tell them the rules

[BWitcher]

This post really made me laugh ...and don't forget my mates at work who laugh at speedway when I tell them the rules

 

You don't need to tell them, they already know! It's commonly brought up when non speedway followers want a good laugh.. a great icebreaker at parties!

[waiheke1]

If no one comes to pay and watch you race, how do you expect payment?

 

The whole mind set needs to change.

 

You say about the riders and whether they are willing...tough...Riders, imo, have too much power in this sport.

 

It may have to take one step back to take two forward again.

 

Run on a Semi Professional set up.

 

Crowds are dropping, Costs of running Speedway rise, and Speedway riders still want to make a full time living out of the Sport.

 

The two don't add up.

 

No body wants to see a merry go round of the same riders racing for different teams...that is a farce in itself. It's the one thing friends of mine scoff at.

 

It may even have to go to being Amateur for it to kick on.

 

It simply can't continue in the same vein without their being long term effects on the sport in this country imo.

 

surely the sport ending up amateur isn't a plan to take to improve speedway, it is what will happen if the sport totally falls over.

How many people attend NL meetings - 100? at say 10 quid a pop? How many speedway tracks could stay open on a grand of revenue per meeting, even if all the riders ride for free?

the plan should surely be to improve the product, not weaken it. It needs money spending on marketing and making meetings a full hour and a half of entertainment, not costs cutting even more.

 

I've been to two speedway events in NZ this summer. The first was "midget cars" at Western springs. A good stadium, about 4-5 hours of entertainment, professionally presented, good atmosphere, a crowd of maybe 4000 people, it is thriving.

I also went to see the Auckland vs Canterbuty speedway at Rosebank Rd, crowd maybe 100, commentator enthusiastic but incredibly amateur, interminable delays between heats, run out of programmes at the gate...

The kids enjoyed the actual speedway racing more. But in term,s of what they would like to go back to watch, Western Springs was the unanimous choice, because of all the other factors.

 

It's the former model speedway should aim to emulate, not the latter,

[Gresham]

 

Ah the old 'friends of mine' scoffing, laughing line.

 

It's amazing how much these people who don't follow speedway know about the sport. They're always brought into arguments, laughing and scoffing...

 

Yet there was I under this misconception that anyone outside the sport wouldn't have the slightest clue who riders were or who they rode for.

 

 

Ah the old 'friends of mine' scoffing, laughing line.

 

It's amazing how much these people who don't follow speedway know about the sport. They're always brought into arguments, laughing and scoffing...

 

Yet there was I under this misconception that anyone outside the sport wouldn't have the slightest clue who riders were or who they rode for.

Are you ok Bwitcher? Seriously... have you mental health issues, or on meds...or are you always just plain argumentative and always looking to pick fights with posters?

 

I can't remember a post by you, where you haven't attacked a poster...you really are a vile human being.

 

Why do you always read threads, how you want to read them? Why do you always assume things, then make them fact in your head?

 

As others have said via pm...you really are a nasty piece of work if not mentally ill.

 

As I'll correct you from your misconception...Who mentioned that these friends don't follow Speedway? Who said they don't follow the Sport?

 

Who said they don't go?

 

See...you've misread a thread AGAIN...and read it how you want to read it.

 

Wind yer neck in, and start realising some people want to have a debate on here, without some knob end constantly picking faults in posts and never adding anything positive or worthwhile reading themselves.

 

You are a bit like my friends Jack Russell... Snappy, loud, irritating, and rather disliked by many and highly insignificant...probably bullied at school with small man syndrome :-)

 

 

 

surely the sport ending up amateur isn't a plan to take to improve speedway, it is what will happen if the sport totally falls over.

How many people attend NL meetings - 100? at say 10 quid a pop? How many speedway tracks could stay open on a grand of revenue per meeting, even if all the riders ride for free?

the plan should surely be to improve the product, not weaken it. It needs money spending on marketing and making meetings a full hour and a half of entertainment, not costs cutting even more.

 

I've been to two speedway events in NZ this summer. The first was "midget cars" at Western springs. A good stadium, about 4-5 hours of entertainment, professionally presented, good atmosphere, a crowd of maybe 4000 people, it is thriving.

I also went to see the Auckland vs Canterbuty speedway at Rosebank Rd, crowd maybe 100, commentator enthusiastic but incredibly amateur, interminable delays between heats, run out of programmes at the gate...

The kids enjoyed the actual speedway racing more. But in term,s of what they would like to go back to watch, Western Springs was the unanimous choice, because of all the other factors.

 

It's the former model speedway should aim to emulate, not the latter,

 

Now to a sensible poster...

 

I can see your points and agree to an extent.

 

However...to get people to turn up, week after week and follow the club and not just occasionally, things need to change. Which I'm sure you'll agree.

 

I've watched Speedway for many years, and from my own experience, it is the racing and supporting a club and getting attached to it, that makes people return...not other 'Entertainment' that fills in during intervals etc.

 

As has been suggested on many threads, Speedway needs drastic change.

 

There is no point spending lots of money on marketing and advertising, if people turn up and find the product offered...boring. Wasted money...they won't return. Can you see my point there?

 

No point going over old ground on how to improve it...but Speedway is losing people faster than it is gaining them.

Edited May 6, 2016 by Gresham

[van wolfswinkel]

Speedway is far from dead Gresh, it's clinging on to life, you should have been at The Abbey last night. A reasonable's night's entertainment for yer 17 quid. No different for me than when I started going in 68. Even stood in the same place. It's just not as exciting perhaps because of a lack of noise from a lot less fans.

It will always exist in one form or other, part-time or 1 big league could be the way forward, but it was tickety-boo last night, and for me the number 1 sport in the UK.

[speedibee]

 

Are you ok Bwitcher? Seriously... have you mental health issues, or on meds...or are you always just plain argumentative and always looking to pick fights with posters?

 

I can't remember a post by you, where you haven't attacked a poster...you really are a vile human being.

 

Why do you always read threads, how you want to read them? Why do you always assume things, then make them fact in your head?

 

As others have said via pm...you really are a nasty piece of work if not mentally ill.

 

As I'll correct you from your misconception...Who mentioned that these friends don't follow Speedway? Who said they don't follow the Sport?

 

Who said they don't go?

 

See...you've misread a thread AGAIN...and read it how you want to read it.

 

Wind yer neck in, and start realising some people want to have a debate on here, without some knob end constantly picking faults in posts and never adding anything positive or worthwhile reading themselves.

 

You are a bit like my friends Jack Russell... Snappy, loud, irritating, and rather disliked by many and highly insignificant...probably bullied at school with small man syndrome :-)

 

 

 

You Missed out Thick . I have had him blocked since 2010 , and have told him more than once that is the case ,but he still keeps commenting on my posts , I have no idea what he says unless someone quotes him . but I dont need to see because without doubt , it will be some sort of abuse , Just Block him .tell him you have ,and then when you see he has replied to your post ,just have a little chuckle and think " Thick Twatt" never gets the message!

Edited May 6, 2016 by speedibee

[orion]

 

 

 

As others have said via pm...you really are a nasty piece of work if not mentally ill.

 

 

At last another classic ...as others have said via pm

[speedibee]

 

 

Speedway is far from dead Gresh, it's clinging on to life, you should have been at The Abbey last night. A reasonable's night's entertainment for yer 17 quid. No different for me than when I started going in 68. Even stood in the same place. It's just not as exciting perhaps because of a lack of noise from a lot less fans.

It will always exist in one form or other, part-time or 1 big league could be the way forward, but it was tickety-boo last night, and for me the number 1 sport in the UK.

There was a good crowd in Wolves on monday ,and the racing was good as well .problem is if you were inspired by the sights and sounds ,and encouraged someone else to come and sample it , what the chances of it being the same next week ?

Edited May 6, 2016 by speedibee