When Did Speedway Stop Being As Good As It Used To Be…

[RPNY]

Despite all the doom and gloom, I'm liking some of the things I'm seeing in the British leagues at the Moment. Obviously the NSS in Manchester is fantastic (I cannot wait to see the SWC there in July) Glasgow seem to be doing great things, Rye House seem to be trying to do the same. Sittingbourne is a cracking stadium, I'm a little surprised it's not been used for more to be honest. Norfolk arena is a nice little stadium these days, of course there is still Poole & Sheffield which are wonderful venues to watch Speedway and of course there are other nice venues that I've not mentioned.

With regards to the racing I believe is it just as good as when I first started watching in 1983. The presentation is a bit outdated at a few places but on the whole most places seem to be trying to modernize.

All we need now is the people running the sport to get their backsides in gear and start doing things correctly!

Edited May 13, 2016 by RPNYC

[The White Knight]

As Gresham stated earlier in the Thread - the advent of the 'Lay Down' Engine started the slide for me.. (No pun intended).

[BWitcher]

As Gresham stated earlier in the Thread - the advent of the 'Lay Down' Engine started the slide for me.. (No pun intended).

 

So a long time after the decline had begun and of little relevance.

[AlanF]

Age. Everything seems more intense and more important when you are younger. Consequently, everything is not as good as it used to be. When you are a kid and your football team loses it is the end of the world. By the time you are in your thirties you shrug your shoulders and get on with your day,

 

Difficulty to attract a younger crowd because in 2016 you need more glitz and glamour to stand out in the overcrowded entertainment market.

[Gresham]

Think,as Bwitcher has already pointed out that the actual standard of racing is still very good,it is just the whole feeling around the sport that it isn't very important any more because of the medias lack of enthusiasm and the lack of crowd enthusiasm....

So why is there a lack of enthusiasm from the media and crowd?

 

What stopped them being enthusiastic?

 

If the racing is so good and no different to before, why did people stop going? Because of no media...or no crowds?

 

Something had to make the media and crowds less enthusiastic in the first place.

 

Both have walked away in numbers.

 

Granted TV is more regular...but crowds at Stadium are less, and media coverage is less...although I'd say social media is obviously up.

 

How many young people buy papers and magazines these days? It's all online.

 

There are so many things that are wrong with this sport...it's made too bloody complicated.

 

There are so many things that are still good...the very basics.

 

Promotors have taken a very good basic sport and ruined it, by interfering with rules, regs, tracks and bikes.

 

When you have seven riders one season and a good majority not there the next, then you have a very serious problem.

 

Fans want something to get attached too...not an ever rotating bunch of the same riders, switching teams every five minutes.

 

And that's just touching the surface.

[BWitcher]

So why is there a lack of enthusiasm from the media and crowd?

 

What stopped them being enthusiastic?

 

If the racing is so good and no different to before, why did people stop going? Because of no media...or no crowds?

 

Something had to make the media and crowds less enthusiastic in the first place.

 

Both have walked away in numbers.

 

Granted TV is more regular...but crowds at Stadium are less, and media coverage is less...although I'd say social media is obviously up.

 

How many young people buy papers and magazines these days? It's all online.

 

There are so many things that are wrong with this sport...it's made too bloody complicated.

 

There are so many things that are still good...the very basics.

 

Promotors have taken a very good basic sport and ruined it, by interfering with rules, regs, tracks and bikes.

 

When you have seven riders one season and a good majority not there the next, then you have a very serious problem.

 

Fans want something to get attached too...not an ever rotating bunch of the same riders, switching teams every five minutes.

 

And that's just touching the surface.

 

The issue has been explained on the thread already... as it has been several times previously.

 

However, because it doesn't fit in your with constant rants you choose to 'ignore' quite literally.

Edited May 13, 2016 by BWitcher

[The White Knight]

 

So a long time after the decline had begun and of little relevance.

That is a matter of opinion.

 

I agree with Gresham on this matter and your opinion has very little relevance to me.

 

The issue has been explained on the thread already... as it has been several times previously.

 

However, because it doesn't fit in your with constant rants you choose to 'ignore' quite literally.

How about this for an irrelevant Post?

 

As usual - back to the personal stuff.

[mickthemuppet]

The decline for Speedway is mainly due to

 

Wembley closing for League Speedway. ,then the absence of World Finals there

Too Much Speedway on television

The lack of no Speedway in London

The growth of Speedway in Poland and Sweden

Changing from 2 valve to 4 valve

Teams not having many local riders in them.

Nearly all sports including football have a big decline in attendances

And the main one of all Television

[BWitcher]

That is a matter of opinion.

 

I agree with Gresham on this matter and your opinion has very little relevance to me.

How about this for an irrelevant Post?

 

As usual - back to the personal stuff.

 

Here we go again.

 

A sensible discussion begins but is soon hijacked by old timers who cannot grasp that their 'pet dislikes' are not the primary reasons for the sports struggles and quite simply refuse to accept that it isn't the case despite the fact all the evidence says so.

 

White Knight, the sport was declining a long time before the advent of lay down engines. That is fact.

 

I haven't got personal. Gresham is clogging up forum space trying to engage in a conversation that he can only see half of, all because he doesn't like it when it's pointed out to him what he is saying isn't correct.

[steve roberts]

The decline for Speedway is mainly due to

 

Wembley closing for League Speedway. ,then the absence of World Finals there

Too Much Speedway on television

The lack of no Speedway in London

The growth of Speedway in Poland and Sweden

Changing from 2 valve to 4 valve

Teams not having many local riders in them.

Nearly all sports including football have a big decline in attendances

And the main one of all Television

Agree with most of those points.

 

I would add, also, when the two leagues went their separate ways.

[Trees]

If I were a promoter I would say to my team that if they can attract more fans I'd give them a share of the extra revenue .....

[RPNY]

I've watched some of the Polish League on YouTube and it's easy to understand why it's such a success. Ok it's the National sport but the way they do things seem (at least on the face of it) to be so much better then how we do it.

First off, they basically had to run on Sundays as when the UK was the powerhouse that was the only day they could use. But they have made it work for them. The consistency for fans, knowing WHEN they can watch their sport EVERY WEEK is a great thing. They can fit it into their routine.

Secondly they have invested heavily in the next generation and their stadiums. So that has resulted in them being able to watch the best in the world mixed with a lot of home grown talent - that are good enough to compete with the very best, unlike the Brits.

Lastly, the presentation is just so much better and so much slicker. Even down their race suits being distinctive from the opposition.In comparison I saw a clip of Belle Vue vs Swindon where all you see is 4 riders in every race wearing Red Black & white. If you were new how could you tell the teams apart? Do the clubs not think to talk to each other at the start of the season and come up with a solution for this? A small thing I know, but yet another example of British Speedway and how those in charge dont think..

Edited May 13, 2016 by RPNYC

[Trees]

Age. Everything seems more intense and more important when you are younger. Consequently, everything is not as good as it used to be. When you are a kid and your football team loses it is the end of the world. By the time you are in your thirties you shrug your shoulders and get on with your day,

 

Difficulty to attract a younger crowd because in 2016 you need more glitz and glamour to stand out in the overcrowded entertainment market.

You are so right, the age of the crowd adds to the lack of crowd interaction, you also get the young people now who won't cheer cos it's uncool lol

We need to bring back mob mentality, get a couple of people start heeding and blowing their airhorns and the rest will join in. If I were a promoter I would rope in people in parts of the crowd to be my mob 😆

I've watched some of the Polish League on YouTube and it's easy to understand why it's such a success. Ok it's the National sport but the way they do things seem (at least on the face of it) to be so much better then how we do it.

First off, they basically had to run on Sundays as when the UK was the powerhouse that was the only day they could use. But they have made it work for them. The consistency for fans, knowing they can watch their sport is a great thing. They can fit it into their routine.

Secondly they have invested heavily in the next generation and their stadiums. So that has resulted in them being able to watch the best in the world mixed with a lot of home grown talent - that are good enough to compete with the very best, unlike the Brits.

Lastly, the presentation is just so much better and so much slicker. Even down their race suits being distinctive from the opposition.In comparison I saw a clip of Belle Vue vs Swindon where all you see is 4 riders in every race wearing Red Black & white. If you were new how could you tell the teams apart. Do the clubs not think to talk to each other at the start of the season and come up with a solution for this? A small thing I know, but yet another example of British Speedway and how those in charge dont think..

The promoters don't have to try hard during the meetings though, the fans just arrive with the right attitude, wanting to make noise, cheer and wave flags for their team. They've nearly all had a lager or two before the meetings to put them in the mood ....

[steve roberts]

You are so right, the age of the crowd adds to the lack of crowd interaction, you also get the young people now who won't cheer cos it's uncool lol

We need to bring back mob mentality, get a couple of people start heeding and blowing their airhorns and the rest will join in. If I were a promoter I would rope in people in parts of the crowd to be my mob

The promoters don't have to try hard during the meetings though, the fans just arrive with the right attitude, wanting to make noise, cheer and wave flags for their team. They've nearly all had a lager or two before the meetings to put them in the mood ....

Bring back 'Soldier Boy!' He certainly used to stir things up!

[foamfence]

I've watched some of the Polish League on YouTube and it's easy to understand why it's such a success. Ok it's the National sport but the way they do things seem (at least on the face of it) to be so much better then how we do it.

First off, they basically had to run on Sundays as when the UK was the powerhouse that was the only day they could use. But they have made it work for them. The consistency for fans, knowing WHEN they can watch their sport EVERY WEEK is a great thing. They can fit it into their routine.

Secondly they have invested heavily in the next generation and their stadiums. So that has resulted in them being able to watch the best in the world mixed with a lot of home grown talent - that are good enough to compete with the very best, unlike the Brits.

Lastly, the presentation is just so much better and so much slicker. Even down their race suits being distinctive from the opposition.In comparison I saw a clip of Belle Vue vs Swindon where all you see is 4 riders in every race wearing Red Black & white. If you were new how could you tell the teams apart? Do the clubs not think to talk to each other at the start of the season and come up with a solution for this? A small thing I know, but yet another example of British Speedway and how those in charge dont think..

So why have their attendances reduced by as much as two thirds at some tracks? They used to be the number one sport in Poland but these days they don't get anywhere near football.

[Leicester Hunter]

Bring back 'Soldier Boy!' He certainly used to stir things up!

I certainly remember him! What a character. The unscripted 'debates' between him and Ole Olsen were pure comedy gold.

[ColinMills]

when the gp started

[Sidney the robin]

 

So a long time after the decline had begun and of little relevance.

Do you have to be so sharp nothing changes😠funny on the years gone by thread there is never any hassle i wonder why??😆 Edited May 13, 2016 by Sidney the robin

[RPNY]

So why have their attendances reduced by as much as two thirds at some tracks? They used to be the number one sport in Poland but these days they don't get anywhere near football.

Just going by what I've seen and what the riders say...

[iris123]

Do you have to be so sharp nothing changesfunny on the years gone by thread there is never any hassle i wonder why??

You have a short memory Sid.Wasn't it only last week that you misread a post by the Doc and lost your rag???