Steve Shovlar Posted August 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2016 20? Wow! Only joking, with it being bank holiday I expect a decent crowd, probably beat the best of the season v Coventry which was also a bank holiday Monday. Hopefully the weather will be good. It'll be interesting to how many seats are available on the booking system as that is quite a good barometer for the actual attendance. Unfortunately stock cars at the dog track have priority on a bank holiday Monday and the council only agreed to speedway if it started at 12noon. I reckon that helps you traffic wise as it should be light for the drive north and while it will be busy going south there is no deadline so no stress. I thought you were flying up anyway? How can you tell how many seats have sold on the booking system? As for flying up, the numbers just don't add up. So we are driving up, then calling in at Monmore on the way back for the double header. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted August 12, 2016 Report Share Posted August 12, 2016 Some are going up the day before and overnighting at a local hostelry!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted August 13, 2016 Report Share Posted August 13, 2016 Any supposed increased crowds at Wolves would have dwindled after Monday when they were knocked out of contention for a title win, the reality is after Monday no one at Wolverhampton would care less about a league win and thus their crowds would dwindle and tail off I'll have to disagree with you there. Even after Mondays defeat and even without signing Tai Wolves would have made the play offs so crowds would have increased not dwindled. You and Mr Flange can bugger off with your anti play off nonsense. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted August 13, 2016 Report Share Posted August 13, 2016 All sounds exciting. And the run up to the play offs with places still at stake will generate even more interest. Long live the play offs! Must admit I'm quite enjoying them this year. It's rather relaxing to just sit back and watch the results with no stress involved. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted August 13, 2016 Report Share Posted August 13, 2016 Sounds like a good plan, traffic going south shouldn't be as bad then either, besides even I think flying (the airport bit at each end especially) is a pain in the ass! as for the tickets. Make sure you are on a desktop version browser which works with flash (or something like that) I use Firefox on my tablet. Go to the tickets bit on the BV website and select 'click here to select your seat from the plan'. When you click on each block it tells you how many seats are left, add it up and take it off the capacity which is somewhere around 1850ish. You can even open up each block and physically count each taken seat if you want the exact figure, lol! Currently there are around 1400 seats available for the Poole meeting so 450ish sold, and only 70 of the £23 seats nobody was meant to want available. Contractors penalty clause/insurance more than covered it. Seriously how can you ensure something and get paid out on the basis that it was a man made cock up, which those taking out the insurance were aware of. just saying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaColette Posted August 13, 2016 Report Share Posted August 13, 2016 Must admit I'm quite enjoying them this year. It's rather relaxing to just sit back and watch the results with no stress involved. Really? Most people get stressed when Poole are riding 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bald Bloke Posted August 13, 2016 Report Share Posted August 13, 2016 I said a few weeks ago Poole will find a way.But had a small bet on Wolves after Woofy signed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted August 13, 2016 Report Share Posted August 13, 2016 Really? Most people get stressed when Poole are riding I'm completely chilled at this stage of the season as it's quite nice not to be in the play-offs. We've even not got to worry about picking up the other trophy The Wooden Spoon as I think that's definitely going Leicester's way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkafag Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 (edited) No, I'm advocating the top teams 'not running dead rubbers', that is where the attendance's suffer the most. Lower teams just get the die hards anyway. In a proper league the top teams attendance's keep increasing as the title gets nearer and nearer and they take fans to away meetings so the lower teams benefit as well. That is all lost in the qualifier and cup format. As for Coventry, before the swindon meeting they had virtually the same number of points and the same gap to the top 4 as Belle Vue had at a similar point last season so why is that a bad example? Again, it is a poor example because it neither proves nor disproves a point. It’s highly likely the attendance at that particular meeting would have been the same regardless of Play Offs. The system hasn’t been put in place for that type of meeting though. If anything though, if really pushed on it, the sparse attendance would likely have been even less without minor Play Off interest for the home side as otherwise they would have literally been racing for no reason. Re the point Belle Vue and Poole might have increased attendances (albeit not to a great level until it was likely to be “Championship” night) if it was a straight out title race, yes they tracks might have, likely would, but Lakeside, Swindon and Wolves (for example) wouldn’t. If a Play Off race means those three tracks retain 100/150 (at least) more people for a further 5,6 or 7 meetings then that’s a good thing – if it wasn’t a play Off system and those people were removed from those tracks are Belle Vue and Poole going to fill that deficit with their travelling support because they might win the title at those tracks? Are either track really going to take 600 or 700 people to those tracks to replace the fans who have stopped going? I highly doubt it. So as well as more tracks retaining a slightly higher and slightly more stable attendance they tracks (Swindon, Wolves and Lakeside) will also have a Play Off meetings likely attended by 2/3/4,000 people (at least) on top of a higher average weekly attendance, you are talking deficits and differences in attendances of the best part of 5,000 people if you work that out to an average of even £10 a person that’s a cash difference of £50,000.00 that Wolves, Swindon or Lakeside will make that they probably wouldn’t without Play Offs. Poole and Belle Vue (in this instance) will gain a solid attendance level purely for being in the hunt for the league as well as TWO hugely increased home attendances to go with their league attendances. They also gain two away attendances they likely wouldn’t have got even from Poole had they been in with a chance of the league. As a system it balances out across the league and allows a fairer spread of interest across the season – it gets more people into more tracks than a league title system, more eyes on the product and more “meaningful speedway” is raced across the country than it would be in a league system. There is more chance to present to local media the idea of “play of chasing meeting” “Play Off Semi” (over 2 legs) and Play Off Finals, the increased attention helps with media and sponsors as it can be offered as a better all-around package. But, hey, some people just don’t like the Play Offs.. Edited August 15, 2016 by The Mockingjay 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 I think the problem we have now and there's no going back is that we refer to some meetings as unimportant or a none event. Pre play offs you just fought to gain the highest place in the table as that determined the finishing order. We had more teams then and local bragging rights would come into it even if the title was out of reach. These days we often get statements like it's not crucial we win this as we can still get a mid table finish and qualify or we've no chance of qualifying so it's a nothing fixture or we've qualified so we're not concerned about the result we'll just do some testing. This all filters through over the season and leads to apathy on the terraces. The flip side is tell the fans how important a fixture is at the business end of the season and they will turn up. It also happened with the KO Cup and ELRC as riders directly or indirectly said is irrelevant so I'm not riding and fans follow suit. I don't see a way out of this now but I guess I should take the modern approach as we are topping the league and say I'm alright Jack. Doesn't feel right somehow. But, hey, some people just dont like the Play Offs.. I think it's fair to say that the 8000 or 9000 fans that regularly attend top flight speedway in Britain these days like the play offs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkafag Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 These days we often get statements like it's not crucial we win this as we can still get a mid table finish and qualify or we've no chance of qualifying so it's a nothing fixture or we've qualified so we're not concerned about the result we'll just do some testing. This all filters through over the season and leads to apathy on the terraces. Has a club ever released a statement like that though or that is that just the perception some fans have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 You often see the we've got nothing to race for type quote in the star and and KL seem to have taken on the policy used overseas where once qualification is out of the window they 'rest' their expensive heat leaders, which in turn sends a clear message to would be attendees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkafag Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 You often see the we've got nothing to race for type quote in the star and and KL seem to have taken on the policy used overseas where once qualification is out of the window they 'rest' their expensive heat leaders, which in turn sends a clear message to would be attendees. So no statements actively saying it, just perception of a comment? The entire Kings Lynn situation this season has been quite odd whereas other sides will and have made changes midseason to strengthen their side and increase their Play Off chances, changes they might not make if it were for Play Offs as higher up the table was a dying perception with fans and probably clubs as there was little financial reward and by your own admission the idea of bragging rights had sort of died out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkafag Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 (edited) Has a club ever released a statement like that though or that is that just the perception some fans have? Yes, Swindon captain in an interview live on sky sports a few years ago. Surprised you didn't know? Who made changes this season? No, hence why I didn't claim they had - but what a wonderful counterpoint that is. So it has been said once, a few years ago, by one person - and not an actual statement by a club during the 15 years or so of the competition being in place, not "often" and not statements from clubs saying it. Leicester, Kings Lynn, Poole, Wolves...... Edited August 15, 2016 by The Mockingjay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 Didn't the swindon team manager admit to losing qualifiers 'to fit Darcy in'? No 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkafag Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 (edited) So that's the difference then unless you want to ignore a club captain stating on national TV what the team plan was. Sorry I thought you were talking about teams making changes to increase their chances of getting in the cup, a bit like Swindon did last season with ward. Oops! Didn't the swindon team manager admit to losing qualifiers 'to fit Darcy in'? No I haven’t ignored it, I literally addressed it in my post. I asked if clubs had ever released statements saying the things referenced in an earlier post. It was mentioned that we often get statements from clubs saying “it’s not crucial we win”, “it’s a nothing fixture” or “we will do some testing”. I asked for examples of club statements (none provided) you have though shown it was said by a rider rather than a club statement – so congrats and thanks for that evidence showing that it is often said by clubs. Yes, teams will make changes to increase their chances of making the Play Offs, that’s what I said. Edited August 15, 2016 by The Mockingjay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 (edited) Has a club ever released a statement like that though or that is that just the perception some fans have? Actually in a way yes. The Premier League abandoned the playoffs but then reverted back to them as they were financially better for them. That's not 'perception', that's reality. Anyway, putting that aside, answer a simple question.. Why, if the playoffs lose clubs money over the season as you claim, do all three leagues in the UK have play-offs, Sweden have play-offs, Poland have play-offs, Denmark have play-offs? Edited August 15, 2016 by BWitcher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 (edited) I'm not relying on 'in a way' I am relying on a club captain stating the team plan. I don't know enough about foreign league speedway, I couldn't tell you who rides for or who or whether attendance's have increased or as in the UK decreased since the qualifier and cup format was introduced. Why don't they have a qualifier and cup for the championship in premier league football or any other league in the UK for that matter? Why don't they decide the world individual championship with qualifiers and a cup final? Ha ha, check the YouTube of the cup semi. I Don't have to as it never happened ...when you can post the link on here when it was said let us know ..intill then were just put in down another one of your made up stories Edited August 15, 2016 by orion 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E I Addio Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 (edited) Yes, Swindon captain in an interview live on sky sports a few years ago. Surprised you didn't know? Who made changes this season? Ouch said you "often" see that type of quote in the Star. Neither he nor you are able to give deltails of any supposed quote in that journal, so as it seems nobody else is aware of it we are entitled to assume he is mistaken about that one . So it all comes down to one quote from a captain several years ago . Can you tell us which captain it was, which match and when as you seem to remember it clearly ? Or better still post a link as Orion requested ? Edited August 15, 2016 by E I Addio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Smith Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 Its called supporting my club. Supporting them home and away. Not whining on here about not turning up because we are (Lynn) going to get beat at home to Poole. Belle Vue are still favourites to finish top. But we can get something out of our next two away meetings to bring it all down to the 29th August. Perhaps Belle Vue can use a bit of promotional savvy to pack the place out. There you go again with your lack of knowledge thinking King's Lynn fans problems were getting beat by Poole. You really do know nothing outside of Dorset 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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