Lakeside 2017

[brianbuck]

As a long-time Birmingham supporter I would urge Lakeside fans not to dismiss the National League as an inferior product. My club was brought back from the brink of extinction through taking the seemingly risky step of dropping down two divisions, but it has been our salvation and has enabled the club to reconstruct itself from the ashes of the former promotion which left it financially destitute.

 

The National League has provided us with racing at least as entertaining as it was in our Elite League days. Crowds have improved from our time in the top league (although they have dipped a little this year, and we would all like to seem them better) but the important thing is that the National League is financially viable and much more affordable for all parties, and will provide Lakeside with a platform for them to eventually expand again.

 

Good luck to Lakeside and their fans in whatever they decide to do.

[SimonB]

A lot of wishful there. Lawson is very well paid by another PL club, Bridger and Ellis don't currently ride PL and it's more likely that Lakeside will go NL.

 

Bridger has announced that he wants to ride PL next season as well as EL

[stevec]

As a long-time Birmingham supporter I would urge Lakeside fans not to dismiss the National League as an inferior product. My club was brought back from the brink of extinction through taking the seemingly risky step of dropping down two divisions, but it has been our salvation and has enabled the club to reconstruct itself from the ashes of the former promotion which left it financially destitute.

 

The National League has provided us with racing at least as entertaining as it was in our Elite League days. Crowds have improved from our time in the top league (although they have dipped a little this year, and we would all like to seem them better) but the important thing is that the National League is financially viable and much more affordable for all parties, and will provide Lakeside with a platform for them to eventually expand again.

 

Good luck to Lakeside and their fans in whatever they decide to do.

As a long-term Eastbourne fan, I ditto this. I remember a couple of years back someone asking me what I thought of the possibility of Eastbourne going to the National League and my answer was, I will spend more time going to race meetings at Brands Hatch and maybe the odd Elite League meeting at Lakeside, its Elite League or nothing for me.

 

Well I gave NL a try in 2015 and ended up going to all home meetings (I always do anyway) but more Away meetings than ever before. I loved it from the off! National League is a very good product and highly entertaining. Would I have NL if it was my choice? no. But is it worth going to? 100% yes!

 

I hope whatever happens is good for Lakeside and personally I hope the go NL some we can have the local Derby back.

[NJC71]

Well, that would make the Premier League the top league, in effect the new Elite League!!!!

 

We need the UK to have an Elite League, it's needed to develop premier league riders for GP rides/places, is a natural step on the route to the top, take it away, and speedway as a professional sport dies....

I don't think speedway in this country would die without an Elite League. But the Elite League will die if it continues in it's current format. It's been dying a slow death since the Grand Prix series was introduced.

 

Most of the top stars have departed, those that remain are too few in numbers and not spread equally among the EL clubs. We also have clubs not able to run at weekends because those riders are absent or running without them which results in the frequent use of guests and r/r.

 

Throw in the total lack of consistency in the fixture list, some teams going weeks and weeks without fixtures and then running multiple fuxtures in short periods and it's no wonder so many clubs are struggling. And why? To accompdate half a dozen GP riders?

 

There are perhaps 2 or 3 EL clubs and maybe a couple in the PL who have wealthy backers or sponsors who will no doubt push for higher points limits and the retention of the current system but there are many more clubs at both levels who are hemorrhaging cash and living way beyond their means trying to keep up. The current model is broken and has been for many years. Clubs should be budgeting on worse case scenarios in terms of crowd levels and only spending what they can afford. If that means two leagues at PL and NL standard then so be it.

[Blackbird]

Problems in regard to both Sunday and Saturday speedway. The stadium owners stage their stock car meetings on alternate Sundays as mentioned. But there is also fairly regular car racing on most Saturdays run by long-time tenants The Rolling Thunder Show.

By the look of things, I think it is going to be difficult unfortunately for the speedway promotion to sort out weekend race dates.

 

Not really - as surely alternate Sunday Stocks means there could indeed be alternate Sunday Speedway - which would probably be enough dates IF they ran in the NL...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arena Essex Raceway's photo.

29 October at 10:24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hornsey]

Speedway Star suggests that it's NL for next year...

[stevehone]

that has to be the case, if they're not ready at this AGM with it being both EL & PL it only leaves NL

[HAMMER180]

IS it just me or does anyone else feel with shafted big time?

NL only for us then if anything

[Alex2000]

IS it just me or does anyone else feel with shafted big time?

NL only for us then if anything

Nothing wrong with NL... it can actually be better in terms of entertainment for the price you pay. Plus 2 local(ish). Derbies Kent and Eastbourne

[Brian]

IS it just me or does anyone else feel with shafted big time?

NL only for us then if anything

Shafted in what way?

It's a shame for Lakeside but I thought it was good that Jon Cook came out with an announcement early rather than read another load of rumours somebody made up.

[HAMMER180]

All depends when racing as I feel now if

a Saturday then you will not get good crowds

as you will find people going to rye house

and also all the supporters in kent will

proberly go to see the same product at Sittingbourne

with the kent kings.

Shafted in what way?

It's a shame for Lakeside but I thought it was good that Jon Cook came out with an announcement early rather than read another load of rumours somebody made up.

not by anyone just that its the changes a lot of people have been asking

for and we wont bee part of it

[HAMMER180]

What no hammers fans left? already

thinking of rye or kent. maybe its for the

best in the long run maybe that's why our

licence was suspended for 3 years as we

will not run till we have our own stadium

for ever hopefull

Edited November 3, 2016 by HAMMER180

[STEPHEN 333]

I'm really sorry for you guy's down at Lakeside, I honestly believed you were heading for the second tier of speedway, the Championship level at least, I'm going miss them trips down the M11, really hope you all come back stronger team wise and track wise, and that you'll be back in proper action, that's showing no disrespect to the National league by the way in 2018.

Edited November 3, 2016 by STEPHEN 333

[NickRushbrook]

Without intending any disrespect to the NL or its supporters, the product just isn't for me.

 

I will still go sporadically and try to enjoy the sport in its rawest form but I can't envisage getting excited about the team winning.

 

I will even miss the disappointment of losing.

 

I want to care but I fear in the NL, I just won't.

 

My support will still be there as long there's something to look forward to at the conclusion of the three years.

 

Otherwise, it's just a means to an end.

[LisaColette]

Without intending any disrespect to the NL or its supporters, the product just isn't for me.

 

I will still go sporadically and try to enjoy the sport in its rawest form but I can't envisage getting excited about the team winning.

 

I will even miss the disappointment of losing.

 

I want to care but I fear in the NL, I just won't.

 

My support will still be there as long there's something to look forward to at the conclusion of the three years.

 

Otherwise, it's just a means to an end.

Maybe just give it a go and see as I quite enjoyed Bournemouth Buccs at Poole when that was there.

[NickRushbrook]

Maybe just give it a go and see as I quite enjoyed Bournemouth Buccs at Poole when that was there.

Thanks Lisa.

 

I will give it go but I'd feel a lot better, if I knew we had Elite League, sorry, SCB Prem speedway to look forward to.

[LisaColette]

Thanks Lisa.

 

I will give it go but I'd feel a lot better, if I knew we had Elite League, sorry, SCB Prem speedway to look forward to.

Yeah, I can understand that. But I'm quite a EL (SCB Prem) snob, so if I can get interested in it, don't write it off just yet

 

Edit - quite a derby to look forward to with Eastbourne too!

Edited November 3, 2016 by lisa-colette

[solrac]

Without intending any disrespect to the NL or its supporters, the product just isn't for me.

 

I will still go sporadically and try to enjoy the sport in its rawest form but I can't envisage getting excited about the team winning.

 

I will even miss the disappointment of losing.

 

I want to care but I fear in the NL, I just won't.

 

My support will still be there as long there's something to look forward to at the conclusion of the three years.

 

Otherwise, it's just a means to an end.

Thought the same when Eastbourne moved down but I love it, it's a proper community club now with a younger fanbase.

We've built up some proper rivalries already with the likes of Cradley, Brummies and Kent. Give it a go, i'm sure you'll be pleasently suprised.

[Dave Stummings]

Arena as it was then ran Conference League, the NL equivalent 20 odd years ago and it wasn’t well supported. Cook stating that he'd put a NL team out a season or two ago, then said it wouldn’t be financially viable. Is the rent for the stadium going to drop? Probably not, just the riders wage bill and I'm not sure that'll make fans come to see speedway at Lakeside. Birmingham's track is near the middle of the city, Lakeside isn't. Eastbourne do get fairish crowds when they’re winning and they're more remote than the Purfleet raceway, but I'm not certain enough people will go to Arena to support NL speedway, although I probably will.

[cityrebel]

If the landlords agree to weekend speedway at arena, it will be a big task to set the place up for just a few hundred fans. I fear it will be a hard slog to attract the supporters in sufficient numbers, especially now that rye house have moved up.