Workington Concerns For Future

[Blue Groove]

Sign of the times I'm afraid, when money is tight then peoples leisure activities are the first to be sacrificed, just driven along Washington St in town and pubs that 10 years ago were well populated on a Friday night are either empty or not even bothering to open.

[GWC]

When Brexit takes effect riders from the EU will be a thing of the past!

[Comet Dan]

Interesting in Speedway Star to read Brian Havelock's comments, people slag him off (many Redcar fans) but he is openly admitting that his club, bottom of the league, are solvent AND made a profit this year. I applaud him for having a commonsense business like approach which has protected the future of Redcar. No doubt many of the moaning section of Redcar fans will still say that it isn't good enough, but would Plymouth and Workington fans exchange their position in league for redcar's and have a pleasant winter awaiting 2017 season??

 

I'm not suggesting all promoters use Havelock as a total role model for promoting speedway, but maybe his financial model should be considered!!

 

A major factor in the fact that Redcar can turn a profit is that they own their own stadium. They also get bar and food takings. That is why they have an interval even when it's raining - so people go in and spend money. If Workington had their own stadium, had the bar and all food takings we wouldn't be in this position.

[Guest]

​Would it help Workington if they also promoted stock car racing? I believe they did years ago but dropped them after a dispute with the stock car organiser/promoter who, I seem to recall, was a former Workington speedway rider?

Edited October 7, 2016 by Guest

[jenga]

stock cars on the rugby pitch wont go down well with the landlords . the playing surface was severly upgraded for the rugby world cup . they had a panic o last eek when a furry animal was running loose on it .

Edited October 7, 2016 by jenga

[Guest]

​Would it help Workington if they also promoted stock car racing? I believe they did years ago but dropped them after a dispute with the stock car organiser/promoter who, I seem to recall, was a former Workington speedway rider?

 

 

stock cars on the rugby pitch wont go down well with the landlords . the playing surface was severly upgraded for the rugby world cup . they had a panic o last eek when a furry animal was running loose on it .

 

That's a good reason for not having stock cars at the stadium jenga.

[mac101]

With the likes of Eastbourne Birmingham that dropped down to NL over the last few years and making a profit for the first time with better crowds than before because they have a picked a decent team even thou they are rumoured to be paying decent money for their top riders to have a winning team on the track would the worky fans still turn up if they moved to NL and had a team that was winning and competitive with the only training track across the road they could surely bring on there own riders

[Guest]

When Brexit takes effect riders from the EU will be a thing of the past!

 

That's a strong possibility GWC. And will it work in reverse - British riders for example having problems to ride for clubs in EU countries?

[MD]

When Brexit takes effect riders from the EU will be a thing of the past!

Doubt it, it will reduce the number however we will likely not have enough riders to fill team spots and end up begging Aussie 3 pointers to come over.

[Halifaxtiger]

 

A major factor in the fact that Redcar can turn a profit is that they own their own stadium. They also get bar and food takings. That is why they have an interval even when it's raining - so people go in and spend money. If Workington had their own stadium, had the bar and all food takings we wouldn't be in this position.

 

I didn't think they actually own it but as far as I am aware their rent is way less than others.

[Guest]

What happens attendancewise at today's meeting (October 8 2016) may decide the ultimate future of Workington Speedway! Fingers crossed for a big crowd of LOCAL people.

[Trees]

I was always under the impression that the Workington people loved their speedway club, when I used to come up in Lynn's PL days I'd never witnessed such generous fans, particularly in the bar afterwards.

 

What's gone wrong?

[screm]

I was always under the impression that the Workington people loved their speedway club, when I used to come up in Lynn's PL days I'd never witnessed such generous fans, particularly in the bar afterwards.

 

What's gone wrong?

 

When speedway returned to Workington crowds were good and they had a good travelling support to all the away tracks, it helped they had a winning team I suppose but what has happened to all those fans.

[MD]

The travelling support started to disappear in the mid 2000's when the club had a relaunch under a new promoter. I remember one fan telling me the then promoter would constantly change the team and you never knew what team you were turning up to see.

 

Im not sure if this coincided with job losses in the area but its the old story, once fans stop coming they get used to it and rarely return.

[Guest]

The travelling support started to disappear in the mid 2000's when the club had a relaunch under a new promoter. I remember one fan telling me the then promoter would constantly change the team and you never knew what team you were turning up to see.

 

Im not sure if this coincided with job losses in the area but its the old story, once fans stop coming they get used to it and rarely return.

 

That's so very true MD.

[Fromafar]

When speedway returned to Workington crowds were good and they had a good travelling support to all the away tracks, it helped they had a winning team I suppose but what has happened to all those fans.

Same could be said at a number of clubs!! What has happened to all those fans.?

[Guest]

While seemingly the futures of Workington and (as mentioned elsewhere on the forum) Plymouth are in doubt, it all tends to raise the worrying question - what other tracks/clubs are in a similar predicament?

[Flappy]

Its either a weaker product or no product.

Speedway for speedways sake, certainly not for me. It's an entertainment business

[Guest]

I was always under the impression that the Workington people loved their speedway club, when I used to come up in Lynn's PL days I'd never witnessed such generous fans, particularly in the bar afterwards.

 

What's gone wrong?

 

Could it be that attendance problems at Workington might largely be because the general public's sporting tastes are changing? Are other sports now developing and gaining attention with the more casual type of speedway follower moving their interests elsewhere?

[Willowman]

Same could be said at a number of clubs!! What has happened to all those fans.?

Even Somerset had healthier crowds in the CL days. As the number of teams diminish so does the variety and the derbies. Workington-less speedway would be trajic. Hope you survive in some shape or form.