Workington Concerns For Future

[Guest]

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.

 

I accept what you say about CL speedway - I was a regular attendee at Wimbledon when they raced in this era 2002-05 - but at the end of the day it never equated to what I saw in 'the good old days' with riders like Norman Parker, Jimmy Gibb, Alec Statham, Tommy Jansson, Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs and similar class riders in action.

At the end of the day, no matter how hard the CL riders perform, it is recognised star quality riders who attract new supporters and sadly not the hard-to-earnest efforts of those who will never mature beyond what is now National League (the successor to the old Conference League). It's rather akin to Arsenal departing from football and replaced by say Bromley.

I sadly doubt very much that Workington would survive for long it they switched to the National League for the 2017 season although I know there are some who will 'prove me wrong' by citing what has happened in recent times at Eastbourne and Birmingham. Yes, both still have speedway albeit at the cost of losing big name international star riders for their meetings.

Edited October 8, 2016 by Guest

[Blue Groove]

 

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?

Not really, the rugby league is heading the same way, the Reds only get a couple of hundred crowd.

 

The continuing drop in people's disposable income, increasing house prices/mortgages/rental costs, job security worries, etc etc is the real reason.

[balderdash&piffle]

 

I accept what you say about CL speedway - I was a regular attendee at Wimbledon when they raced in this era 2002-05 - but at the end of the day it never equated to what I saw in 'the good old days' with riders like Norman Parker, Jimmy Gibb, Alec Statham, Tommy Jansson, Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs and similar class riders in action.

At the end of the day, no matter how hard the CL riders perform, it is recognised star quality riders who attract new supporters and sadly not the hard-to-earnest efforts of those who will never mature beyond what is now National League (the successor to the old Conference League). It's rather akin to Arsenal departing from football and replaced by say Bromley.

I sadly doubt very much that Workington would survive for long it they switched to the National League for the 2017 season although I know there are some who will 'prove me wrong' by citing what has happened in recent times at Eastbourne and Birmingham. Yes, both still have speedway albeit at the cost of losing big name international star riders for their meetings.

Forget for now that it is speedway.

The basis of any promotion is they are an entertainment group, if your customer is not being entertained they simply don't come back,

[Guest]

Forget for now that it is speedway.

The basis of any promotion is they are an entertainment group, if your customer is not being entertained they simply don't come back,

 

A profound comment balderdash&piffle - not in keeping with the forum name you use. The comment sums up an essential need in just a few words.

[topaz325]

Not really, the rugby league is heading the same way, the Reds only get a couple of hundred crowd.

 

The continuing drop in people's disposable income, increasing house prices/mortgages/rental costs, job security worries, etc etc is the real reason.

Many people though still spend silly money on alcohol cigarettes Sky contracts and mobile phone contract s

[moomin man 76]

Not really, the rugby league is heading the same way, the Reds only get a couple of hundred crowd.

 

The continuing drop in people's disposable income, increasing house prices/mortgages/rental costs, job security worries, etc etc is the real reason.

Exactly. The unfortunate truth is that in comparison to other parts of the country, North and West Cumbria have low wage economies. I can't imagine that the closure of the steel works in Workington a few years ago helped the local economy either.

Both Workington Town and Workington Reds pull in lower crowds. The situation with the Comets is similar.

Further afield, Whitehaven RLFC are pulling in far fewer spectators than ten years ago. Even my local rugby union club at Wigton have far fewer watching.

[topsoil]

 

A profound comment balderdash&piffle - not in keeping with the forum name you use. The comment sums up an essential need in just a few words.

Isle of Wight have just proved exactly that this season. They have worked extremely hard at promoting the sport this summer and from all accounts this is paying off.Glasgow have done the same (many will rightfully so point to the fact that they will probably have a better budget than most) but they too have increased their fan base as well. You have to work long and hard at promoting the sport these days and make sure the punters are entertained and want to come back. So much competition.

[Guest]

 

The basis of any promotion is they are an entertainment group, if your customer is not being entertained they simply don't come back,

 

Above is the comment relative to the previous interesting Post made by topsoil.

Isle of Wight have just proved exactly that this season. They have worked extremely hard at promoting the sport this summer and from all accounts this is paying off.Glasgow have done the same (many will rightfully so point to the fact that they will probably have a better budget than most) but they too have increased their fan base as well. You have to work long and hard at promoting the sport these days and make sure the punters are entertained and want to come back. So much competition.

Edited October 8, 2016 by Guest

[Halifaxtiger]

Forget for now that it is speedway.

The basis of any promotion is they are an entertainment group, if your customer is not being entertained they simply don't come back,

 

Thing is I have seen some very good speedway at Workington.

 

Last night, for example, was a cracking meeting.

 

Given that they have the lowest entry prices in the PL, good racing, good presentation and only necessary delay, I am wondering precisely what they are doing wrong.

[BenR195]

 

Thing is I have seen some very good speedway at Workington.

 

Last night, for example, was a cracking meeting.

 

Given that they have the lowest entry prices in the PL, good racing, good presentation and only necessary delay, I am wondering precisely what they are doing wrong.

I think they were paying out too much money to the riders, they were struggling to pay the riders last season, owed them a lot of money and think the same happened again this year, think they were expecting more money from the gate and when they didn't get anymore fans they were struggling with wages, hopefully the place doesnt close, and next season you dont go over budget and just offer what you can afford, I don't like Brian havelock but as a Redcar supporter, he has done right by the club, he has never overpaid a rider that could potentially ruin the club, I know we have finished bottom of the league multiple times but atleast we have speedway to watch, there has been some amazing meetings at home this season, we just very poor away from home, hopefully the comets gets sorted for 2017

[Comet Dan]

I think they were paying out too much money to the riders, they were struggling to pay the riders last season, owed them a lot of money and think the same happened again this year, think they were expecting more money from the gate and when they didn't get anymore fans they were struggling with wages, hopefully the place doesnt close, and next season you dont go over budget and just offer what you can afford, I don't like Brian havelock but as a Redcar supporter, he has done right by the club, he has never overpaid a rider that could potentially ruin the club, I know we have finished bottom of the league multiple times but atleast we have speedway to watch, there has been some amazing meetings at home this season, we just very poor away from home, hopefully the comets gets sorted for 2017

 

Incorrect. Riders have been paid on time every week in 2016.

[moomin man 76]

I think they were paying out too much money to the riders, they were struggling to pay the riders last season, owed them a lot of money and think the same happened again this year, think they were expecting more money from the gate and when they didn't get anymore fans they were struggling with wages, hopefully the place doesnt close, and next season you dont go over budget and just offer what you can afford, I don't like Brian havelock but as a Redcar supporter, he has done right by the club, he has never overpaid a rider that could potentially ruin the club, I know we have finished bottom of the league multiple times but atleast we have speedway to watch, there has been some amazing meetings at home this season, we just very poor away from home, hopefully the comets gets sorted for 2017

I wouldn't wish to speculate on whether the riders are getting paid or not. I'm sure that there are others on here who know the reality of the situation better than I do.

The racing last night was entertaining on a well prepared track, so in that sense the product is there. However, I do wonder whether one of the problems Workington have faced is the age old problem of entertainment versus winning team? With the best will in the world, the team that Workington assembled this season was no better than average by Premier League standards, with too many known riders whose averages were unlikely to go up sufficiently to challenge at the upper end of the table. Last night, the attendance was better but it was artificially boosted by good travelling support from Glasgow.

Brian Havelock may have developed a Redcar team that is solvent, but I've seen little/no evidence of promotion from Redcar to pull in new fans. Neither have Redcare been attractive visitors to 'away' tracks, so in fielding a weak side, Brian Havelock has arguably damaged other promotions business, as casual fans are less likely to attend meetings when the visitors are weak and have few riders of interest. Indeed, how many Redcar fans actually travel to away meetings, when they know their team is going to be so poor on their travels?

[Halifaxtiger]

I think they were paying out too much money to the riders, they were struggling to pay the riders last season, owed them a lot of money and think the same happened again this year, think they were expecting more money from the gate and when they didn't get anymore fans they were struggling with wages, hopefully the place doesnt close, and next season you dont go over budget and just offer what you can afford, I don't like Brian havelock but as a Redcar supporter, he has done right by the club, he has never overpaid a rider that could potentially ruin the club, I know we have finished bottom of the league multiple times but atleast we have speedway to watch, there has been some amazing meetings at home this season, we just very poor away from home, hopefully the comets gets sorted for 2017

 

Workington may well have been imprudent but Havelock is very fortunate at Redcar because as I have said both elsewhere and to my pals there their gates hold up no matter what. In the last 7 seasons, Redcar have had three wooden spoons and have finished in the top half of the table once.

 

I have seen the odd decent meeting at Redcar over the last few seasons (including one brilliant one against Plymouth in 2015) but mostly they have been poor. What's worse, in the early seasons STMP was a brilliant race track and deteriorated disastrously when Havelock took over.

 

Crap teams and crap racing is usually fatal to any speedway team but Redcar, exceptionally, seem to buck the trend.

 

What I am certain of is that Havelock's method of promotion is not an example for others to follow.

 

Brian Havelock may have developed a Redcar team that is solvent, but I've seen little/no evidence of promotion from Redcar to pull in new fans. Neither have Redcare been attractive visitors to 'away' tracks, so in fielding a weak side, Brian Havelock has arguably damaged other promotions business, as casual fans are less likely to attend meetings when the visitors are weak and have few riders of interest. Indeed, how many Redcar fans actually travel to away meetings, when they know their team is going to be so poor on their travels?

 

That is a very valid point.

 

Havelock might break over the season, but his team is so poor away - including last week at Workington when they couldn't even field 2 riders in heat 15 - that they put people off attending.

Edited October 9, 2016 by Halifaxtiger

[BenR195]

 

Workington may well have been imprudent but Havelock is very fortunate at Redcar because as I have said both elsewhere and to my pals there their gates hold up no matter what. In the last 7 seasons, Redcar have had three wooden spoons and have finished in the top half of the table once.

 

I have seen the odd decent meeting at Redcar over the last few seasons (including one brilliant one against Plymouth in 2015) but mostly they have been poor. What's worse, in the early seasons STMP was a brilliant race track and deteriorated disastrously when Havelock took over.

 

Crap teams and crap racing is usually fatal to any speedway team but Redcar, exceptionally, seem to buck the trend.

 

What I am certain of is that Havelock's method of promotion is not an example for others to follow.

 

 

That is a very valid point.

 

Havelock might break over the season, but his team is so poor away - including last week at Workington when they couldn't even field 2 riders in heat 15 - that they put people off attending.

There has been some decent, close meetings at Redcar this season, andasfor Workington away last week, out of the 4 riders that qualified for ht15 2 blew an engine and 1 pulled out with a shoulder injury, if we were allowed to pick any of our 1-7 we'd of been able to field 2 riders, I agree that the Redcar team was poor this season, but it didn't help when lasse was intentionally trying to drop his average coz he didn't want to be there, but we made it through the season, and made money at the end of it, so hopefully we use that money to invest next season and start to field a competitive team Edited October 9, 2016 by BenR195

[Halifaxtiger]

There has been some decent, close meetings at Redcar this season, andasfor Workington away last week, out of the 4 riders that qualified for ht15 2 blew an engine and 1 pulled out with a shoulder injury, if we were allowed to pick any of our 1-7 we'd of been able to field 2 riders, I agree that the Redcar team was poor this season, but it didn't help when lasse was intentionally trying to drop his average coz he didn't want to be there, but we made it through the season, and made money at the end of it, so hopefully we use that money to invest next season and start to field a competitive team

 

I heard the excuses, yes. Been to around 600 meetings in the last 10 seasons or so in all of the leagues and I have never seen that before - injuries, blown engines and everything else thrown in. I hope Havelock gets heavily fined.

 

Redcar turn up with a wooden spoon team that was further weakened by absences and can't even put two riders out in the one race where they need to.

 

Its little wonder the gate at Workington was said to be 'appalling'.

 

I hope that money gets used for that purpose, too. However, with 3 wooden spoons in 7 years I think the chances are remote.

[allthegearbutnaeidea]

 

I heard the excuses, yes. Been to around 600 meetings in the last 10 seasons or so in all of the leagues and I have never seen that before - injuries, blown engines and everything else thrown in. I hope Havelock gets heavily fined.

 

Redcar turn up with a wooden spoon team that was further weakened by absences and can't even put two riders out in the one race where they need to.

 

Its little wonder the gate at Workington was said to be 'appalling'.

 

I hope that money gets used for that purpose, too. However, with 3 wooden spoons in 7 years I think the chances are remote.

At the end of the day I'd more rather be in Redcar's position than Workington's, while I'm here actually all the best to Worky hope you guys survive for next season, as well as Plymouth and my team Berwick, fingers crossed

[Albert]

Speedway as a sport is suffering, sadly, almost every club seems to share the same problems and concerns.

I compare 'Speedway' to the 'Pub Trade'... Both have unfortunately seen 'Closure' become the common theme down the years. Both trades have taken hits which hasn't exactly helped... Speedway has seen noise, environmental, rider costs, rents and a host of other obstacles become more prevalent.. Whilst Pubs have had to deal with things like rising beer costs, smoking bans etc... But are these the real reasons for the general decline, I don't think so.

What has changed down the years?.. What are the utter most reason's why our sport (and the pub trade) are suffering so badly?

I would say its the general reduction in peoples disposal income thats the main issue here. Pay rises, what are they? As a local government employee I haven't seen one of those for about five years (I lie, we did get 1% increase last year... but then were forced into giving it back!).

Life evolves... Taxes, cost of living, fuel prices..all gone up....Wages haven't.. Plus, the past few decades have seen the use of mobile phones and satellite television become an essential part of people's lives... Just how much do we fork out on phone contracts and greedy tv subscriptions? It's a significant amount for the average joe bloggs to contend with....and how does he manage it? Something has to give...maybe a night at the speedway or a few pints down the local!

Speedway as a minority sport needs to cut its costs accordingly... Riders, do they really need to turn up in expensive vans carrying three ready to race bikes? not really. Do promoters really need the expense of flying so many foreign riders into the county week in week out? Do we need to sell £2-3 programmes when a simple race card would suffice.. Are promoters getting the best deals possible from their landlords?. Are promoters maximising the use of their facilities for training etc, it's all added income..

We have a good product...but in order for speedway to have any form of longevity then all costs need seriously looking at...that includes a reduction on admission prices.

Edited October 9, 2016 by Albert

[StevePark]

 

 

I have seen the odd decent meeting at Redcar over the last few seasons (including one brilliant one against Plymouth in 2015) but mostly they have been poor. What's worse, in the early seasons STMP was a brilliant race track and deteriorated disastrously when Havelock took over.

 

 

 

 

What happened, in my opinion, was that they lost Glyn Taylor (for whatever reason) and also lost the Swales's. On top of that, they changed the track slightly and ever since then the racing hasn't been as good. The same can be said of Derwent Park. Since they reshaped the track slightly, the racing I saw every week when filming or when I was there doing the interviews (for GRT Media), hasn't been the same.

Edited October 9, 2016 by Steve Park

[cityrebel]

I must say since the rugby World Cup revamp, worky is a nice stadium to watch speedway. Far better than the dismal place of the early 80's when I first went there. Good luck comets fans in your fight for survival.

[Boothers]

 

What happened, in my opinion, was that they lost Glyn Taylor (for whatever reason) and also lost the Swales's. On top of that, they changed the track slightly and ever since then the racing hasn't been as good.

 

Track was changed from 266 metres to 271 metres prior to the 2008 season. The promoter that year was ................ Glyn Taylor!