Quest For Change, British Speedway A 21st Century Sport

[Broadsider]

Traditionally the close season gives rise to renewed hopes for real change in our sport. Fans opinions are often courted but generally overlooked in favour of the same old script. Intriguingly though, Scunthorpe promoter, Rob Godfrey has already hinted that Scorpions fans are likely to see more fixtures in 2017. On the back of this therefore, I still envision the existing 3 tier league structure. The Sky Elite League retaining it's flagship status and comprising say the existing 8 teams; contesting a programme of 7 home and 7 away fixtures, plus the play-offs, but with all teams adopting the same race night and operating a rider squad system. With a condensed Sky Elite fixture list and common race night this could hopefully entice back a few more of the GP and Euro big guns to boost the British Speedway scene.

 

Alongside the Sky Elite League would be the existing Premier League but now also embracing all Elite teams minus their GP/ Euro stars and governed by an agreed points limit. We already see Sky Elite teams shored up by Premier League riders so I don't believe this will impact in way on the standard of racing and spectator appeal at Sky Elite League circuits. An enhanced Premier League would currently see 10 home and 10 away fixtures plus play offs and KO Cup competition. Across both Leagues there will be ample meetings to keep the Premier League guys busy and with a reduced Sky Elite League fixture list and the one fixed race night this will surely have greater appeal to the GP & Euro stars.

 

The National League would continue to function along current lines.

 

Personally I don't subscribe to thoughts that we are now witnessing the flickering embers of British Speedway. Now more than ever there is genuine opportunity to project British Speedway as an action packed and colourful sporting spectacular. More especially with the advent of the new Belle Vue, a truly superb track and stadia facility which must be utilised at every opportunity to project British Speedway as a real 21st Century sport.

 

Some times we look and hope so much for change but its often staring us in the face!

[CookieIpswich]

Only thing gp riders will enhance with a fixed race night is costs.

 

If most elite league clubs are made up of premier league riders than its not elite.

 

Drop the elite league, put everyone into the premier league either north and south or A and B.

 

38 point limit, 6 rider teams, 13 heats

[Red Flag]

Only thing gp riders will enhance with a fixed race night is costs.

If most elite league clubs are made up of premier league riders than its not elite.

Drop the elite league, put everyone into the premier league either north and south or A and B.

38 point limit, 6 rider teams, 13 heats

And where are you magicing all the riders from to fill all the teams

[Midland Red]

Drop the elite league, put everyone into the premier league either north and south or A and B.

Then it will appear to be even more of a minority sport than it already is if there's no nationwide league competition, just regional

 

One big league along the lines of the original British League, those who want to ride UK welcome, those who don't, good riddance

13 heats plus second half

No doubling up or down

Enough fixtures for those who want to ride UK

[CookieIpswich]

Funnily enough there is enough riders to make up 24 x 6 rider teams taking away the GP riders and promoting the top 20 from the national league. No double uppers either

Midland red the top teams from both leagues would mix it in the play offs plus a combined cup competition

[Broadsider]

Point taken re fixed nights and increased GP rider costs. But my rationale, based on the existing 8 Sky Elite League teams, is a reduced 7 home and 7 away fixture list plus play-offs.The idea being that reducing the number of fixtures will hopefully achieve a balancing of costs. Likewise the GP riders would presumably benefit through reduced Sky Elite League commitments and therefore enabling them to better accommodate the Sky Elite League in their international racing schedule.

 

Agree entirely, the current Sky Elite League isn't Elite at all and is continually being shored up by Premier riders. That's precisely the issue and we therefore need to reset British Speedway from it's strongest Premier League point. However, I still believe that we must retain a flagship Sky Elite League to maintain TV interest and promote British Speedway at the highest possible level as a truly professional 21st Century sport.

 

Absolutely the National League must be retained on it's current lines.

[screm]

Point taken re fixed nights and increased GP rider costs. But my rationale, based on the existing 8 Sky Elite League teams, is a reduced 7 home and 7 away fixture list plus play-offs.The idea being that reducing the number of fixtures will hopefully achieve a balancing of costs. Likewise the GP riders would presumably benefit through reduced Sky Elite League commitments and therefore enabling them to better accommodate the Sky Elite League in their international racing schedule.

 

Agree entirely, the current Sky Elite League isn't Elite at all and is continually being shored up by Premier riders. That's precisely the issue and we therefore need to reset British Speedway from it's strongest Premier League point. However, I still believe that we must retain a flagship Sky Elite League to maintain TV interest and promote British Speedway at the highest possible level as a truly professional 21st Century sport.

 

Absolutely the National League must be retained on it's current lines.

 

Your suggesting, what for the teams who don't reach the play offs, will be a two month season.

[CookieIpswich]

No he is suggesting the elite league teams run in the premier league also. So its a mini elite season with better riders.

 

I think its a huge risk to try and get the big riders over, I think that is several years off at present

[Broadsider]

Thanks for clarifying CI.

 

Exactly that, the Elite teams operate with their squad in both the Sky Elite and Premier Leagues (minus their Gp/ Euro No 1's.) Condensing the flagship Sky Elite League but expanding the competion, variety and interest in the Premier League. Believe me, if for instance BelleVue and Sheffield are rocking up against each other again those crowds will be up and l would be t likewise across all venues in a revamped competion.

 

Effectively existing Sky Elite teams get the best of both worlds. What's not to like?

[foamfence]

The Polish situation might throw a spanner in the works, as would the likelihood that several top (but not GP) riders might not consider it worth it to come here for 14 meetings. I would prefer the 'one big league' set-up and NL riders only to replace anyone missing to ride abroad.

[Mike.Butler]

Seems to me some EL promoters wouldn't want to run PL/NL sides but rather settle for 8-10 fixtures and run april-august.

I think running sides at 2 levels at same track will only work in a few cases.

A lot of fans will only watch the 'A' team.

Edited October 9, 2016 by Mike.Butler

[CookieIpswich]

If its to accomodate just one GP rider than I would rather see Belle Vue vs Sheffield meet in British League North Division match, speedway right now before changes are made needs fans through the door so regionalising the league COULD boost crowds.

 

Also removing the TOP STARS will mean promoters are not paying bigger money, in fact costs would reduce dramatically.

 

6 rider teams in a 13 heat format would see less overall points money paid oit, no big gp riders, promoters would be paying premier league money mainly with the promotion on national league riders.

 

It would maybe only impact on those who double up who are not EDR riders, would they accept PL money if the elite league goes? I'd imagine a few would be paid higher to obtain their services

 

2 x 12 team leagues North/South = 22 meetings

 

Top 4 from each meeting in end of season play offs for overall british champions, regional league winners are crowned regional champions thats 6 more meetings

 

Regional Cup competition 4 groups of 3 home and away with group winner progressing to semi finals. Potential 8 meetings...

 

British Cup competition featuring ALL teams in one straight two legged knock out could lead to 10 meetings.

 

Expand the British Championship to a 3 round mini GP series with a good sponsor with a good prize fund

 

Explore opportunity to terminate sky contract or negotiate to incorporate BT Sport or ITV4 and Eurosport

 

Secure title sponsor for the league and two cup competitions.

 

MAYBE JUST MAYBE to attract bigger riders.... end of season have a British League Riders Championship featuring the top 16 riders average wise accumilated from league results only and have a one off series, get a BIG sponsor involved with a £250,000 minimum prize fund and let the top 16 guys go at it for the cash, have a requirement that they had to complete a minimum of 90% of league meetings to qualify. Think of it as similar to one of the big dart tournaments, could be huge.

[Mr Snackette]

 

Your suggesting, what for the teams who don't reach the play offs, will be a two month season.

 

So 14 weekly Elite Fixtures equals a two month season!!!!!

 

Mathematics was never this Forum's strongest suite......is it any wonder Mrs May wants to bring back Grammar Schools?

[Vince]

I actually like the thinking behind the suggestion. I think your hardcore PL level support could be boosted by a few very high level meetings giving limited opportunities to see the worlds best riders in UK team racing.

 

I do think that Speedway loses the pulling power of many it's top riders because fans can see them in action every week.

 

Then get as many local riders as possible in the lower level teams and try to retain riders as much as possible year on year (with a team building average bonus for retained riders if need be) and you have a very good outline for the future.

 

The more I consider the idea the more I like it.

[Broadsider]

Appreciate your thoughts MB. But with current Sky Elite League sides being shored up by Premier League riders aren't Elite fans effectively being served B sides in any case?

 

Actually I'd argue that Belle Vue fans are more likely to turn out to watch their squad riders contest a Premier League match rather then see their Elite side minus say Zagar but with Harris in as a guest? In all honestly, I can't imagine the Elite promoters will be too keen to run entirely without their main draw card, e.g. Poole without Holder. So by retaining a condensed Sky Elite League with say 7 home and 7 away fixtures plus play offs, then Poole fans still get to see Holder but also the remainder of their squad contesting the expanded Premier League.That's two titles to race for and the best of both worlds for all Elite fans.

 

I keep harping on about Belle Vue ( I'm a Scunthorpe supporter for goodness sake!) but we must always strive to make the maximum of what we have. The new Belle Vue is an absolutely superb track and stadia which represents precisely where 21st Century British Speedway needs to be. Of course it's not conceivable for all current tracks to be at this level but everyone must strive to get as near as possible to the latest Belle Vue model.

 

In the meantime, we must use the National Speedway Stadium to collectively project British Speedway at every available opportunity. I ask you, which supporter wouldn't like to see their team race there? I can definitely say that Scunthorpe would take a fair old following and likewise many other Premier League sides.

 

Ultimately 21st Century British Speedway needs to be aiming for more tracks and stadia on the lines of Belle Vue. The sport had a fantastic track and facility at Odsal, Bradford and it's a source of real frustration that the BSPA has never done more to secure the future of Speedway there. Still that's another story and incredibly after 20 years, we still wait forlornly in hope of a West Yorkshire revival.

 

We need positive change and like everything else in life we have to risk something.

 

Having heard Rob Godfrey's words about more fixtures in 2017 and with a proposed new race format being trialled "successfully" in the summer then I genuinely believe that this time change is going to come.

 

By the way I'm right on the page with those ideas too CI.

[Steve Shovlar]

Seems to me some EL promoters wouldn't want to run PL/NL sides but rather settle for 8-10 fixtures and run april-august.I think running sides at 2 levels at same track will only work in a few cases.A lot of fans will only watch the 'A' team.

 

Take for example my club Poole. If something along those lines was brought in, it would be a disaster. Poole are an EL club and most, (not all) of the fans want to watch the best speedway this country can offer. They would turn up for the EL meetings, but I would suggest the attendances for a lower quality PL fixture would be dire. Matt Ford tried to run a NL team but not enough fans came through the gate to support it. Same would happen here.

 

As for a 7 home 7 away season, well how the hell are a promotion meant to make money on 7 fixtures plus the chance of a couple of extra playoff mettings?

 

And as for the often touted but ridiculous suggestions of a north and south league, we ain't the USA or Australia. We are a small country where you can drive to Glasgow and back from Poole in a day if you wished.

 

We need more EL meetings, not less. Increase the top flight to 12 teams, play each other home and away twice and we have a decent league. And don't even consider 6 man teams. Introduce squads for teams that want to go down that route. Riders would have to be graded as averages will fluctuate.

 

 

So 14 weekly Elite Fixtures equals a two month season!!!!!

 

Mathematics was never this Forum's strongest suite......is it any wonder Mrs May wants to bring back Grammar Schools?

Might not be two months but 7 meetings is less than two months WORTH of meetings.

Edited October 9, 2016 by Steve Shovlar

[CookieIpswich]

Poole fans currently pay to watch 85% premier league or even national league riders the league is only elite by name.

 

The reason a national league side didn't work is because yoy have the A team in the elite league, if you only had national league and it was a winning team people would turn up.

 

Appreciate people saying they can drive to glasgow and back in a day but how many of them actually do it, hardly any, regionalisation altho some clubs may still be some distance apart is the only way to boost attendances, reducing the product would bring tickets to around £10-£15maximum and people would pay to see it.

 

I would like someone who wants the elite league to work to give me 10 reasons why its elite?

Poole fans currently pay to watch 85% premier league or even national league riders the league is only elite by name.

 

The reason a national league side didn't work is because yoy have the A team in the elite league, if you only had national league and it was a winning team people would turn up.

 

Appreciate people saying they can drive to glasgow and back in a day but how many of them actually do it, hardly any, regionalisation altho some clubs may still be some distance apart is the only way to boost attendances, reducing the product would bring tickets to around £10-£15maximum and people would pay to see it.

 

I would like someone who wants the elite league to work to give me 10 reasons why its elite?

[foamfence]

Poole fans currently pay to watch 85% premier league or even national league riders the league is only elite by name.

 

The reason a national league side didn't work is because yoy have the A team in the elite league, if you only had national league and it was a winning team people would turn up.

 

Appreciate people saying they can drive to glasgow and back in a day but how many of them actually do it, hardly any, regionalisation altho some clubs may still be some distance apart is the only way to boost attendances, reducing the product would bring tickets to around £10-£15maximum and people would pay to see it.

 

I would like someone who wants the elite league to work to give me 10 reasons why its elite?

Poole fans currently pay to watch 85% premier league or even national league riders the league is only elite by name.

 

The reason a national league side didn't work is because yoy have the A team in the elite league, if you only had national league and it was a winning team people would turn up.

 

Appreciate people saying they can drive to glasgow and back in a day but how many of them actually do it, hardly any, regionalisation altho some clubs may still be some distance apart is the only way to boost attendances, reducing the product would bring tickets to around £10-£15maximum and people would pay to see it.

 

I would like someone who wants the elite league to work to give me 10 reasons why its elite?

Personally I'm a 'one big league' fan. The reason the 'Elite' is so named is because it's the highest level we currently have and for some people that is something to be proud of.

[CookieIpswich]

Then call it Elite League North and South and lets the people flock lol

[New Science]

 

So 14 weekly Elite Fixtures equals a two month season!!!!!

 

Mathematics was never this Forum's strongest suite......is it any wonder Mrs May wants to bring back Grammar Schools?

Think he was eluding to that 7 home fixtures in a season once a week is less than 2 months in total . There is some substance to this as only a very small minority now attend away matches.