Honey Monster Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 If Leicester stay in the EL then I would like to see them run a NL team aswell to compensate for the lack of speedway. Stay in EL and we must have a very competitive team or it will be a waste of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 There could still be some Saturday night meetings at the start of the season maybe two or three meetings subject to other clubs agreeing. Riders just don't want to be riding at Leicester on a Saturday night then heading straight off to Stansted or Luton to get an 06:30am flight then a full day travelling and riding on a Sunday. Midweek racing should also help with double up riders as less clashes than on Saturdays But Poland moved the posts from just Sunday race nights to Thursday and Fridays this season. The international meeting at Leicester was mid week and a awful crowd to watch to quite good teams. Mid week meetings will have an effect on future fans attending for sure. Friday could of been good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glennylion Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 I would say the best attended meeting of last few years was a Monday night meeting, against Swindon. I'm 100% with Beckett. I started playing cricket again last year and Saturday's are a no no. A few I know of haven't been because it's a Saturday. There is potential to tap into a market. Working in brum it'll be a rush but I'd rather do that than have Saturday night racing where I couldn't go. Put a decent team together for once and I'm sure the crowd would be fine. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bump Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 I would say the best attended meeting of last few years was a Monday night meeting, against Swindon. I'm 100% with Beckett. I started playing cricket again last year and Saturday's are a no no. A few I know of haven't been because it's a Saturday. There is potential to tap into a market. Working in brum it'll be a rush but I'd rather do that than have Saturday night racing where I couldn't go. Put a decent team together for once and I'm sure the crowd would be fine. Reckon you're right there. We haven't had a team in the elite,as yet, that can win it's home matches on a regular basis. Just not been competitive. If we can manage to field a stronger outfit, combined with a stronger promotion & presence, I reckon we'll see healthier crowds. Worth a go. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevethelion Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 There could still be some Saturday night meetings at the start of the season maybe two or three meetings subject to other clubs agreeing. Riders just don't want to be riding at Leicester on a Saturday night then heading straight off to Stansted or Luton to get an 06:30am flight then a full day travelling and riding on a Sunday. Midweek racing should also help with double up riders as less clashes than on Saturdays Is midweek likely to be Wednesday or Thursday? There's quite a lot of PL meetings on Thursdays, which wouldn't help with double-up riders & doesn't Wednesday clash with the Danish League? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 All depends on the product. The Elite League (or whatever it's called) has to be appealing enough to generate interest and not have daft rules and schemes. The racing's got to be close and exciting. Meeting presentation needs to be slick and professional. The team needs to be in with a real chance of winning the title, with riders who are prepared to give it a go for all four laps. A promotion which doesn't bulls##t and con people Realistic and affordable pricing. Get those right and it hardly matters which night it takes place. If it's worth going, people will turn up, including Sky. Can it be done? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Monster Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 Is midweek likely to be Wednesday or Thursday? There's quite a lot of PL meetings on Thursdays, which wouldn't help with double-up riders & doesn't Wednesday clash with the Danish League?EL needs to take preference over PL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 If Leicester stay in the EL then I would like to see them run a NL team aswell to compensate for the lack of speedway. Stay in EL and we must have a very competitive team or it will be a waste of time. It might sound like a good idea but very rarely works out for an E.L. team to run in the N.L as well. Coventry Storm's attendances were awful this season as fans weren't interested in what they perceive to be inferior racing. Even Poole gave up running a N.L. team after a couple of years. The only way National League racing works is when it's the only option ~ like Birmingham, Eastbourne, Buxton etc. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 And Cradley gem 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 (edited) Once again we have a Speedway team changing its race night so a very few riders in the grand scheme of things don't have to get up early and fly to Poland on a Sunday.. Truly barmy way of running a business.. Until teams decide to run on the best night (or day) that they can deliver their best crowd then the ever slippery slope the sport is on will continue.. Quite simply, if Saturday night brings the best crowd then run then, if Sunday lunchtime brings the best crowd then run then etc etc etc.. And do it by only allowing riders who can make it every week. If an FIM meeting is taking place then either don't run that week or put a 'filler' in... The sport needs to have viable clubs to move organically forwards, the vast majority of what is left of the ever dwindling fan base are 'die hards' anyway so most will attend a meeting at any level as long as it involves 'their team', one that is represented by 'their riders' (and not guest riddled select sides)... Promoters just need to wake up and make it happen. The sport's whole planning is built 100% on a business plan where 'the tail wags the dog'.. Crackers.. Edited November 2, 2016 by mikebv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 valve Posted November 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 (edited) Once again we have a Speedway team changing its race night so a 'very few' riders in the grand scheme of things don't have to get up early and fly to Poland on a Sunday.. Truly barmy way of running a business.. If Saturday night brings the best crowd then run then.. And do it by only allowing riders who can make it every week. Leicester are moving from Saturday as their race night because they will be in the EL for 2017 where no league meetings will run over the weekend. The best riders are available (if they are affordable) for mid week meetings in the UK which is what sets the EL apart from the PL. Please note I am not saying the racing is better in the EL just that the best riders will be available. For a summer sport, history has shown that speedway does not need to run on a Saturday to attract the best crowds on a weekly basis. In its heyday considerably more tracks operated speedway mid week than on a Saturday and as a few people have already mentioned Saturday is not ideal because of other alternative competing activities. So, running on a regular mid week evening, will enable the best riders to be available, for the best and most competitive teams to be formed, which will bring in the crowds. The concern I have is that if it is to be only one race night per week for all teams meaning only one home meeting every two weeks, how will that impact the continuity of attendance - some of us remember, "Tuesday night is speedway night" and I cant help but think we need to see a meeting a week most weeks. this of course means the need for two EL race nights per week. Lets hope the AGM comes up with the right answers! Edited November 2, 2016 by 1 valve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Leicester are moving from Saturday as their race night because they will be in the EL for 2017 where no league meetings will run over the weekend. The best riders are available (if they are affordable) for mid week meetings in the UK which is what sets the EL apart from the PL. Please note I am not saying the racing is better in the EL just that the best riders will be available. For a summer sport, history has shown that speedway does not need to run on a Saturday to attract the best crowds on a weekly basis. In its heyday considerably more tracks operated speedway mid week than on a Saturday and as a few people have already mentioned Saturday is not ideal because of other alternative competing activities. So, running on a regular mid week evening, will enable the best riders to be available, for the best and most competitive teams to be formed, which will bring in the crowds. The concern I have is that if it is to be only one race night per week for all teams meaning only one home meeting every two weeks, how will that impact the continuity of attendance - some of us remember, "Tuesday night is speedway night" and I cant help but think we need to see a meeting a week most weeks. this of course means the need for two EL race nights per week. Lets hope the AGM comes up with the right answers! 1 valve I think society has changed though, and "leisure activities" are now far more of a 7-days a week thing rather than just weekends. This includes doing the weekly shopping at varying times. Also peoples work patterns have changed, with the increase of things like zero hours contracts, self-employment, part time work, and people sometimes juggling all of that, plus the leisure activities stuff. Grandparents are more involved with childcare. it all seems far more complicated than the "old days" . The level of competition for peoples leisure time and leisure pound is huge nowadays. No longer a case of "Tuesday night is speedway night" - it's more like "Tuesday night is x night, and x night, and oh yes, it's speedway night as well". The product's got to be good enough, and value for money. What constitutes "good enough" and getting the price right, is what's most crucial. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Once again we have a Speedway team changing its race night so a very few riders in the grand scheme of things don't have to get up early and fly to Poland on a Sunday.. Truly barmy way of running a business.. Until teams decide to run on the best night (or day) that they can deliver their best crowd then the ever slippery slope the sport is on will continue.. Quite simply, if Saturday night brings the best crowd then run then, if Sunday lunchtime brings the best crowd then run then etc etc etc.. And do it by only allowing riders who can make it every week. If an FIM meeting is taking place then either don't run that week or put a 'filler' in... The sport needs to have viable clubs to move organically forwards, the vast majority of what is left of the ever dwindling fan base are 'die hards' anyway so most will attend a meeting at any level as long as it involves 'their team', one that is represented by 'their riders' (and not guest riddled select sides)... Promoters just need to wake up and make it happen. The sport's whole planning is built 100% on a business plan where 'the tail wags the dog'.. Crackers.. Crackers is the best word to use as I think Saturday evening Sunday afternoon is prime family time, Going midweek will stop most families going due to a late night with school and work in the morning and they are the future of the sport. I have past caring if the big boys want to ride here and bored of Poland calling the shots on what goes on in Britain we need to do what's best for British speedway and not worry about Poland. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glennylion Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Saturday evenings could/should be family time which is potentially why families tend not to go and crowds are poor. When we were in the PL I didn't go every week as there are other commitments on family time on a Saturday evening. My wife and my kids have no interest in going speedway despite efforts in my behalf and it is inappropriate for me at "family time" to tootle off every Saturday evening. Whilst everyone has differing circumstances, i don't see school nights being a huge problem. Firstly the amount of kids and families that go to the football does not suffer due to evening matches which actually finish later than speedway and will take longer to get away and secondly I don't see that many kids at BP anyway. All in all I don't think it will be a potential negative on attendances. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMW Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Once again we have a Speedway team changing its race night so a very few riders in the grand scheme of things don't have to get up early and fly to Poland on a Sunday.. Truly barmy way of running a business.. Until teams decide to run on the best night (or day) that they can deliver their best crowd then the ever slippery slope the sport is on will continue.. Quite simply, if Saturday night brings the best crowd then run then, if Sunday lunchtime brings the best crowd then run then etc etc etc.. And do it by only allowing riders who can make it every week. If an FIM meeting is taking place then either don't run that week or put a 'filler' in... The sport needs to have viable clubs to move organically forwards, the vast majority of what is left of the ever dwindling fan base are 'die hards' anyway so most will attend a meeting at any level as long as it involves 'their team', one that is represented by 'their riders' (and not guest riddled select sides)... Promoters just need to wake up and make it happen. The sport's whole planning is built 100% on a business plan where 'the tail wags the dog'.. Crackers.. And ..... Back in the room Saturday evenings could/should be family time which is potentially why families tend not to go and crowds are poor. When we were in the PL I didn't go every week as there are other commitments on family time on a Saturday evening. My wife and my kids have no interest in going speedway despite efforts in my behalf and it is inappropriate for me at "family time" to tootle off every Saturday evening. Whilst everyone has differing circumstances, i don't see school nights being a huge problem. Firstly the amount of kids and families that go to the football does not suffer due to evening matches which actually finish later than speedway and will take longer to get away and secondly I don't see that many kids at BP anyway. All in all I don't think it will be a potential negative on attendances. Most of the families I know that stop going was because in came EL and out went the fun. Kids started to get bored parents stopped going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glennylion Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Most of the families I know that stop going was because in came EL and out went the fun. Kids started to get bored parents stopped going This probably shows how difficult it is to make a decision that appeals to all. I personally don't see that the EL is any less fun or more boring but it's each to their own. 4 things that impact and would become less attractive due to going EL I would say though are increase in price, quality of team, frequency of meetings and lack if association with home riders. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 There are 10 weeks worth of school holidays during the speedway season so running midweek shouldn't be an issue. Parents could even allow a treat of a late night once or twice for the matches run on school nights. Only trouble is the fixture planners haven't got a clue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Beevers Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 [quote name="Glennylion" post="2872262" timestamp="1478090712" 4 things that impact and would become less attractive due to going EL I would say though are increase in price, quality of team, frequency of meetings and lack if association with home riders. 1) Price - Nothing can be done about this. In fact I can see it only going higher due to inflation due to riders needing more coatlier technology improvements and probable rise in methanol etc and with ever decreasing speedway sponsorship for riders and teams in the country. 2) Quality of team - Again see Number 1. Lack of funds from all areas of turnover for clubs so they cannot afford better paid riders. If more people came through the door for just a night out for something to do or had more passionate followers like Polish speedway or this country in in the 60s/70s we wouldn't be in this mess. 3) Frequency of meetings - Totally agree. The GP in many ways has been bad for British Speedway and it use to be the weather was problematic enough. Something has to give and it will probably be stadium race nights. 4) I would say this is a minor issue. Personally I think it is more of an issue that riders personalities and characters don't shine through enough on the track. Riders need to give a little more back by really entertaining or giving autographs to fans at intervals. More passion although wheelies is better than nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 valve Posted November 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 (edited) 1 valve I think society has changed though, and "leisure activities" are now far more of a 7-days a week thing rather than just weekends. This includes doing the weekly shopping at varying times. The product's got to be good enough, and value for money. What constitutes "good enough" and getting the price right, is what's most crucial. Big Al, You and I and quite a few others are on the same page. The product has got to be appealing, like it or not riders of international/GP standing are an attraction and if promoted / publicised will bring in the crowds. Blimey remember the days when Wilson / Boocock /Olsen /Mauger were due to face off against each other? the crowds rolled in to see those duels which were well publicised ahead of the event . So to Penhall/Carter/Collins/Lee/Olsen. Now todays big guns go head to head in Poland week in week out so not really hard to see why the crowds are so high there and so too the riders wages. The UK needs to restart somewhere and it looks like one or two mid week nights for EL is as good as a place to start and hopefully provide decent entertainment which people will want to pay to watch. Edited November 2, 2016 by 1 valve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Hmm... Elite League Speedway is actually exactly what I want in the City. What I don't want, is this watered down product, in which Leicester alienate themselves from attracting the best riders and therefore limit their chances of ever having success. IF (and it's a big if), we did things the right way, made a genuinely competitive team in a better run league, I'd love the Lions to be an Elite League side. Hmm... Elite League Speedway is actually exactly what I want in the City. What I don't want, is this watered down product, in which Leicester alienate themselves from attracting the best riders and therefore limit their chances of ever having success. IF (and it's a big if), we did things the right way, made a genuinely competitive team in a better run league, I'd love the Lions Its exactly what you want .but you are largely on your own ,because every lions supporter I know ( and that is a lot ) wants to go back to the premier league , regular meetings in a league where they have a fair chance of winning ,and no problem racing on saturdays , 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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