Glasgow V Sheffield Pl Play Off S/f 1st Leg , 16/10/16 At 3pm

[Tigerblade]

From my perch on the fourth bend I noted a distinct drop-off in the normal crowd numbers for the quarter- and semi-finals at Owlerton. What happens next Wednesday remains to be seen, but I sense that for many Sheffield fans the season finished three weeks ago.

 

I noticed on Wednesday against Glasgow there were distinctly less people there.

 

Having said all that, as a fan of 39 years, who hates the concept of play offs, I can assure you that if by some miracle we do overcome Somerset on aggregate, I will be ruddy ecstatic!!!

[bellevueace]

 

I don't think that's true, for simple reason that all league matches are meaningful. Indeed, the play offs mean that we are left with substantially less dead rubbers at the end of the season - dead rubbers whose attendances are often disastrous.

 

In the golden eras of speedway when crowds packed the terracing there was not a play off system in sight. For clubs like Newport for example at the time 40 years ago they were always seen as strugglers, along with other perrenial strugglers they continued to pack the terracing in such numbers that would make todays play off final look paltry, for supporters of these clubs they didnt see matches as dead rubbers just because they had no hope of achieving success, they packed the terraces because they wanted to see good racing immeterial of winning the league. Sadly today we have sky trying everything to manipulate matches to a last heat decider for their tv viewers. In doing so we have the ludicrous situation where sheffield could be crowned league champions after finishing sixth in the league, we have the ludicrous double tactical ride, we have the its a knockout style joker in the wtc, its these silly rules that takes away credibility from the sport, and people wonder why the terraces have emptied. Wolves i think im right in saying have been crowned champions is it two or three times without topping the league table, that most people now only turn out in numbers for the end of season play offs means clubs ride all season to poor attendances where only the four play off clubs actually get any decent crowds at all , and crowds that would have been been seen as very poor years ago with no manipulation of the regular league. Many said regular showing on tv would increase crowds that too has never happened, in fact live sky matches have had the opposite effect. For the majority of teams in the premiership they have no hope of ever winning anything but the fans of those clubs still turn out in large numbers for said dead rubbers every week, perhaps its because they support the game? Only my view mate but im no fan of the play offs, the T/R rule, the joker etc. Perhaps im just a dinosaur

Edited October 23, 2016 by bellevueace

[Halifaxtiger]

 

In the golden eras of speedway when crowds packed the terracing there was not a play off system in sight. For clubs like Newport for example at the time 40 years ago they were always seen as strugglers, along with other perrenial strugglers they continued to pack the terracing in such numbers that would make todays play off final look paltry, for supporters of these clubs they didnt see matches as dead rubbers just because they had no hope of achieving success, they packed the terraces because they wanted to see good racing immeterial of winning the league. Sadly today we have sky trying everything to manipulate matches to a last heat decider for their tv viewers. In doing so we have the ludicrous situation where sheffield could be crowned league champions after finishing sixth in the league, we have the ludicrous double tactical ride, we have the its a knockout style joker in the wtc, its these silly rules that takes away credibility from the sport, and people wonder why the terraces have emptied. Wolves i think im right in saying have been crowned champions is it two or three times without topping the league table, that most people now only turn out in numbers for the end of season play offs means clubs ride all season to poor attendances where only the four play off clubs actually get any decent crowds at all , and crowds that would have been been seen as very poor years ago with no manipulation of the regular league. Many said regular showing on tv would increase crowds that too has never happened, in fact live sky matches have had the opposite effect. For the majority of teams in the premiership they have no hope of ever winning anything but the fans of those clubs still turn out in large numbers for said dead rubbers every week, perhaps its because they support the game? Only my view mate but im no fan of the play offs, the T/R rule, the joker etc. Perhaps im just a dinosaur

 

I hope I am not too insulting when I say yes, you are - although it would perhaps be more accurate to say that you don't like the changes that have taken place in the sport. One thing is certain - you're far from alone.

 

I believe those changes are necessary because of the drop in attendances. I don't believe they caused that drop, although you will see fans saying that they are walking away because of guests, points limits and tactical changes - completely ignoring the point, of course, that all have been in existence in the sport for half a century or more.

 

People disdain the TR rule, but it affects scores less than the old TS and also costs a huge amount less. Most riders don't get paid for TR, yet they would for a TS because it would be an extra ride. Speedway simply can't afford that.

 

There's no doubt that the play offs are a major financial success. Speedway simply can't turn down the major revenue they make, and in doing so they are simply copying other sports like Rugby League, Ice Hockey and even Football.

 

The idea of these changes is too make things more exciting and generate funds for the sport and personally I think they have succeeded. While I have no doubt you were gutted at the EL final result, there is a possibility (I should say I have little idea what is going on)that the money Belle Vue made that night might save the club.

 

In the end, it seems to me to be a matter of accepting that the wishes of individuals must fall second to the needs of the sport.

[Cliffeboy]

If by hook or by crook Sheffield manage to beat Somerset in the final, a major injustice will have taken place to take away the achievement of a team that's lost only four times in the entire season. It will show up the farcical nature of a competition wherein a team finishing sixth can be anointed as "League Champions" having used a litany of 'ringers' in the process.

 

As a tigers fan of 50 years standing, it will give me no pleasure or pride whatsoever to become "champions" in such circumstances. I therefore hope and trust Somerset give us a walloping in both legs. However, I would add that Howarth, Bates, Sissis and Greaves have been outstanding throughout this debacle and deserve the praise of all Sheffield fans. It is a pity their efforts have been diminished by the ridiculous rules of the competition.

 

For me, Howarth has been the discovery of the season and his name should be first on the teamsheet for 2017.

What a shame there are not more true supporters like you mate, what a great and humble thing to say.

If by hook or by crook Sheffield manage to beat Somerset in the final, a major injustice will have taken place to take away the achievement of a team that's lost only four times in the entire season. It will show up the farcical nature of a competition wherein a team finishing sixth can be anointed as "League Champions" having used a litany of 'ringers' in the process.

 

As a tigers fan of 50 years standing, it will give me no pleasure or pride whatsoever to become "champions" in such circumstances. I therefore hope and trust Somerset give us a walloping in both legs. However, I would add that Howarth, Bates, Sissis and Greaves have been outstanding throughout this debacle and deserve the praise of all Sheffield fans. It is a pity their efforts have been diminished by the ridiculous rules of the competition.

 

For me, Howarth has been the discovery of the season and his name should be first on the teamsheet for 2017.

What a shame there are not more true supporters like you mate, what a great and humble thing to say. Edited October 23, 2016 by Cliffeboy

[bellevueace]

 

I hope I am not too insulting when I say yes, you are - although it would perhaps be more accurate to say that you don't like the changes that have taken place in the sport. One thing is certain - you're far from alone.

 

I believe those changes are necessary because of the drop in attendances. I don't believe they caused that drop, although you will see fans saying that they are walking away because of guests, points limits and tactical changes - completely ignoring the point, of course, that all have been in existence in the sport for half a century or more.

 

People disdain the TR rule, but it affects scores less than the old TS and also costs a huge amount less. Most riders don't get paid for TR, yet they would for a TS because it would be an extra ride. Speedway simply can't afford that.

 

There's no doubt that the play offs are a major financial success. Speedway simply can't turn down the major revenue they make, and in doing so they are simply copying other sports like Rugby League, Ice Hockey and even Football.

 

The idea of these changes is too make things more exciting and generate funds for the sport and personally I think they have succeeded. While I have no doubt you were gutted at the EL final result, there is a possibility (I should say I have little idea what is going on)that the money Belle Vue made that night might save the club.

 

In the end, it seems to me to be a matter of accepting that the wishes of individuals must fall second to the needs of the sport.

 

Surely it would be better for clubs to have good crowds all season long than just for play off matches of which only 4 benefit? Sky seem to want to manufacture results in speedway to keep the interest until the final heat, that dosent happen in other sports. Yes Rugby league etc have play offs but they also have a league winners shield so as not to demean the whole league season. In the NFL for example you can be league champions but the play off champions hold more kudos. In speedway topping the league means jack. I always say if it isnt broken dont fix it, in the days of 13 heats real second halves etc crowds dwarfed anything seen today, yes times change but looking around the terraces today said changes have not done anything to arrest rapidly falling crowds. I think compensation through the courts will be more beneficial to Belle Vue than their play off gate money tbh, all tracks need these play off crowds on a regular basis as used to be the case. Sadly the sport is now seen as a joke thanks to the array of new rules. The wishes of individuals obviously take second place to the needs of the sport, but those individuals appear to be growing more and more with regards to the rules, alienating those cant really be in the best interests of the sport, we are down to the die hards now and even those are now staring to walk away. Lets see what transpires at the BSPA meeting next month, hopefully for once they might get it right. How complicated does four men turning left for 60 seconds have to be?

[Tsunami]

 

Surely it would be better for clubs to have good crowds all season long than just for play off matches of which only 4 benefit? Sky seem to want to manufacture results in speedway to keep the interest until the final heat, that dosent happen in other sports. Yes Rugby league etc have play offs but they also have a league winners shield so as not to demean the whole league season. In the NFL for example you can be league champions but the play off champions hold more kudos. In speedway topping the league means jack. I always say if it isnt broken dont fix it, in the days of 13 heats real second halves etc crowds dwarfed anything seen today, yes times change but looking around the terraces today said changes have not done anything to arrest rapidly falling crowds. I think compensation through the courts will be more beneficial to Belle Vue than their play off gate money tbh, all tracks need these play off crowds on a regular basis as used to be the case. Sadly the sport is now seen as a joke thanks to the array of new rules. The wishes of individuals obviously take second place to the needs of the sport, but those individuals appear to be growing more and more with regards to the rules, alienating those cant really be in the best interests of the sport, we are down to the die hards now and even those are now staring to walk away. Lets see what transpires at the BSPA meeting next month, hopefully for once they might get it right. How complicated does four men turning left for 60 seconds have to be?

It was, and still is, what speedway is all about at the end of the day. The rest is froth.