Does British Speedway Have Future?

[waytogo28]

These four things as someone else posted are at the core of the problem -

 

Four things that are constantly raised are the quality of racing, the facilities, delays and presentation.

 

I still go ( less and less mind you! ) and think that the delays, quality of racing are the most important of these - It just gets too boring. And I have been going for a 100 years - well almost! Over the last two seasons I have fallen out of love / become disillusioned with the in stadium experience.

I can't see most young people going more than once unless it is hugely made more crisp in terms of getting on with the racing. Sadly, seemingly the referee or the clerk of the course do not take much of an interest in doing this. Add the fact that the modern broadcast experience is vastly more interesting and informative - this is likely to cause further disinterest in the live stadium matches which look disappointing compared to a G.P. or a Sky match coverage.

[moxey63]

I used to watch the delight, the amazed glare when newcomers experienced their first speedway race live at the track. Certainly a spectacle that holds the attention... if early on. But the novelty value will wear off, if the rules and regulations are a joke. It is a great sport, but the rules seem to let it down more and more each season.

 

Simplify things, and not something that only the people making the rules as the only ones knowing what's frigging going on. Team racing is speedway's life-blood, and I lost interest with team speedway because it was no longer a team thing. When you stop looking back and can remember various team line-ups, not just your own, you know something has gone wrong.

 

Even more sad, is that the line-up we don't remember could be the present year's.

 

Now... ask me, say, for the Leicester team of... er... 1976.

Edited December 18, 2016 by moxey63

[Halifaxtiger]

These four things as someone else posted are at the core of the problem -

 

Four things that are constantly raised are the quality of racing, the facilities, delays and presentation.

 

I still go ( less and less mind you! ) and think that the delays, quality of racing are the most important of these - It just gets too boring. And I have been going for a 100 years - well almost! Over the last two seasons I have fallen out of love / become disillusioned with the in stadium experience.

I can't see most young people going more than once unless it is hugely made more crisp in terms of getting on with the racing. Sadly, seemingly the referee or the clerk of the course do not take much of an interest in doing this. Add the fact that the modern broadcast experience is vastly more interesting and informative - this is likely to cause further disinterest in the live stadium matches which look disappointing compared to a G.P. or a Sky match coverage.

 

Dead right

 

The facilities don't matter that much to me personally (even when, at Weymouth once, I was sat on a portaloo and some kids opened the door) and I can stomach most presentation, even those that are pretty dire.

 

But unnecessary delays and crap racing are too prevalent and really stick in my craw.

 

Its why Scunthorpe hit the nail on the head. Usually cracking racing and no intervals, and I have even heard Rob Godfrey ask the referee to put the 2 minutes on over the mic.

 

Speedway is - like almost all sports - much better live than on the television. We just have to give people what they want us much as we can.

Edited December 18, 2016 by Halifaxtiger

[Paulco]

 

Dead right

 

The facilities don't matter that much to me personally (even when, at Weymouth once, I was sat on a portaloo and some kids opened the door) and I can stomach most presentation, even those that are pretty dire.

 

But unnecessary delays and crap racing are too prevalent and really stick in my craw.

 

Its why Scunthorpe hit the nail on the head. Usually cracking racing and no intervals, and I have even heard Rob Godfrey ask the referee to put the 2 minutes on over the mic.

 

Speedway is - like almost all sports - much better live than on the television. We just have to give people what they want us much as we can.

As we have spoke about on numerous occasions , once clubs stop trying to gain an advantage with dodgy track prep and start preparing tracks to maximise the entertainment value , the better the sport will become .

[Tsunami]

As we have spoke about on numerous occasions , once clubs stop trying to gain an advantage with dodgy track prep and start preparing tracks to maximise the entertainment value , the better the sport will become .

Ironically but, In the case with Rob asking for the 2 minutes on, he could have known that an opposition rider out next was having a problem, and was changing/warming bikes.

[The Third Man]

Ironically but, In the case with Rob asking for the 2 minutes on, he could have known that an opposition rider out next was having a problem, and was changing/warming bikes.

 

Even if that was true it would be irrelevant, you cant hold up a meeting because someone is having bike problems, unless after a crash,

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

 

Even if that was true it would be irrelevant, you cant hold up a meeting because someone is having bike problems, unless after a crash,

it does go on

[robert72]

Even if that was true it would be irrelevant, you cant hold up a meeting because someone is having bike problems, unless after a crash,

Yes it's happens and many other things fans don't see.

[Trees]

As we have spoke about on numerous occasions , once clubs stop trying to gain an advantage with dodgy track prep and start preparing tracks to maximise the entertainment value , the better the sport will become .

That should be NUMBER ONE PRIORITY for all promotions Imo!

[waytogo28]

Better live than on television? Hmmm! Not in my book as modern ( this century ) broadcast racing is vastly better. You can even see a replay of the millisecond incident you missed on the terraces AND get an expert presenter informing you of what went on and keeping you in the loop of what is happening ( as it happens ). The product live in the stadium is vastly inferior due to long drawn out ( mostly unnecessary ) delays between races. Much better efforts are made with track preparation at some stadiums when the TV cameras are there! More effort is made to produce fairer, competitive racing ( and the possibility of passing ) when the match is broadcast. Everything is sharpened up then including presentation.

[fatface]

Better live than on television? Hmmm! Not in my book as modern ( this century ) broadcast racing is vastly better. You can even see a replay of the millisecond incident you missed on the terraces AND get an expert presenter informing you of what went on and keeping you in the loop of what is happening ( as it happens ). The product live in the stadium is vastly inferior due to long drawn out ( mostly unnecessary ) delays between races. Much better efforts are made with track preparation at some stadiums when the TV cameras are there! More effort is made to produce fairer, competitive racing ( and the possibility of passing ) when the match is broadcast. Everything is sharpened up then including presentation.

All true.

 

It would be a very brave sport that tried it, but I wonder if we are heading in the direction of live sport being free? Speedway isn't the only sport to struggle with attendances. And this post is right, the quality of broadcast is frequently superior to the reality of attending live league speedway. I cringe when I think of a newbe catching a GP live on TV and then wandering down to Plymouth or the like expecting something similar. And at a greater cost!

 

That gap is only going to get wider. A better way might be to build speedway businesses around letting people in for free and making it commercially viable via quality food and drink and more advertising revenue due to a wider live audience? Very risky I know, but speedway is now competing in a world where the digital offering is often far better than the reality. It's also far cheaper and very often free. The younger generations aren't even parting with pennies to pay for newspapers when news is readily available for free. Why would they pay £60-80 for live speedway at their local track for a month when Netflix (and chill!) costs £7.99?

 

Sooner or later, speedway is going to have to address this.

Edited December 20, 2016 by falcace

[Bagpuss]

Better live IMO. The smell and the noise all add to the experience.

[Skid Sprocket]

Better live IMO. The smell and the noise all add to the experience.

The live atmosphere, pie and peas, interaction with fellow supporters, being out in the open air (summer time), and one off's like the G.P just being part of it. Any more?

[steve roberts]

The live atmosphere, pie and peas, interaction with fellow supporters, being out in the open air (summer time), and one off's like the G.P just being part of it. Any more?

Watching speedway live (and it shouldn't be broadcasted live on TV - too much pontificating from the experts - edited highlights instead, a far better package) The aroma (certainly in the good old days), atmosphere, meeting up with fellow enthusiasts, enjoying sausage & chips, being able to take in the whole race and not what the editor chooses (often the front runners therefore missing the action at the back) etc.

[topaz325]

Is there too much Speedway on tv now?Who would have thought that about 10 yrs ago.

Why should fans ever leave the living room with British speedway , Sgp, Wtc, Sec and some Swedish speedway on TV and also the live streaming of some meetings.

Personally it's live Speedway for me but the GPS are very good entertainment

[Skid Sprocket]

Is there too much Speedway on tv now?Who would have thought that about 10 yrs ago.

Why should fans ever leave the living room with British speedway , Sgp, Wtc, Sec and some Swedish speedway on TV and also the live streaming of some meetings.

Personally it's live Speedway for me but the GPS are very good entertainment

That's the big dilemma; we want it on t.v. for publicity so that we get the terraces full to make it pay so that we have speedway to show on t.v.

[New Science]

Better live IMO. The smell and the noise all add to the experience.

It used to be even better when there was more noise and some smell

[Trees]

Better live IMO. The smell and the noise all add to the experience.

Better live in some ways, better on tv in others.

 

The atmosphere, speed, noise, crowd banter and to a lesser extent than years ago, the smell, are all better live. As well as being out in the fresh air which is sooooo much healthier than sitting on your bum on ya settee!

 

TV is good for interviews, replays and stats.

 

It pees me off that the fans are ignored to some extent on TV nights though, one of the main things being no winners parade, this should be sorted 100%.

Edited December 20, 2016 by Trees

[martinmauger]

Speedway looks so much better at nite too, under decent floods. Also usually better racing...

[Pieman72]

I think the first thing to do is to charge realistic admission prices. How can I justify £42 every week plus the odd away match for myself and my wife? It's not the money but what am I getting for this.

 

Santa Pod went down this route and went bust 3 times before a realist took over. A full days racing 9 hours, bikes, cars all classes 240+ mph costs us about £40 for a National event. Come on Speedway get into the real world !!!