2018 Grand Prix Venues

[eric i]

Have you not noticed the sport is on its knees? And part of the reason for that is because private promoters have been allowed to skim off what little cream there is, without having to have any stake in the grassroots of the sport that they actually rely upon for their business. Not just BSI, but also OneSport and potentially others if they could get their act together.

 

It's all very well claiming the SGP raises the profile of speedway, but what does speedway actually have to show for it after 20 years? Declining interest, declining revenues, still no new markets beyond a handful of countries, and the distinct possibility the entire sport could be dead within the next decade. How much money has the SGP generated for those actually running speedway on a day-to-day basis, how have crowds improved, and what sponsorship has been brought into the wider sport on the back of it?

 

Maybe things would have been worse without the SGP, who knows, but no way is it the saviour of the sport. And in most sports, the elite competitions are run by the stakeholders of the sport primarily for their benefit, yet not in speedway. Around GBP 3 million is being lost to speedway every year, which whilst small beer by the standards of major sports, would be enough to keep many tracks in business for a bit longer. Unfortunately though, none of this is ever questioned by those in a privileged position to do so, yet they're otherwise happy to ridicule mentally ill people in print.

 

I actually do have some ideas about what needs to be done with the sport if it has a chance of surviving, and I'm not completely without experience in motorsport organisation. However, I'm not involved in running speedway and therefore not in any position to enact changes, even I wanted to be involved in a sport where vested interests are leading to its self-destruction.

 

It's all very well being supportive, but don't be naive. Why do you think the SGP went to Melbourne - do you really think it was to give a struggling sport a shot in the arm in its oldest market, and in a city that hasn't operated a speedway track for years? Or might it be because an old mate is running a struggling and unpopular stadium and needs to fill it with events, is willing to do a cheap deal, and the competition needs to run a certain number of GPs including one outside of Europe?

Where are you getting the figures from, is there a financial report you can share?

[RPNY]

Big crowds Warsaw, Prague, Cardiff, Mallila, Horsens, Gorzow, Torun. Stockholm was up on last couple of year. SWC packed houses for qualifiers and final (as they were last year) Looking again at the Sponsors for this season, I stand by its fairly impressive list yes.

With regards to league Speedway, I've said many times before, this is the way most if not all sports are going. The top events get massive crowds, the lower down you go, the smaller the crowd gets. League Rugby, County cricket, non title fights in boxing, even outside the Champions League & top 6 teams in football, the crowds dwindle. People want top events these days. Just the way it is.

[PHILIPRISING]

SPEEDWAY'S major commercial problem now is the same as it has been for years. It exists in its own small bubble with very limited exposure outside of that and as a consequence not that attractive for a host of potential sponsors or, indeed, advertisers for the likes of Speedway Star. Every time I open a golf magazine, for example, I am green with envy.

 

Compare speedway with rallycross, which comes under the same umbrella at IMG with Paul Bellamy now the head honcho. The calendar is growing rapidly and the sport taking place not only in Europe, but also South Africa, Canada, the USA (Austin is coming on stream), Argentina and next year, at Silverstone for the first time.

 

Global car companies actually pay to enter teams, there are major oil companies and component manufacturers amongst a host of sponsors, TV deals, etc, etc.

 

And yet, in my opinion, speedway can be more exciting, easier to watch (the whole race is on screen all the time) and in every respect a better spectacle.

[RPNY]

Phil is it that they are comfortable sticking within these markets as little risk or have they failed that badly when they are tried the (slightly) different markets?

[iris123]

Have to say the recent Rallycross round near Hamburg,did this year get some space in the newspaper,which i hadn't noticed in previous years.Before it just got one of those little blocks at the side,the same as speedway manages.Also a photo of Monster girl 'Vicki',who i think is the Danish woman who is also at the GPs

[waytogo28]

SPEEDWAY'S major commercial problem now is the same as it has been for years. It exists in its own small bubble with very limited exposure outside of that and as a consequence not that attractive for a host of potential sponsors or, indeed, advertisers for the likes of Speedway Star. Every time I open a golf magazine, for example, I am green with envy.

 

Compare speedway with rallycross, which comes under the same umbrella at IMG with Paul Bellamy now the head honcho. The calendar is growing rapidly and the sport taking place not only in Europe, but also South Africa, Canada, the USA (Austin is coming on stream), Argentina and next year, at Silverstone for the first time.

 

Global car companies actually pay to enter teams, there are major oil companies and component manufacturers amongst a host of sponsors, TV deals, etc, etc.

 

And yet, in my opinion, speedway can be more exciting, easier to watch (the whole race is on screen all the time) and in every respect a better spectacle.

 

The problem is that very often it isn't very exciting at all meaning, that if you do get 5 mins of racing excitement in 15 races ( domestically in the UK at least ) you have been lucky and those 15 mins tend to drag on for 2 1/2 hours. And with around only 1,000 attendees on average, any sponsor has to be a dedicated fan already. Yes, it can be more exciting than many other motorsports but only in very brief bursts.

[PHILIPRISING]

Phil is it that they are comfortable sticking within these markets as little risk or have they failed that badly when they are tried the (slightly) different markets?

OBVIOUSLY BSI would look first at proven speedway markets where there might already be a core audience but the fall-off in significant interest in both Denmark and Sweden is a blow.

 

Have a feeling that there might be one new venue in 2018 but not in a country currently on the rota.

 

Russia seems likely in 2019 and possibly somewhere else.

[james1234]

When do the remaining dates get announced Phil? Also do you think Amsterdam could be an option for next year

[RPNY]

OBVIOUSLY BSI would look first at proven speedway markets where there might already be a core audience but the fall-off in significant interest in both Denmark and Sweden is a blow.

 

Have a feeling that there might be one new venue in 2018 but not in a country currently on the rota.

 

Russia seems likely in 2019 and possibly somewhere else.

Makes sense, tks Phil

[Humphrey Appleby]

Where are you getting the figures from, is there a financial report you can share?

 

BSI is a UK-registered company over a certain turnover, so is required to file detailed public accounts every year with Companies House which are all available online.

[topaz325]

Speedway seems to be its own worst enemy and shuns exposure keeping to its own world of tight knit media franchise.

 

To hell with any one or organisation that tries to advertise Speedway!!

[PHILIPRISING]

When do the remaining dates get announced Phil? Also do you think Amsterdam could be an option for next year

SOON after Melbourne I would guess. Don't think Amsterdam is an option although did hear a rumour about a speed skating stadium in Holland.

[New Science]

NOT sure about your last comment. The novelty has worn off and riders aren't over-enthusiastic about travelling round the world at the end of a tiring season. If NZ does return (not next year) it will hopefully start the season when everyone including riders are fresh and roaring to start a new campaign.

 

Torun, in my view, is perfect for the finale. Terrific stadium and track, full-house making an electric atmosphere, speedway mad town, what's not to like?

IT was ...

Amazing how its now great to get back to Torun Phil when 3 years ago it was so fantastic to branch out into new frontiers in Australia. Pretty poor how you Phil trumpet these GP's then diss them after they pull their money out. ditto New Zealand. Didn't hear 3 years ago that the riders didn't want to travel but now the plugs being pulled its an issue, these supposed issues only surface when the money stops As for the riders, every staging country can't have a world champion in the series, things change ,riders come and go, how many World Champions have Poland had in the last 20 years but still their crowds are the strongest, likewise GB, the only 2 major markets left in speedway and the only 2 able to maintain a stadium GP. Feel sorry for the minor nations and the way they are treated by BSI, the likes of Daugvapils, Krsko.Gorican, Picked up when needed and them dropped like a hot potato when BSI get a better offer, will there ever be a GP in Riga ?

[PHILIPRISING]

Amazing how its now great to get back to Torun Phil when 3 years ago it was so fantastic to branch out into new frontiers in Australia. Pretty poor how you Phil trumpet these GP's then diss them after they pull their money out. ditto New Zealand. Didn't hear 3 years ago that the riders didn't want to travel but now the plugs being pulled its an issue, these supposed issues only surface when the money stops As for the riders, every staging country can't have a world champion in the series, things change ,riders come and go, how many World Champions have Poland had in the last 20 years but still their crowds are the strongest, likewise GB, the only 2 major markets left in speedway and the only 2 able to maintain a stadium GP. Feel sorry for the minor nations and the way they are treated by BSI, the likes of Daugvapils, Krsko.Gorican, Picked up when needed and them dropped like a hot potato when BSI get a better offer, will there ever be a GP in Riga ?

COULD be one next year. There has already been a world rallycross event at the same stadium in Riga. Don't understand most of your rant. What SGPs do I trumpet? Have never thought it a good idea to end the series in Melbourne, especially not a five-year contract, which now seems unlikely to run its course anyway. Some of the venues use you mention aren't dropped like a hot potato, they leave of their own accord.

[Humphrey Appleby]

Have never thought it a good idea to end the series in Melbourne, especially not a five-year contract

Can this be the same Phil Rising who said back on 9 October 2014 that...

 

"Know a few people there who wouldn't normally cross the road fro watch speedway but attend just about everything that is on at the Etihad."

 

and...

 

"IF anyone turns down a trip to Australia to ride in one of the world's greatest stadiums in a great city they shouldn't be riding anyway."

 

and even...

 

"They say that many people in Melbourne will come along regardless of whether they know anything about speedway because it is at the Etihad.'

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=77991&page=2&do=findComment&comment=2528969

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=77991&page=8&do=findComment&comment=2683145

 

Shurely shome mishtake?

Some of the venues use you mention aren't dropped like a hot potato, they leave of their own accord.

Then I think you have to ask why they're leaving of their own accord.

 

Some tracks are invariably going to come and go, but if you look at 5 years ago, just 5 of the venues then are still in the series (Cardiff, Prague, Torun, Gorzow and Malilla - and it's questionable to count Malilla as that dropped out for a year in-between). Go back 10 years, and there's also only 5 venues from then, 3 of which havent held a GP continuously. So it's just Cardiff and Prague that have held a GP every year.

 

Now look at F1, and despite all the new tracks being added, 13 of the current 20 tracks were holding GPs ten years ago.

Edited October 20, 2017 by Humphrey Appleby

[DutchGrasstrack]

I put all the speculations for next year together in the first post:

 

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=83789&page=1

[RPNY]

Can this be the same Phil Rising who said back on 9 October 2014 that...

 

"Know a few people there who wouldn't normally cross the road fro watch speedway but attend just about everything that is on at the Etihad."

 

and...

 

"IF anyone turns down a trip to Australia to ride in one of the world's greatest stadiums in a great city they shouldn't be riding anyway."

 

and even...

 

"They say that many people in Melbourne will come along regardless of whether they know anything about speedway because it is at the Etihad.'

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=77991&page=2&do=findComment&comment=2528969

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=77991&page=8&do=findComment&comment=2683145

 

Shurely shome mishtake?

Then I think you have to ask why they're leaving of their own accord.

 

Some tracks are invariably going to come and go, but if you look at 5 years ago, just 5 of the venues then are still in the series (Cardiff, Prague, Torun, Gorzow and Malilla - and it's questionable to count Malilla as that dropped out for a year in-between). Go back 10 years, and there's also only 5 venues from then, 3 of which havent held a GP continuously. So it's just Cardiff and Prague that have held a GP every year.

 

Now look at F1, and despite all the new tracks being added, 13 of the current 20 tracks were holding GPs ten years ago.

And where on earth does he say its the greatest place to finish the series?!

 

Even though I disagree with Phil on keeping the series Finale there, you cant accuse his of saying things he hasn't said.

[james1234]

I put all the speculations for next year together in the first post:

 

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=83789&page=1

I can see Krsko getting the late September Slot

[racers and royals]

I can see Krsko getting the late September Slot

I can`t - I think they will take another break from hosting a GP.

[Ghostwalker]

I think Målilla will either be on the July date before Cardiff or early August.