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Time To Scrap Doubling Up?


IainB

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I thought crowds were supposed to be up this year?

That is what was said when fans from tracks reported on their current crowd levels early in the season. My track being one of them.

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That is what was said when fans from tracks reported on their current crowd levels early in the season. My track being one of them.

How did they know? Unless there is some specific way of counting simply guessing on what the crowd appears to be is a hopelessly inaccurate way of assessing it. Also a lot of tracks have higher crowd levels early in the season, then the crowds drop back a big until the summer holidays.

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How did they know? Unless there is some specific way of counting simply guessing on what the crowd appears to be is a hopelessly inaccurate way of assessing it. Also a lot of tracks have higher crowd levels early in the season, then the crowds drop back a big until the summer holidays.

By the same measure that they know when the crowd is down. Not the hardest job to look around and see if the usual spaces are with filled or not. Not an exact science, but it isn't beyond the wit of the average fan I would suggest.

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Earlier on in season when Robins were second from bottom crowds were down, now top crowds have increased.

Over last 10 years they've lost hundreds of fans, like most clubs, probably due to weakening line-ups, doubling up, and some fans are only interested in GP speedway.

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If I could give multiple likes for this I would. Must bookmark for future use.

 

PS Nicholas Cage really has to stop making films - it is a matter of life and death

 

I thought that was David Niven.

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But the issue isn't doubling up per se. The issues could be reduced by better fixture planning and entirely avoided by going to fixed race nights.

The problem still occurs when fixtures have to be re-planned due to rain-offs etc. If the clubs don't want or can't have fixed race nights, they shouldn't be forced.

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But the issue isn't doubling up per se. The issues could be reduced by better fixture planning and entirely avoided by going to fixed race nights.

yes it is , identity, credibility , it's a team sport ,I don't support my local team anymore because they are not my team they are someone else's
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Don't know if this would solve the rider shortage but how about 6 rider teams - 5 full time members and 1 reserve spot shared between 2 young GB riders from the league below who must ride on different nights in that league. Gives continuity of team and opportunities for young Brits. Not thought of the finer details though yet

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SEEMS to be the most popular proposition amongst promoters

count me out then and many others cause I want team speedway with teams not the select sides made up of other teams , it's a joke and quite frankly an embarrassment to a once sensible sport Edited by THE DEAN MACHINE
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count me out then and many others cause I want team speedway with teams not the select sides made up of other teams , it's a joke and quite frankly an embarrassment to a once sensible sport

When I went to Speedway, I wanted to see MY Team, MY Riders who I could identify with. I liked feeling part of the whole Team thing. Since that has, more or less, all gone from the Sport, what is left is a mere shadow of what Speedway used to be.

 

What the Promoters fail to grasp is that half of the pleasure of going to the Speedway was talking with your Riders, socialising with your Riders and you would follow your Team away, recognise Riders who would, if they saw you, give you a wave.

 

Nowadays when Riders come out on to the Track a lot (probably most) don't even look at the Crowd who have paid to come and see them, they just trudge towards their Bikes.

 

That is the way I see it anyway.

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So you want to be able to identify with and support your own team, just not financially.

 

Bottom line is Pandora's box is open. A double up rider now has circa 70-80 meetings to earn from. You take that away and allow them to only ride for one team, that's basically halving their earning potential. What happens then? Double the riders pay rates? Pass that on to the supporter? Or riders retire further watering down the product? Not good outcomes.

 

Get rid of doubling up and the crowds flood back to pay the higher pay rates? Nice dream.

 

Plus we all want more competitive British riders and the additional track time can only help that. And it's not exactly a new idea. I seem to recall in the good old days the top National League riders would ride at reserve for another team in the British League.

 

Agreed the current situation is terrible but structured correctly (i.e. fixed race night for the top division and/or different format) the positives of doubling up could be retained whilst the constant guests and R/R negatives would be removed.

 

Going back just isn't an option so a new way has to be found.

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So you want to be able to identify with and support your own team, just not financially.

 

Bottom line is Pandora's box is open. A double up rider now has circa 70-80 meetings to earn from. You take that away and allow them to only ride for one team, that's basically halving their earning potential. What happens then? Double the riders pay rates? Pass that on to the supporter? Or riders retire further watering down the product? Not good outcomes.

 

Get rid of doubling up and the crowds flood back to pay the higher pay rates? Nice dream.

 

Plus we all want more competitive British riders and the additional track time can only help that. And it's not exactly a new idea. I seem to recall in the good old days the top National League riders would ride at reserve for another team in the British League.

 

Agreed the current situation is terrible but structured correctly (i.e. fixed race night for the top division and/or different format) the positives of doubling up could be retained whilst the constant guests and R/R negatives would be removed.

 

Going back just isn't an option so a new way has to be found.

brilliant lets just carry on ignoring the team sport concept and think about the riders pockets , that's going to end one way and we are already 3/4 of the way there

brilliant lets just carry on ignoring the team sport concept and think about the riders pockets , that's going to end one way and we are already 3/4 of the way there, we not going back we are at the point where we barely have something to go back from , the days of british speedway as a professional sport are sadly all but gone ,yes its tough on the riders but we have no more money cause fans are not turning up in enough numbers

the sport has got to find itself again , takes 2 steps back to take a step forward , currently we a wondering from calamity to calamity and we don't know where we are heading or what we are but the I am alright jack attitude of some in the sport has to come to an end ,even those people can see we are in trouble , we have to find a sound footing as a sport and build from there , it may not sit well with some but the bottom is where we are and until we acknowledge that and address the basics we will never recover, you can use gimmicks and name changes all you like it will never change a thing ,get the basics right ,get the team ethic going again like it is in all other team sports and people will given time get behind their teams and as proven with a lot of sports the product on show doesn't need to be thrilling as the fans are happy as their team is winning and will happily return because they feel like it theirs

Edited by THE DEAN MACHINE
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Doubling up has been happening since the 70s albeit under different names. It's not a new concept. Guests have for a long time been a problem. White city 77 I think, Wolves 76? using season long guests. Teams using 40-50 guests a season. Teams changing riders has happened throughout.

 

There is too much doubling up now and it should be limited if it can't be got rid of but it's not exactly new.

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