How Many Of Us Are Losing Interest.?

[Daniel Smith]

1 hour ago, marko said:

Find it a bit weird how many people who frequent these forums and post more than average, still claim to no longer have any interest in speedway, why are they here? there must be an element they care about otherwise why waste your precious free time? unless they have an agenda of "i don't have speedway anymore so i hope it dies, so no one has it"

I amongst many others became lost to live speedway when they closed Arena Essex down (its not been bulldozed yet, so i still live in hope) and i have not been to a meeting since, but of course i watch on tv, and i still love the sport, its been part of my life for over 30 years since i was 15, its in the blood now, i am not blind to all the problems that exist and want to make us pull our hair out when the promoters make in our own eyes the wrong decisions but i still enjoy the racing for what it is, four riders, four laps, throwing a bike around that is basically a rocket on two wheels and making it look stupidly easy, in short, everything that appealed to me when i first started going, when i didn't know the riders, or the complicated rules or any of the other red tape that surrounds the sport.

Why's it weird, many of us are still big fans hence why we still appear on this forum but only watch "big time" Speedway, Exstraliga, Elitserien, SGP, SEC, World Cups etc.

We've just lost interest in the dross served in the UK. 

Only watch (quite often briefly as the meetings are so bad) UK Speedway on BT. 

 

[iris123]

19 minutes ago, Daniel Smith said:

Why's it weird, many of us are still big fans hence why we still appear on this forum but only watch "big time" Speedway, Exstraliga, Elitserien, SGP, SEC, World Cups etc.

We've just lost interest in the dross served in the UK. 

 

 

But then you don't fit in the weird category who claim to  " no longer have any interest in speedway ", do you ? You just admitted that.......

[E I Addio]

1 hour ago, marko said:

Find it a bit weird how many people who frequent these forums and post more than average, still claim to no longer have any interest in speedway, why are they here? there must be an element they care about otherwise why waste your precious free time? unless they have an agenda of "i don't have speedway anymore so i hope it dies, so no one has it"

I amongst many others became lost to live speedway when they closed Arena Essex down (its not been bulldozed yet, so i still live in hope) and i have not been to a meeting since, but of course i watch on tv, and i still love the sport, its been part of my life for over 30 years since i was 15, its in the blood now, i am not blind to all the problems that exist and want to make us pull our hair out when the promoters make in our own eyes the wrong decisions but i still enjoy the racing for what it is, four riders, four laps, throwing a bike around that is basically a rocket on two wheels and making it look stupidly easy, in short, everything that appealed to me when i first started going, when i didn't know the riders, or the complicated rules or any of the other red tape that surrounds the sport.

Pretty much my feelings. Despite what the critics say, the sport itself - by which I mean the actual racing- at its best is fantastic at its worst is utterly boring but the key ingredient is having a team to support. You come back after the boring meetings because it’s your team and it’s in your blood and you support them whatever. It’s never been any different, and by and large the good meetings outnumber the bad .

However , I feel I’ve had enough of the corruption and rule bending. Like you Marks, I havent  been to a meeting since Lakeside finished. I thought I would but don’t feel motivated. It’s not so much that Lakeside closed, its the bitterness I still feel about the way the MC and in particular Rob Godfrey went about it, first of all accepting Lakesides proposed fixtures into the fixture list then, halfway through the season pulling Lakesides and Workingtons fixtures out of the list, costing their respective promotions thousands of pounds, all because Godfrey suddenly realised they were ahead of him on league points when his teams No1 rider was injured. All of them, but Godfrey especially , are contemptible and for me the happy face of speedway will always wear a sinister and corrupt mask. They are simply to thick to realise that those fans that go won’t be back. At least I saw the sport in its best years.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, marko said:

Find it a bit weird how many people who frequent these forums and post more than average, still claim to no longer have any interest in speedway, why are they here? there must be an element they care about otherwise why waste your precious free time? unless they have an agenda of "i don't have speedway anymore so i hope it dies, so no one has it"

Interesting comment and needs thought. So far as I am concerned it's probably near the mark!

[chunky]

I've just lost interest in people who keep claiming they are losing interest...

[marko]

2 hours ago, Daniel Smith said:

Why's it weird, many of us are still big fans hence why we still appear on this forum but only watch "big time" Speedway, Exstraliga, Elitserien, SGP, SEC, World Cups etc.

We've just lost interest in the dross served in the UK. 

Only watch (quite often briefly as the meetings are so bad) UK Speedway on BT. 

 

But the thing is Daniel your not one of those people, as you say you still watch speedway on TV, doesn't matter if its not the UK, its still speedway.

[HenryW]

7 hours ago, E I Addio said:

Pretty much my feelings. Despite what the critics say, the sport itself - by which I mean the actual racing- at its best is fantastic at its worst is utterly boring but the key ingredient is having a team to support.

I completely agree with you in the first part of that statement.

I watch and enjoy many sports, but I can honestly say that none of them can get close to a great speedway meeting. When the sport is at its best there is nothing that can compare for me, and even some rubbish meetings can still beat what is offered by other sports.

However, for me it isn't all about a team. I still have a "local" team, and I love seeing them have success, but what keeps me going to see meetings is the joy of watching riders take incredible risks and controlling those beasts of bikes around a dirt oval...and that anticipation that this next race MIGHT be a classic. It doesn't matter if it's my local team, a random league meeting elsewhere in the UK or in another Country, or if it's a GP, SWC SoN, random Individual meeting, even a random 80cc meeting...It's all good for me. I love watching the sport...I just wish it was run and promoted a bit better.

I'm probably very much in a minority with the way I view the sport, though...

[steve roberts]

7 hours ago, HenryW said:

I completely agree with you in the first part of that statement.

I watch and enjoy many sports, but I can honestly say that none of them can get close to a great speedway meeting. When the sport is at its best there is nothing that can compare for me, and even some rubbish meetings can still beat what is offered by other sports.

However, for me it isn't all about a team. I still have a "local" team, and I love seeing them have success, but what keeps me going to see meetings is the joy of watching riders take incredible risks and controlling those beasts of bikes around a dirt oval...and that anticipation that this next race MIGHT be a classic. It doesn't matter if it's my local team, a random league meeting elsewhere in the UK or in another Country, or if it's a GP, SWC SoN, random Individual meeting, even a random 80cc meeting...It's all good for me. I love watching the sport...I just wish it was run and promoted a bit better.

I'm probably very much in a minority with the way I view the sport, though...

Couldn't agree more. I have nothing but happy memories of following the sport over a thirty plus year period. Met some great people on the terraces which also added to the occasion.

[E I Addio]

10 hours ago, HenryW said:

I completely agree with you in the first part of that statement.

I watch and enjoy many sports, but I can honestly say that none of them can get close to a great speedway meeting. When the sport is at its best there is nothing that can compare for me, and even some rubbish meetings can still beat what is offered by other sports.

However, for me it isn't all about a team. I still have a "local" team, and I love seeing them have success, but what keeps me going to see meetings is the joy of watching riders take incredible risks and controlling those beasts of bikes around a dirt oval...and that anticipation that this next race MIGHT be a classic. It doesn't matter if it's my local team, a random league meeting elsewhere in the UK or in another Country, or if it's a GP, SWC SoN, random Individual meeting, even a random 80cc meeting...It's all good for me. I love watching the sport...I just wish it was run and promoted a bit better.

I'm probably very much in a minority with the way I view the sport, though...

 

2 hours ago, steve roberts said:

Couldn't agree more. I haven  nothing but happy memories of following the sport over a thirty plus year period. Met some great people on the terraces which also added to the occasion.

I don’t disagree with either of those posts, and I have always been able to go to a meeting as a neutral and thoroughly enjoy it, but there is no denying that the tribal element of supporting your own team and then favourite riders within the team adds extra sparkle, to the meeting. Sooner or later I will probably find another meeting to go to but it is the team element, the team support that keeps the crowds coming back on the regular basis that the sport needs to survive, rather than casual attenders.

And yes I agree the people you meet are a big part of it. It’s great when you turn up at a meeting, find yourself chatting to the bloke next to as if you’ve known him for years, but there seems to be less and less of that as crowds get thinner, but also because lethargy is like a disease and it spreads. I am not one of those that want to go back to the old days but the sport has lost some of its magic for me, not the racing, as I said but when it’s run in a way that makes feel the administrators couldn’t care less if fans turn up or not, it somehow takes the incentive away

Edited September 19, 2020 by E I Addio

[Daniel Smith]

On 9/19/2020 at 1:25 AM, HenryW said:

I completely agree with you in the first part of that statement.

I watch and enjoy many sports, but I can honestly say that none of them can get close to a great speedway meeting. When the sport is at its best there is nothing that can compare for me, and even some rubbish meetings can still beat what is offered by other sports.

However, for me it isn't all about a team. I still have a "local" team, and I love seeing them have success, but what keeps me going to see meetings is the joy of watching riders take incredible risks and controlling those beasts of bikes around a dirt oval...and that anticipation that this next race MIGHT be a classic. It doesn't matter if it's my local team, a random league meeting elsewhere in the UK or in another Country, or if it's a GP, SWC SoN, random Individual meeting, even a random 80cc meeting...It's all good for me. I love watching the sport...I just wish it was run and promoted a bit better.

I'm probably very much in a minority with the way I view the sport, though...

It's incredible when you think that possibly the 2 most boring sports in the public eye are the ones that give you the biggest buzz throughout the whole game / meeting. 

England's T20 & Speedway offer so much. 

Unfortunately for speedway, especially up & down the UK finding those thrilling race meetings are very few & far between. Would be lucky if it's 1 in 5 meetings of any significant quality I'd say.

How that could be improved on though really is the impossible question except for turning every track into Belle Vue, which also is impossible. 

[Sidney the robin]

On 9/19/2020 at 11:27 AM, E I Addio said:

 

I don’t disagree with either of those posts, and I have always been able to go to a meeting as a neutral and thoroughly enjoy it, but there is no denying that the tribal element of supporting your own team and then favourite riders within the team adds extra sparkle, to the meeting. Sooner or later I will probably find another meeting to go to but it is the team element, the team support that keeps the crowds coming back on the regular basis that the sport needs to survive, rather than casual attenders.

And yes I agree the people you meet are a big part of it. It’s great when you turn up at a meeting, find yourself chatting to the bloke next to as if you’ve known him for years, but there seems to be less and less of that as crowds get thinner, but also because lethargy is like a disease and it spreads. I am not one of those that want to go back to the old days but the sport has lost some of its magic for me, not the racing, as I said but when it’s run in a way that makes feel the administrators couldn’t care less if fans turn up or not, it somehow takes the incentive away

  Addio even in the days of the Robins having  bang average sides the team aspect of it aways fascinated me i was not a lover of individual meetings.You often then got to know some of the  riders and really got an affinity with them, the result was often irrelevant to me and I would go and support  my team win or lose and revel in seeing the opposing teams riders.Have not seen a live meeting this season and it hurts me to say it but i have not missed it which surprises me.If next season is up and running which is ( doubtful) will go to the home meetings again but as you said the old magic has dwindled a bit now still hope speedway can prosper again in the UK.

[E I Addio]

1 hour ago, Sidney the robin said:

  Addio even in the days of the Robins having  bang average sides the team aspect of it aways fascinated me i was not a lover of individual meetings.You often then got to know some of the  riders and really got an affinity with them, the result was often irrelevant to me and I would go and support  my team win or lose and revel in seeing the opposing teams riders.Have not seen a live meeting this season and it hurts me to say it but i have not missed it which surprises me.If next season is up and running which is ( doubtful) will go to the home meetings again but as you said the old magic has dwindled a bit now still hope speedway can prosper again in the UK.

I used to quite like individual meetings Sid, but in the days before it was regularly televised. In those days you might only get to see the top riders once or twice a year  so it was something special to see them. Now that they are on TV every few weeks it’s not quite the same. I used to like the qualifying rounds for the old one day world final so you could support your home riders to see how far they got.

[Sidney the robin]

23 minutes ago, E I Addio said:

I used to quite like individual meetings Sid, but in the days before it was regularly televised. In those days you might only get to see the top riders once or twice a year  so it was something special to see them. Now that they are on TV every few weeks it’s not quite the same. I used to like the qualifying rounds for the old one day world final so you could support your home riders to see how far they got.

Totally right about the Qualifying rounds Addio there were lots of them and most tracks had one prestige individual meeting per season.The point you made of only seeing certain riders ride once or twice a year is so true made it more exciting.Thinking back there were a few riders i never really got the chance to see ride that much for whatever reason.?? Pander, Nordin,Plech,Younghusband, Airey, Monk, were a few who come to mind.

[cityrebel]

Lost interest now I'd say. Purchased tickets for Leicester and Ippo this month, both events bit the dust. I'm a creature of habit, i need regular local meetings to keep me going. Chasing odd meetings hundreds of miles away, don't do it for me.

[Sidney the robin]

7 hours ago, cityrebel said:

Lost interest now I'd say. Purchased tickets for Leicester and Ippo this month, both events bit the dust. I'm a creature of habit, i need regular local meetings to keep me going. Chasing odd meetings hundreds of miles away, don't do it for me.

City i do you think there will be  alot of regular diehard supporters like yourself  being lost to the sport.I have got used to not going now and the TV speedway does not really appeal to me hopefully the enthusiasm will comeback.

[cityrebel]

48 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

City i do you think there will be  alot of regular diehard supporters like yourself  being lost to the sport.I have got used to not going now and the TV speedway does not really appeal to me hopefully the enthusiasm will comeback.

Not interested in televised sport Sid. I've gone back to my roots by doing non league football. Last night was my 9th ground since the new season started. How long i can keep going is another matter.

[steve roberts]

18 minutes ago, cityrebel said:

Not interested in televised sport Sid. I've gone back to my roots by doing non league football. Last night was my 9th ground since the new season started. How long i can keep going is another matter.

I remember when SKY was covering League matches and a friend of mine would prefer to stay at home rather than watch the televised meeting from Cowley (just down the road from where he lived) whereas I would always go to the meeting much preferring the live atmosphere generated and meeting colleagues on the terraces having a good natter.

[IainB]

50 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

I remember when SKY was covering League matches and a friend of mine would prefer to stay at home rather than watch the televised meeting from Cowley (just down the road from where he lived) whereas I would always go to the meeting much preferring the live atmosphere generated and meeting colleagues on the terraces having a good natter.

For me you just can't beat being there live, there's absolutely no comparison. It'll be interesting to see how the new streaming takes off for the BSPL, at the moment they seem to think that £13 is a fair price, I suppose market forces will decide what the price should be. For me that's far too much and only around a £5 saving on actually being there and having the "live" experience. I know there's other costs associated with attending a meeting but for me I'd often make a day of attending meetings further away from home and pull in some other local attraction. As a  one off I will be re-investing my £20 to watch this weekend's British Final as I've paid it out already and want to help them covering their costs as they've been done up like a kipper but in the future I think £5 - £7.50 would be my limit for a streamed match, compare this to Eurosport, BT Sport or Premier Sports and it's poor value, and before anybody comes back to me explaining the costs involved, I know this and all I'm really interested in is the cost to myself.

[chunky]

5 hours ago, steve roberts said:

I remember when SKY was covering League matches and a friend of mine would prefer to stay at home rather than watch the televised meeting from Cowley (just down the road from where he lived) whereas I would always go to the meeting much preferring the live atmosphere generated and meeting colleagues on the terraces having a good natter.

Television coverage was never meant to "replace" live sport; it provided the opportunity for people to watch who couldn't be there in person - like my situation now. Unfortunately, there were some who did look upon it as a replacement, including those who stayed home rather than "supporting" their team.

I can see it in certain situations, such as a long journey in inclement weather, but there is no way I would ever give up a home meeting to watch it on the box, or special events like the biggies at White City or the NL Fours/Grand Slam weekend at Peterborough.

[Bagpuss]

I’m afraid I’ve been guilty in the past of watching on TV rather than going to Lynn, just felt that the best part of an hour’s round trip along with the best part of twenty quid to get in plus petrol and other bits and pieces tipped the balance towards watching from home.