Wolves 2018

[Perton Wolf]

7 hours ago, Wolfsbane said:

Adams complained about crowd levels. So what do they do? Run the Belle Vue cup 2nd leg on the same night as England v Tunisia hoping that 'it'll be on the TV in the bars' will do. They are forcing fans of Wolves & BV to make a choice. It'll end badly, always has, always will. 

Just for fairness sake King's Lynn are running also.

 

I'm not sure what he expects when they let our only GP rider walk in the off season. I had a season ticket for the past 2 seasons but not this year, I know a few who have done the same. How can they expect crowds to stay the same/be higher when prices are the same but the team is worse?

[BWitcher]

On 6/8/2018 at 6:55 PM, Perton Wolf said:

I'm not sure what he expects when they let our only GP rider walk in the off season. I had a season ticket for the past 2 seasons but not this year, I know a few who have done the same. How can they expect crowds to stay the same/be higher when prices are the same but the team is worse?

Don't be silly, you didn't do that. Numerous experts on this forum say leaving top riders out doesn't effect crowds!

Seriously though, it's a shame British speedway (league) has sunk to the levels it has. We should be enjoying a Lindgren/Woffinden era at Wolves now that would have been right up with Ermolenko/Correy/Karlsson/Max/Lindgren (perm the relevant two).

[Perton Wolf]

8 hours ago, BWitcher said:

Don't be silly, you didn't do that. Numerous experts on this forum say leaving top riders out doesn't effect crowds!

Seriously though, it's a shame British speedway (league) has sunk to the levels it has. We should be enjoying a Lindgren/Woffinden era at Wolves now that would have been right up with Ermolenko/Correy/Karlsson/Max/Lindgren (perm the relevant two).

Haha, it's basic business really, if the product gets worse then less people will buy it! 

And yes it is a shame, the decline seems steep too with no uplift in sight. I've not even been to a meeting this season.......been following the results on updates and on here of course and I do miss seeing some sort of racing live but the Premiership just seems to be a slightly better version of the Championship this season. I've enjoyed watching the Swedish Speedway on a Tuesday evening because almost every team has 4-5 really good riders as a minimum while in the UK it's like 1 or 2 maximum for each team and barely any of them are GP standard. 

I'll go to a few meetings in the coming months or so but nowhere near as many if the product on offer was the same level as say 2 seasons ago. Those last few home meeting of the season (including the playoffs) when we had a top 5 of Lindgren, PK, Woffinden, Thorssell and Masters was excellent viewing. 

[stevebrum]

Interesting comments from Chris Harris on Facebook this morning saying there is no room for him at Wolves or likely to be. He also states he was “stopped by the BSPA from signing for Somerset”.

[Uluru]

14 minutes ago, stevebrum said:

Interesting comments from Chris Harris on Facebook this morning saying there is no room for him at Wolves or likely to be. He also states he was “stopped by the BSPA from signing for Somerset”.

As I have also contributed on the Somerset page, this smacks of the Management Committee trying to decide which of their buddies should be strengthened instead of the Rebels by refusing to approve what should be a straightforward signing of an unattached rider by an upstart little club wishing to (a) replace an overseas rider with an out-of-work Brit, and (b) continue to upset the 'old pals' mafia by continuing to outwit and outscore the 'establishment elite'

[ouch]

CVS at his finest. 

[Wolfsbane]

7 minutes ago, Uluru said:

As I have also contributed on the Somerset page, this smacks of the Management Committee trying to decide which of their buddies should be strengthened instead of the Rebels by refusing to approve what should be a straightforward signing of an unattached rider by an upstart little club wishing to (a) replace an overseas rider with an out-of-work Brit, and (b) continue to upset the 'old pals' mafia by continuing to outwit and outscore the 'establishment elite'

Don't upset our Humpy on this thread as well

[STEVEHOLS54]

18 minutes ago, Uluru said:

As I have also contributed on the Somerset page, this smacks of the Management Committee trying to decide which of their buddies should be strengthened instead of the Rebels by refusing to approve what should be a straightforward signing of an unattached rider by an upstart little club wishing to (a) replace an overseas rider with an out-of-work Brit, and (b) continue to upset the 'old pals' mafia by continuing to outwit and outscore the 'establishment elite'

Could it have been that nothing could be agreed until the RH situation was finalised ??

Maybe Harris was trying to jump ship too early although I could understand his situation if he wasnt getting paid by Rye. Be interesting to see what they are/were owed and when (if at all) they were ever paid. Doubt we will  ever get such info in the short or long term. There is also the question of what kind of GSA both Harris and Nicholl's will get after all the results were cancelled out. None of us know that answer either as on their current actual RH GSA's both will find it difficult to get into any Prem side.

[hammer1969]

26 minutes ago, Uluru said:

As I have also contributed on the Somerset page, this smacks of the Management Committee trying to decide which of their buddies should be strengthened instead of the Rebels by refusing to approve what should be a straightforward signing of an unattached rider by an upstart little club wishing to (a) replace an overseas rider with an out-of-work Brit, and (b) continue to upset the 'old pals' mafia by continuing to outwit and outscore the 'establishment elite'

Perhaps Bomber should have a word with Scott Nicholls solicitors re being deprived of making a living !

[stevebrum]

23 minutes ago, Fred Flange said:

Reminds me of woofinden looking for a team place at Belle Vue, which one blithering idiot described as a rider just saying what fans want to hear, ha ha!

I still laugh at that claim, happy memories. Wolves glory year. 

[RobMcCaffery]

On 6/11/2018 at 9:55 AM, BWitcher said:

Don't be silly, you didn't do that. Numerous experts on this forum say leaving top riders out doesn't effect crowds!

Seriously though, it's a shame British speedway (league) has sunk to the levels it has. We should be enjoying a Lindgren/Woffinden era at Wolves now that would have been right up with Ermolenko/Correy/Karlsson/Max/Lindgren (perm the relevant two).

Yes, names may increase the crowds but by how much? Enough to cover their costs? Will they use their best efforts or bikes or just use Britain as paid practice?

Anyway, ask Rye House fans what they think. They probably won't be alone by the end of this wretched season. I really wish Wolves and their fellow elite good luck in their star-studded four team league. Should be fascinating to see the 'names' back - every week.....

As ever the supporters of clubs like yours live on in dream land where everything has a simple, easy solution that can be summed up as "If only everyone were as perfect as us". 

[Steve Shovlar]

Think Harris to Somerset was blocked because he was trying to get out early before Rye had folded. Not that I blame him for trying. Man has to make a living.  

[BWitcher]

13 minutes ago, RobMcCaffery said:

Yes, names may increase the crowds but by how much? Enough to cover their costs? Will they use their best efforts or bikes or just use Britain as paid practice?

Anyway, ask Rye House fans what they think. They probably won't be alone by the end of this wretched season. I really wish Wolves and their fellow elite good luck in their star-studded four team league. Should be fascinating to see the 'names' back - every week.....

As ever the supporters of clubs like yours live on in dream land where everything has a simple, easy solution that can be summed up as "If only everyone were as perfect as us". 

You may have noticed this is a thread about Wolverhampton Speedway, so the topics discussed are relevant to Wolverhampton Speedway. If you had bothered to read what I posted I said it's a shame British Speedway has sunk to the levels it has... i.e. it cannot afford Lindgren/Woffinden anymore.

For 20 years plus the league has been consistently weakened and fans have been consistently lost as a result of it every single time.

Weaken the product, leave the price the same. Fans leave.

Weaken the product, put the price up!.. Fans leave.

Oh, we lost money last year.. I know.. let's weaken the product again and stick £1 on the admission... oh no, more fans leave.

It has been a practice doomed to failure and predicted on here for well over ten years now.

We're now at a stage where the damage done to the sport at the top level is so great we're beyond being able to bring back the top names for most, if not all clubs.

A complete revamp is necessary, possibly a larger league with vastly reduced admission prices is very likely the only shot at saving league racing in the UK. Whether that will work is open to conjecture.. but something radical HAS to be done.

[stevebrum]

19 minutes ago, RobMcCaffery said:

Yes, names may increase the crowds but by how much? Enough to cover their costs? Will they use their best efforts or bikes or just use Britain as paid practice?

Anyway, ask Rye House fans what they think. They probably won't be alone by the end of this wretched season. I really wish Wolves and their fellow elite good luck in their star-studded four team league. Should be fascinating to see the 'names' back - every week.....

As ever the supporters of clubs like yours live on in dream land where everything has a simple, easy solution that can be summed up as "If only everyone were as perfect as us". 

[DC2]

24 minutes ago, BWitcher said:

You may have noticed this is a thread about Wolverhampton Speedway, so the topics discussed are relevant to Wolverhampton Speedway. If you had bothered to read what I posted I said it's a shame British Speedway has sunk to the levels it has... i.e. it cannot afford Lindgren/Woffinden anymore.

For 20 years plus the league has been consistently weakened and fans have been consistently lost as a result of it every single time.

Weaken the product, leave the price the same. Fans leave.

Weaken the product, put the price up!.. Fans leave.

Oh, we lost money last year.. I know.. let's weaken the product again and stick £1 on the admission... oh no, more fans leave.

It has been a practice doomed to failure and predicted on here for well over ten years now.

We're now at a stage where the damage done to the sport at the top level is so great we're beyond being able to bring back the top names for most, if not all clubs.

A complete revamp is necessary, possibly a larger league with vastly reduced admission prices is very likely the only shot at saving league racing in the UK. Whether that will work is open to conjecture.. but something radical HAS to be done.

 

I’ve never been that bothered about the price or the standard of riders, but I did lose interest when there was no home meeting for three weeks and the next one was against a weak team with two guests and R/R.

First you get used to not going every week, then you start picking and choosing the meetings you go to, and then even for the good matches you think “can I even be bothered with those now”. Eventually you make do with Updates and the TV coverage.

I think that has happened for Grachan too.

[DC2]

 

A shorter season with weekly home meetings would encourage me to return. May to September.

[mikebv]

28 minutes ago, DC2 said:

 

I’ve never been that bothered about the price or the standard of riders, but I did lose interest when there was no home meeting for three weeks and the next one was against a weak team with two guests and R/R.

First you get used to not going every week, then you start picking and choosing the meetings you go to, and then even for the good matches you think “can I even be bothered with those now”. Eventually you make do with Updates and the TV coverage.

I think that has happened for Grachan too.

And me...

And a good 'few' others I reckon...

[BWitcher]

1 hour ago, DC2 said:

 

I’ve never been that bothered about the price or the standard of riders, but I did lose interest when there was no home meeting for three weeks and the next one was against a weak team with two guests and R/R.

First you get used to not going every week, then you start picking and choosing the meetings you go to, and then even for the good matches you think “can I even be bothered with those now”. Eventually you make do with Updates and the TV coverage.

I think that has happened for Grachan too.

The points you make are only a catalyst of the points I have made.

The increased guests and R/R came about due to the continued weakening of the product and hence the increase of riders doubling up.

Were the teams of a high quality I doubt missing the odd week here and there would have anywhere near as much effect also. 

It's all a vicious spiral. Quite simply, you cannot hope to run a successful business if you continuously cut the quality and increase the price. Year after year after year it was done... and sadly many lackies on this forum year after year after year kept saying it was the solution. 

Edited July 6, 2018 by BWitcher

[DC2]

24 minutes ago, BWitcher said:

The points you make are only a catalyst of the points I have made.

The increased guests and R/R came about due to the continued weakening of the product and hence the increase of riders doubling up.

Were the teams of a high quality I doubt missing the odd week here and there would have anywhere near as much effect also. 

It's all a vicious spiral. Quite simply, you cannot hope to run a successful business if you continuously cut the quality and increase the price. Year after year after year it was done... and sadly many lackies on this forum year after year after year kept saying it was the solution. 

 

Not necessarily. More guests are often due to having more foreign riders with international commitments, especially GP riders, so dumbing down with UK riders (even double uppers) can be better, although I would prefer one big league of 16 or 18 teams with no double upping.

 

[BWitcher]

1 hour ago, DC2 said:

 

Not necessarily. More guests are often due to having more foreign riders with international commitments, especially GP riders, so dumbing down with UK riders (even double uppers) can be better, although I would prefer one big league of 16 or 18 teams with no double upping.

 

You're clearly living on a different planet if you think dumbing down and having MORE double uppers is better and isn't the cause of more guests.