mikebv Posted May 6, 2018 Report Share Posted May 6, 2018 42 minutes ago, DWP said: I can see why some try to make a comparison between today’s racing with earlier years. I remember as a kid hanging off the wooden fence at Lynn watching Betts, Mauger, Olsen etc. Was the racing better probably not, but as a 10 year old it was exciting. But would it/does it excite a 10 year old today, I don’t think so. Back then yes it was Saturday night racing, in basically a very run down stadium. But back then what else was there to do for families on a Saturday night. TV was 3 channels, pubs were drinking places not your gastro/family pub of today. Each town probably had a run down cinema with very uncomfortable seats. Now there are many more forms of entertainment which give the customer the experience/enjoyment they are looking for at a reasonable price. People don’t have to go out as TV has 200 channels (in my opinion mainly crap) there is Netflix etc. Kids can play worldwide football, can shoot people / steal cars etc. online. Things have just changed ! Perhaps speedway in the UK has had its day. Generally stadiums are appalling run down affairs, other than some exceptions no investment has been made to them. Atmosphere is dire, the supporters who go are on average are 50+ . People look at Poland and wonder why if they can attract a younger fan base why can’t we. I go to Poland every fortnight - it is so different and without speaking the language ( I can swear and buy a beer in Polish) I see the promotional effort that is put in. It’s the little things, like the centre grass cut with sponsors logos all over it etc. The stadium generally are modern and those which aren’t are being improved with new investment. After the meeting I’ve spent an hour with Nicklas signing autographs, handing out 200/300 postcards each meeting I had printed for him. Fans even ask me to sign the card as the manager (now at my age that’s embarrassing) But these faces we are seeing are kids/youngsters 6-18. These kids have exactly the same things UK kids have. Polish cities generally are as modern as any European city and though prices lower, are relevant to their earnings. But the big difference is the promotion of speedway. You can watch live and highlighted speedway on TV 5 days a week. As an example their rider presentation nights are not done in an old shack, or social club they are done in shopping malls, rock music, lights, excitement, expectation. Personally I think speedway in UK can never recover back to the hay day but without major promotion and PROFESSIONALISM it will never have a chance. Spot on.. One of the biggest issues the Sport has is that it actually thinks 'small time'... Therefore is, and will remain, 'small time'... All the tracks will individually try and drum up fans by various, (well meaning but ultimately amateurish) low level, local marketing campaigns... Surely it's now time for them to work as a collective to fund a proper professional National Marketing Campaign and then do their own local work on the back of that..? The 'Brand of British Speedway' needs to grow in the consciousness of the wider sporting public and each club will then reap the benefits.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted May 6, 2018 Report Share Posted May 6, 2018 51 minutes ago, DWP said: I can see why some try to make a comparison between today’s racing with earlier years. I remember as a kid hanging off the wooden fence at Lynn watching Betts, Mauger, Olsen etc. Was the racing better probably not, but as a 10 year old it was exciting. But would it/does it excite a 10 year old today, I don’t think so. Back then yes it was Saturday night racing, in basically a very run down stadium. But back then what else was there to do for families on a Saturday night. TV was 3 channels, pubs were drinking places not your gastro/family pub of today. Each town probably had a run down cinema with very uncomfortable seats. Now there are many more forms of entertainment which give the customer the experience/enjoyment they are looking for at a reasonable price. People don’t have to go out as TV has 200 channels (in my opinion mainly crap) there is Netflix etc. Kids can play worldwide football, can shoot people / steal cars etc. online. Things have just changed ! Perhaps speedway in the UK has had its day. Generally stadiums are appalling run down affairs, other than some exceptions no investment has been made to them. Atmosphere is dire, the supporters who go are on average are 50+ . People look at Poland and wonder why if they can attract a younger fan base why can’t we. I go to Poland every fortnight - it is so different and without speaking the language ( I can swear and buy a beer in Polish) I see the promotional effort that is put in. It’s the little things, like the centre grass cut with sponsors logos all over it etc. The stadium generally are modern and those which aren’t are being improved with new investment. After the meeting I’ve spent an hour with Nicklas signing autographs, handing out 200/300 postcards each meeting I had printed for him. Fans even ask me to sign the card as the manager (now at my age that’s embarrassing) But these faces we are seeing are kids/youngsters 6-18. These kids have exactly the same things UK kids have. Polish cities generally are as modern as any European city and though prices lower, are relevant to their earnings. But the big difference is the promotion of speedway. You can watch live and highlighted speedway on TV 5 days a week. As an example their rider presentation nights are not done in an old shack, or social club they are done in shopping malls, rock music, lights, excitement, expectation. Personally I think speedway in UK can never recover back to the hay day but without major promotion and PROFESSIONALISM it will never have a chance. Spot on.. One of the biggest issues the Sport has is that it actually thinks 'small time'... Therefore is, and will remain, 'small time'... All the tracks will individually try and drum up fans by various, (well meaning but ultimately amateurish) low level, local marketing campaigns... Surely it's now time for them to work as a collective to fund a proper professional National Marketing Campaign and then do their own local work on the back of that..? The 'Brand of British Speedway' needs to grow in the consciousness of the wider sporting public and each club will then reap the benefits.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted May 6, 2018 Report Share Posted May 6, 2018 46 minutes ago, DWP said: I can see why some try to make a comparison between today’s racing with earlier years. I remember as a kid hanging off the wooden fence at Lynn watching Betts, Mauger, Olsen etc. Was the racing better probably not, but as a 10 year old it was exciting. But would it/does it excite a 10 year old today, I don’t think so. Back then yes it was Saturday night racing, in basically a very run down stadium. But back then what else was there to do for families on a Saturday night. TV was 3 channels, pubs were drinking places not your gastro/family pub of today. Each town probably had a run down cinema with very uncomfortable seats. Now there are many more forms of entertainment which give the customer the experience/enjoyment they are looking for at a reasonable price. People don’t have to go out as TV has 200 channels (in my opinion mainly crap) there is Netflix etc. Kids can play worldwide football, can shoot people / steal cars etc. online. Things have just changed ! Perhaps speedway in the UK has had its day. Generally stadiums are appalling run down affairs, other than some exceptions no investment has been made to them. Atmosphere is dire, the supporters who go are on average are 50+ . People look at Poland and wonder why if they can attract a younger fan base why can’t we. I go to Poland every fortnight - it is so different and without speaking the language ( I can swear and buy a beer in Polish) I see the promotional effort that is put in. It’s the little things, like the centre grass cut with sponsors logos all over it etc. The stadium generally are modern and those which aren’t are being improved with new investment. After the meeting I’ve spent an hour with Nicklas signing autographs, handing out 200/300 postcards each meeting I had printed for him. Fans even ask me to sign the card as the manager (now at my age that’s embarrassing) But these faces we are seeing are kids/youngsters 6-18. These kids have exactly the same things UK kids have. Polish cities generally are as modern as any European city and though prices lower, are relevant to their earnings. But the big difference is the promotion of speedway. You can watch live and highlighted speedway on TV 5 days a week. As an example their rider presentation nights are not done in an old shack, or social club they are done in shopping malls, rock music, lights, excitement, expectation. Personally I think speedway in UK can never recover back to the hay day but without major promotion and PROFESSIONALISM it will never have a chance. Polish people obviously have a different opinion of speedway riders, more like the UK years ago where riders were revered, admired, put on a pedestal, but why? Not saying fans don’t admire riders today but they certainly don’t treat them as Polish people do. Polish people are generally more passionate about their cities/towns, I put that down to their history and I guess it follows that they are passionate about their sports clubs too? I’m convinced that if our stadiums were in the centre of our cities like Polish stadiums are so that locals could walk to their club they would be more popular, all our city centre clubs have disappeared, built on ........ I’ve been to Polish speedway and there was nothing extra regards promotion on the day, no extras, apart from providing flags I guess, but the fans were totally up for a great Sunday afternoon, it may be because they are young and enthusiastic, it is, definitely is, as we get older our outlook changes, we generally become grumpy, miserable, cynical, old farts who have no energy, who’ve been there, done it all before lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 On 5/6/2018 at 9:23 AM, Trees said: You can watch live and highlighted speedway on TV 5 days a week That knocks the theory that, seeing speedway live on TV "too often" has been the cause of the emptying terraces here, completely on the head then. I don't think Poland is SO very different a culture to the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 On 5/5/2018 at 5:57 PM, Jonny the spud said: “Every race was competitive and closely fought “ every race ?? Racing for position ( and points ) in a race were much closer and in the vast majority of races. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 (edited) I don't think racing is much different now to 50 years ago. Just lower crowds, less atmosphere, for whatever reason, cost, non Saturday's, no local riders etc., I still enjoy my nights at The Abbey, and a few new fans family and friends are attending after not having been for years Edited May 9, 2018 by auntie doris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalan Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 You may have a point about local riders. Could always associate with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC2 Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 1 hour ago, sugarray said: You may have a point about local riders. Could always associate with them Yes, it’s a good point. And so is the same riders being retained each year. All this chopping and changing of riders and wheeling and dealing for the sake of a team building average alienates the fans. There’s got to be a better way to encourage rider and fan loyalty and a local brand. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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