waytogo28 Posted May 6, 2018 Report Share Posted May 6, 2018 11 hours ago, mikebv said: Instead of paying almost a Million quid to todays riders who, with the greatest of respect, have little impact to crowd levels, it surely now is the time to invest that money in a Company that could increase those crowds.. Got to be one of the ways forward, as rider's names ( whoever ) on the team sheets seems to do little to "bring them in". Standardised 250cc bikes and handicap races should also be tried in an effort to make the sport more interesting and attractive to new supporters. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted May 6, 2018 Report Share Posted May 6, 2018 17 hours ago, Phil The Ace said: Nobody as access to attendces. So it seems anyway The BSPA Chairman has previously stated that attendance figures prove nothing. Perhaps when you add up the takings they do? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted May 6, 2018 Report Share Posted May 6, 2018 27 minutes ago, waytogo28 said: The BSPA Chairman has previously stated that attendance figures prove nothing. Perhaps when you add up the takings they do? With comments like that no wonder the sport is dying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike1944 Posted May 6, 2018 Report Share Posted May 6, 2018 8 hours ago, waytogo28 said: The BSPA Chairman has previously stated that attendance figures prove nothing. Perhaps when you add up the takings they do? Well so according to him if nobody turned up for meetings that would be no problem. I know that I would rather set my sights on crowd of 2000 + than an empty stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike1944 Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 On 5/5/2018 at 10:17 PM, Aces51 said: There is obviously much wrong with the sport but the there is no significant difference between this year and last year so the only explanation for the significant drop in crowd numbers at Belle Vue must be the change in race night. Monday may work for a team like Wolverhampton, who have a long history of racing on that night but it is probably the worst night of the week for the entertainment and leisure industries. That is why many offer incentives to try to attract people in. If you want the best chance of getting a decent slice of the leisure pound you have a far better chance on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. I suspect that it was for those very reasons that the previous promotion changed from Monday, which was forced on them by their landlord and never successful, to Friday. It may be that as the season progresses crowds will improve but I have my doubts. In fact, when the TV coverage starts in a couple of weeks I think that is going to tempt some more fans to stay away especially if the weather is bad. People may blame TV coverage but that is only one meeting a week and how many times in a season is a club televised. What about all the weeks TV is not there? The biggest problems I can see is that there is a large number of riders who have other commitments, especially the foreign riders, this limits the choice of days when speedway can feasibly be run , so we see a hotch-potch of riders in a team, there is not a team any more to support, with guest riders in abundance. Last year I remember Chris Harris guested so many times he must have appeared in about ever team in the League. Then we look at value for money -- working out at £1 a race, plus programme, sometimes parking and travelling make attending a meeting making attending a meeting way beyond what they can comfortably afford. One can easily do a round trip of 40+ miles, or a few quid to travel, to attend a meeting, get there, and find at the last moment it is rained off. Not very encouraging, is it and can hardly be called good value for money and with more and more people having to watch their pennies speedway will take a hit if they do not soon do something about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daytripper Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 On 5 May 2018 at 7:35 PM, mikebv said: You make many good points... But one of the major issues the Sport has is exactly that it does all the 'Promotion' at such a very low level... All well meaning I am sure, but visiting Schools or standing in a Supermarket lobby with club memorabilia on a folding table is miles away from a 21st Century advertising plan.. Instead of all doing their own advertising 'small time' at a local level, the Sport finally needs to run a properly executed National Marketing plan to see if that will change its fortunes.. The Nineteen Prem and Championship clubs should all have a directive to put £50k into a fund to hire a Company to advertise the Sport nationally.. To deliver the money, it would mean that over the 28 matches in the Prem you would need to trim your costs by less than £2k a match so I would suggest doable.. That would release £950k to hire a marketing company... With crowds so low and so many people who 'used to go' living on the doorstep of so many tracks it surely would be a huge opportunity for some 'proper' marketing Company to make plenty of money on a commission basis.... They grow crowds and income, and get a share of the spoils... Instead of paying almost a Million quid to todays riders who, with the greatest of respect, have little impact to crowd levels, it surely now is the time to invest that money in a Company that could increase those crowds.. Its no good spending the best part of a million quid to bring new fans through the turnstiles, if the product on offer is do poor it can't even hold on to the existing fanbase. Unless and until the governance and management is put on a sound footing its a waste of time spending money to bring in fans that won't stay. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 20 minutes ago, Daytripper said: Its no good spending the best part of a million quid to bring new fans through the turnstiles, if the product on offer is do poor it can't even hold on to the existing fanbase. Unless and until the governance and management is put on a sound footing its a waste of time spending money to bring in fans that won't stay. Again, very wise words. The sport in Britain needs a thorough rebuild from the bottom upwards. Get the foundations right then focus on building the top layers. Making the sport value for money, or to leave the customer believing they have had value for money is fundamental. A credible structure with a solid, respected rule book and a focus on the customer is a crucial start. Giving the customers credible teams with minimal absences, racing to make them want to return and a regular and reliable fixture list is the next layer. Once you have a sustainable product then start shouting about it to the world. To even begin to follow that path there has to be a massive change in attitude in all corners of the sport. Somehow, despite all that has decayed so far I don't think there is the will, intelligence or integrity to tackle the job .... yet. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 On 05/05/2018 at 5:33 PM, Phil The Ace said: What do we think now we're a few month into the season? We have since found out Denmark take priority over Wednesday's meetings. So we've already had guests in 1 meetings. 3 to be precise. I can only speak for belle vue but our crowds have fell probably approx 500 ppl moving to Monday from Friday. And that's when we have had nice weather and the world champ in town. Clearly for my club who have had to change race nights it's not working. What about the others that have changed what's your crowd like????? Its affected my attendance at Belle Vue. When you wake at 4.45 for work getting home at 10.30 or so isn't the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 5 hours ago, RobMcCaffery said: To even begin to follow that path there has to be a massive change in attitude in all corners of the sport. Somehow, despite all that has decayed so far I don't think there is the will, intelligence or integrity to tackle the job .... yet. In my opinion there definitely isn't. And will not be until the sport has collapsed in on itself, black hole style, in the UK. The BSPA and a number of others really seem to believe that"there is not much wrong with it" and carry on regardless. Foolishly thinking that the next rule change or re-naming will bring a flood of new fans, sponsors and loadsa money! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC2 Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 Oops, sorry, thought this thread was about a Matt Ford betting probe? Still, they’re bound to get more than 35 at Blunsdon today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Najjer Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 Whilst there are many problems, the single biggest problem is the cost. I know many people who are interested in going and when they hear it's £17 to get in are horrified. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 7 minutes ago, Najjer said: Whilst there are many problems, the single biggest problem is the cost. I know many people who are interested in going and when they hear it's £17 to get in are horrified. Many years ago, I remember Terry Russell telling us that Speedway was a £10 sport and he was absolutely right, perhaps a man ahead of his time... the trouble is that at that time we were paying around £7 at the turnstiles. Today it should be a £10 sport 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 Just now, iainb said: Many years ago, I remember Terry Russell telling us that Speedway was a £10 sport and he was absolutely right, perhaps a man ahead of his time... the trouble is that at that time we were paying around £7 at the turnstiles. Today it should be a £10 sport Pretty sure it was the same person who also said it should be a £20 Sport when it cost about £12 at BV.. To back up his rationale he quoted how much it cost to watch a show in the West End and how much it cost to watch Premier League Football in London... Who said Britain doesn't do great comedy anymore?... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 (edited) 7 hours ago, Daytripper said: Its no good spending the best part of a million quid to bring new fans through the turnstiles, if the product on offer is do poor it can't even hold on to the existing fanbase. Unless and until the governance and management is put on a sound footing its a waste of time spending money to bring in fans that won't stay. Agree 100%.... Unfortunately I don't think the Sport can wait until Hell freezers over...! It does though need a much increased fanbase and NOW.. The incredible irony is of course, that rather than work collectively to improve the 'Brand' of British Speedway, the promoters seem to (perpetually), try and gain (individualy), every little ounce of advantage from the Mickey Mouse rules they contrive to make up.. All to win Competitions, which by their very own Operating Models, have almost zero credibility and kudos.. Somebody needs to give it direction and do it quickly.. National Promotion and Marketing. National Collective Merchandise Sales. National Collective Ticket Sales... Start selling the four lads racing. Start selling the 'Speedway Brand'. Start having credibility and integrity.. Must be a chance for the Sport over here if they do that..? Edited May 7, 2018 by mikebv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry The Goat Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 30 minutes ago, Najjer said: Whilst there are many problems, the single biggest problem is the cost. I know many people who are interested in going and when they hear it's £17 to get in are horrified. Agree. Although it's worth pointing out, talking of the Premiership, that only Somerset, Swindon and Leicester charge £17. The other five are all £18! (the racing must be better at those stadiums :-) ) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC2 Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 4 minutes ago, Harry The Goat said: Agree. Although it's worth pointing out, talking of the Premiership, that only Somerset, Swindon and Leicester charge £17. The other five are all £18! (the racing must be better at those stadiums :-) ) It’s definitely better at Poole when Swindon are there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammer1969 Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 43 minutes ago, Harry The Goat said: Agree. Although it's worth pointing out, talking of the Premiership, that only Somerset, Swindon and Leicester charge £17. The other five are all £18! (the racing must be better at those stadiums :-) ) Well it must be the racing at Rye House thats worth £18 because it certainly isnt the facilities provided for the fans that are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytsejam Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 I think people would be happy to spend £17 - £18 per meeting IF they got value for their hard earned cash. I'm sorry but £18 for FIFTEEN minutes of racing is not going to be called value for money 98% of the time. Hell, ratio that up to a Premiership football match and it even makes those ridiculously overpriced tickets seem value in comparison (£50 for 90 mins of action). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 Perhaps they should try a different and even better marketing ploy ( that sometime works elsewhere ). Seated tickets to be £50 and standing £25. It could then be sold as something exclusive and up market. Well they have tried everything else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawk127 Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 5 hours ago, waytogo28 said: Perhaps they should try a different and even better marketing ploy ( that sometime works elsewhere ). Seated tickets to be £50 and standing £25. It could then be sold as something exclusive and up market. Well they have tried everything else! Unfortunately nothing upmarket as far as speedway is concerned otherwise each GP would be sold out. It does not work at the highest level and league speedway is a long way short. It is simply not a spectacle that some would have you believe and is way down the list on the must spend when it comes to disposal income. It has too many rules for a simple sport and the rider skills do not exist with bikes too powerful for the tracks. Standardise the bikes, improve rider skills, forget the other speedway nations and charge £10 per adult, £1.00 for under 16’s with weekly meetings on race nights that will attract the best crowds (probably Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and get back to basics so as to attract new talent then you might have some hope. As it stands clubs who cannot afford to run two home and away meetings because they think they might survive with fewer meetings are delusional and running on a night that does not bring in the punters is financial suicide. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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