Cardiff 2019 Saturday September 21st

[Tactical Joker]

With regard to expensive accommodation, a big hats off to the organisers for the 17.00 (ish) start which allows train travellers to get back as far as London and Manchester (and Norwich, although didnt see Jason Doyle on the train!).

Yes of course Cardiff must continue and £50 for any event of that duration for the pinnacle of the sport is the going rate. 

[IainB]

5 minutes ago, SPD444 said:

My first and last time. If you want pre event entertainment then go to one of the London NFL games, they show you how it should be done,  nothing in the stadium before other than dire light show, riders introduced in total darkness, never mind it’s all about the racing......err, what racing? Couple of overtakes and that was it. Forgot about playing the bongos, wasn’t that fun. And the joy of sitting listening to those fog horns, thank god we do not have them at Wembley. Total cost for two of us, train, tickets, hotel, food, couple of beers...£600 ish, 23 minutes racing, value for money. NO. Wish I had given money to my local club.

Total cost for me:

Ticket: £19

Fuel: £30

Sandwich: £0.89

Maccies: £6.49

Why the hell are you spending £600?!?

You can't really complain that it was poor because you decided to spend £600 on a £50 day out

Edited September 22, 2019 by iainb

[SPD444]

Just now, iainb said:

Total cost for me:

Ticket: £19

Fuel: £30

Sandwich: £0.89

Maccies: £6.49

Why the hell are you spending £600?!?

B&B 210...tickets 160...train £150... eating 100...3 days 2 nights. 23 minutes of non racing.

[Yearbyred]

On the train home now with my 12 year old son from our first ever Speedway GP and whilst the racing wasn’t the best it was a fantastic weekend and the Cardiff experience itself was wonderful.

Bought my top tier tickets a year ago - less than £50 for two of us, great seats, stadium brilliant, atmosphere fantastic. Didn’t witness the bad behaviour others have mentioned. My 12 year old said it was the best night ever.

Enjoyed the fanzone - can’t get as close to the stars in other sports and got loads of freebies, pics, autographs etc.

Will be back next year definitely.

[IainB]

4 minutes ago, SPD444 said:

B&B 210...tickets 160...train £150... eating 100...3 days 2 nights. 23 minutes of non racing.

Where do you live?

[Tracy Bird]

21 minutes ago, rob tatum said:

I honestly cannot believe people on this moaning about paying £50 for a ticket to to attend a gp at this incredible stadium 

I ask you have you ever attended a premier league match ,concert etc etc if yes then you will know £50 is par for attending an event of this magnitude 

Also book in advance you can get tickets for £20 which lets face it is cheap ,i pay that to attend bristol rovers and somerset rebels and although i love attending there is no comparison in stadium and atmosphere 

Ok this one wasnt a classic gp but your not going to get a wroclaw or malilla every time 

My wife and i had a wonderful day and have done for the 19 yrs we have attended for me the bomber gp will take some beating lost my voice for 2 wks after that 

Look forward to many more years 

 

Good man a gas head and Somerset man, the fact is I paid the same for Cardiff what I did for somerset the night before, Somerset was cracker but your sat or standing on a grass bank with poor lighting and not very good catering and toilet outlets, Cardiff superb venue great view ( we were right above the woffinden/ Freddie incident) but poor racing and badly mannered and pissed up poles. Mind you we've paid more for some very bad rovers games where you know that the opposing keeper does,nt have a shot to save!!

[ProudtobeaBrummie]

89p sandwich hahahahahaha . 

[ProudtobeaBrummie]

21 minutes ago, iainb said:

Total cost for me:

Ticket: £19

Fuel: £30

Sandwich: £0.89

Maccies: £6.49

Why the hell are you spending £600?!?

You can't really complain that it was poor because you decided to spend £600 on a £50 day out

Are you the Leicester fan i seen at Perry Barr put a fiver into the Charity bucket and ask for £4 change ? to walk the track at perry barr this season. 100% true story by the way.

Edited September 22, 2019 by ProudtobeaBrummie

[DukesGreg]

Some very interesting points on here.

 

I appreciate (as the guy said earlier) that age isn't relevant when it comes to speedway and an opinion, but having followed the sport for 45 years then I do believe that I can give a decent opinion of the merits of Cardiff, even though it does have it's down points. 

Speedway in the UK is pretty much on its knees. Many of us can remember the halcyon days of the 70's and 80's in the UK... when the British League was the global 'jewel in the crown' of speedway... the place to ride to be competitive... and a time which we probably all took for granted and never expected things to change. 

Back then... everyone in speedway pretty much EXPECTED that it would be a 'given' that we had a great venue here to house the 'World Final.' We took that as a given right. And there was also an expectancy that the British speedway public will fill the place easily. We had the old Empire Stadium at Wembley. We then had Odsal... then... we didn't.

The 'masses' went to watch speedway weekly. My father used to go to watch Odsal in the late 1940's... he had some old programmes from meetings... in the 'pre tv' era. Weekly there was 30,000 people watching meetings back then! The sport was huge. 

Fast forward to the state of affairs with our beloved sport today... and it really IS on its knees. I am struggling to work out how clubs actually stay afloat. And how small amount of clubs there is. It is bare bones speedway. I have followed Halifax, Bradford.... both  now closed. If you have track to support now... it's isn't a 'right' or a 'given,' then it is TRULY a gift from the Gods! 

Sheffield is where is go to watch now... almost 40 miles each way from my house! Bradford used to be 8 miles away... and my all time beloved club, Halifax... 16 miles! Now... 35 plus!!! 

THIS is how bad things are. 

Now if you had shown me today's state of affairs in the 80's, with a crystal ball. Or fetched me forward in a time machine... and showed me the absolute state of affairs in the domestic leagues.... THEN... this weekend... had taken me to Cardiff, and showed me that we actually have a stadium in the UK.. where FORTY thousand people will travel to, to watch not a 'one off final,'  but Grand Prix meeting (not as special IMHO), at a venue with a roof on it so that you KNOW it's not gonna be rained off... then I wouldn't actually believe that the whole Cardiff experience was a "thing." I would marvel about it!  I wouldn't actually be able to get my head around that this STILL existed. Cardiff still being with us... in a country where speedway is becoming almost defunct... is pretty much the biggest oasis imaginable... and in the world's largest desert.

I know that it has it's faults. Processional racing (not hardly a rarity in speedway... if we are being honest)... but yeah... yesterday's meeting was pretty much a gate fest. Hotel prices aren't cheap in the city (that is Capitalism rearing it's head.... why sell a room for £50 when you can sell it for 5 x that amount). Geography also for some isn't so great.... agreed. But for sure... if you look at the actual state of speedway right now here.. it is on it's knees. 

 

So the speedway GP at Cardiff... whatever it's faults... IS a miracle and a Godsend. We need to get our nostalgic heads out of our boots and appreciate it is as a thing / concept.

I agree that walk up ticket prices on the day of £50 is a disgrace. Why price late comers out when they could sell them at £20 and recoup money and get more people in the stadium? False and stupid econony! 

But in general... you can make the Cardiff experience reasonably inexpensive if you are up for it, with a little effort.

I treated my sister to her tickets this year. 2 tickets were say £42 plus booking fees. Which were reasonable. A pound here or there. It can cost a couple of hundred quid to see some bands at an Arena these days. 

So £42 for tickets, I booked parking via a website at an Ibis only 15 mins walk from the stadium. That was only £8. So £50.  Programme.... £10. We share it. £60. So £60 for the basics for two adults for the actual meeting / parking / programme.

The rest are expenses. We drive from Leeds. My motor guzzles a little... so used £76 worth of diesel for the round trip of 500 miles. Yes... that is a long drive to do on the day... but the buzz of having a day out pretty much carries me along. We set off early and stop off on the way (using the Starbucks near Ross on Wye.. which was drive through only this year).

So fuel (rather than hotel), tickets, parking, for two people: £136 or £68 each. How much would it cost to go to a gig or see a football match? All of this to watch a largely attended event of a sport we love in the middle of a struggling era in our sport.

 

I personally think that we are LUCKY to have Cardiff. VERY lucky. Yeah... the racing may have been shocking this year. And I appreciate that people would rather see a track like the NSS at Belle Vue house such an event. I get it... I truly do. But it just isn't happening. Even with bolt on stands... once we remove the whole Cardiff experience... we could lose it forever. 

And tragically... life isn't about mixing and matching. We can't have a track like the NSS in a place like Cardiff. It's indoor on a pitch. And that's not criticism to those sentiments above.. I long for better racing.. desperately! I truly do. But life is all about 'what if's,' and sadly, that is all they are. 

 

Even if we could make the NSS at 20k seater stadium... how would that help? People go to Cardiff annually... families. We are trying to promote the sport. Kids go there. Imagine the disappointment for kids if we take a 40k event and slash it by two into a 20 / 15k event (my figures are just examples and not real). People would be let down and miss out hugely. And again... all of this planning for a meeting at a city which is hardly famed for it's sunshine? Speedway is pretty much fortunate to have the NSS. But it was never gonna be a big stadium. Tracks get no support. So yeah... it is a great racing track... but really... just the fact that the NSS even exists is pretty much a miracle! We are NOW a minority sport. Sadly. Rose tinted spectacles off time.

It would be absolute domestic speedway suicide to dump off Cardiff and move it to absolutely ANYwhere. It really would. 

 

I would love the thought of a 'second GP' here some place... a "European GP." Or whatever, at another venue. I would be up for that concept. 100 percent.

 

But the British GP at Cardiff really is something that we are ridiculously LUCKY to have. The sport here is critical / not stable.. and is  on 'life support' right now.

 

And yeah...  bongo cams and presenters may be a bit tacky / trash (I am not having a dig at any poster here above... I totally agree :D) but for all of the little things that annoy... we rock up there once a year knowing that our money isn't wasted on a rain off, and knowing that we will probably be served up 'follow my leader processional racing' : pretty much how speedway is in general, if we are to be honest with ourselves.... and if we remove the romantic ideal that we often have of it. 

 

It has it's massive faults... but really, it's pretty much a great thing. 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 22, 2019 by DukesGreg

[old bob at herne bay]

Sad state of affairs that the only Grand Prix allocated to the UK is held on an artificial track around a rugby pitch, when we have 3 divisions of league speedway operating regularly on proper speedway tracks.  

Nothing new of course,  as the later Wembley World Finals were run on a track that was only used for the world final and had to modify the corners of the football pitch to accommodate it. 

Now we have a National Speedway Stadium - seems ironic that it isn’t deemed suitable to host a GP. 

[AFCB Wildcat]

47 minutes ago, rob tatum said:

I honestly cannot believe people on this moaning about paying £50 for a ticket to to attend a gp at this incredible stadium 

I ask you have you ever attended a premier league match ,concert etc etc if yes then you will know £50 is par for attending an event of this magnitude 

Also book in advance you can get tickets for £20 which lets face it is cheap ,i pay that to attend bristol rovers and somerset rebels and although i love attending there is no comparison in stadium and atmosphere 

Ok this one wasnt a classic gp but your not going to get a wroclaw or malilla every time 

My wife and i had a wonderful day and have done for the 19 yrs we have attended for me the bomber gp will take some beating lost my voice for 2 wks after that 

Look forward to many more years 

 

I'm not complaining. Just that based on people's previous experiences as posted on here I was given to understand that the cheaper tickets were always available on the day so it was a bit of a shock when they weren't and cost me more than expected. When it's just me and the wife going I always opt for tickets over £50 anyway but paying for a larger group I could have done with getting cheaper tickets.

It's good for the event that the tickets sold out but given that the view from the upper tiers is pretty similar all the way round it wouldn't hurt to make more cheaper seats available and maybe boost attendance even more.

Yes I attend Premier league football weekly. I have a season ticket which works out about £28 a game and away matches are capped at £30. My Arsenal away ticket was £26.

Yesterday was my grandsons 1st speedway experience and he blew his horn and waved his flag all the way through and loved it so I don't begrudge it.

[IainB]

Just now, old bob at herne bay said:

Sad state of affairs that the only Grand Prix allocated to the UK is held on an artificial track around a rugby pitch, when we have 3 divisions of league speedway operating regularly on proper speedway tracks.  

Nothing new of course,  as the later Wembley World Finals were run on a track that was only used for the world final and had to modify the corners of the football pitch to accommodate it. 

Now we have a National Speedway Stadium - seems ironic that it isn’t deemed suitable to host a GP. 

Why would you hold an event that draws a crowd of over 40,000 people at a venue that holds 8-10,000? Madness!

[IainB]

I can't believe we're still having this debate 20 years on

[racers and royals]

10 minutes ago, old bob at herne bay said:

Sad state of affairs that the only Grand Prix allocated to the UK is held on an artificial track around a rugby pitch, when we have 3 divisions of league speedway operating regularly on proper speedway tracks.  

Nothing new of course,  as the later Wembley World Finals were run on a track that was only used for the world final and had to modify the corners of the football pitch to accommodate it. 

Now we have a National Speedway Stadium - seems ironic that it isn’t deemed suitable to host a GP. 

It`s not that it`s deemed unsuitable to host a GP because it obviously is, however we have the rights holders and Promoters of the series BSI/IMG who don`t want another GP in the UK(and i can understand that decision). Who knows what will happen in the future when in a couple of years time a new promoter could be running the series.

Edited September 22, 2019 by racers and royals

[Mark]

1 hour ago, iainb said:

Total cost for me:

Ticket: £19

Fuel: £30

Sandwich: £0.89

Maccies: £6.49

Why the hell are you spending £600?!?

You can't really complain that it was poor because you decided to spend £600 on a £50 day out

no liquid ?

[Badge]

Sorry if it's already been mentioned, but how come is monster Joe allowed on track?? Thought he was a sponsor not a medic or mechanic 

[Sidney the robin]

1 minute ago, Mark said:

no liquid ?

Yes an extra 500 quid !!!!!

[Rob B]

51 minutes ago, iainb said:

Why would you hold an event that draws a crowd of over 40,000 people at a venue that holds 8-10,000? Madness!

He didn't say replace Cardiff, he said why is the only GP at Cardiff. Why couldn't the NSS have one as well as Cardiff, just like Sweden & Poland do.

[Rob B]

Don't know if this been said yet as not reading through 30 pages, the racing in the first 8 heats was pretty good, quite a decent amount of passing, I don't know what they did to track then in that grading break but it was terrible after that.

[Sidney the robin]

2 minutes ago, Rob B said:

He didn't say replace Cardiff, he said why is the only GP at Cardiff. Why couldn't the NSS have one as well as Cardiff, just like Sweden & Poland do.

Totally agree Cardiff is overrated bigtime average racing but a great accasion like Wembley .