King's Lynn Stars 2020

[Ben91]

I used to work with a Polish guy, huge Speedway fan, wouldn’t even think of going to Rye House to watch a meeting. Said he’d tried one meeting at Arena Essex in the Elite League, because it was the top league, found it boring and attending in Britain was a waste of time.

5 hours ago, Daniel Smith said:

It's a common misconception among British Speedway fans that every Pole is a Speedway fan. 

For Poles it's about supporting their town. No club, no Speedway fans in Poland is pretty much how it works there. 

Also, just look at the difference in quality of stadia. Even if they are Speedway fans, it wouldn't take them long to give up on British Speedway. 

The bottom bit is also a bit of a misconception among British fans. The very best stadiums in Poland, the purpose built ones are head and shoulders above most that we have to offer but the others aren’t that much better in terms of facilities. The tracks offer better racing generally however. 

[Clive Ward]

Went to Bydgoszcz in 2019 for the Tomas Gollob benefit meeting and the place was like stepping back in time. Also there was one pass all afternoon and what made matters worse was this was the meeting when NKI had his bad crash that put him out of our play off meetings against Poole.

[racers and royals]

9 minutes ago, Clive Ward said:

Went to Bydgoszcz in 2019 for the Tomas Gollob benefit meeting and the place was like stepping back in time. Also there was one pass all afternoon and what made matters worse was this was the meeting when NKI had his bad crash that put him out of our play off meetings against Poole.

If you had gone again in 2020 you wouldn`t have recognised  the place- the back straight stand is magnificent along with the new pits complex. the improvements are not finished there the 1st/2nd bend is being done next. the racing was brilliant there in 2020, here is an example.

 

[John Scrutton]

You can't expect Speedway Promoters to pay out thousands of pounds to improve toilets and other things when they rent the Stadium it must be at least up to the owners or 50/50      How many tracks are owned by their promoters. not many   even Peterborough is owned by  others althoaugh they only have Speedway Racing at that track.

[NeilWatson]

6 minutes ago, John Scrutton said:

You can't expect Speedway Promoters to pay out thousands of pounds to improve toilets and other things when they rent the Stadium it must be at least up to the owners or 50/50      How many tracks are owned by their promoters. not many   even Peterborough is owned by  others althoaugh they only have Speedway Racing at that track.

Peterborough’s stadium is used by many other events through a normal summer, attracting crowds of many thousands.

[g13webb]

On 11/27/2020 at 8:51 AM, Haza said:

I’ve been lucky enough to visit many stadiums in Poland over the years as you say our stadiums are dated in some cases very dated - while Buster has worked wonders on the kings Lynn stadium with out doubt the way I look at it is the stadiums in Poland are for speedway only here it’s very different KL is a stock car stadium that just happens to run speedway  others are dog stadiums- if we want to attract bigger crowds first thing promoters need to do is promote the sport and try to attract new fans the die hards are getting fewer and fewer as in my case was totally fed up by being taken for granted that I will turn up each week . 2021 is a massive season for the sport without doubt the question I’d be asking if I was a promoter is has my fan base found other things to do ? as in my case once you get out of the habit of going it’s hard to get it back . 

I appreciate how much work Buster has done at Saddlebow road, turning what was a rundown venue into a more modern enterprise, but unfortunately the same cannot be said about the track. Itself.   What use to be regarded  as one of the best around when every rider wanted to race on ,  now is nothing more than a clay base follow the leader track.  I accept the stockcar  issue and the viability of everything, but it just illustrates the state the sport is in. 

When thinking about the reality of it all.  In a place with a vast population like Manchester ,   having one of the best race tracks in the world,  and seeing  the dismal attendance figures they attract,  you understand the popularity has all but gone.  Only us old die hard  fans remain...... What chance has the remaining clubs got....

[mikebv]

4 hours ago, g13webb said:

I appreciate how much work Buster has done at Saddlebow road, turning what was a rundown venue into a more modern enterprise, but unfortunately the same cannot be said about the track. Itself.   What use to be regarded  as one of the best around when every rider wanted to race on ,  now is nothing more than a clay base follow the leader track.  I accept the stockcar  issue and the viability of everything, but it just illustrates the state the sport is in. 

When thinking about the reality of it all.  In a place with a vast population like Manchester ,   having one of the best race tracks in the world,  and seeing  the dismal attendance figures they attract,  you understand the popularity has all but gone.  Only us old die hard  fans remain...... What chance has the remaining clubs got....

About 1 in 3000 people (at most), in the UK attend domestic Speedway each week nationally.. 

Imagine if they could get just 2 in every 3000? 

100% increase in gates and revenue..

The Aces get around 1200 with the conurbation of Gtr Manchester having 2.5 million living within it, with the extremeties of it being around 45 mins away by car..

The attendance figures for domestic Speedway are pitiful really when you consider that the 'local track' is invariably the only one for miles and miles, and has a complete monopoly in that area, with no other teams competing for a fan's following like for example football has with lots of cities having more than one team..

Maybe one day the sport will wake up and properly invest in a true national, joined up, collective, marketing campaign, rather than many clubs doing their own thing on a pretty basic level locally..

100's of Thousands of pounds are spent on paying 'employees' when hardly anyone knows your business even exists, and minimal seems to be invested in changing that lack of awareness.. 

A very strange business plan..

 

[Haza]

4 hours ago, g13webb said:

I appreciate how much work Buster has done at Saddlebow road, turning what was a rundown venue into a more modern enterprise, but unfortunately the same cannot be said about the track. Itself.   What use to be regarded  as one of the best around when every rider wanted to race on ,  now is nothing more than a clay base follow the leader track.  I accept the stockcar  issue and the viability of everything, but it just illustrates the state the sport is in. 

When thinking about the reality of it all.  In a place with a vast population like Manchester ,   having one of the best race tracks in the world,  and seeing  the dismal attendance figures they attract,  you understand the popularity has all but gone.  Only us old die hard  fans remain...... What chance has the remaining clubs got....

Totally agree about the track it’s rubbish to what it used to be follow the leader tracks won’t get fans back or attract new ones  but as I say it’s a stock car stadium that just so happen to stage the odd  speedway meeting  and that’s what earns the stadium and Buster money so who am I to criticise? Can’t fault him . But as you say about Belle Vue poor attendance figures there won’t get Buster to alter the KL track .

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

32 minutes ago, Haza said:

Totally agree about the track it’s rubbish to what it used to be follow the leader tracks won’t get fans back or attract new ones  but as I say it’s a stock car stadium that just so happen to stage the odd  speedway meeting  and that’s what earns the stadium and Buster money so who am I to criticise? Can’t fault him . But as you say about Belle Vue poor attendance figures there won’t get Buster to alter the KL track .

Amazing really - not that long ago you would've been considered mad to suggest Foxhall is a better race track than compost corner

Now it's a given.......

Edited November 29, 2020 by dontforgetthefueltapsbruv

[Trees]

On 11/27/2020 at 8:51 AM, Haza said:

I’ve been lucky enough to visit many stadiums in Poland over the years as you say our stadiums are dated in some cases very dated - while Buster has worked wonders on the kings Lynn stadium with out doubt the way I look at it is the stadiums in Poland are for speedway only here it’s very different KL is a stock car stadium that just happens to run speedway  others are dog stadiums- if we want to attract bigger crowds first thing promoters need to do is promote the sport and try to attract new fans the die hards are getting fewer and fewer as in my case was totally fed up by being taken for granted that I will turn up each week . 2021 is a massive season for the sport without doubt the question I’d be asking if I was a promoter is has my fan base found other things to do ? as in my case once you get out of the habit of going it’s hard to get it back . 

I hate Polish stadiums, just cold and concrete, the racing feels so far away, no close contact with the riders, no hanging over the pit area or chatting with those standing in the riders stand for Polish fans, nah not for me.

Can't bloody wait to get back supporting King's Lynn Stars, absence has made the heart grow fonder. 

Yes the racing needs to be great at every stadium, no fan wants to watch follow the leader, equally I don't want to watch riders just making mistakes for the passes to happen, lots of racing lines is the way to go for our sport ......... 

[Ringitsneck]

1 hour ago, Trees said:

I hate Polish stadiums, just cold and concrete, the racing feels so far away, no close contact with the riders, no hanging over the pit area or chatting with those standing in the riders stand for Polish fans, nah not for me.

Can't bloody wait to get back supporting King's Lynn Stars, absence has made the heart grow fonder. 

Yes the racing needs to be great at every stadium, no fan wants to watch follow the leader, equally I don't want to watch riders just making mistakes for the passes to happen, lots of racing lines is the way to go for our sport ......... 

You obviously haven’t been to Warsaw, Torun or seen the improvements at Bydgoszcz or Gdańsk or a few others for that matter . Polish fans are very knowledgable and very keen to talk to British fans, if you make the effort. Travel broadens the mind.

if you think Kings Lynn is good, you need to get around more.

[Haza]

1 hour ago, Ringitsneck said:

You obviously haven’t been to Warsaw, Torun or seen the improvements at Bydgoszcz or Gdańsk or a few others for that matter . Polish fans are very knowledgable and very keen to talk to British fans, if you make the effort. Travel broadens the mind.

if you think Kings Lynn is good, you need to get around more.

I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many Polish tracks it’s a completely different experience to here the atmosphere for one which is 100% better and exciting than here Zielona Gora has to be the best I’ve experienced for that the tracks are normally well prepared and the racing is normally good as well it’s totally a different world from here in the UK 

[Haza]

1 minute ago, geoff58 said:

our attendances are no different to anyone else better in many cases and that includes kings lynn !! remember this is manchester which has many sporting events unlike places like kings lynn etc !! 

I wasn’t having a pop at Belle Vue in the slightest the point I was making with a great race track like you have you should be getting much bigger crowds but  if you can’t get bigger crowds what chance does others have ?as you say you have many other sporting events as well 

[Goldhawk]

2 hours ago, Haza said:

I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many Polish tracks it’s a completely different experience to here the atmosphere for one which is 100% better and exciting than here Zielona Gora has to be the best I’ve experienced for that the tracks are normally well prepared and the racing is normally good as well it’s totally a different world from here in the UK 

I've been to many Polish league meetings and tracks also and completely agree with above. Sadly they are a different league to here on all levels. Lets hope things get back on the up next year here.

[John Scrutton]

Kings Lynn must be a good club/promoter to ride for as all of last seasons top 6 have all said they want to be back of 2021. only 1 missing is the No 7 the German but he never rode for them..would be interested. to know whether he too would like to join them.

[Haza]

22 minutes ago, John Scrutton said:

Kings Lynn must be a good club/promoter to ride for as all of last seasons top 6 have all said they want to be back of 2021. only 1 missing is the No 7 the German but he never rode for them..would be interested. to know whether he too would like to join them.

Very unlikely Robert Lambert will be back . 

[John Scrutton]

Granted    but if he does ride in England  i m sure it will for Kings  Lynn. 

[Guest]

Its easy to build Stadia in Poland with lashings of Euro money I! 

 

Edited December 4, 2020 by Guest

[Trees]

On 11/29/2020 at 6:34 PM, Ringitsneck said:

You obviously haven’t been to Warsaw, Torun or seen the improvements at Bydgoszcz or Gdańsk or a few others for that matter . Polish fans are very knowledgable and very keen to talk to British fans, if you make the effort. Travel broadens the mind.

if you think Kings Lynn is good, you need to get around more.

I have actually been to Torun and Gdansk ...... Gdansk was not so concrete, they still had the old grandstand.

My club is King's Lynn, my passion is King's Lynn, no other team comes close.

It's the Polish fans that make their clubs, I've walked with hundreds of Gorzow fans to their stadium for a league meeting.  It would be like fans from all over King's Lynn gathering in the Tuesday Market Place then making their way en masse to Saddlebow Road, would be awesome if King's Lynn people cared enough!

Edited December 7, 2020 by Trees

[Ringitsneck]

Nothing wrong with supporting your team , just don’t do it with blinkers on.

Far better stadiums out there and far better race tracks. Lyn is good but just not THAT good!