Guest Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 I don't think speedway will disappear from the British sporting scene. However I think it could eventually cease to be a team sport and evolve more along the open-individual style lines so popular in California, USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 I suppose the only problem with a series of open meetings, is most venues are not owned by the owners, so you are asking the stadium owners to keep and maintain a speedway track for the odd open meeting. That could be the death knell of the sport. I have wondered whether speedway had a more chance of survival, by having open events with 'a track in a field', similar to grass track and something on the lines of the now defunct Collier Street Boarded Track. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 (edited) I will be in a packed noisy crowd, weather permitting, at the Tangerine Arena tonight for Swindon v Ipswich Grand Final second leg. Crowds are up at Swindon, so team sport still alive and kicking. Pity about Poole Pirates dropping down though GO ROBINS!!! Edited October 17, 2019 by auntie doris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 1 hour ago, auntie doris said: I will be in a packed noisy crowd, weather permitting, at the Tangerine Arena tonight for Swindon v Ipswich Grand Final second leg. Crowds are up at Swindon, so team sport still alive and kicking. Pity about Poole Pirates dropping down though GO ROBINS!!! How many tracks can say crowds are up and Club in profit over a season nowadays.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 (edited) What we need to do is lower the standard so even less fans come in … then get 7 low standard riders to form all the teams ride at weekends only . they would then become the new hero's to all the fans .. my uncle who is 87 said that he would love it as he would watch anything . Edited October 17, 2019 by orion 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teaboy279 Posted October 19, 2019 Report Share Posted October 19, 2019 You just have to look at the size of crowds for individual meetings compared to team fixtures. Team racing is far more popular... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 On 10/19/2019 at 3:28 AM, teaboy279 said: You just have to look at the size of crowds for individual meetings compared to team fixtures. Team racing is far more popular... Do you mean the difference between average 900 for individual meetings compared to 1,000 for a team match? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldyman Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 Ipswich used to hold a few individuals, now they have none,,,as hardly anyone turns up to watch. So they don't bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 Individual meetings are not worth staging because the fans aren't attracted to them. So, instead fans are given two sides of individuals and it professes to be a team sport. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 1 minute ago, moxey63 said: Individual meetings are not worth staging because the fans aren't attracted to them. So, instead fans are given two sides of individuals and it professes to be a team sport. That is true. The Grand Prix is an individual meeting, which attracts big crowds, so I suppose it depends on the quality of the field, how individual meetings are marketed and if individual meetings are the only speedway model, hardcore fans, I imagine would support it. I do think the sport needs a complete overhaul, but we have all discussed that for many years now and we are still where we are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 (edited) 41 minutes ago, Baldyman said: Ipswich used to hold a few individuals, now they have none,,,as hardly anyone turns up to watch. So they don't bother. The problem with running 'individuals' is that too many 'individuals' cry off and don't bother attending.. Or they get ran on days when other meetings take place so lines up get diluted from the original names.. All comes down to money I suppose.. If the prize money was large enough then all the riders would want an invitation, and the fans would attend in numbers as the event will become something worthwhile going to watch.. If say £50,000 was put up as a total prize fund for an individual event could you get a 3500 crowd paying £20 each? 16 riders on a guarantee of £2000 and then an £18k final. (£8k, £5k, £3k, £2k).. Could several tracks run such events once each per season, well marketed, well sponsored and promoted very aggressively locally? It does appear its "go big" or don't bother when it comes to individual events.. Edited October 20, 2019 by mikebv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 12 minutes ago, moxey63 said: Individual meetings are not worth staging because the fans aren't attracted to them. So, instead fans are given two sides of individuals and it professes to be a team sport. With the result the typical UK Speedway halfway house.. That is to say, they do neither correctly so devalue both... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 11 minutes ago, moxey63 said: So, instead fans are given two sides of individuals and it professes to be a team sport. Based on what ? Swindon yet again hardly tracked any guests again this year .. not sure you see a better team in terms of sprit and commitment ..just another myth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 2 minutes ago, orion said: Based on what ? Swindon yetagain hardly tracked any guests again this year ..not sure you see a better team in terms of sprit and commitment ..just another myth Based on the number of riders in teams that ride for another team. Individual meetings used to be an extra race night for riders, now they just take on an extra team or two, maybe three, where ever they can. Team sport has been replaced by a sport for the individuals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 2 minutes ago, moxey63 said: Based on the number of riders in teams that ride for another team. Individual meetings used to be an extra race night for riders, now they just take on an extra team or two, maybe three, where ever they can. Team sport has been replaced by a sport for the individuals. Fans don't want to watch individual meetings ran at club level .. Fans don't care if there riders double up or ride for another club ask any Swindon fan ..This year yet again has been another great year for nor use of guests. I think the El play offs had none and all teams tracked there 1 to 7 .. it's not what old and moaning fans want hear of course but that is how it is . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chadster Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 Individual meetings were popular in the one big league days because you only saw riders once a season. If, say Barry Briggs was injured when he was due to ride at your track your promoter could book him and more or less guarantee a crowd. Today, teams visit twice a season and some teams three times so the attraction of an individual meeting is much reduced. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 2 minutes ago, moxey63 said: Based on the number of riders in teams that ride for another team. Individual meetings used to be an extra race night for riders, now they just take on an extra team or two, maybe three, where ever they can. Team sport has been replaced by a sport for the individuals. And often ran on nights to suit the riders' own individual aspirations on the global stage, rather than prioritising when clubs can deliver their best crowd (which should be the ultimate priority).. Looking at the last few seasons a few riders seem to have become almost "weekly guests" riding in both leagues, so no need to ride in individuals given they can get plenty of extra money over a season getting hired by all and sundry... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 26 minutes ago, mikebv said: Looking at the last few seasons a few riders seem to have become almost "weekly guests" riding in both leagues, so no need to ride in individuals given they can get plenty of extra money over a season getting hired by all and sundry... Crowds don't want to watch them so it really don't matter how many meeting riders have .. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waco Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 Two teams with all the riders of simular ability will produce much closer racing ....and far more exciting to watch for the fans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloom89 Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 I don't even know if it's possible but could 1 league not work with 6 man teams? And say for example the number 6 in every side had to be a British rider with an average of below 5 and had to be under 23? And the other 5 riders in the team say add up to something like 36? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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