old bob at herne bay Posted March 16, 2020 Report Share Posted March 16, 2020 With sporting events across the UK now cancelled until further notice, and Speedway surely set to follow once the BSPA has met tomorrow, can British Speedway put 2020 league speedway “on ice” , and possibly just run some ad hoc open meetings later in the year ? Surely with no meetings, the costs for a club are nil . No rent, no riders wages? These are extraordinary times and covid 19 and the consequential are surely a “force majeure” event ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted March 16, 2020 Report Share Posted March 16, 2020 5 minutes ago, old bob at herne bay said: With sporting events across the UK now cancelled until further notice, and Speedway surely set to follow once the BSPA has met tomorrow, can British Speedway put 2020 league speedway “on ice” , and possibly just run some ad hoc open meetings later in the year ? Surely with no meetings, the costs for a club are nil . No rent, no riders wages? These are extraordinary times and covid 19 and the consequential are surely a “force majeure” event ? No rent not sure about that? Season tickets will need refunding yet riders advances will still have been paid out. Vans booked, race suits made etc. There are sizable pre season costs that if not recoupable could sink a club......oh and bspa fees which im sure will be returned immediately. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bob at herne bay Posted March 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Good points “sings4speedway” i would suggest a club could say to season ticket holders we will honour your tickets for 2021. riders advances race suits - yes they have been paid for but the rider would be told you keep the money but no advance for 2021... race suits used for 2021. they ain’t going to be riding anywhere in 2020. Vans booked ? Cancel the booking . BSPA fees - that’s up to the BSPA if they want the sport to survive ... refund them Tough times and tough decisions but if the sport is to survive action is needed ... personally I am not hopeful that anyone in the BSPA is capable ......... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny the spud Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Riders are in the same position. Many have spent thousands preparing for the season too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wealdstone Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 I am sorry to say that this could mean the end of Speedway in this country 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crabba59 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 4 hours ago, Speedster15 said: Being straight up with you. Some might. Vast Majority wont. The mad one is back. I know I know you don't get a life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 What are the fixed costs of a speedway club? Upfront track work, licences, insurance, a bit of marketing (I jest) etc.? Obviously clubs will be looking to recoup those costs over the course of the season. If they haven't skimped on legal fees then their contracts with sponsors, TV and landlords should align, as in if the season is cancelled and sponsors/TV don't have to pay, their stadium leases should reflect that. Given that most clubs run at a loss over the course of a season, then not running is likely to incur small losses than actually going ahead with the season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 4 hours ago, Jonny the spud said: Riders are in the same position. Many have spent thousands preparing for the season too. I'd say riders are in a more precarious position than clubs. Most will have bought new equipment, presumably on credit, signed van leases, rented houses etc. on the premise they will start receiving an income from mid-March. Equipment can obviously be mothballed, but if they've signed an 8-month lease for a van, the lease company isn't going to simply let them walk away from that agreement. Of course, riders do have the opportunity to earn money outside of speedway, but at the current time that is likely to be exceedingly difficult as companies are looking to ramp down operations, rather than take on new hires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinny Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 1 hour ago, pitstop84 said: The mad one is back. I know I know you don't get a life You talking to yourself again?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crabba59 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 What are you talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topsoil Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil The Ace Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 speedway will survive yes, unfortunately some clubs wont survive 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crabba59 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 39 minutes ago, Speedster15 said: I didn't realise it had issues. Thanks for the heads up. I shall stick it on block. If only you knew issues your the one with issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HGould Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 The sport will survive and if it comes back with more realistic people in charge it may prove a blessing. I don't see many Promoters or leaders anywhere in the sport though and that's the biggest concern. Needs bright new and independent thinking. Off the top of my head. Pretty short short list - Rob Painter and Ian Sinderson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldyman Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 If it survives it survives,, if it don't it don't. I dare say we will all find other things to do. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 My biggest concern for the sport is more to do with how many people will have to take unpaid leave, or business owners suffer as people dont leave their homes.. You cant help thinking that as their disposal income crumbles then Speedway (and indeed sport in general) will become very, very low down their list of priorities.. It's fine getting 'payment holidays' but bill's will still need to be paid.. Premier League football is pretty much bomb proof given their sponsorship and level of season ticket holders, however not sure about the other leagues and sports.. And you also have to factor in the way several Speedway clubs are often subsidised by the promoters' other business's so these other streams of income may also be impacted, not to mention possible sponsors' other income streams being hit.. A bit random, but maybe Speedway would he better off writing the season off completely..? Many, it is often said, lose money anyway so maybe an hiatus would help the following year? A year to regroup, iron out its obvious flaws and start again with some modern publicity/marketing blaze 12 months in the making.. And a 12 month gap might mean the public are in better shape financially next year to attend once more? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 I've thought for years that UK Speedway needed to be a part-time sport, clustered around weekends and Bank Holidays. The majority of fans have been attending for many years and it's as much a habit as anything, if that 'habit' is lost, it might not return. I think the sport will always survive but it could look quite different if the tracks are closed for too long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon1983 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 It is not just clubs that may not survive How many large corporations sponsor speedway vs small businesses, if they suffer loss of business then they are going to withdraw sponsorship to clubs, riders etc. it will all have a knock on effect I can see the premiership if being run this season being literally 1 Home vs 1 Away then straight into the play-offs, at least we will see some Speedway. Imagine if riders had proper contracts with Speedway clubs and clubs still had to pay riders during this time 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedtiger Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 29 minutes ago, mikebv said: My biggest concern for the sport is more to do with how many people will have to take unpaid leave, or business owners suffer as people dont leave their homes.. You cant help thinking that as their disposal income crumbles then Speedway (and indeed sport in general) will become very, very low down their list of priorities.. It's fine getting 'payment holidays' but bill's will still need to be paid.. Premier League football is pretty much bomb proof given their sponsorship and level of season ticket holders, however not sure about the other leagues and sports.. And you also have to factor in the way several Speedway clubs are often subsidised by the promoters' other business's so these other streams of income may also be impacted, not to mention possible sponsors' other income streams being hit.. A bit random, but maybe Speedway would he better off writing the season off completely..? Many, it is often said, lose money anyway so maybe an hiatus would help the following year? A year to regroup, iron out its obvious flaws and start again with some modern publicity/marketing blaze 12 months in the making.. And a 12 month gap might mean the public are in better shape financially next year to attend once more? Fair points mikebv, correct most clubs are currently running at a loss and on a hand to mouth existence and this will push clubs and promoters over the edge into bankruptcy, it is ultra optimistic that the public and sport will return financially in a better shape. The BSPA have historically proved to be totally incompetent and will be incapable of dealing with this major problem. A similar situation happened to grasstrack in 2000’s when foot and mouth epidemic more or less wiped out the sport. Also riders will have to find other jobs which will be difficult and may not return to speedway assuming the sport does resurface. The current situation is catastrophic and life changing for all and it is obvious that speedway and many other minor sports will not survive. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleasureboy60 Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 Speedway has been on a rapid decline for years and personally I cant see how it will survive all of this. Unlike Footballers and other sports people. Many Speedway riders only source of income relies on racing week in week out, whether it be in the UK or Europe. If this coronavirus escalates as experts seem certain it will, then I can foresee many riders hanging up their boots and quitting. I also think that if by some miracle we are able to race this season, then I fear crowds will dwindle and disappear, because of the constant fear the public has for contracting this dreadful virus. It is going to change peoples mindsets for a long time to come and I worry whether speedway will ever survive this both financially and publicly. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.