British Speedway to be reborn?

[stevebrum]

4 hours ago, mikebv said:

And Cradley in the NL had better crowds than Wolves and if they had a track to race on would immediately be top division I would say given that's their 'natural' level given their crowd numbers...

No figures to back that theory up, and I’ve read that comment before. I’ve been to both nights and whilst Cradley had great attendances they were no way ‘better’ crowds.

Cradley in their own stadium would hands down top any attendance figure imho. Plenty of Cradley fans won’t go to Wolverhampton to support Cradley which just goes to show how dedicated their fans are if they were ever able to come back on their own.

If all teams had fans like Cradley ones the sport would be in a healthy place. Although I’m baulking at the idea that any general speedway fan has the displeasure to admit being from Cradley. 

[greyhoundp]

3 minutes ago, stevebrum said:

No figures to back that theory up, and I’ve read that comment before. I’ve been to both nights and whilst Cradley had great attendances they were no way ‘better’ crowds.

Cradley in their own stadium would hands down top any attendance figure imho. Plenty of Cradley fans won’t go to Wolverhampton to support Cradley which just goes to show how dedicated their fans are if they were ever able to come back on their own.

If all teams had fans like Cradley ones the sport would be in a healthy place. Although I’m baulking at the idea that any general speedway fan has the displeasure to admit being from Cradley. 

Dont give up on us yet though a Stadium might be a bit to much to expect.. however a field could be the way forward..  after all as you say Cradley heath and class facilities dont really go together, but thats what makes Cradley fans what we are..

[stevebrum]

2 minutes ago, greyhoundp said:

Dont give up on us yet though a Stadium might be a bit to much to expect.. however a field could be the way forward..  after all as you say Cradley heath and class facilities dont really go together, but thats what makes Cradley fans what we are..

Never seen such dedication and probably Cradley Speedway is the one thing that even today unites Cradley folk. 

I seriously hope one day it’s possible that you guys get your own place. I don’t think any region of the sport deserves it more. 

[mikebv]

16 minutes ago, stevebrum said:

No figures to back that theory up, and I’ve read that comment before. I’ve been to both nights and whilst Cradley had great attendances they were no way ‘better’ crowds.

Cradley in their own stadium would hands down top any attendance figure imho. Plenty of Cradley fans won’t go to Wolverhampton to support Cradley which just goes to show how dedicated their fans are if they were ever able to come back on their own.

If all teams had fans like Cradley ones the sport would be in a healthy place. Although I’m baulking at the idea that any general speedway fan has the displeasure to admit being from Cradley. 

Anecdotal evidence from a mate of mine who lives in Wolverhampton and used to go most weeks in the first couple of years of Cradleys tenure. ..

As a generic speedway fan he went to both Wolves and Cradley and felt the Heathens had more, although of course that could have been when Wolves were having a less than succesful time and some weeks were exceptions..

No doubt I would say that if they did get a track their crowds would still even now be one of the best in the sport..

Used to see lots of them at Stoke, Buxton and Belle Vue when they visited so still a large amount of interest in them...

Still miss the roast pork van....

Edited April 22, 2020 by mikebv

[greyhoundp]

Well we didnt/dont have much else around here, however the general concensus amongst Cradley fans, is that they would prefer the Championship as opposed to the Premiership, which contradicts what a few folk on here perceieve to be what supporters want to see..

[stevebrum]

4 minutes ago, mikebv said:

Anecdotal evidence from a mate of mine who lives in Wolverhampton and used to go most weeks in the first couple of years of Cradleys tenure. ..

As a generic speedway fan he went to both Wolves and Cradley and felt the Heathens had more, although of course that could have been when Wolves were having a less than succesful time and some weeks were exceptions..

No doubt I would say that if they did get a track their crowds would still even now be one of the best in the sport..

Used to see lots of them at Stoke, Buxton and Belle Vue when they visited so still a large amount of interest in them...

Like I said no stats and either one of us could be right.

no doubt some meetings and seasons Cradley might have done slightly better attendance wise but I doubt as a general tho. 

[stevebrum]

13 minutes ago, greyhoundp said:

Well we didnt/dont have much else around here, however the general concensus amongst Cradley fans, is that they would prefer the Championship as opposed to the Premiership, which contradicts what a few folk on here perceieve to be what supporters want to see..

IF Speedway came back I’m sure it would be top flight with an overwhelming majority. I’m sure fans attending regular would have been happy with a level above if still running. 

[Hacksaw Jim Duggan]

1 hour ago, DC2 said:

 

Is it indisputable?  Maybe in terms of half a dozen lost GP riders, but otherwise?

If you compared two of Swindon’s best teams over recent years, considering how the riders performed in those seasons and not on their reputations, I wouldn’t be so sure that the 2007 one would thrash the 2019 one:

2007

Adams

Chrzanowski

Gjedde

Ulamek

Richardson

Korneliesen

Moore

2019

Doyle

Ellis

Musielak

Jensen

Batchelor

Vissing

Perks

The 2007 version would thump the Swindon team of last year.

[DC2]

1 minute ago, Hacksaw Jim Duggan said:

The 2007 version would thump the Swindon team of last year.

 

You think? I think last year’s 2, 3 and 4 were better, but the 2007 reserves were better. 1 and 5 equal.

[Hacksaw Jim Duggan]

2 minutes ago, DC2 said:

 

You think? I think last year’s 2, 3 and 4 were better

Utter nonsense.

[DC2]

The 2007 trio were disappointing, the 2019 trio well above expectation.

[Hacksaw Jim Duggan]

2 minutes ago, DC2 said:

The 2007 trio were disappointing, the 2019 trio well above expectation.

You are talking absolute pish, this is Karl Pilkington speedway chat you are coming out with, what’s next, Monkey News?

[DC2]

1 minute ago, Hacksaw Jim Duggan said:

You are talking absolute pish, this is Karl Pilkington speedway chat you are coming out with, what’s next, Monkey News?

 

You’re slipping from debate to abuse.

[Hacksaw Jim Duggan]

1 minute ago, DC2 said:

 

You’re slipping from debate to abuse.

I am, your point deserves ridicule, it’s moon howling gibberish.

[Fromafar]

22 minutes ago, DC2 said:

 

You’re slipping from debate to abuse.

That’s his normal way

[Sidney the robin]

17 hours ago, Hacksaw Jim Duggan said:

In the nicest way possible, most of the suggestions on here are a bit, crap - it is nothing out the box, and nothing that hasn't been mentioned and done to death 100 times. 

A new fan will most likely neither notice or care about such things as score boards or the overly done to death obsession with music played at a meeting. A subject that has been tirelessly spoken about on this forum for one which is so meaningless when it comes to reasons why people don't attend. 

As well as not being of interest to most new fans, the things mentioned have done little to retain fans who have left the sport, fans have dwindled out the door as the product has watered down because fans of a sport know what good looks like. 

If people want to stand and listen to music, they go to a thing called a concert, a pub or bar - very few people attend a meeting in the hope they will hear a fantastic song, very few reflect back on their speedway memories and reflect on the music played or the scoreboard - these things aren't the USP, they are a backdrop at best. 

The USP IS the sport, when people wish to attend they want to see fast racing and the best riders - this has shown over the years when the sport had better riders - more people were attending.... it now doesn't have the best riders, less people are attending. 

There is too much speedway in this country, the season is too long, the sport drags on months past it has to, there are too many finals, semi finals and championships  - they all just lose meaning and become lost in each other, in a desperate attempt to boost revenue by hosting more, the sport has just made everything less than, ends up with Finals and Semi Finals overlapping to the point they start to confuse each other. 

Speedway should be a league season, less meetings and attempt to boost the quality again. Once people know they are watching good again, they might consider the sport again.

A Poole fan who was spoiled on Rickardson, Loram, Holder etc isn't coming back for a score board and Calvin Harris music when he is having to watch a team the standard of that they have the last few years.

A new fan likely won't stick around long when they know they aren't watching the best on offer, there has always been a naivety around the idea a new fan would fall for the BS of just watching a good race, for a while at best they might, but more people want to see the best at their sport rather than those less than, most sports attendances reflect that - quality typically equates to a higher attendance. 

If you are asking people for the cost speedway tracks do you need to have some pretty decent USP's - scoreboards, music etc ain't that, people can find that at most other sports in the country which offer far superior stadia and facilities to that which most speedway tracks ever will, when they first walk into most their first impression at most tracks will likely be what a dump it is compared to stadiums and sports they have been at . It is actually probably more beneficial to draw peoples eyes away from most of the dumps they have to stand in. 

Less meeting's really?? that is one of the biggest problems speedway in the uk has at the moment  people get used to not going and find other things to do.At the moment  most teams are very  lucky to get three meetings a month yet you suggest we should have less.Your idea of having less meetings and bringing the best riders back to get the crowds in is a great one but in reality a pipe dream.I am all for your idea so can you explain how the clubs would PAY for it would the increased GATE money do that.?

[Sidney the robin]

10 hours ago, Hacksaw Jim Duggan said:

The 2007 version would thump the Swindon team of last year.

Really i think not.

[Theboss]

So according to yesterday's national newspapers, when Poland start their 2020 league campaign they will only use riders who are willing to committ solely to their league AND LIVE IN THEIR COUNTRY. 

The PNZ obviously see the problems ahead with air travel and want to protect their league, so don't be surprised to see this also be implemented in 2021 and beyond.

Surely this news will make British speedway promoters realise that the current set up with three leagues will no longer be possible and they need to use the time they have now to start again with a clean sheet of paper?

I believe valid fans ideas which should be considered by the promoters are:

- £10 entry

- Regular meetings over a shorter season

- Semi pro riders

- Better sound systems and interviews (score    boards are a good idea but too expensive)

I would add that to reduce costs for everyone involved a fixed appearance fee rather than points money in year 1 which should be deter riders from spending money on fancy carbs and engine rebuilds.

Then in year 2 move to standard engines and introduce money per point.

If rider supply is an issue then it would be a good idea to set up north and south league and allow riders to ride for a team in each division.

Edited April 23, 2020 by jchapman

[DC2]

7 minutes ago, jchapman said:

So according to yesterday's national newspapers, when Poland start their 2020 league campaign they will only use riders who are willing to committ solely to their league AND LIVE IN THEIR COUNTRY. 

The PNZ obviously see the problems ahead with air travel and want to protect their league, so don't be surprised to see this also be implemented in 2021 and beyond.

Surely this news will make British speedway promoters realise that the current set up with three leagues will no longer be possible and they need to use the time they have now to start again with a clean sheet of paper?

I believe valid fans ideas which should be considered by the promoters are:

- £10 entry

- Regular meetings over a shorter season

- Semi pro riders

- Better sound systems and interviews (score    boards are a good idea but too expensive)

I would add that to reduce costs for everyone involved a fixed appearance fee rather than points money in year 1 which should be deter riders from spending money on fancy carbs and engine rebuilds.

Then in year 2 move to standard engines and introduce money per point.

If rider supply is an issue then it would be a good idea to set up north and south league and allow riders to ride for a team in each division.

 

Spot on and perfect.

Oh, apart from the last sentence!

And you could have a large, old fashioned cricket style scoreboard to please Grachan (which is a fair point).

Edited April 23, 2020 by DC2

[Grachan]

2 minutes ago, DC2 said:

 

Spot on and perfect.

Oh, apart from the last sentence!

And you could have a large, old fashioned cricket style scoreboard to please Grachan (which is a fair point).

Sounds good to me. Although I suspect that if you have £10 entry most teams will go bust by the end of the year. But who cares? I got my scoreboard.