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Time to have an enquiry into the death of Speedway


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I remember when Adam started riding 8 years ago at Ipswich I made a few suggestions that would basically cost nothing and potentially bring in more punters ...eg, a questionaire paper slipped into the program with a space for the person to fill in their details. These would then be deposited in a box near the exit. 
 

you then have an idea of what your supporters concerns are and their email/ phone numbers, therefore giving you a database to target them with promos etc...

having the next home meeting poster able to be downloaded... fans could then print them off and spread advertising with no cost to the club. 
 

getting in touch with local universities etc and having local bands / DJ’s performing on the center green, publicity for the performers and free / cheap entertainment for the crowd . 
 

sidecars after every four heats 

 

maybe an exhibition of trials riding on the center green during the interval 

most  the above I’ve used a variation of in my businesses at some time or another, and they’ve all resulted in an increase in turnover. 
 

it ain’t rocket science 

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3 hours ago, Jonny the spud said:

I remember when Adam started riding 8 years ago at Ipswich I made a few suggestions that would basically cost nothing and potentially bring in more punters ...eg, a questionaire paper slipped into the program with a space for the person to fill in their details. These would then be deposited in a box near the exit. 
 

you then have an idea of what your supporters concerns are and their email/ phone numbers, therefore giving you a database to target them with promos etc...

having the next home meeting poster able to be downloaded... fans could then print them off and spread advertising with no cost to the club. 
 

getting in touch with local universities etc and having local bands / DJ’s performing on the center green, publicity for the performers and free / cheap entertainment for the crowd . 
 

sidecars after every four heats 

 

maybe an exhibition of trials riding on the center green during the interval 

most  the above I’ve used a variation of in my businesses at some time or another, and they’ve all resulted in an increase in turnover. 
 

it ain’t rocket science 

So right...

There is loads that can be done..

Get your customers names, emails and home addresses and you can target market them...

The Aces have a total fan base of, I would suggest, around 3000...

With circa 1200 to 1500 who go every week...

Meaning 1500 to 1800 fans who consider themselves Aces fans are sat most weeks not attending the track..

It wouldn't take much to get an extra 200, or more or so of those 'latent' fans through the turnstiles each week I would say..

A few special offers for those who haven't been for a few weeks may get them out of their armchairs, and any income from them, (even reduced price income) will be extra, over and above what your die hards regularly deliver.. 

The sport has die hards who will come every week regardless of who is making up the teams and credibility of competition, therefore the sport has a unique opportunity to move their fan base forward on the back of these fans' incredible loyalty..

I would suggest most clubs have at least as many 'fans' that dont attend regularly as those who do..

Therefore to be succesful you don't need to bring in new customers, sometimes you just have to get those who already know who you are, and have an affinity with you, to frequent your enterprise more often than they currently do..

Edited by mikebv
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Can't help feeling it would be useful for somebody outside speedway - possibly involved with another, more successful sport - to come in, speak to relevant parties and make a few suggestions. A 'fresh eye', dispassionate, without a vested interest, might be able to see the wood and the trees - not to mention the green fields beyond.

Edited by Piotr Pyszny
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2 hours ago, topaz325 said:

Fans have been trying to come up with new ideas for years some good some bad , many promoters regard them as keyboard warriors.:neutral:

Some of those “keyboard warriors” are successful business people 

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18 hours ago, Jonny the spud said:

I made a few suggestions that would basically cost nothing and potentially bring in more punters ...eg, a questionaire paper slipped into the program with a space for the person to fill in their details. These would then be deposited in a box near the exit. 

I seem to remember such a questionaire paper being issued in the late 90's early 00's. From memory it had a load of contrived questions on it not really addressing the real issues... also not everyone buys a program so maybe just a customer suggestions box located somewhere around the stadium... maybe directly above the skips :lol:

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30 minutes ago, iainb said:

I seem to remember such a questionaire paper being issued in the late 90's early 00's. From memory it had a load of contrived questions on it not really addressing the real issues... also not everyone buys a program so maybe just a customer suggestions box located somewhere around the stadium... maybe directly above the skips :lol:

I recall during the Purchase (?) years at Cowley we were issued with questionaires on entry to fill in.  Steve was a great bloke and would mingle with the crowd engaging with the fans before he became disillusioned with the sport.

Edited by steve roberts
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26 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

I recall during the Purchase (?) years at Cowley we were issued with questionaires on entry to fill in.  Steve was a great bloke and would mingle with the crowd engaging with the fans before he became disillusioned with the sport.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was nationwide

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On 8/5/2020 at 10:04 AM, Piotr Pyszny said:

Does OP HackneyHawk (or other posters) have anyone in mind to conduct this inquiry?

Who would make a suitable inquisitor?

Well I'd like to do it! But seriously, it has to be someone from outside Speedway.  Maybe a promoter of other sports that are more popular now than they once were???

Someone made the excellent point of Promoters working together for the good of the sport and not engaging in petty rivalry.

Controversially, I think that third tier Speedway may harm the sport's popularity amongst outsiders and maybe should only exist as second halves of senior Speedway.  The 'quality of the racing and presentation is just not as good and therefore the uninitiated go along and are disillusioned, not knowing that they have watched an inferior product.

All of you fans of third tier tracks please try and see the sport's dire predicament before taking me to task on my opinion.......

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On 8/5/2020 at 1:42 PM, Jonny the spud said:

I remember when Adam started riding 8 years ago at Ipswich I made a few suggestions that would basically cost nothing and potentially bring in more punters ...eg, a questionaire paper slipped into the program with a space for the person to fill in their details. These would then be deposited in a box near the exit. 
 

you then have an idea of what your supporters concerns are and their email/ phone numbers, therefore giving you a database to target them with promos etc...

having the next home meeting poster able to be downloaded... fans could then print them off and spread advertising with no cost to the club. 
 

getting in touch with local universities etc and having local bands / DJ’s performing on the center green, publicity for the performers and free / cheap entertainment for the crowd . 
 

sidecars after every four heats 

 

maybe an exhibition of trials riding on the center green during the interval 

most  the above I’ve used a variation of in my businesses at some time or another, and they’ve all resulted in an increase in turnover. 
 

it ain’t rocket science 

David Hemsley tried the questionnaire,the interval entertainment and giving out posters but to no avail. Even though I enjoy sidecars, I would not put them on during a meeting as they cut up the track too much.

Edited by Skodaman
typo
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3 hours ago, HackneyHawk said:

Well I'd like to do it! But seriously, it has to be someone from outside Speedway.  Maybe a promoter of other sports that are more popular now than they once were???

Someone made the excellent point of Promoters working together for the good of the sport and not engaging in petty rivalry.

Controversially, I think that third tier Speedway may harm the sport's popularity amongst outsiders and maybe should only exist as second halves of senior Speedway.  The 'quality of the racing and presentation is just not as good and therefore the uninitiated go along and are disillusioned, not knowing that they have watched an inferior product.

All of you fans of third tier tracks please try and see the sport's dire predicament before taking me to task on my opinion.......

Anyone who has been to Isle of Wight Speedway will laugh with derision at that ridiculous statement.

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4 hours ago, Skodaman said:

David Hemsley tried the questionnaire,the interval entertainment and giving out posters but to no avail. Even though I enjoy sidecars, I would not put them on during a meeting as they cut up the track too much.

Depends on the sidecars. 
 

if you use the 1000cc English ones, yes they do cut up the tracks. They run in the opposite direction to speedway bikes so where the apply the power exiting the bend it can cause problems for speedway bikes hitting a rut as they enter. 
 

the European 500cc chairs on the other hand use the same engines & tyres and run in the same direction as speedway bikes. 
 

problem solved. 
 

it’s not much, but it’s something else that can be done. 

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3 hours ago, Jonny the spud said:

Depends on the sidecars. 
 

if you use the 1000cc English ones, yes they do cut up the tracks. They run in the opposite direction to speedway bikes so where the apply the power exiting the bend it can cause problems for speedway bikes hitting a rut as they enter. 
 

the European 500cc chairs on the other hand use the same engines & tyres and run in the same direction as speedway bikes. 
 

problem solved. 
 

it’s not much, but it’s something else that can be done. 

the 500 chairs are good to watch too, Mitch Godden among others would probably jump at the chance to have regular racing.

 

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maybe , just maybe all promoters/riders will for once see light at the end of the tunnel and make it a part time sport again . entrance fee will be a lot less and give all fans something to see again . 

who give a chuff if you have to stand all the time to watch it . great in summer siting on a grassy bank having a few tinnies 

 wid yer mates . its a £10 pund sport all day long. time to wake up an smell the coffee .

2021 will not take place anyhow because of this civid thing . so roll on 22 

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