Why speedway is failing

[truthsayer]

Why is speedway failing? There is not enough words to say why.

To me, the fundamental is that there is no amateur structure. There's no club racing, where competitors fund the sport. There are not enough competitors, and there is not enough money going into the sport.

It's not a team sport. It's an individual sport. 

It's a bunch of enthusiasts 'promoting' a sport by committee, with the committee determining their business model.

 

[waytogo28]

On 9/4/2021 at 11:49 PM, enotian said:

still watch SGP if it was 16 Poles in a series ridden entirely in Poland as long as the action was good. 

I certainly would watch any such structure if the action was good!

[Bavarian]

On ‎9‎/‎6‎/‎2021 at 10:20 PM, truthsayer said:

 

It's not a team sport. It's an individual sport. 

 

 

Speedway was invented as a team sport. that is what makes it so very special. It is only today that it is more often treated as an individual sport, which is not how it should be. The F.I.M. are on the wrong trail here trying to bring speedway in line with other motorcycle sports. The team sport aspect is and always was Speedway's biggest attraction.

Without their league and their clubs in Poland the sport would never be as popular as it is, and the same goes for Britain in  the pre-war and post-war years and into the 1980s.

Edited September 11, 2021 by Bavarian

[Ajr]

Have a listen to Keith Huewen on the speed freaks show on you tube. He makes some great comments 

[Grand Central]

7 hours ago, Bavarian said:

Speedway was invented as a team sport. that is what makes it so very special. It is only today that it is more often treated as an individual sport, which is not how it should be. The F.I.M. are on the wrong trail here trying to bring speedway in line with other motorcycle sports. The team sport aspect is and always was Speedway's biggest attraction.

Without their league and their clubs in Poland the sport would never be as popular as it is, and the same goes for Britain in  the pre-war and post-war years and into the 1980s.

Speedway was NOT invented as a team sport.

[mikebv]

6 minutes ago, Grand Central said:

Speedway was NOT invented as a team sport.

And in many countries that Speedway exists in, still isnt...

Including the birth place of the Sport where "Team Speedway" is done "now and again" at a very local level as "something a bit different" to the usual individual meetings..

Dont forget though, that because we have done something for 90 years or so, (even if it no longer seems to work), it means we must never change, and we must keep doing the same thing over, and over, again ad Infinitum...

[Bavarian]

Do You believe the Speedway would have lasted 90 years in this country without the creation of the leagues and team competitions, or International test matches ?

That's what has made speedway so big over here in the UK, Poland and Sweden.  

[Gemini]

5 hours ago, Grand Central said:

Speedway was NOT invented as a team sport.

It may not have been invented as a team sport but that has always been the main thing that attracted me for 70years and I don't think I am the only one who has no interest at all in individual meetings. 

[steve roberts]

Personally I always enjoyed the variety that speedway offered...team, individual, pairs.

[IainB]

14 hours ago, mikebv said:

Dont forget though, that because we have done something for 90 years or so, (even if it no longer seems to work), it means we must never change, and we must keep doing the same thing over, and over, again ad Infinitum...

We did change... we brought in and expanded doubling up 

[The Dog]

If riders didn't double up tho, it wouldn't be worth their while anymore because that's what makes it pay nowadays unfortunately. Seems to be a necessary evil... 

[cowboy cookie returns?]

5 minutes ago, The Dog said:

If riders didn't double up tho, it wouldn't be worth their while anymore because that's what makes it pay nowadays unfortunately. Seems to be a necessary evil... 

Doubling up is one of the major reasons in this country along with guests that is driving people away and makes it impossible to find any national sponsor. It makes the sport non credible.

The sport in the uk needs to become a mix of semi pro/amateur with standard equipment in use in our leagues.

It needs a major overhaul.

 

 

[heathen52]

29 minutes ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

Doubling up is one of the major reasons in this country along with guests that is driving people away and makes it impossible to find any national sponsor. It makes the sport non credible.

The sport in the uk needs to become a mix of semi pro/amateur with standard equipment in use in our leagues.

It needs a major overhaul.

 

 

I couldnt agree more, but the powers that be wont grasp the nettle until its to late, we have to step back before we can move forward again, because of the equipment costs it has to be regarded as a hobby Sport rather than where average riders can earn a living, subsidised by Promoters constantly having to put money in and supporters paying increasing admission costs for very little entertainment provided by riders with no real Team loyalty which has always been an essential part of British Speedway but the BSPL constantly overlook this aspect.

[waiheke1]

39 minutes ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

Doubling up is one of the major reasons in this country along with guests that is driving people away and makes it impossible to find any national sponsor. It makes the sport non credible.

 

I disagree.

Poorly marketed product, high cost compared to alternative entertainment, meeting presentation 30 years out of date, dated stadia, lack of  household names/world class riders, tracks that don'tproduce good racing...these are all far bigger issues than doubling up imo. 

[Deano]

2 hours ago, waiheke1 said:

I disagree.

Poorly marketed product, high cost compared to alternative entertainment, meeting presentation 30 years out of date, dated stadia, lack of  household names/world class riders, tracks that don'tproduce good racing...these are all far bigger issues than doubling up imo. 

It has to go... if you want to get more people through the turnstiles, it won't be long before they'll start wondering why it happens.

[Grand Central]

18 hours ago, Gemini said:

It may not have been invented as a team sport but that has always been the main thing that attracted me for 70years and I don't think I am the only one who has no interest at all in individual meetings. 

I was correcting the inaccuracy of another post not expressing anything about personal preferences for or against team racing.

Edited September 12, 2021 by Grand Central

[iris123]

6 hours ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

Doubling up is one of the major reasons in this country along with guests that is driving people away and makes it impossible to find any national sponsor. It makes the sport non credible.

The sport in the uk needs to become a mix of semi pro/amateur with standard equipment in use in our leagues.

It needs a major overhaul.

 

 

Not specifically doubling up, but I was listening to Stephan Katt commentating on a meeting Friday night. The meeting was delayed for about 90 minutes due to rain and one of the topics being discussed 'for the newcomers' was riders turning out one night for one team and the next for another.Katt recalled his Somerset days sharing a van with Matten Kröger and racing with him in the UK and then parting at the airport and they could be racing against each other the next day. And in his opinion that was one of the great things about the sport !!!

[Mike.Butler]

if clubs tracked 4 riders and a reserve and

[Pieman72]

6 hours ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

Doubling up is one of the major reasons in this country along with guests that is driving people away and makes it impossible to find any national sponsor. It makes the sport non credible.

The sport in the uk needs to become a mix of semi pro/amateur with standard equipment in use in our leagues.

It needs a major overhaul.

 

 

An excellent viewpoint. I watched Belle View v Sheffield and the grandstands were half empty with little or no atmosphere  very worrying. I can remember Hyde Road with 30,000 spectators and bursting at the seams with people and atmosphere.

[cowboy cookie returns?]

19 hours ago, waiheke1 said:

I disagree.

Poorly marketed product, high cost compared to alternative entertainment, meeting presentation 30 years out of date, dated stadia, lack of  household names/world class riders, tracks that don'tproduce good racing...these are all far bigger issues than doubling up imo. 

I disagree although the other items you mention play a part.

You have to get some form of credibility back into the sport to try & attract new investment both though more spectators but more importantly through sponsorship & awareness though the media both digitally & print.

I used Chris Harris as an example a couple of weeks ago elsewhere on here. During one week in late August he rode for Peterborough, Birmingham & Ipswich. His week was completed by riding for Peterborough against Ipswich. That sort of thing is destroying any form of credibility the sport has.

To improve the issues you mentioned tracks, stadia etc you need the investment which requires credibility.

Doubling up & the guest fest also makes it impossible to have the emotional attachment supporters of team sport need with their team.

Lastly on the point of world-class riders the sport in at such a low point in this country that those world class riders aren't known outside of speedway over here.