Eastbourne Speedway

[gazzac]

32 minutes ago, Bear_Bottom said:

Steve ChantlerEastbourne Eagles Group

Steve Chantler  ·FB 

Sorry all. We hoped to get this out last night.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts it is extremely unlikely to happen and we have at this stage, thrown in the towel for 2023. The last hurdle really was the BSPL explaining that they would need our commitment by the end of August, to run next season. We could have asked for more time but it seems, that would have just been delaying the inevitable.

The costs of entering the Championship were simple too much to raise the amount required and the stadium owners were not keen in us running at National League level.

We are devoted fans of the club and although this is most likely over for 2023, we do not want to give up. All the time there is a track at Arlington Stadium, we will want to see speedway there and will be happy to help financially or otherwise, with anyone that wishes to take up the mantel.

We are truly sorry for any hopes that we raised and have now, dropped.

Very sad, but could see it coming as I said before , unfortunately until the BSPL get their heads out of the sand won't be the last to go, or find a relaunch too expensive and unsustainable. 

[IainB]

What's the objection to NDL does anybody know? I thought the last NDL operation was quite successful wasn't it?

[*JJ]

At the time, it was just the National League, in effect a Third Division. The racing was just as good as the higher leagues; indeed the Eastbourne/Birmingham playoff final were some of the best speedway matches I have seen. However, the BSPL in their (?)wisdom have destroyed the (invaluable) MDL/SDL and downgraded the NL to the NDL.

[HGould]

18 minutes ago, *JJ said:

At the time, it was just the National League, in effect a Third Division. The racing was just as good as the higher leagues; indeed the Eastbourne/Birmingham playoff final were some of the best speedway matches I have seen. However, the BSPL in their (?)wisdom have destroyed the (invaluable) MDL/SDL and downgraded the NL to the NDL.

Indeed

It was clear that us and Eastbourne were forced up by them threatening 6 man teams and a silly points limit in the winter of 2018 , Kent were pretty much forced up too a year later.

For various reasons none have worked out well. In case of Brummies and Eagles too big a financial hit too soon to be able to properly compete seems the issue. 

The NDL by 2018 had become the "Championship lite" many now seek. 

A bit like soccer EFL to PL is a big jump so is NDL to CL - difference in Soccer is you get north of £100,000,000 to soften the blow, in Speedway you go from being a successful team to a struggling one or have to throw huge sums at it and still no guarantee of success, and have to pay disproprtionately large bonds to BSPL for the pleasure.

Admittedly at the other end of the spectrum it did Clubs like Buxton and Stoke no favours and had the same detrimental impact on them, which is very sad.

Not sure what the Dugard family hierarchy fixation with "no NDL is" - may be if its re-branded Championship lite - they may re-think. Balls in their Court I guess?

[eric i]

2 hours ago, HGould said:

Indeed

It was clear that us and Eastbourne were forced up by them threatening 6 man teams and a silly points limit in the winter of 2018 , Kent were pretty much forced up too a year later.

For various reasons none have worked out well. In case of Brummies and Eagles too big a financial hit too soon to be able to properly compete seems the issue. 

The NDL by 2018 had become the "Championship lite" many now seek. 

A bit like soccer EFL to PL is a big jump so is NDL to CL - difference in Soccer is you get north of £100,000,000 to soften the blow, in Speedway you go from being a successful team to a struggling one or have to throw huge sums at it and still no guarantee of success, and have to pay disproprtionately large bonds to BSPL for the pleasure.

Admittedly at the other end of the spectrum it did Clubs like Buxton and Stoke no favours and had the same detrimental impact on them, which is very sad.

Not sure what the Dugard family hierarchy fixation with "no NDL is" - may be if its re-branded Championship lite - they may re-think. Balls in their Court I guess?

Its disappointing clubs don't like NDL when I think they would be much more financially sound running at that level. Does anything else go on at the stadium? You would of thought a speedway family would be keen to see some sort of racing, even if they did Isle of Wight sort of thing.

[M.D]

7 hours ago, iainb said:

What's the objection to NDL does anybody know? I thought the last NDL operation was quite successful wasn't it?

The Dugard family had their reasons, we listened to them and agreed no NDL..

[IainB]

33 minutes ago, M.D said:

The Dugard family had their reasons, we listened to them and agreed no NDL..

Yes, I got that from the statement... I was wondering what those reasons were?

[FromBendThree]

Won’t be long before people are buying a new house on Dugard Drive or a bungalow in Norris Road

[SteveLyric2]

53 minutes ago, FromBendThree said:

Won’t be long before people are buying a new house on Dugard Drive or a bungalow in Norris Road

....or maybe Kennett Krescent?

[Steve Shovlar]

I don’t understand why the Dugards won’t allow NDL speedway at Arlington. As long as the rent is paid what’s the issue? Unless they just want the stadium to go for a period of non use so that planning permission for houses can be put in as no one wants to use the speedway stadium?

[M.D]

Just now, Steve Shovlar said:

I don’t understand why the Dugards won’t allow NDL speedway at Arlington. As long as the rent is paid what’s the issue? Unless they just want the stadium to go for a period of non use so that planning permission for houses can be put in as no one wants to use the speedway stadium?

The stadium is in use for cars/stocks.

They want speedway at the stadium but only champ, not NDL or Elite as we can't use the stadium Mondays and Thursdays, so its not that and will remain private out of respect to them..

[Hackett]

2 hours ago, Skidder1 said:

....or maybe Kennett Krescent?

Kennett Crescent would have to be a cul-de-sac. 

[Neila]

On one hand the bspa muppets want more clubs in the top leagues,  but want a bounty of around £40000 for said club to enter the league !!

[arnieg]

1 hour ago, Neila said:

On one hand the bspa muppets want more clubs in the top leagues,  but want a bounty of around £40000 for said club to enter the league !!

And why is that unreasonable?

[Neila]

9 hours ago, arnieg said:

And why is that unreasonable?

If you were people at Eastbourne or wherever and planned to revive the sport,  your business plan would be to break even or better, on limited crowds the sport attracts. But the bspa are wanting this figure above the initial costs to start the sport up in a new location,  It does not encourage anyone taking a chance to restart speedway somewhere. 

[HGould]

1 hour ago, Neila said:

If you were people at Eastbourne or wherever and planned to revive the sport,  your business plan would be to break even or better, on limited crowds the sport attracts. But the bspa are wanting this figure above the initial costs to start the sport up in a new location,  It does not encourage anyone taking a chance to restart speedway somewhere. 

That's exactly what happened in 2019

Brummies and Eagles went up and from figures quoted (certainly at Brummies and Eastbourne would have been similar) by time you've paid the Bond, the Asset List and other add on's that seem to be variable, you were looking then at around £30,000.00 before you are allowed in.

I remember well the "pending" status Brummies were given all winter 18 in to 19 and then suddenlt in late February both Clubs were "in". No time really to plan properly and new entrants start on the back foot.

It makes the success of Oxford all the more remarkable and praise worthy but in some ways they are helped by attracting Oxford, Reading, Swindon and Coventry fans.

I know from what's been said the Masons struggled in 2019 but got through it, they struggled massively week by week in 2021 and were at their wits end by the end of the season physically and mentally . At least they made it to the end when Eastbourne didn't and Newcastle, who also had a new Promoter for 2021 and issues all 2021 and didn't finish in 2022. Kent had to pay over the odds too but had the legend that is Len Slver to guide them.

Nigel (Tolley) has had to spend well north of £100,000 to set up and survive 2022 and by this time next year no doubt that could be double that. Money that enthusiasts who try to keep Speedway Clubs going once set up simply can't afford. 

Neila has hit the nail on the head.

Only a very rich man or consortium can now afford to start in CL . They don't get Eurosport money like PL do and it remains to be seen what British Speedway Network can distribute, if its 10k a Club it would be a massive boost but you have to factor in if clubs have actually lost walk up on nights BSF are there?

The new Workington set up looks superb and if it can go in to NDL and take small steps it can hopefully thrive. It's good to see Mildenhall and Kent hanging in there too at NDL level and whilst it would be great to see IOW v=back, why should they risk it, when their new product does well for them and they don't have the muppets at Rugby to answer too. 

[Wee Eck]

2 hours ago, Neila said:

If you were people at Eastbourne or wherever and planned to revive the sport,  your business plan would be to break even or better, on limited crowds the sport attracts. But the bspa are wanting this figure above the initial costs to start the sport up in a new location,  It does not encourage anyone taking a chance to restart speedway somewhere. 

The rules for joining the leagues are the same for everyone. Championship requires an entry fee, a bond payment and either riders on the club’s retained list to a certain level or else cash to make up the difference. 
The four supporters trying to relaunch Eastbourne said they needed £150,000 so they must have understood the costs involved. They also said they could raise £50,000 between them so must have tried, and failed, to find the other £100,000.

Better they save their money than going into an underfunded venture that has the potential to go the way of the previous promotions at Eastbourne. Full credit to them for trying but even more credit for admitting defeat before any harm was done. Perhaps promoting speedway is much harder - and more expensive - than us Forumites realise. 
UPDATE - HGould beat me to much of that!

Edited September 14, 2022 by Wee Eck

[M.D]

43 minutes ago, Wee Eck said:

The rules for joining the leagues are the same for everyone. Championship requires an entry fee, a bond payment and either riders on the club’s retained list to a certain level or else cash to make up the difference. 
The four supporters trying to relaunch Eastbourne said they needed £150,000 so they must have understood the costs involved. They also said they could raise £50,000 between them so must have tried, and failed, to find the other £100,000.

Better they save their money than going into an underfunded venture that has the potential to go the way of the previous promotions at Eastbourne. Full credit to them for trying but even more credit for admitting defeat before any harm was done. Perhaps promoting speedway is much harder - and more expensive - than us Forumites realise. 
UPDATE - HGould beat me to much of that!

Its not just the BSPL fees that I won't quote but its the other start up costs needed at Arlington

Air Fence (£30000)

Tractor

Shale

Possible track equipment (including new starting gate

Rider sign on fees

Upfront money for medical cover

insurances

the list gos on to start out new in the sport

However, The BSPL and the Dugard family have both been very helpfull and encouraging in trying to get us to tapes in 2023 but we have lost most if not all of the old clubs sponsors so sometimes one has to admit at this point, its a bridge to far..

[Wee Eck]

1 hour ago, M.D said:

Its not just the BSPL fees that I won't quote but its the other start up costs needed at Arlington

Air Fence (£30000)

Tractor

Shale

Possible track equipment (including new starting gate

Rider sign on fees

Upfront money for medical cover

insurances

the list gos on to start out new in the sport

However, The BSPL and the Dugard family have both been very helpfull and encouraging in trying to get us to tapes in 2023 but we have lost most if not all of the old clubs sponsors so sometimes one has to admit at this point, its a bridge to far..

I think you make my point for me - it’s expensive to set up a new promotion, and better to recognise that sooner rather than later. All credit to the four of you that you HAVE recognised that rather than carrying on only perhaps to suffer the same problems as the previous promotion (as well as the ex-Newcastle promoter).

Speedway in UK is hanging on by its fingernails - or rather the deep pockets - of most of the existing promoters. They are much maligned but, if there was a magic wand to sort it, I think they’d have found it by now. But then, if running a speedway team was the licence to print money that was the case in decades gone past, the barriers to entry would be far higher.

It may be that a multi million pound relaunch, used to give spectators better facilities amongst many overdue updates, might just help to rebuild the sport, but there’s no  guarantee that crowds would return. So why take the risk?

[Fromafar]

Don’t think any wisemen would dream of investing substantial amounts of money in the sport.