Should the OAP discount be scrapped?

[Beowulf]

10 hours ago, BassoRacingFan said:

Can you compare the expenses of a working adult with a pensioner?

One has to pay a mortgage/rent, childcare and commuting costs.

So you think that those that have reached pension age haven't had to pay these costs throughout their lives ? Back in the 70's, interest rates for mortgages were in the region of 11% to 15 %. We just got on with it. Commuting ? My dad used to walk 5 miles to work to start at 6:00 am because there were no buses. Growing up I lived in a house with an outside toilet and no central heating. Today's pensioners have gone through a lot more than cosseted people like you ever will. So shut up.

 

[steve roberts]

6 hours ago, Beowulf said:

So you think that those that have reached pension age haven't had to pay these costs throughout their lives ? Back in the 70's, interest rates for mortgages were in the region of 11% to 15 %. We just got on with it. Commuting ? My dad used to walk 5 miles to work to start at 6:00 am because there were no buses. Growing up I lived in a house with an outside toilet and no central heating. Today's pensioners have gone through a lot more than cosseted people like you ever will. So shut up.

 

...my mother, who is her late eighties, lived thru' the fifties when rationing was still in place and her generation helped get the country back on its feet again after the war.

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

I think it's fair to say that the OP has achieved its intentions.......

[uk_martin]

I would guess that as the majority of speedway fans are of pensionable age, including those on BSF, that for that reason the majority of responses would be to preserve the discount because of nothing other than motivated self-interest. I for one don't understand why pensioners should get discounts on luxuries like speedway and yet have to pay full whack on bread, milk, eggs and other "essentials". And why in the UK only? I've not seen any pensioner discounts at any of the speedway tracks I've been to on the continent.

And then we have the matter of the clubs who are facing ever increasing running costs. And yet, over the course of a year, those who offer OAP discounts will be losing £xx,000's a year in revenue. That's a circle that has to be squared.  OK, some penny-pinching pensioners may take the hump and stop going. The up side of that the less the terraces look like a Derby & Joan Club evening out, the more likely you are to find younger people coming to watch speedway instead. Swings and roundabouts on that score.

[jenga]

On 11/17/2022 at 7:27 PM, BassoRacingFan said:

Today's announcement from the Government means people in receipt of the state pension will receive higher pay rises than working adults.

It seems unfair to offer OAPs discounted tickets.

you need to get out of Trump Tower . jump in your chopper (lol) and have a good look at the world as it is today . 

[Toady]

2 hours ago, uk_martin said:

I would guess that as the majority of speedway fans are of pensionable age, including those on BSF, that for that reason the majority of responses would be to preserve the discount because of nothing other than motivated self-interest. I for one don't understand why pensioners should get discounts on luxuries like speedway and yet have to pay full whack on bread, milk, eggs and other "essentials". And why in the UK only? I've not seen any pensioner discounts at any of the speedway tracks I've been to on the continent.

And then we have the matter of the clubs who are facing ever increasing running costs. And yet, over the course of a year, those who offer OAP discounts will be losing £xx,000's a year in revenue. That's a circle that has to be squared.  OK, some penny-pinching pensioners may take the hump and stop going. The up side of that the less the terraces look like a Derby & Joan Club evening out, the more likely you are to find younger people coming to watch speedway instead. Swings and roundabouts on that score.

I guess that promoters who offer discounts know their own business and as they are the ones stumping up the cash it’s their call.

Oxford offer no discounts or cash payments and appear to have had successful comeback plenty of young and old punters.

[OveFundinFan]

6 hours ago, uk_martin said:

I would guess that as the majority of speedway fans are of pensionable age, including those on BSF, that for that reason the majority of responses would be to preserve the discount because of nothing other than motivated self-interest. I for one don't understand why pensioners should get discounts on luxuries like speedway and yet have to pay full whack on bread, milk, eggs and other "essentials". And why in the UK only? I've not seen any pensioner discounts at any of the speedway tracks I've been to on the continent.

And then we have the matter of the clubs who are facing ever increasing running costs. And yet, over the course of a year, those who offer OAP discounts will be losing £xx,000's a year in revenue. That's a circle that has to be squared.  OK, some penny-pinching pensioners may take the hump and stop going. The up side of that the less the terraces look like a Derby & Joan Club evening out, the more likely you are to find younger people coming to watch speedway instead. Swings and roundabouts on that score.

I think its been agreed on here some time ago that if promotors gave the youngsters the type of entertainment they want then more youngsters may be attracted.

The fact is promotors cant give the audience they currently have what they want means there is not much chance of it being expanded to what the youngsters want.

[mikebv]

20 hours ago, Beowulf said:

So you think that those that have reached pension age haven't had to pay these costs throughout their lives ? Back in the 70's, interest rates for mortgages were in the region of 11% to 15 %. We just got on with it. Commuting ? My dad used to walk 5 miles to work to start at 6:00 am because there were no buses. Growing up I lived in a house with an outside toilet and no central heating. Today's pensioners have gone through a lot more than cosseted people like you ever will. So shut up.

 

There were 160 of us living in a shoebox in't middle ot road....

[Hawk127]

19 minutes ago, mikebv said:

There were 160 of us living in a shoebox in't middle ot road....

We were lucky we had a garden called the central reservation albeit the hgv drivers use to rain something on us as they passed by but my parents use to say be thankful that the government were not pissing on us. Not sure I followed the logic but when I got a job I went up market and had a round about which we share with chickens.

[Beowulf]

9 hours ago, uk_martin said:

I would guess that as the majority of speedway fans are of pensionable age, including those on BSF, that for that reason the majority of responses would be to preserve the discount because of nothing other than motivated self-interest. I for one don't understand why pensioners should get discounts on luxuries like speedway and yet have to pay full whack on bread, milk, eggs and other "essentials". And why in the UK only? I've not seen any pensioner discounts at any of the speedway tracks I've been to on the continent.

And then we have the matter of the clubs who are facing ever increasing running costs. And yet, over the course of a year, those who offer OAP discounts will be losing £xx,000's a year in revenue. That's a circle that has to be squared.  OK, some penny-pinching pensioners may take the hump and stop going. The up side of that the less the terraces look like a Derby & Joan Club evening out, the more likely you are to find younger people coming to watch speedway instead. Swings and roundabouts on that score.

So think that by getting rid of 'old people' stadiums will immediately be flooded with young people ? I assume you don't run a  business. If your first thought is to  decrease the customer base, you're not  going  to be very successful.Does this argument apply to football ? My local football club, WWFC, offers cheaper season tickets for over 65's, as I assume all other Premiership clubs do. Are you saying all Premiership clubs don't know what they are doing? After all football is a much bigger business than speedway.

[mikebv]

2 hours ago, Hawk127 said:

We were lucky we had a garden called the central reservation albeit the hgv drivers use to rain something on us as they passed by but my parents use to say be thankful that the government were not pissing on us. Not sure I followed the logic but when I got a job I went up market and had a round about which we share with chickens.

Eeeeeee.. 

We were poo-er   

But we were 'appy....

[martinmauger]

Adding my 2P's worth (though a good few years off being an OAP myself), one very well known ex-promoter didn't offer an OAP discount - despite actually being an OAP .....

[Byker Biker]

Until someone has to live off a pension and see how thinly that income has to be spread I don't feel they are qualified to add value to this topic. Deciding what stays and goes on a monthly basis isn't a comfortable feeling.

In my opinion Speedway would be better off trying to keep the customers it has already got rather than risk alienating more. The sport hasn't been very good in the past at this, self interest and the blind desire to win has distorted every possible view of what was a sport. The limited company that has no financial or marketing leadership and is running the "show" needs to become a proper company instead of an agency for the village fete committee then we might see some accountability and unilateral direction. The decision to become a limited company in my opinion was purely a risk averse move.

In simple terms; invest in a growing market, consolidate in a static market and defend in a receding market. It all costs money but in these times it may be wiser to try and lose less by defending what they already have.

[Chris116]

2 hours ago, Byker Biker said:

Until someone has to live off a pension and see how thinly that income has to be spread I don't feel they are qualified to add value to this topic. Deciding what stays and goes on a monthly basis isn't a comfortable feeling.

In my opinion Speedway would be better off trying to keep the customers it has already got rather than risk alienating more. The sport hasn't been very good in the past at this, self interest and the blind desire to win has distorted every possible view of what was a sport. The limited company that has no financial or marketing leadership and is running the "show" needs to become a proper company instead of an agency for the village fete committee then we might see some accountability and unilateral direction. The decision to become a limited company in my opinion was purely a risk averse move.

In simple terms; invest in a growing market, consolidate in a static market and defend in a receding market. It all costs money but in these times it may be wiser to try and lose less by defending what they already have.

Careful! That sort of common sense is not liked by many in speedway.

[Waspman]

I get the full state pension plus a small private pension cant live on that so I still work part time so I can manage must be hard if u rely on the state pension  only

[chunky]

21 hours ago, mikebv said:

Eeeeeee.. 

We were poo-er   

But we were 'appy....

BECAUSE we were poor!

[*JJ]

19 hours ago, Waspman said:

I get the full state pension plus a small private pension cant live on that so I still work part time so I can manage must be hard if u rely on the state pension  only

Which is what I do, though I don't have any expensive habits except going to the speedway!

[Chris116]

I receive the state pension and also have a workplace pension which means that I am comfortable providing I do not try to live beyond my means. If anywhere I go has a reduced price for pensioners then it is very nice but not having a reduction would not stop me from going. In fact in most cases if I have received a reduction I will add that to my budget for food and have more to eat at the meeting.

[bruno]

Wolves OAP discount is at 60 which is rare but don't think the £2 saving would stop me going if it changed but it all helps. Doesn't stop some who are obviously below 60 paying discount I've noticed 

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

6 minutes ago, bruno said:

Wolves OAP discount is at 60 which is rare but don't think the £2 saving would stop me going if it changed but it all helps. Doesn't stop some who are obviously below 60 paying discount I've noticed 

Given the state retirement age is 66 and rising to 68 this is a bizarre age to set it at as it is not a pensioner discount