The future of British Speedway after the 2023 season

[Tommy Sweetman]

2 hours ago, Aries said:

You’re such a bloody drama queen you have to be one of the biggest glass half empty whinges on here you absolutely reek of negativity! You were trying to tell everyone yesterday that THIS season was basically over because of the news from Wolves and that everyone should now basically shut up shop. LOL what an absolute load of b0llocks. Sorry to disappoint you, but there’s an awful lot of people out there who are still very much enjoying their speedway and will continue to look forward to their speedway fix this season. 
 

Nobody was pleased to hear the news coming out of Wolves yesterday and of course it’s a big concern going forward as is the uncertainty from Peterborough and one or two others. But supporters can’t control what happens in 2024 so why should we all just join you in wallowing in complete misery? From what’s been said since, the white flag hasn’t been waved at Wolves in any case and the fight now commences. Have you joined in and signed the online petition to keep Wolves in operation? Let me guess, it’s not worth it because it’ll make no difference as you’ve already decided Wolves are now dead and buried. Am I right?

There will be British Speedway in 2024, guaranteed. 

He wouldn't have signed the petition,he hates everything Wolves and the city of Wolverhampton. 

[mikebv]

1 hour ago, BuxtonTiger said:

I would hope that the 2023 annual meeting will be preceded many early meetings to plan things. (I may well be in dreamland).

That's what happens usually each year..

I know it probably doesnt appear like that but the AGM should just ratify what has already been agreed prior to it being held..

And then, whilst there, the odd spanner gets thrown into the works...

 

[mikebv]

1 hour ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

Minor point but IOW jumped ship of their own accord , they were not expelled.

A wise move...?

In charge of their own destiny...

And not having their brand getting negatively impacted by the BSPL's brand reputation.. 

Maybe more should join them? 

[Fromafar]

On 4/17/2023 at 7:25 PM, BassoRacingFan said:

Do we need to introduce gambling to speedway tracks?

I think this would attract some punters and make tracks more sustainable

Idiot

[topsoil]

11 hours ago, iainb said:

It was nice to read Rob Godfrey's rallying Churchillian war cry, FINALLY for some reason this Wolves news seems to have hit home with him despite his Charimanship since 2018 seeing the closure of Rye House, Somerset, Swindon, Lakeside, Newcastle, Workington, Buxton, Cradley, Eastbourne, Kent, Stoke and the expulsion of IoW. Like others have said with Edinburgh & Peterborough highly doubtful for next year and question marks around Poole's future and the annual Birmingham crisis it could be a total of 15 clubs gone in 5 years under his stewardship... FIFTEEN! Even if you factor in the return of Oxford, Worky & Kent... that's still 12 a number higher than any of the current 3 leagues we have running

Interested in what Rob Godfrey was expected to do to stop the closure of those tracks. 

[topsoil]

1 hour ago, mikebv said:

A wise move...?

In charge of their own destiny...

And not having their brand getting negatively impacted by the BSPL's brand reputation.. 

Maybe more should join them? 

Uprights and grasstrack racing on shale. Can't think why it hasn't caught on.

[Fortythirtyeight]

1 hour ago, mikebv said:

A wise move...?

In charge of their own destiny...

And not having their brand getting negatively impacted by the BSPL's brand reputation.. 

Maybe more should join them? 

Who else wants to amateur events but charge the public to watch ? You think they would get a crowd ???

[Bryce]

17 minutes ago, topsoil said:

Interested in what Rob Godfrey was expected to do to stop the closure of those tracks. 

His decision in 2018 to force Lakeside and Workington to cancel established fixtures and then run on off nights (so he could have a better choice of guests) did huge financial damage to both clubs who both folded at the end of that season despite being in all the cup finals and in Worky's case winning a treble.

Edited April 18, 2023 by Bryce

[IainB]

21 minutes ago, topsoil said:

Interested in what Rob Godfrey was expected to do to stop the closure of those tracks. 

He could have resigned and let somebody who has a plan to save and revive the sport have a go? Just an idea 

[M.D]

The biggest issue if the UK goes for 1 league next season or a 2 way northern and southern league split is.

The UK has  protected race days in world speedway, Monday and Thursday. If we run with a different set up without a league that runs on those days then we loose that right for protective racing on those dates and then Poland can recall any rider they want or race on a Monday and Thursday.

We would loose our right as a major power in world speedway and become a second rate nation with no right over a power like Poland.

I maybe wrong but thats my take on it, shoot me down..

[Falcon1983]

3 minutes ago, M.D said:

The biggest issue if the UK goes for 1 league next season or a 2 way northern and southern league split is.

The UK has  protected race days in world speedway, Monday and Thursday. If we run with a different set up without a league that runs on those days then we loose that right for protective racing on those dates and then Poland can recall any rider they want or race on a Monday and Thursday.

We would loose our right as a major power in world speedway and become a second rate nation with no right over a power like Poland.

I maybe wrong but thats my take on it, shoot me down..

If it was a North/South split say 7 sides in each league, you could do home and away once with some form of league cup competiton that has a group format so in theory each club gets 10-12 home meetings

You could easily work with Sweden/Denmark/Germnay to avoid fixture clashes, if say Ipswich opted for Doyle and they face a weekend track and he's in Poland i guess its just unfortunate and a guest or RR would have to be operated

I think you couls get a few more aussies coming over and could attract a few more german riders etc to boost numbers 

 

[szkocjasid]

1 hour ago, topsoil said:

Uprights and grasstrack racing on shale. Can't think why it hasn't caught on.

 

1 hour ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

Who else wants to amateur events but charge the public to watch ? You think they would get a crowd ???

IoW make a profit, how many Premiership or Championship clubs can say that!

[Sir Sidney]

1 hour ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

Who else wants to amateur events but charge the public to watch ? You think they would get a crowd ???

Maybe you haven't checked who is racing. National League standard racing and I am quite happy to pay to watch. 

On top of that I also get all the added value that isn't provided elsewhere. 

Give it a try. You might just like it. All delivered at pace and with first class customer service. 

[mikebv]

4 hours ago, Bryce said:

His decision in 2018 to force Lakeside and Workington to cancel established fixtures and then run on off nights (so he could have a better choice of guests) did huge financial damage to both clubs who both folded at the end of that season despite being in all the cup finals and in Worky's case winning a treble.

WE NEEDED GUEST RIDERS!!! 

When will fans realise over here in the UK that there isnt an alternative... ?

Forget what Poland do...

They make it up as they go along by treating it like a proper team sport you can emotionally invest your time and money in...

You cannot run a Speedway league without having loads of riders available to cherry pick from, meaning you are able to bring them in as ringers as and when you need them..

It is a fundamental reason as to why the sport is so hugely successful in the UK...

Some people will never grasp this..

[Fortythirtyeight]

7 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

 

IoW make a profit, how many Premiership or Championship clubs can say that!

You sure ? making two dozen riders pay to ride and a hundred or so spectators half a dozen times a year isn’t go to make you a viable business.

[Fortythirtyeight]

6 hours ago, Sir Sidney said:

Maybe you haven't checked who is racing. National League standard racing and I am quite happy to pay to watch. 

On top of that I also get all the added value that isn't provided elsewhere. 

Give it a try. You might just like it. All delivered at pace and with first class customer service. 

I watch more amateur racing than most, and quite a bit of NDL, the IOW do have a sprinkling of NDL riders but so does Scunthorpe , Iwade and Redcar amateur meetings, doesn’t mean you get a viable crowd to watch.

[mikebv]

47 minutes ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

You sure ? making two dozen riders pay to ride and a hundred or so spectators half a dozen times a year isn’t go to make you a viable business.

How many have viable businesses under the current operating model?

If tracks were very profitable, running with 5000 crowds or so, and paid ten grand a night to landlords, then pretty much all those huge amount of tracks which have closed over the past decade would still be open...

Well meaning fans with deep pockets prop the sport up at several tracks to keep them open,, the operating model and marketing plan of the sport doesnt do that...

 

[uk_martin]

14 hours ago, BuxtonTiger said:

I would hope that the 2023 annual meeting will be preceded many early meetings to plan things. (I may well be in dreamland).

Nah, with their heads buried in the same sand as they were in back in the 1970's, the BSPZzzz will simply reduce the points limit to 35, pretend nothing's happening, "move along please, nothing to see here" and carry on in a state of perennial denial.

[Sir Sidney]

2 hours ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

I watch more amateur racing than most, and quite a bit of NDL, the IOW do have a sprinkling of NDL riders but so does Scunthorpe , Iwade and Redcar amateur meetings, doesn’t mean you get a viable crowd to watch.

IOW has more than 'a sprinkling of NDL riders' as you put it in the speedway based meetings.

Of course, as they run a varied programme, there are meetings that may attract a different client base.

Every promotion in the UK could benefit from watching how the IOW run meetings. As a customer I feel valued from the minute I arrive in the car park to the moment I leave, and often that is extended to the ferry trip home. 

[topsoil]

10 hours ago, Bryce said:

His decision in 2018 to force Lakeside and Workington to cancel established fixtures and then run on off nights (so he could have a better choice of guests) did huge financial damage to both clubs who both folded at the end of that season despite being in all the cup finals and in Worky's case winning a treble.

Lakeside arena was being sold. Workington were losing money hand over fist already. He wasn't the one to decide to overpay the riders. Already been discussed to death.