Brummies 2024...

[Beowulf]

2 hours ago, uk_martin said:

52% of that total identify as BAME. And when have you ever seen a BAME crowd at Speedway? (...waiting for all the "I know a black guy who goes" exceptions to that rule that are going to "prove me wrong")

 I have followed the Wolves home and away since 1967. As I am Indian, the make-up of the crowd has always been of interest to me. At no point have I seen a big increase in the ethnic support. I can't say why that is, and to be fair my family think I am weird following speedway. Speedway's current problems are such that it is in a gradual,but persistent decline, and aiming at 1 specific demographic I don't think will make much  difference. As to attracting Wolves fans I wish the Brummies well but I would not bank on it. When Wolves were closed in 82/83 I went  to 1 meeting and that was at Perry Barr. And that was with Hans Nielsen our previous No.1. Without your own team it is just not the same. My football team is WWFC and I don't bother watching anybody else either.

[HGould]

20 hours ago, 1stbender said:

Issue is that there needs to be better promotion of the club in the modern era. Maybe the club look at getting someone in fresh who can tap into a different market, birminghams a huge city no reason why they can get 1500 on a regular basis. 

It's statistically the most diverse city in UK and Europe. 

Thats the problem speedway has had for a long time. 

The traditional fan Base has gone. It's a university, Asian / West Indian mix. 

If you asked 1000 under 16s what speedway was I would bet the results would be terrifying. 

T20 and the Hundred, cricket hits the diversity and local imagination, full houses. 

It's not an easy product to sell. 

[HGould]

5 hours ago, OGT said:

I think you need to look at the demographic of the city and look at the growth of places such as Tamworth and Lichfield to understand why the club struggles to get decent crowds.

Then add on the fact that very few people actually like the sport anymore, which is probably the main issue. 

 

 

There used to be a speedway team at Tamworth when I was very young. It's now a housing estate next to Drayton Manor theme park. 

That area has been blighted by HS2. 

It might be a decent start up option next to M42 adjacent M6 near Bodymoor Heath. 

[BryanUgest]

Very open interview from Nigel Tolley in the Speedway Star.

You have admire anyone who has put nearly £300,000 into a club, sadly whilst he continues to allow Laurence Rogers to make business decisions, his investment will continue to be poured down the drain.  

2024 is likely to follow 2023 and 2022 pattern, an uncompetitive team, over paid and under performing.

[HGould]

3 hours ago, piston197 said:

Corey Blackman | Speedway riders, history and results (proboards.com)

Jittenda Dufill was half decent on a bike. 

 

[uk_martin]

2 minutes ago, BryanUgest said:

...to allow Laurence Rogers to make business decisions, his investment will continue to be poured down the drain

I wonder what Sir Alan Lord Sugar would make of it all. Who would he fire? The guy who is responsible for all the crap signings, facility stunts and fake break-ins and equipment damage, or the guy financing this venture without dismissing the person who is wasting his money for him?

[Pauldoveyspeedway]

6 hours ago, GiveusaB said:

All other teams No.3 are stronger/better than Worrall ... all N0.4's are better/stronger than Brennan.....all No.2's look better/stronger than Z.Cook....just my opinion !

Yes..very true ..

[noaksey]

51 minutes ago, uk_martin said:

I wonder what Sir Alan Lord Sugar would make of it all. Who would he fire? The guy who is responsible for all the crap signings, facility stunts and fake break-ins and equipment damage, or the guy financing this venture without dismissing the person who is wasting his money for him?

All of them

[IainB]

1 hour ago, BryanUgest said:

Very open interview from Nigel Tolley in the Speedway Star.

You have admire anyone who has put nearly £300,000 into a club, sadly whilst he continues to allow Laurence Rogers to make business decisions, his investment will continue to be poured down the drain.  

2024 is likely to follow 2023 and 2022 pattern, an uncompetitive team, over paid and under performing.

Admire or question their sanity?

Edited December 22, 2023 by iainb

[szkocjasid]

8 hours ago, GiveusaB said:

All other teams No.3 are stronger/better than Worrall ... all N0.4's are better/stronger than Brennan.....all No.2's look better/stronger than Z.Cook....just my opinion !

You're entitled to your opinion, but my slightly less negative view is Worrall is better than Tungate, Brennan is better than Ellis & Z.Cook is better than Rew.

Could change if the opposing 3 can bring their European form to GB.

[Bagpuss]

8 minutes ago, szkocjasid said:

You're entitled to your opinion, but my slightly less negative view is Worrall is better than Tungate, Brennan is better than Ellis & Z.Cook is better than Rew.

Could change if the opposing 3 can bring their European form to GB.

I don't think any team will better Brum's bottom four personally. We shall see.

[Pinny]

What were crowds like the year Brum topped the El table and lost the playoff final ??

[szkocjasid]

1 hour ago, Bagpuss said:

I don't think any team will better Brum's bottom four personally. We shall see.

I think that's what needs to happen to keep Birmingham competitive, hope it happens.

[the hobbit]

1 hour ago, Pinny said:

What were crowds like the year Brum topped the El table and lost the playoff final ??

Very healthy and more than enough to see us through next season 

[Najjer]

On 12/20/2023 at 12:34 AM, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Lampart is a decent signing and should double figure score most meetings, he is certainly fast enough and has good equipment and does mix it in the extraleague, 

I’ll eat my hat if he scores double figures most matches. You’re seriously over rating him if you think that’ll happen.

[Najjer]

On 12/21/2023 at 8:21 AM, HGould said:

Tolley in the Star.

Claims to have spent ballpark £300k in past 2 seasons and may be another 70k on top.

Claims to have spoken to Lindgren and "Russians", and "If say Bartosz Zmarzlik wanted to ride in this Country next season we wouldn't be frighted about what the money would be"

Goes on to say he is looking to bring in at least one rider "of GP standard"

Says at end that in further article NEXT WEEK "exciting news for Brummies fans ....and a new challenge way beyond riding in the Premiership"

 

Promotors just can’t help themselves, can they? Almost bragging and wanting a pat on the back to say well done about how much you’ve spent - yet all this does is just show utter incompetence of how he’s spent that money. Poor sides assembled, poor results attained, poor management and worst of all, so far absolutely nothing to entice large numbers of fans (new and old) through the turnstiles - that is the biggest mistake of all.

I really hope 2024 and beyond is successful for Birmingham as it could (and should) have the makings of being a very successful speedway team with a decent stadium and facility and big numbers of surrounding areas to tap into for speedway fans but you can’t help but feel it’s got a common theme to it with other previous owners and clubs dotted round the country.

[FishersGate]

35 minutes ago, Najjer said:

Promotors just can’t help themselves, can they? Almost bragging and wanting a pat on the back to say well done about how much you’ve spent - yet all this does is just show utter incompetence of how he’s spent that money. Poor sides assembled, poor results attained, poor management and worst of all, so far absolutely nothing to entice large numbers of fans (new and old) through the turnstiles - that is the biggest mistake of all.

I really hope 2024 and beyond is successful for Birmingham as it could (and should) have the makings of being a very successful speedway team with a decent stadium and facility and big numbers of surrounding areas to tap into for speedway fans but you can’t help but feel it’s got a common theme to it with other previous owners and clubs dotted round the country.

Imagine what clubs like Edinburgh, Redcar, Workington could do with that backing? They would be right up there I reckon mixing it up building even better sides assembled 

[25yearfan]

Fair play to Tolley for putting huge amounts into bankroll speedway in Birmingham and also provide the few other tracks who make money another team to ride against thus helping to keep the League going. But one day he will tire of losing money at such an alarming rate so will get out and then who else would be prepared to take on the reins?

 

Trouble is with speedway is the ageing fanbase, its an over 60's club and kids aren't interested or/and have no idea it exists. I suspect if you went into Ipswich Town Centre today with a clipboard and asked people who look like they are under 20 years old what is speedway a large percentage would have no idea and Ipswich is one of British speedways hotbeds and still get decent crowds.

 

Birmingham is like London in that much of the population are ethnics who don't have any interest and likely don't know speedway exists while many of the original White British population have moved away from the City. London had speedway 5 nights a week in the immediate post war years which was before the ethnic migrations to this Country and as late as 1971 London had four speedway teams. Smaller Cities and Towns seem to fare better as knowledge of speedways existence is much more visible and is seen as part of the "fabric" of the area. - I think nowadays London could maybe support one speedway team but it would need a brave person prepared to sp*nk money at a level similar to Nigel Tolley in order to make it happen.

 

The outside viewlines at Perry Bar aren't great but I suspect that more fans would put up with this if a successful promotion was in charge. And going with my instincts I'll be surprised if the Brummies 2024 are challenging to even get into the play off's.

 

Many speedway fans have also been under the impression that the One stop shopping Centre wasn't available anymore for people going to speedway but its been mentioned on here in recent posts that is not technically the case if one knows the parking rules there. Surely the speedway promotion could make this clearer?

Edited December 23, 2023 by 25yearfan

[Toady]

I don’t think they could have made any clearer 

BIRMINGHAM Speedway would like to update supporters attending racenights at Perry Barr in 2023 with the following car parking updates.

The previous agreement with the One Stop Shopping centre is NO longer in place and supporters are advised to adhere to the rules displayed should they choose to park there.

Stadium Car Parking remains for just £3 while the Club now also have free parking available at Bracebridge Engineering and Kalsi Kitchens on the A34 Walsall Road.

Season Ticket holders can now park on the VIP Car Park inside the stadium near the changing rooms - however please note there are only a number of spaces available and these will be taken on a first come, first served basis.

[bigcatdiary]

1 hour ago, Najjer said:

Promotors just can’t help themselves, can they? Almost bragging and wanting a pat on the back to say well done about how much you’ve spent - yet all this does is just show utter incompetence of how he’s spent that money. Poor sides assembled, poor results attained, poor management and worst of all, so far absolutely nothing to entice large numbers of fans (new and old) through the turnstiles - that is the biggest mistake of all.

I really hope 2024 and beyond is successful for Birmingham as it could (and should) have the makings of being a very successful speedway team with a decent stadium and facility and big numbers of surrounding areas to tap into for speedway fans but you can’t help but feel it’s got a common theme to it with other previous owners and clubs dotted round the country.

And then signs Sam Ermolenko as team manager, who has shown in his tv summaries that his only qualification is a degree in talking complete bollox.