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Daniel Smith

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Posts posted by Daniel Smith


  1. This nonsense again. 

    There's not a single sport, team or individual, that has the 'outright best in the world' selected within their sports. Why is that? Simply, based on opinion. 

    Every single sport is selected off of a human beings opinion. 

    Not all F1 drivers are "the best in the world". 

    Not all MotoGP riders are "the best in the world". 

    Not all the players in the PDC Premier League are "the best in the world". 

    It's purely a matter of opinion from the selectors & it's purely a matter of opinion from those opposing the selections.

    There are zero "facts" only stats as to who is or isn't best for the jobs. Shock, horror for many, stats ain't facts. 

    • Like 1

  2. 1 hour ago, Steve Irving said:

    But he was powerless to stop the horse from bolting. They just ain’t having Speedway at the Showground and he was told that. He knew he was pi$$ing in the wind and wasn’t prepared to chase unicorns. The consortium have now found that out for themselves. The slanderous accusations on here over the past 6 months from the likes of TTT and the sheep that followed, accusing Chapman of taking “brown envelopes” to ensure the closing of Peterborough speedway have been absolutely staggering. 

    I'm no Chapman fan but I'm also not blinkered & fair. I've defended Chapman alot over this myself & as I said, most Peterborough fans came to terms with closure until Tomlin started shooting his mouth. 

    Micheal Tomlin is the problem in all this, not Chapman. This guy promised to buy the ownership & trapped off about land to build a new track & it all kicked off from there.

    Has he now ran off & left it to Bratley & Johnson to figure out?? Don't hear much of Tomlin's name to save the club now do we?? 


  3. 2 hours ago, Steve Irving said:

    Why are some of you Peterborough fans still blaming Chapman? Hasn’t he given Mick Bratley and the consortium his blessing to try and negotiate themselves? How are they all getting on with that? Would you like to update everyone Mick on how much of a better fist you’re making of things than Chapman did?

    Where Chapman gets the blame is the fact that the "horse has already bolted". 

    Bratley & Co have only been allowed to save the club once it was closed down. Tough job once clubs have already gone, so no blame at their door. 

    The biggest p*!ck the fans should be pointing the finger at is Michael "The Musk of Peterborough" Tomlin. 

    Opening his massive mouth, selling the dream to Peterborough fans & not backing it up. 

    Chapman has never wavered from closure after 2023 & he deemed it a miracle to have got that season as 2022 should have been the last. Every fan knew the situation & was dealing with it in their own mind until 'Billy Big Bollox' and his false promises opened his mouth. 


  4. 43 minutes ago, Crump99 said:

     

    I bow to your knowledge if that's the case. It doesn't make sense to me. I don't know how actual accounts are less worthy as evidence than the real fictional future financial benefits as drawn up by consultants contracted to the land promoters.

    If the save the speedway campaign e-mailed/contacted all of those events thrown out by AEPG (possibly including some others who might be interested) & asked if they would return in future to a well run and open Showground? Then by using those past accounts (or what those events paid previously) then it should be easy enough to come up with a future figure.

     

     

    That's exactly it. If those past businesses are willing to return then they would need to have their name within the fight with the Speedway. Then past accounting becomes viable along side future accounting. 

    It will become extremely difficult to find 'new' businesses to take on the fight. 

    I know it comes across as a doom merchant but I think it's fair for fans to understand the challenges of a standalone fight. 

    Going back to the original post, regarding what are AEPG doing. If they can prove Peterborough 'offers nothing' to the community outside of match days & away from the EoES, Peterborough Speedway absolutely 100% needs past & future businesses alongside. 

    AEPG are looking for those final nails


  5. 1 hour ago, OldNutter said:

    Past viability can and has  been used as an argument against development if the loss of viability is/was due to actions of the developer having induced the loss of viability in support of the changes.  Clearly, the actions taken by AEPG when they took ownership of the management company for the Showground from EEAS in refusing bookings from all of the existing events can be used to prove that the closures were induced.  That could mean that the viability evidence is already cast in stone, ready to be unearthed at the right time.   The legal system has the capability to effectively wind the clock back if that is likely to affect material evidence.  Add that to the consideration of precedence in legal cases such as may occur if the planning decision is taken to appeal and the case could well already be well established.

    Biding time can be a double-edged sword, and borrowing lots of money is no longer as cheap as it was a few years ago, making time much more of an enemy than it was a few fears  ago.

    You're right, but only if all the businesses help fight the cause & highlight the effects moving has had on their businesses & show they had intended to stay. 

    You can't use historical figures of many businesses to fight a standalone case if these businesses have relocated successfully.

    Peterborough Speedway are flogging a dead horse going at this alone. 


  6. 9 hours ago, Crump99 said:

    My understanding is that financial accounts show that the venue as a whole is, and has been, viable (even during Covid?). I'm sure that those details will be delivered and debated at a more appropriate time.

    Those events mentioned will be disappointed no doubt but will soon move on, as they have, but I'm sure that they'd return if the EoES was open to them and others again. They have no skin in the game though and their very existence isn't under threat so there is no reason why they would want to join the campaign group.

    The EEAS/AEPG want this done (Butterfield said last week that he wants to start tomorrow) and whether they are prepared to sacrifice time and money sitting and waiting is very much open to question? Flogging a dead horse might seem pointless but we're further down the line than Coventry, in terms of evidence and preparedness,  and look at that outcome after years. I'm sure that Brandon Estates thought that they'd just bide their time and claim the prize?

    Here's the problem, you can't use past accounting as an argument for viability as all those businesses & events have moved on. 

    You need future accounting from businesses & events that want to come in as the land is. 

    As I said, Speedway needs help, you're flogging a dead horse going alone. 

    Peterborough's situation isn't comparable to Coventry & Oxford as they have the multi-use of the facility. 

    With the land vastness of the EoES, Peterborough cannot argue the viability of the stadium & 'fictional' accounting without other businesses on board. 

    Or the other option is a simple one, find a multi millionaire to buy the land from EEAS

    • Like 1

  7. 4 minutes ago, Crump99 said:

    The EoES is multi-use facility though and it should have been developed as such with the retention of Peterborough Speedway; as per first draft of the new Peterborough Local Plan in 2015/16. In 2022 the landowners (EEAS) initially said they had no problem with the speedway running. It's AEPG who have all but closed the events venue, isolated Peterborough Speedway and pushed the unviable, lack of use narrative (you've bought) while trying to con PCC that their so called leisure led concrete jungle offers the city and region more than an effectively managed events venue, speedway track and Arena venue.

    Don't disagree but Peterborough Speedway group desperately need to get people that sees the venue as a 'viable use' on board asap. 

    Going alone is just flogging a dead horse. 

    Do Truckfest care they're gone, does the Caravan Club care they're gone, does EquiFest?? 

    Whilst things are difficult for EEAS & AEPG right now, they know they can bide their time


  8. 1 minute ago, OldNutter said:

    I couldn't agree more with that first sentence.  However, I seem to remember either last year or 2022 there was a big Monster Truck event in the infield - it did quite a lot of damage to the grass if I remember right!  That sort of event and many other social events that need a decent open area with a grandstand for spectators could use that space a lot.  Last year was a bad one for such things, because the last thing our owner wanted to do was  any time marketing something he had little heart  in other  than just getting to the end of the season in one piece, but it could be done by new progressive management.  Coventry and Rye House had Go Karts on the infield and the last time I went to Rye House just before it closed, there was a cross-country buggy course in the infield.  Add the new rules about having to have at least two league teams and/or junior meetings and speedway would be a lot busier as well.  Also, our position on the A1 would make the site attractive to the northern based Stock Car/Hot Rod drivers if the extra barriers were incorporated into the new fence that will need to be built anyway to replace the one that was taken down - Big Saturday Night F1 BRISCA Stox anyone?.

    That sort of spread of sport and community events was what I was aiming at, not the dead hand we were forced to have at the tiller last year because of the blindfolded Butterfield curse.  We need imagination of the type that the likes of the Oxford re-birth that showed could be made to happen and we have a much better site for that than Oxford have had to make the most of.

    And I agree with that. The problem there is the landowners don't want other events, Monster Trucks, Stock Cars, TruckFest etc. The only product fighting to remain is the 'not cost effective' Speedway. 

    The only way Peterborough Speedway will return to the Showground is if the promoter / owner (whoever that ends up being) pays significant yearly rent & organise events outside of the sport to try recouping the outlay. 

     


  9. 3 hours ago, OldNutter said:

    Not really anywhere near the full story -  Man City and West Ham for example.  Most football grounds are owned separately from the club and oddly, it is the lower league league clubs that tend to own their grounds -  Walsall for example have recently managed to return the Bescot ground to being owned by the club and are now paying mortgage cash not rent!..  The size differential between the likes of Spurs and Man U and such as Forest Green makes comparisons between football and anything else somewhat pointless.  Many clubs (eg Man City/West Ham) who do not own their grounds split the ownerships into the football and F&B  services income.  Most EFL clubs only have between 50 and 150 actual employees.  Most of the off pitch activity is business to make money not sport.  If you actually look at most sports, the actual sport activity is minimal in a business/ownership sense and they would not even exist financially without all of the ancillary cash raising activities like F & B, overpriced merchandise, weddings and company meetings etc.

    If we are going to fight on to retain the speedway at the showground we will need to use all of the ammunition we can and delving down into real facts and tenuous supporting links will be vital.  If you doubt that, have a look through the huge pile of paperwork that Coventry Speedway (who did own their stadium and lost the lot in the first instance) have released about their fight.  The Peterborough consortium have quite a fight ahead and we will have to support them the whole way.

    Manchester United & Peterborough Panthers is comparable with the original point. 

    The discussion was with regards to the use of grounds & what Peterborough Panthers offers to the local community. 

    The answer as a whole is nothing & you tried to argue that football stadiums / clubs are the same, it's absolutely not.

    Many football clubs, even at 'None League' level offer far far more to the community than any British Speedway club. 

    Why should the land owners keep a stadium functional for Peterborough Panthers just for, at most, 30 days a year??

    Coventry has a much better argument due to it's multi use functionality with Speedway, Stockcars & potentially Greyhounds again. Peterborough doesn't offer that. 


  10. 4 hours ago, OldNutter said:

    These sorts of stuff can be somewhat "imaginative" and even somewhat nebulous.  Think about a football stadium - 24-ish days a year for  90 minutes probably equates to or is even less than a two-team speedway venue.  Any team sport, particularly a geographically-based one generates supporters and they are a substantial element of local wellbeing.  The loss of speedway at the showground could be said to reducing the numbers of the community in Peterborough from visiting other entertainment and eating/drinking local facilities to exchange chat about their local speedway team.  I would say a major part of the value that Posh brings to the community in Peterborough can also similarly justifiably be used to support the need for speedway in the town ( at the showground, where it has been for years.)  All meetings/events of the Supporters Club or equivalent also add to the community of a local sporting activity and improve the well being of that community.

    Travelling fans bring value to places around town like petrol stations, ev charging points, hotels and restaurants and lots of other businesses in the city.

    There must be many more things that come into this holistic view off the value of a local speedway team beyond just the actual meetings.  And none of these are provided by loads of houses.

    Is this a serious post?? Football stadiums are 24 days for 90mins??

    Club shops 7 days a week, executive suites 7 days a week, 7 days a week restaurants, function suites, stadium tours, charity work, 100s of office staff required 7 days a week. 

    • Like 1

  11. 50 minutes ago, Crump99 said:

    Can anyone decipher this in plain English in terms of Peterborough Speedway? (not what you think it means, only if you actually know)

    We urgently need evidence, which we will submit, in two areas to assist our Asset of Community Value application.

    1) whether Peterborough Speedway is or has in the recent past being used to further social wellbeing or the social interests of the local community which is not an ancillary use.

    2) whether it is realistic to think that such a use if current may continue in the future or if it was in the recent past may occur at a time in the next five years.

    Seems reasonably simple. 

    Basically asking if the Speedway brings anything to the community outside the sport excluding match days. 

    Schools, charitable work, community gatherings etc. 

    It's a fair argument to the use of grounds as Speedway is once a fortnight for 6 months. 


  12. 1 hour ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

    Ridiculous if averages that are 9 and 10 years old are used

    It is ridiculous but have rider's ever had their averages increased?? Also to a half point figure of 7.50?? 

    Absolutely, Birmingham's management have requested it rather than the rider's being given it. 

    The numbers just make no sense at all, Pawlicki & Milik are nowhere near 7.50 rider's 


  13. 1 hour ago, Wee Eck said:

    I like your thinking! Lemo is notoriously slow to make changes so I don’t really see BV as a threat to the top four

    That's not a problem for Belle Vue. Do enough for top 4 & strengthen up in August. Changing early isn't necessary if the team can at least win at home 


  14. 2 minutes ago, Sings4Speedway said:

    Its not just the impact on Birmingham speedway, when this side travels how many fans might decide to stay home rather than watch a very one sided affair? There will always be happy clappers but there are an awful lot of spectators who wish to be entertained. There will also be other promotions who aren't relishing the costs of facing and soundly beating Brum.

    Brum may get 4 reasonable gates when Woffinden & Sayfutdinov roll in to town but the other clubs offer nothing for the home fans to get up for if they're getting wolloped week in week out

    • Like 1

  15. 3 hours ago, Fromafar said:

    Does anyone know why the last 2 signings are 7.5 when that is not their true average.

    As mentioned before, it's so better guests are available when they go AWOL for whatever random reason. 

    Laguta / King's Lynn set a precedent for this last season 


  16. 4 minutes ago, szkocjasid said:

    It actually suits Birmingham for their riders to be on these averages rather than Pawlicki (7.32), Milk (5.67) & Lampart (5.00) as it means if anyone is missing they'll be able to use stronger guests or r/r. Plus Z.Cook at reserve could be a real trump card.

    However I don't understand how they can increase the averages of Pawlicki & Milik, but decrease Janowski's, while Pedersen, Kasprzak & Woffinden returned on their old averages. Should rules not be consistent for all?

    The rule judgements on averages has become an absolute joke this season. 

    In real money, Birmingham are 4.60 under the average. Absolutely embarrassing team building. 

    I'd be concerned about Birmingham's sustainability in the top division & whether they'll see out the season. 

    Absolutely shocking team building 

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