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MattK

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Everything posted by MattK

  1. So basically, it sounds as if most people are carrying on as normal? For me, I will be work (from home). Enjoy your birds (both feathered and Monster varieties), fishing and curries - and stay safe.
  2. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    Yes, it is a list of Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes which are ineligible for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) aka the "Government bailout". Every limited company has one and it describes the nature of the business. For example, Swindon Speedway is "93199 - Other sports activities", Belle Vue is "93290 - Other amusement and recreation activities not elsewhere classified". It's not an exact science, but neither of those SIC codes are ineligible for the scheme.
  3. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    The list of business types excluded is minimal. Therefore, there's no reason why speedway clubs shouldn't qualify if they want to take out a loan with a personal guarantee in the current climate: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Ineligible-and-Restricted-Eligibility-Sector-2017.pdf
  4. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    100% correct, I don't. I know his job title - "Commercial Manager". I see the same failed attempts to attract fans, school visits, tent at local fates etc. What I don't see is Swindon speedway having a visible presence at large local employers like Nationwide or sponsors beyond the usual industrial filtration companies and discount carpet warehouses.
  5. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    Is that why Terry Russell was in the paper mid-season pleading poverty? Anyone can see crowds at Swindon are trending downwards.
  6. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    I agree. It is a thankless task and a complete money pit for promoters who have a financial stake in clubs. You also have to content me smart asses like me, who have no skin in the game, but sit on the sidelines criticising. However, promoters do themselves no favours. If you want to keep your fee paying customers on side, how about a bit of transparency? If you want the best person for the job, why not advertise it, rather than appoint your mates? If you want new fans, why not get out there to large companies and promote, rather than persevering with the same failed tactics like going to schools and local fates? It's not rocket science (he says from the comfort of his arm chair).
  7. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    By what measure do you think Swindon has come a long way since Lee has been on board? How much has our crowds risen by in the last two years? What new sponsors has he attracted? As I said, there is no doubt he is very amicable and spends a lot of time engaging with fans on Facebook. For all I know, that might be the scope of his job description. However, as someone on the outside looking in all I can see is Swindon's crowd dwindling by the season while obvious marketing opportunities sit idle.
  8. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    I understand your point perfectly. I simply ask, how much has all the steps Barry Bishop taken actually raised the gate by. Is it, for example, higher than Swindon's, who frankly do nothing to promote speedway? I know what Barry Bishop posts on here. He clearly works very hard and has lots of new ideas. I am not for a second being negative. I am simply asking whether those ideas have equated to additional bums on seats compared to a club which doesn't do what he does.
  9. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    I'm certainly not saying the current crop of promoters do a good job, far from it and all the evidence shows that. However, people hold Barry Bishop and Lee Kilby in high esteem seemingly without any data points to back this up. Barry Bishop has lots of new and innovative ideas that other tracks don't. Whether these ideas turn into fee paying customers though, I don't know - hence my question. Similarly, Lee Kilby spends a lot of time on the Swindon Speedway Facebook page. To me this is the dictionary definition of preaching to the converted. On the other hand, 6,000 people work at Nationwide in Swindon and as far as I am aware there has been absolutely no attempt to promote speedway within that company, which to me is a no brainer. I am all for taking British speedway forwards. However, for me, the way to make it successful is to appoint people with a proven track record, rather than simply a sunny disposition.
  10. MattK

    Corona virus

    The original post is nonsense. Firstly, having a net worth of £4bn is not the same as having lots of cash sitting around, which is precisely what companies need when they are have cash flow problems. Secondly, the government guarantees asked for by the airline industry does not primarily help Branson, they help the employees of Virgin Atlantic who stand to be impacted much more if the company folds than Branson does.
  11. MattK

    Corona virus

    He's not short of a few bob, that's the point. His share of Virgin Atlantic is worth about £70m. It won't materially impact him if it goes bust, but it will have significant impacts on the livelihoods of the circa 8,500 employees.
  12. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    So you have no evidence that their jovial approach actually adds to the bottom line? Interesting.
  13. MattK

    Corona virus

    I've seen a few people say this. Let's just say the UK airline industry receives no state support and Virgin Atlantic goes bust. Branson is still there on his private island surrounded by supermodels, but how does that help their employees who've lost their jobs?
  14. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    What sort of crowds go they get at the Isle of Wight?
  15. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    I'd say riders are in a more precarious position than clubs. Most will have bought new equipment, presumably on credit, signed van leases, rented houses etc. on the premise they will start receiving an income from mid-March. Equipment can obviously be mothballed, but if they've signed an 8-month lease for a van, the lease company isn't going to simply let them walk away from that agreement. Of course, riders do have the opportunity to earn money outside of speedway, but at the current time that is likely to be exceedingly difficult as companies are looking to ramp down operations, rather than take on new hires.
  16. MattK

    Will British Speedway Survive ?

    What are the fixed costs of a speedway club? Upfront track work, licences, insurance, a bit of marketing (I jest) etc.? Obviously clubs will be looking to recoup those costs over the course of the season. If they haven't skimped on legal fees then their contracts with sponsors, TV and landlords should align, as in if the season is cancelled and sponsors/TV don't have to pay, their stadium leases should reflect that. Given that most clubs run at a loss over the course of a season, then not running is likely to incur small losses than actually going ahead with the season?
  17. MattK

    Sky and Bt sports

    I got a letter from Sky last week informing me that prices are going up. I can only think of one thing I've watched on Sky in the last three months (Ballers). I think it is definitely time to cancel.
  18. Of course, the devil is in the details. The govt have announced support for businesses, but these are likely to be in the form of loans and could even include personal guarantees. As you say, they are unlikely to throw free money at companies who suffer losses.
  19. Better still, scrap the league and just have a cup competition and the league play-offs.
  20. MattK

    Corona virus

    Why's that?
  21. MattK

    Corona virus

    If we follow the Italian model you're still allow to go out to visit the supermarket, pharmacy and other approved places. The idea is to minimise contact between those in the high risk categories and the wider population.
  22. Depends who's asking. Are you a potential sponsor or the taxman?
  23. MattK

    Corona virus

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51882897 You are also making the schoolboy error of comparing little ol' speedway with popular sports and large, well-publicised events. The Brummies will have a short term cash flow problem then. All those costs you described above will have to be paid for eventually, they aren't being incurred on an on-going basis. Alternatively they can run meetings, but as above if they get around half their usual crowds then they are now realising a loss on every meeting, which they won't get back. It isn't a pretty picture, but they are in the same boat as every business who still have regular overheads (wages, rent, rates etc.), but who are seeing a massive drop in sales. The difference between a normal business and a speedway club is that clubs only have around 20 opportunities to make a profit each season. If they run a meeting and it makes a loss, then that opportunity it gone and that loss has to be covered out of the owner's pocket. As I said, I can see no benefit in speedway ploughing on regardless. Unless they conduct an unprecedented marketing campaign (there's a first time for everything) to try and encourage some of the football-starved masses through the turnstiles then there is a real risk of meetings going ahead with even smaller crowds than usual, especially if teams are filled with guests due to riders not being able to travel.
  24. MattK

    Corona virus

    There is already anecdotal evidence that sell out events are being poorly attended due to people choosing to avoid public gatherings. Against that backdrop and fan's general adversion to guests, what does speedway stand to gain from persevering with the current fixture list? It would make more sense to get ahead of the game, announce a six week delay and reschedule fixtures accordingly.
  25. MattK

    Corona virus

    It's a balancing act. If you close schools then people have to take time off work which hurts the economy and people who work in healthcare are not available at a time when the health service needs them most. Given that we are 4 weeks behind Italy we have a nice little case study we can follow. If our infections rates continue at the same rate as Italy's were 4 weeks ago then we know we have to take decisive action and the timings of Italy's actions show us when we should take certain steps. As it stands our infection rate is growing at around 20%, whereas Italy's was 35% before they announced their effective shutdown, which suggests we are no where near in as bad a state as they were.
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