lupus 1 Posted October 26, 2003 Kevin and I are pointing in much the same direction but see it slightly differently. Neither route is perfect but either would generate a lot of interest from broadcasters and sponsors. But what about FANS? Surely they're the ones who matter the most?! :?: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Meynell 2 Posted October 26, 2003 But what about FANS? Surely they're the ones who matter the most?! :?: Why would the fans lose out? In any case, there are hardly any fans left, which is why the sport desperately needs to attract new blood. It won't do this by only appealing to the few hundred remaining regulars. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mylor 0 Posted October 26, 2003 But what about FANS? Surely they're the ones who matter the most?! :?: Sorry guys............... The advantages for the fans, much greater variety, was covered in the post if you followed the link. Sorry, I should have extracted them as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brightonbob 0 Posted October 28, 2003 As a new boy to speedway (and a total convert) I have to say whoever designed a 15 race speedway meeting was a very clever boy. I love it and even my sport hating missus loves it. Guest riders: However, I still really struggle with guesting GP riders. No other sport does this, cricket for example loses plyers to internationals and has to grin and bare it. I try to explain why Loram is riding for Poole or Nicholls is riding for us to people and they just don't get it. I don't blame them. My feeling is that guesting riders over an ave of 7 points should be strictly limited to (a) teams outside the top four placing in the league (on ave points). This would mean that the bigger clubs, my own beloved Eagles included, would have to carry more depth in a squad. It would also even things up a bit. Further, bit less of a reason to pack your squad with GP riders. SWC: Superb. Can't wait for it to come to England/Wales/Scotland one day. More internationals please. Relegation/promotion: Its in everyones interest in my view and if it means limiting GP riders and lowering the limit, in the end speedway will be the winner. GP: I have not got a downer on the GP and think a lot of moaners ought to support what Benfield Sports are trying to do. Every sport needs a flagship to attract new fans and Sky do it fantastically well. BLC: I've loved it, but the handicapping needs looking at. It needs a better formula as I've seen a few utter thrashing this season. Press: Speedway has to be the best kept secret in the world. I think a weekly highlights program has to be offered to terrestial TV by Sky. Its in both our interests. Crowds: I've been amazed there is so few bikers at speedway. The superbikes circuit is massive business, More has to done to tap into what would be a hugely lucrative group. Get them and sponsorships will follow too. Thats my twopenneth for what its worth except to say thanks to all the promoters from Trelawny to Edingurgh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TonyM 0 Posted November 3, 2003 So here’s my two pence worth Sorry but cant see the European league / cup scenario working due to the doubling up of so many riders across a multitude of countries. So what was the aim of this league – as I see it two things to give GP riders less rides with equivalent money and to make meetings more competitive at all levels of the sport Lots of us have posted here and elsewhere that team speedway is really the sport we love and to this end I would propose changing the UK leagues to the following structure which I think would give team speedway a higher profile across the UK Division 1 6 teams based on a regional basis with no team owners but agreed managers Up to 4 GP riders (no more than 2 of top 10) remaining riders to come from any of the lower division affiliate teams for any fixture but priority given to lower league club in the event of a clash (should be plenty of alternatives for this squad system) – no points limit for these fixtures Home track to rotate around the region with no more than 2-3 meetings at any track Finance for the riders, management and track promotion to come from the centre (possibly direct from broadcaster / sponsor) although should be a fair amount of gate receipts for each ‘home’ track getting its share of the occasional fan being drawn to the big names May also need to be a fee payable to the promotion which owns the 'rights' to a GP rider Individual clubs would benefit by running the meetings and promoting their club at these meetings (hopefully with the home track specialist on view). Six regions would allow enough distance between most tracks for the individual clubs to be relatively unaffected by the higher league, and with only 5 home meetings this should allow for a proper league schedule to be put together over an 11 week period (with a break for the internationals) thus giving TV / Media a stable and quantifiable league to report on. I appreciate that some clubs have their hands tied when it comes to race night but with meetings spread around the regions some Saturday night clubs might relish the opportunity of running a festival type event on a non GP weekend, certainly it should not be beyond the wit of the powers that be to produce a viable fixture list Division 2 Effectively the top league without GP riders. Those at or near the top would still be tested by competing in the division 1 when available but should be able to earn a living in what would effectively be a halfway house between the EL and PL in current standards. I would limit this league to 12 teams giving each track 11 home league meetings which with a couple of division 1 meetings plus the cup should provide a viable schedule. Option to name non top ten GP rider from the regional division 1 side as heat leader replacement in the event of injury only. Use of doubling up / down to provide an element of a squad system at the lower end for non heat leaders Division 3 Possibly split North / South with riders doubling up / down with division 2 (or taking their place in division 1 side if selected) and utilising Division 4 sides for squad system at the lower end. If regionally based look to have some form of playoffs at the end of the season. My preference would be for a 14-16 strength single division but lower costs may mean more teams hence the split Promotion and relegation between Division 2 and 3 should not pose as big a hurdle as is currently the case between the EL and PL. Possibly involve the bottom 2 Division 1 sides in any playoff system Division 4 Feeder league to give experience to newcomers – limit on experience and some form of limit on foreign riders although would not like to see a blanket ban as now with loopholes for the Aussies Sorry this goes on a bit and for those who don’t like doubling up / down then I would ask what is the alternative in a sport that is as prone to injury as speedway, at least the squad system allows for a ‘friendly’ guest who would be known to the fans rather than whoever is available Possible structure for the six regions could be similar to the BLC cup groups but with an adjustment to allow for there currently being more EL clubs in the south. Tried to avoid more than 2 in any one region North - as BLC Northish - as BLC less Coventry East - as BLC less Rye House South West - as BLC less Wolverhampton & Newport plus IoW South - as BLC less IoW and Swindon plus Rye House Midlands - Coventy, Newport, Swindon and Wolverhampton May be a bit fantasy speedway but cant see any other way for the EL to be viable than without GP riders but the above gives the media something to focus on Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gaj2003 0 Posted November 3, 2003 The way I see it is Sky Sports has a lot to do with the way the elite league is at the moment!!! They are all for Promoting the Sport but only at Elite League Level and of course the GP's and if we're really lucky a few other meetings. To help reduce the gap cost wise why don't they sponser the Premier League and show PL meetings live and give them the Tv money that way making it easier for Teams to go up from the PL and able to sustain the costs needed to survive more than 1 season! Like most other sports in this country Sky is a big player in how the sports are promoted in this country so why don't we look to getting them to promote it as a whole EL,PL,and CL!!!!!!!! Teams in the EL are not the only ones who can Produce excellent meeting!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TonyM 0 Posted November 4, 2003 I would agree that EL racing is not always the best racing but we have to accept there are only so many hours of coverage that Sky will devote to speedway and IMO that time should show the best riders in a team environment (no real interest in the individual GP series myself but it has been promoted to the nth degree and is now a fact of life). The aim for us is that this coverage wets the appetite of viewers to go and see the real product live at their local club I think the main problem with EL is the vast gulf between the heat leaders and the rest and my proposal above would hopefully reduce this gap (by bringing in on form / track specialist non GP riders) and allow those non GP riders a more level playing field in division 2 I think if we are realistic about getting PL / EL racing to any sort of TV slot we have to accept this will be in a regional highlights programme akin to how some ITV regions show local football down to Div 3 on a Sunday lunchtime Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
