Cockney Rebel 97 Posted November 5, 2013 (edited) Right here is my go at a saviour plan for the elite league. If regular team speedway is going to survive in this country then it has to stop driving away its hardcore fan base along with encouraging new fans to attend meetings. People think it’s all about getting new fans through the door and that is important. However look at the hardcore fan base, look at how it has diminished over the years, it’s quite frightening. Promoters assume those kind of people will keep turning up and some will but an awful lot have drifted away. There are people who don’t go now who used to believe would go to speedway forever. Over the last couple of years I’ve kind of drifted away although I love the GPs and still pop down Monmore occasionally. However it’s not the same anymore. I think at this stage it may be a bit unrealistic to drastically improve things but an improvement or at least stopping the rot isn’t impossible. Every year we say the sport is in crisis but I think it’s in a big mess going into next year. Something has to be done. Although it may be difficult we need to keep as much quality in the league as possible. This means quality throughout the team, not just two big hitters then a load of 3 pointers. People would also like more teams so how about an Elite League of 12 teams each with 1 top rider as a limit. We always talk about strengthening from the top but lets be realistic that isn’t going to happen. So why not strengthen from the bottom. A ban on 3 point riders in the elite league should help. If they have a 3 point average then they are premier league standard. Id try impose a minimum average of 4 on the league. if it can’t be done then start with 3.5. One thing that annoys me is Ward, Woffinden, Iversen etc being half a lap ahead of riders who struggle to turn the bike. There should be no place for that sort of stuff in the Elite. The play offs seem to annoy the old school fans but provide good drama and crowds. My idea would be to not have the place offs. Instead id split the league after the first round of fixtures. So after you have raced everybody home and away once the top 5 should break off into Elite League A and the bottom 7 into Elite League B. Rather than having play offs you then ride home and away again against everyone in your new league. Therefore the winner of Elite League A would be champions. Effectively it’s a longer play off but in a league format. Similar idea to when you had A finals and B finals in the GPs. You could have an Elite League winner and a B league winner (from the bottom 7) This would add up to 30 fixtures for teams who qualify for the A league and 36 fixtures for the B league. Not too few but not loads of fixtures at the same time. This system would keep some of the play off drama but also ensure that the winner of the A league is the best team throughout the season. Id also cancel the tac ride rule and bring back the old school tactical sub. I don’t consider this a biggy but there should be something for the die hards and I think they would like to see double points cancelled. You may think this is a complete pile of rubbish but its just an idea so don’t all shoot me down at once Only just spotted this post, seems like a good idea. The only down side would be that some some supporters would think the teams who finished outside the top 5 would be competing for a best of the losers cup/trophy and not bother turning up, but personally I think it's a good idea. Edited November 5, 2013 by Cockney Rebel Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bluenose 74 Posted November 9, 2013 Right.......... here is my go on brit speedway next year. 1 13 heats per meeting 2 2 british riders to be named in each teams (*squad*) see 5 3 Taccy sub if 6 pts down,then double pts if 10 points down.(as used in the danish league) 4 Division 1 12 teams 22 fixtures each. Division 2 12 teams 22 fixtures each. 5 Each team gets to ride 1 home and 1 away match each week. 6 When a grand prix week,.......supplement fixtures with 3 leagues of 8 teams north/midlands/south. 14 fixtures per team. ( this will allow teams to contract gp riders for the main leagues only,) so squad system should be in place to fill area league fixtures.. 7 KO cup in the form of 3 or 4 team matches, 8 Only 1 home and 1 away challenge match in March for riders to warm up. 9 play off change.//// Involve top 4 teams to last day of season.(example below) Play offs league mode (points awarded as in league matches) week 1 team who finishes 1st at home to 4th place team / team who finishes 2nd at home to team that finishes 3rd. week 2 team who finishes 1st at home to 3rd place team / team who finishes 2nd at home to team that finishes 4th week 3 team who finishes 1st at home to 2nd place team / team who finishes 3rd at home to team that finishes 4th add all points up.WINNER TAKES ALL. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmy jimmy 298 Posted November 10, 2013 Why 13 heats? So we get even less speedway? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skidder1 7,636 Posted November 10, 2013 Why 13 heats? So we get even less speedway? Just like 'the good old days'!!!???? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EnglishRoundabout 1,752 Posted November 10, 2013 How about a start Marshall that leaps around in chequered clothes? Yellow and black helmet covers? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naffer 442 Posted November 10, 2013 How about bees number one in blue leathers and swindons in red . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canadian Star 6 Posted November 10, 2013 (edited) The sad reality is I have become so disillusioned with the sport I really come on here anymore. Frankly I don't have any real idea as to how our sport can be saved. All I know is it stills needs a new independent administration, such as should have happened years ago with the late John Berry. The Sky/TV money belongs to the sport not to Bernie Russell, at least it should have done, sadly like Bernie Ecclestone, that money is now so tied up in the hands of one person, it is unlikely ever to return to its rightful owners. The product has become so watered down, it is unsurprisingly no longer able to attract sufficient spectators to make it viable. Speedway is only surviving in two scenarios. 1 where the promoter owns his stadium and retains all income from turnstiles catering parking and merchandise and has other activities to supplement income. Or 2 where the club is owned by a rich benefactor/ wealthy business owner who uses the sport as either a tax loss / or plaything - ie doesn't need to make a profit. Thus very few Promoters are actually in a stand-alone situation, this unrealistic scenario presents itself is manifested at the AGM each year. I love speedway racing and will continue to do so, we have a new English World Champion, lets hope somehow this might help in someway to keeping the sport alive in GB, sadly things don't look very promising Edited November 10, 2013 by Canadian Star 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
john birch 85 Posted November 14, 2013 Wouldn't be too surprised to see a 12 team league with say a 38 point limit. I'd get rid of all the GP riders with an exemption for English ones thus allowing Woffy to ride though i'm not sure why he'd wan't to do a 40 match schedule. Just one plea to the promoters - if we do have a 12 team league the temptation might be to have 6 teams in the playoffs. Fine but please use the Swedish formula and not the Premier League dogs breakfast elongated weather challenging borefest!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BuzzCagney 310 Posted November 15, 2013 How about a start Marshall that leaps around in chequered clothes? Yellow and black helmet covers?And jumpers for goalposts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TesarRacing 1,825 Posted November 15, 2013 The sad reality is I have become so disillusioned with the sport I really come on here anymore. Frankly I don't have any real idea as to how our sport can be saved. All I know is it stills needs a new independent administration, such as should have happened years ago with the late John Berry. The Sky/TV money belongs to the sport not to Bernie Russell, at least it should have done, sadly like Bernie Ecclestone, that money is now so tied up in the hands of one person, it is unlikely ever to return to its rightful owners. The product has become so watered down, it is unsurprisingly no longer able to attract sufficient spectators to make it viable. Speedway is only surviving in two scenarios. 1 where the promoter owns his stadium and retains all income from turnstiles catering parking and merchandise and has other activities to supplement income. Or 2 where the club is owned by a rich benefactor/ wealthy business owner who uses the sport as either a tax loss / or plaything - ie doesn't need to make a profit. Thus very few Promoters are actually in a stand-alone situation, this unrealistic scenario presents itself is manifested at the AGM each year. I love speedway racing and will continue to do so, we have a new English World Champion, lets hope somehow this might help in someway to keeping the sport alive in GB, sadly things don't look very promising Could have also happened 3 years ago but for self interest.......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blazeaway 1,501 Posted November 15, 2013 I would prefer less riders and more races, six man teams and eighteen heats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skidder1 7,636 Posted November 15, 2013 Great article from the BSPA Vice Chair (Jon Cook) in the SS this week, including trying to find a way to keep the likes of Tai and Darcy - who increase attendances wherever they go - in the EL!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hackett 220 Posted November 15, 2013 Chris Holder doesn't agree ....... “Obviously I want to do Britain – I live here and it’s easy to do it. But it all weighs on the rules and what happens this weekend. “I don’t want to leave Poole. But I have got to be realistic too. I can’t take anymore meetings on for less money than what we already earn here. We earn way less here than what we do abroad. If we take anymore of a pay cut, we might as well ride in the Premier League.” Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv 10,706 Posted November 15, 2013 Just a thought about Ward and Holder - if they dont have a contract to ride in the UK how does that affect their residency rights? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil The Ace 2,860 Posted November 16, 2013 (edited) Just a thought about Ward and Holder - if they dont have a contract to ride in the UK how does that affect their residency rights? Not to sure but crump lived in Northampton and Milton Keynes whilst not riding over here. Then again he wa born over here so he could be different I suppose Edited November 16, 2013 by Phil The Ace 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
