Jump to content
British Speedway Forum
Sign in to follow this  
T.N.T.

Why 2 Leagues

Recommended Posts

Surely with the lack of any TV money, the days of being able to afford the GP riders is upon us, and must be faced up to.

Because the top riders kept moaning about 'too many meetings', we now have a top flight league that can only offer 14 home meetings in a speedway season that starts in March/April and in theory goes on until October. Now I believe we have a Championship that is offering only 10 home league meetings! How does that square with a season of at least 29 weeks?

Do the fans want alternate week home meetings? Many are drifting away, having lost the habit. The majority of riders need more meetings (hence doubling up). How many meetings do the majority of promoters want to make their business viable? How do you please riders, fans and promoters alike?

2019 must be the season when when the powers that be allow one big league, initially split into two regional leagues, ( helping to reduce costs) with the top 4 from each racing off for the title, and the remainder racing in a supplementary competition/cup, thereby ensuring  that each club races around 20 home meeting. The second half of the season would see north v south matches. It may be best to go with 6 rider teams initially, but I believe that would soon revert back as the new young crop of riders develop.

It might even be possible to then add a genuine knock out Cup competition, run on the same lines as the FA Cup - fixed dates for each round, preliminary rounds perhaps for the National league clubs with the  top 2 then being drawn at home v the top boys and the chance of a giant killing even!

That would give most riders enough meetings - without the dreaded doubling up; allow the fans to have more regular, varied, meaningful meetings and hopefully give the promoters a more attractive offering. 

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank god we have 3 leagues, as it should be.

The indications are that more top boys would have ridden here this season without the cost cutting 1 8 or over.

It's more vital now than ever to try and get a stronger top flight for next season or possibly allow riders in once the season starts.

The genuine excitement over 2 day racing that the top boys have been asking for quickly faded when it was done purely as a cost cutting exercise with the thought of no TV money coming in. 

Hopefully a way can be found for next season to get some more of the top boys over that will be essential to have a top flight league.

The sport will be in a much worse place if they amalgamate the leagues,  clubs will be down to the bare bones of fans as yet more drift away from the weakest option possible. 

Just my opinion of course. ;)

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Everyone would love to see a last heat decider with four top class riders battling it out but fans and promoters have to see what the reality is and the fact is British Speedway CANT afford to try and use the big earners. 

Crowds are vastly down in most cases so the revenue has gone and with the lucrative TV deal money now all dried up, clubs are now getting towards a six figure sum less than a decade ago.

With riders we want to see race here earning wages in excess of £3,000 a night at least, it takes the first 200 (300) through the turnstiles just to clear that issue and you still have the rest to pay plus expenses and running costs. However the idea of one big league at a lower level would considerably lower the wage bill and give tracks much more variety to promote on a more weekly basis.

Current Championship tracks don't want to move up or be forced to sign stronger riders, but if they carry on as they are or at a slightly lower level, they would get more meetings and matches against local rivals that are currently in the other division. 

So while it's fine saying we want to see the big names back in Britain, these fans have to see the facts that they have outgrown this country and working abroad is the only way to make serious money and chase the big rewards and sponsors. 

Fixed race nights were bought in to stop fixture clashes and not entice the big earners back but having these two race nights can be seen as some as a possible way of getting good track time like Vaculik has and maybe even another possibly on his way to make a return to Britain.

Bit the future of British Speedway has to be with British riders getting chances to develop and more riders given team places and at a level that the low turn out of fans and no TV deal can afford to give this country a marketable product for everyone. 

 

One Big League has to be the way forward soon before the lights go out 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
9 hours ago, INCOGNITO said:

Everyone would love to see a last heat decider with four top class riders battling it out but fans and promoters have to see what the reality is and the fact is British Speedway CANT afford to try and use the big earners. 

Crowds are vastly down in most cases so the revenue has gone and with the lucrative TV deal money now all dried up, clubs are now getting towards a six figure sum less than a decade ago.

With riders we want to see race here earning wages in excess of £3,000 a night at least, it takes the first 200 (300) through the turnstiles just to clear that issue and you still have the rest to pay plus expenses and running costs. However the idea of one big league at a lower level would considerably lower the wage bill and give tracks much more variety to promote on a more weekly basis.

Current Championship tracks don't want to move up or be forced to sign stronger riders, but if they carry on as they are or at a slightly lower level, they would get more meetings and matches against local rivals that are currently in the other division. 

So while it's fine saying we want to see the big names back in Britain, these fans have to see the facts that they have outgrown this country and working abroad is the only way to make serious money and chase the big rewards and sponsors. 

Fixed race nights were bought in to stop fixture clashes and not entice the big earners back but having these two race nights can be seen as some as a possible way of getting good track time like Vaculik has and maybe even another possibly on his way to make a return to Britain.

Bit the future of British Speedway has to be with British riders getting chances to develop and more riders given team places and at a level that the low turn out of fans and no TV deal can afford to give this country a marketable product for everyone. 

 

One Big League has to be the way forward soon before the lights go out 

My sentiment exactly.   its not about, not wanting to see the top riders, its about the affordability of it all.  The sport does not generate the support to continue the present ways..  The sooner the Powers and the Fans realise this then, then decisions can be initiated to create a firmer footing of the sport.    

  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Its true that the sport as a whole cannot afford the top boys BUT there is a handful of clubs who could afford some of them so why not go for one big league (of approx. Championship level) and allow the handful of clubs to also run a 'Super League' set up if they can afford it and reckon they can attract the crowds?

The likes of Wolves, Poole, Rye House, Glasgow, Sheffield etc are backed by a combination of successful businesses and sponsorship and could easily operate a top league on a set night and also run a Championship-level team in the bigger one league?

 

It could be the best of both worlds.

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Skidder1 said:

Its true that the sport as a whole cannot afford the top boys BUT there is a handful of clubs who could afford some of them so why not go for one big league (of approx. Championship level) and allow the handful of clubs to also run a 'Super League' set up if they can afford it and reckon they can attract the crowds?

The likes of Wolves, Poole, Rye House, Glasgow, Sheffield etc are backed by a combination of successful businesses and sponsorship and could easily operate a top league on a set night and also run a Championship-level team in the bigger one league?

 

It could be the best of both worlds.

Exactly. My sentiments echo that. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That sounds a bit like going back to the National League and the Provincial League

The NL had the majority of the star riders but there were reducing numbers of clubs, whilst the PL was expanding

In the end, they amalgamated and made "one big league" - the British League - and that was a great success

Perhaps that's the blueprint for the future!

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Exactly, it is time to amalgamte the Premiership and Championship. It is 1965 all over again for British Speedway. 

Why worry about some BIG clubs being able to sign BIG stars. That's fine. It's the same in every sport, Football, Rugby etc. There will always be some bigger clubs then others. It is these BIG clubs who attract the spectators when they come to Your track.

 

It is not so important that there are big names in the League, it is much more important that each club has their own riders, and exclusive to them. Only then will the fans get behind their team and their riders again. 

 

  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
5 hours ago, Midland Red said:

That sounds a bit like going back to the National League and the Provincial League

The NL had the majority of the star riders but there were reducing numbers of clubs, whilst the PL was expanding

In the end, they amalgamated and made "one big league" - the British League - and that was a great success

Perhaps that's the blueprint for the future!

Difference being the two leagues had different riders. The two leagues now have a lot of the same riders in them.

Also, when the two leagues combined intonthe BL, it had the best riders in the world in it.

That is not what is being advocated here. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
7 hours ago, Skidder1 said:

Its true that the sport as a whole cannot afford the top boys BUT there is a handful of clubs who could afford some of them so why not go for one big league (of approx. Championship level) and allow the handful of clubs to also run a 'Super League' set up if they can afford it and reckon they can attract the crowds?

The likes of Wolves, Poole, Rye House, Glasgow, Sheffield etc are backed by a combination of successful businesses and sponsorship and could easily operate a top league on a set night and also run a Championship-level team in the bigger one league?

 

It could be the best of both worlds.

Reserve teams are not popular.. in any sport. 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
31 minutes ago, BWitcher said:

Reserve teams are not popular.. in any sport. 

Exactly. Plus, the teams in this 'Super League' would struggle to get support for their championship strength sides.

So they would stop running them. And there you have it. Two leagues again.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The sad fact is, British Speedway cannot entice enough riders to ride on those shores, to form a single tier of professional racing.  Doubling up riders are cheaper.  Sadder still, British riders are struggling to be good enough to find employment on the continent, so riding two leagues suits them.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
24 minutes ago, Col said:

The sad fact is, British Speedway cannot entice enough riders to ride on those shores, to form a single tier of professional racing.  Doubling up riders are cheaper.  Sadder still, British riders are struggling to be good enough to find employment on the continent, so riding two leagues suits them.

They don't need to entice. You'd simply promote lower riders. There are more than enough. Not that I am advocating that as the way to go.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

well

id say im not really a fan of 1 big league

but i cant really argue with most of your points

and its well thought through

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So if we get even 5% of these 400 motocrossers eager to sample speedway, wishing to stay on as riders, that adds 20 new riders to add to the current crop. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Privacy Policy