Jump to content
British Speedway Forum
wealdstone

The continuing decline of Speedway

Recommended Posts

8 hours ago, Trees said:

Maybe you discussed the last race with mates, same with the race to come, sung along with the music, had a little banter with away fans, sipped your drink, read a bit if the programme, listening to the interview over the tannoy etc, so you didn't even notice the gap between races!

Are you now standing completely on your own, without a prog, can't hear the tannoy and looking for something to moan about? haha

Yes, superbly described. Was that you, the other person in the stadium? Think it was a human, could just about make out a silhouette on the far side.

Edited by moxey63
  • Haha 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 9/7/2018 at 11:52 AM, moxey63 said:

I don't know if it's the case, but not visiting this forum as much as I used to, I recall some names that used to be quite prolific on here that no longer post. I wonder if it's through disillusionment. Have they just got out of the routine of not only attending matches but actually commenting on the sport?   

Same here not been on for a while, problem is there are as many different solutions as members and never any real consensus. These are the thoughts of one forward thinking promoter, there must be other promoters with similar views who need our backing and drag the sport out of the "pits";

 

Speedway in the future;  Where are we going?
 
A lot of you will be aware that meetings are taking place to discuss the future of speedway in the UK.
 
Ideas  and proposals are being put forward and arguments are being had. The topics range from league formats, how many riders in a team to how many races in a match.
 
We all know the sport is in trouble. Crowds are down all over the country and costs are on the up and up. Everyone has an opinion on the issues within the sport but no one, it appears, has the answers.
 
Since I attended my first A.G.M. last November I've been astounded at the lack of unity, cohesion and clarity within the sport and nothing has changed since.
 
Decision are made behind closed doors without explanation to the rest of the (promoters) association or the fans and conspiracy theories then abound as to what has happened and why.
 
So what do we do?
Meetings keep getting planned, arguments being had. The sport is crying out for a resolution, a new way forward, positive leadership with new ideas and energetic leadership, not more of the same, quick fix ideas without thinking of the future.
 
Will it happen?
Will someone step forward from the gloom and take the sport forward?
 
I simply don't know. I dearly hope so for the sport I love but there are massive dark clouds around and there doesn't appear to be a change in the weather very soon.
 
We need to listen to each other, the riders and the fans and formulate a framework for the good of the sport as a whole.
 
Let's hope a storm is coming.
  • Like 5

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
11 hours ago, Skid Sprocket said:

Since I attended my first A.G.M. last November I've been astounded at the lack of unity, cohesion and clarity within the sport and nothing has changed since.

If this is from someone on "the inside" there clearly is little hope for the kind of radical change needed to ensure the sport does continue in the way that current supporters will go on supporting. Is UK speedway a kind of vanity project with benevolent, wealthy promoters underwriting it? Their unwillingness to work together ( seemingly ) or uncover the man or woman who can take them in a sustainable direction in the short term ( and build for the medium term ). 

Fans have turned away from what they see on track as well as the " good of the sport" decisions syndrome ( which is often laughable and of course unexplained ). The Chairman should step down as he has been increasingly invisible, as should the Deputy Chairman. Their leadership era has only made everything worse and has improved virtually nothing. They have failed perhaps for a variety of reasons, but they have failed, as have all of the leadership of the last 20 years. They failed to capitalise on the Sky years and find other major sponsors.

What is shown on BT is mostly excrable racing on trick tracks in grotty 1950's stadiums with hardly anyone watching on. With one or two exclusions. BT may be happy with the viewing figures but it is not an edifying sight nor one which is attracting the general public nor sponsors. If anything it shows that Pay Per View could have been a success and may still be.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, waytogo28 said:

If this is from someone on "the inside" there clearly is little hope for the kind of radical change needed to ensure the sport does continue in the way that current supporters will go on supporting. Is UK speedway a kind of vanity project with benevolent, wealthy promoters underwriting it? Their unwillingness to work together ( seemingly ) or uncover the man or woman who can take them in a sustainable direction in the short term ( and build for the medium term ). 

Fans have turned away from what they see on track as well as the " good of the sport" decisions syndrome ( which is often laughable and of course unexplained ). The Chairman should step down as he has been increasingly invisible, as should the Deputy Chairman. Their leadership era has only made everything worse and has improved virtually nothing. They have failed perhaps for a variety of reasons, but they have failed, as have all of the leadership of the last 20 years. They failed to capitalise on the Sky years and find other major sponsors.

What is shown on BT is mostly excrable racing on trick tracks in grotty 1950's stadiums with hardly anyone watching on. With one or two exclusions. BT may be happy with the viewing figures but it is not an edifying sight nor one which is attracting the general public nor sponsors. If anything it shows that Pay Per View could have been a success and may still be.

This is from an insider written out of "sheer frustration" but I look at it as a little bit of hope if there are promoters willing take into account the views of ALL concerned.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
22 hours ago, Skid Sprocket said:

Same here not been on for a while, problem is there are as many different solutions as members and never any real consensus. These are the thoughts of one forward thinking promoter, there must be other promoters with similar views who need our backing and drag the sport out of the "pits";

 

Speedway in the future;  Where are we going?
 
A lot of you will be aware that meetings are taking place to discuss the future of speedway in the UK.
 
Ideas  and proposals are being put forward and arguments are being had. The topics range from league formats, how many riders in a team to how many races in a match.
 
We all know the sport is in trouble. Crowds are down all over the country and costs are on the up and up. Everyone has an opinion on the issues within the sport but no one, it appears, has the answers.
 
Since I attended my first A.G.M. last November I've been astounded at the lack of unity, cohesion and clarity within the sport and nothing has changed since.
 
Decision are made behind closed doors without explanation to the rest of the (promoters) association or the fans and conspiracy theories then abound as to what has happened and why.
 
So what do we do?
Meetings keep getting planned, arguments being had. The sport is crying out for a resolution, a new way forward, positive leadership with new ideas and energetic leadership, not more of the same, quick fix ideas without thinking of the future.
 
Will it happen?
Will someone step forward from the gloom and take the sport forward?
 
I simply don't know. I dearly hope so for the sport I love but there are massive dark clouds around and there doesn't appear to be a change in the weather very soon.
 
We need to listen to each other, the riders and the fans and formulate a framework for the good of the sport as a whole.
 
Let's hope a storm is coming.

Is this really a Promoter or someone off here?

If they can see the 'bleedin' obvious' then why can't all the others?

The ultimate irony of course is that the Competitions so many attempt to win by trying to put one over their rivals, are rendered absolutely worthless by their very actions of doing what they do...

Rather than working together to build up Competitions to give them some kudos, they instead often work in splendid isolation, (or cliques), and find more and more imaganitive ways to discredit them...

Couldn't make it up sometimes could you..?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
40 minutes ago, mikebv said:

Is this really a Promoter or someone off here?

If they can see the 'bleedin' obvious' then why can't all the others?

The ultimate irony of course is that the Competitions so many attempt to win by trying to put one over their rivals, are rendered absolutely worthless by their very actions of doing what they do...

Rather than working together to build up Competitions to give them some kudos, they instead often work in splendid isolation, (or cliques), and find more and more imaganitive ways to discredit them...

Couldn't make it up sometimes could you..?

This is 100% a genuine promoter.  I was personally given their ok to quote it. I have withheld names and club as I dont want to push my luck and say too much.  There must be other (honest) promoters who could speak up!

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
38 minutes ago, Skid Sprocket said:

This is 100% a genuine promoter.  I was personally given their ok to quote it. I have withheld names and club as I dont want to push my luck and say too much.  There must be other (honest) promoters who could speak up!

There are and have been, they got burnt by the rest of them!

  • Like 1

Share this post


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

There are and have been, they got burnt by the rest of them!

A glimmer of hope though never the less...

At least one (and maybe more) can see that the current operating model isn't fit for purpose and must change...

The very simple bottom line is this...

The most important single thing the Sport needs is for the mainstream media to treat it as a bona fide sporting entity, worthy of the same column inches and air time they provide for those sports that are regarded as actually being ran with professionalism, integrity and credibility. Thus putting the Sport in the clear view of the many millions who currently seem completely oblivious to it and, at the same time, creating heroes and personalities for any curious observers to become acquainted with and possibly follow..

However.....

Speedways current operating model in the UK will 100% ALWAYS prevent this from EVER happening. No news room of any degree of standing would bring to the masses a lead headline for example of  "We'll show you later how Poole's Brady Kurtz tonight top scored for Belle Vue and helped them KO their Play Off rivals Swindon when he stepped in for The Aces No1 Craig Cook, who was elsewhere riding for Glasgow":rolleyes: It simply wouldn't be accepted..

Surely, given the huge lack of knowledge of the Sport out there, and the massive potential customer base to sell what is still a very marketable product, there must be an enormous opportunity for the Sport in the UK....?

Should those who run it ever eventually wake up and work together to achieve it obviously...

Edited by mikebv

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
3 hours ago, Skid Sprocket said:

This is 100% a genuine promoter.  I was personally given their ok to quote it. I have withheld names and club as I dont want to push my luck and say too much.  There must be other (honest) promoters who could speak up!

Yes, that can be and was the picture, but after talks a few weeks ago which ended in  chaos, there has been major movement and I think solutions have been found that are acceptable to most of them and are acceptable to proceed with for next year. All we need is for the solutions to be implemented and understood by the fans, especially those who only exist on here to vent their spleen at everything, and who all think they know the solutions, but of course have not got any capital involved.  Desperate times sometimes needs desperate measures, but current thinking is the solutions can be affordable and robust enough to stabilise the sport. Let's give it a try for a change.

Share this post


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

Yes, that can be and was the picture, but after talks a few weeks ago which ended in  chaos, there has been major movement and I think solutions have been found that are acceptable to most of them and are acceptable to proceed with for next year. All we need is for the solutions to be implemented and understood by the fans, especially those who only exist on here to vent their spleen at everything, and who all think they know the solutions, but of course have not got any capital involved.  Desperate times sometimes needs desperate measures, but current thinking is the solutions can be affordable and robust enough to stabilise the sport. Let's give it a try for a change.

Can you give any more details Tsunami? Is the rumour of 2 leagues, the top being akin to this years Championship, accurate?

Edited by Arch Stanton

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
10 hours ago, Arch Stanton said:

Can you give any more details Tsunami? Is the rumour of 2 leagues, the top being akin to this years Championship, accurate?

So, dumbing down again. Always this is the answer, and always crowds drop as a result.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
36 minutes ago, Grachan said:

So, dumbing down again. Always this is the answer, and always crowds drop as a result.

I think the BSPA must be part of the government's austerity drive. The same values are shown to our roads - you pay more but don't necessarily get back what makes you happy, with little bits of tarmac surrounded by potholes. All the years of neglect may be irreparable.

Edited by moxey63

Share this post


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

So, dumbing down again. Always this is the answer, and always crowds drop as a result.

Get real. It has to go down as we can't afford the stars. Competitive racing that is affordable is how we can continue to see speedway. Think any different and you are dreaming. 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
4 minutes ago, Tsunami said:

Get real. It has to go down as we can't afford the stars. Competitive racing that is affordable is how we can continue to see speedway. Think any different and you are dreaming. 

Why "get real"? I think that what I said was correct. As the standard drops, so do the crowds.

And, yes, I am dreaming. Dreaming of a time when Speedway in this country was of a high enough standard to attract casual supporters. You know them? The ones who get criticised on here for not being "real fans", but pay to watch when there are decent riders on show.

Sure, there are people who are happy to see speedway at a lower standard, but, the fact is, that the lower the standard then lower the crowds. That's just the way it is.

And, surely, if Somerset, for example, want to have a big star rider then why should they not be able to have one?

 

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

×

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