Haza 1,765 Posted June 27, 2018 5 minutes ago, MattK said: The biggest issue last season was rider availability due to clashes between the Premiership and Championship. How would ensuring riders are committed to Britain get around that? One big league no clashes then with other domestic leagues - In Rye House case we went last season when Kings Lynn was there on Easter Saturday and I’d not seen a crowd like that at Rye for many years - surely Saturday night speedway has to return to Rye or there will be no speedway there - it’s the same at some other clubs a move to weekend speedway or what ever night is best suited to each club - but definitely like to see speedway run more at weekends as they do in Poland - one big league using only riders that put our league first no exceptions 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dodger Blue 146 Posted June 27, 2018 4 minutes ago, Haza said: One big league no clashes then with other domestic leagues - In Rye House case we went last season when Kings Lynn was there on Easter Saturday and I’d not seen a crowd like that at Rye for many years - surely Saturday night speedway has to return to Rye or there will be no speedway there - it’s the same at some other clubs a move to weekend speedway or what ever night is best suited to each club - but definitely like to see speedway run more at weekends as they do in Poland - one big league using only riders that put our league first no exceptions Where would you get enough riders to fill the teams?? You would have to make the teams 5 man only 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SPEEDY69 1,239 Posted June 27, 2018 16 minutes ago, MattK said: The biggest issue last season was rider availability due to clashes between the Premiership and Championship. How would ensuring riders are committed to Britain get around that? By not letting them ride in multiple UK leagues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SPEEDY69 1,239 Posted June 27, 2018 Just now, Dodger Blue said: Where would you get enough riders to fill the teams?? You would have to make the teams 5 man only Not if you reduce points limits - there are several in NL/development leagues who could step up and yes, maybe reducing the number of riders in each team could also help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Haza 1,765 Posted June 27, 2018 13 minutes ago, Dodger Blue said: Where would you get enough riders to fill the teams?? You would have to make the teams 5 man only Use whatever standard of riders that’s needed to fill the teams - 5 man teams maybe the only way to go in season one who knows - one thing for certain things can’t carry on as they are much longer - if Rye was to fold will BT pull out of the deal the whole league could be on the verge of collapse as we speak. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Najjer 2,872 Posted June 27, 2018 13 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said: Not if you reduce points limits - there are several in NL/development leagues who could step up and yes, maybe reducing the number of riders in each team could also help. I was waiting for someone to suggest that.... Speedway fans just don't understand Maths! What would you do the following year when everyone's averages are too high... continue to keep on watering the product down time after time like the BSPA had done for a period of time?! Thankfully they seem to have understood the correct points limit and that has remained in place this season. Continue to water the product down and charge the same is not the answer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waytogo28 2,054 Posted June 27, 2018 4 minutes ago, Najjer said: Continue to water the product down and charge the same is not the answer. I genuinely suspect that there is no answer. Nothing that will bring in adequate numbers of new fans. It is being rejected by current fans who do not want what is on offer. What is there to change? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattK 3,447 Posted June 27, 2018 37 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said: By not letting them ride in multiple UK leagues. How are riders supposed to make a living if you cut their number of meetings by 50%? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frigbo 518 Posted June 27, 2018 1 minute ago, MattK said: How are riders supposed to make a living if you cut their number of meetings by 50%? Simple - if they're not good enough to ride competitively to make a sufficient living, they should be part-time. Classic tail wagging the dog comment. Break the foundations of the sport so the riders don't have to get jobs! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BWitcher 12,453 Posted June 27, 2018 4 minutes ago, MattK said: How are riders supposed to make a living if you cut their number of meetings by 50%? There in lies the problem! It's really not that long ago riders weren't expecting to make a living out of speedway. Wolves all conquering 1996 side James Grieves and Stewart McDonald had jobs outside of speedway and pretty sure Craig Taylor did too. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
winstoncigar 23 Posted June 27, 2018 12 minutes ago, MattK said: How are riders supposed to make a living if you cut their number of meetings by 50%? Who is supposed to give these riders a living? It can only come from paying customers, sponsors or Promoters own pockets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayleigh 362 Posted June 27, 2018 13 minutes ago, MattK said: How are riders supposed to make a living if you cut their number of meetings by 50%? I remember following Bob Garrad up the M11 and he had his bike tethered to the boot of his of car with the front wheel inside and he worked full time in Maldon. Oh, for those who do not know who Bob Garrad is, well he has ridden the most matches and scored the most points for Rye House EVER. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattK 3,447 Posted June 27, 2018 15 minutes ago, BWitcher said: There in lies the problem! It's really not that long ago riders weren't expecting to make a living out of speedway. Wolves all conquering 1996 side James Grieves and Stewart McDonald had jobs outside of speedway and pretty sure Craig Taylor did too. Which is fine, as long as people are prepared for speedway to be a semi-professional sport. People complain that the British leagues are amateur enough as it is. For me, the continual dumbing down on the product is the single biggest reason for the sport's decline in this country. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,322 Posted June 27, 2018 15 minutes ago, MattK said: Which is fine, as long as people are prepared for speedway to be a semi-professional sport. People complain that the British leagues are amateur enough as it is. For me, the continual dumbing down on the product is the single biggest reason for the sport's decline in this country. Your last paragraph is correct,unfortunately it gone that far downhill regarding status in World terms it's going to be a mountain to climb to get it back to that level and the fans are just not there in sufficient numbers these days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattK 3,447 Posted June 27, 2018 3 minutes ago, Fromafar said: Your last paragraph is correct,unfortunately it gone that far downhill regarding status in World terms it's going to be a mountain to climb to get it back to that level and the fans are just not there in sufficient numbers these days. It's Catch 22 though. The weaker it gets, the more fans are lost and so on. The proposals above think that significantly weakening the product will somehow stem the tide of fan losses. This goes against all the evidence from the last 10 years. For me, to take the sport forward you first need to stop weakening the product and then get on and promote it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
