steve roberts 9,242 Posted July 27, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, mikebv said: Reducing prices/Doing special offers, is a fundamental part of any business.. And is used to increase customer footfall or sales unit volume depending on what you are offering.. The key to its success being of course that it overall delivers more profit.. But. This can only be done though if it is part of a bigger long term customer service, increased product quality, value for money package.. That is where Speedway clubs who do 'specials' fail as there is simply no clear short, medium and long term objective to doing it... It is very much a 'for one night only' deal without using this 'one night' as they should.. ie as a (potentially) loss making/break even at best investment in a much more detailed and wider marketing strategy, where by that nights 'captured market' is engaged for all it is worth to try and gain those repeat visits so fundamental to success.. Putting out the same old, same old on these 'specials' nights, as so many do, will only reinforce why some ex fans in attendance left in the first place and mean no further visits down the line.. If you reduce your price then ensure you showcase your offer and WOW your customers with your overall service and operating model.. Otherwise you might as well not bother doing it.. I would agree in principle however in my line of work (tourism) by allowing children in free (whether five or fifteen years of age) doesn't necessarily increase the number of paying adults (although that is/was the incentive behind the scheme) and one of the attractions in York has had to abandon it's 'free' children option as they have been experiencing serious losses financially. Of course making the attraction (whatever the product) desirable is the essence of achieving financial reward and thereby lies the problem in many instances. Edited July 27, 2019 by steve roberts 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BWitcher 12,453 Posted July 27, 2019 31 minutes ago, bill94d said: I have stopped going to Somerset this season for the following reasons. They put prices up, they stopped pensioners concessions, they dropped a league and they cleared nearly the whole team out (including a world champion) year after year. It generates no fan loyalty to the "team" because it isn't going to be the team next year. You never get the same team out week after week because of injuries and R/R is a joke. Some riders (like now) decide that "British speedway is too hard" and bale out. Tish! It will take a lot to get me and my friends back (sorry Debbie but you have got it wrong) and I still happily watch good racing on the TV which is better value than going to my home track. Shame but there it is. Am I really understanding this. Somerset have dropped a division. They no longer have one of the very best in the world riding for them. And they have put the prices UP! Absolutely staggering ineptitude. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,243 Posted July 27, 2019 3 minutes ago, steve roberts said: I would agree in principle however in my line of work (tourism) by allowing children in free (whether five or fifteen years of age) doesn't necessarily increase the number of paying adults (although that is/was the incentive behind the scheme) and one of the attractions in York has had to abandon it's 'free' children option as they have been experiencing serious losses financially. Of course making the attraction (whatever the product) desirable is the essence of achieving financial reward and thereby lies the problem in many instances. In my line of work we continually cut prices and often have big 'price cut launches' which are planned well in advance.. These launches cover the full package. ie a great marketing and service plan, often with loyalty card recruitment at the heart of it, allied to an operating model structure that over the key first week of the campaign will see the stores at their very best and have plenty of colleague engagement with customers.. You get but one chance to make a first impression.. Which can become the lasting one too!! We don't however enter into price cutting without a detailed cost review that has to line up with any margin loss, as this would be financial suicide, therefore if any margin shortfall will be forecasted to result, and volume increase won't cover it, then the cost base is reduced accordingly to pay for the investment in price.. Speedway on the other hand, seems to have a 'build it and they will come' mentality... It needs much, much more than that.. As the NSS so acutely highlights.. Great racing, yet hardly any more fans than the dog bowl had.. Maybe some of the (literally) several millions of pounds that collectively all clubs will pay out in total to riders in a season (who 99% of the UK wouldnt have a clue who they are), could be better invested in a joined up, collective, national marketing campaign, driven by marketing professionals that might help improve Speedways 'brand recognition'..? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bill94d 105 Posted July 27, 2019 2 hours ago, BWitcher said: Am I really understanding this. Somerset have dropped a division. They no longer have one of the very best in the world riding for them. And they have put the prices UP! Absolutely staggering ineptitude. Absolutely correct. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,242 Posted July 28, 2019 (edited) 22 hours ago, steve roberts said: I work within the tourim industry and all sorts of incentives have been adopted in an attempt to generate more income. Schemes such as allowing those aged 15 and under free entry (as long as with a paying adult) but, alas, it hasn't worked...infact the scheme is about to be dropped due to lost revenue. Where I work the admission fee is constantly being reviewed and, dare I say, increases are the result to help off-set the loses. Living in York there is so much competion as regards attractions and it's a constant juggle to try and encourage visitors who only have so much to spend. Family tickets, free entry for twelve months (which is more often than not a trade off...only those living relatively locally are able to utilise the scheme) as well as other initiatives but they are continually under constant review and invariably admission prices are raised as a result. ...as a postscript it also appears that because of the school curriculum constantly changing effects the number of school groups attending educational aimed attractions which, again, has a knock on effect regarding numbers and/or revenue generated. Tourist attractions constantly have to battle all sorts of criteria despite the many incentives that may apply. Edited July 28, 2019 by steve roberts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waytogo28 2,054 Posted July 28, 2019 18 hours ago, BWitcher said: Am I really understanding this. Somerset have dropped a division. They no longer have one of the very best in the world riding for them. And they have put the prices UP! Absolutely staggering ineptitude. But within the sport, it is regarded as a well run, well-managed club. And that is how the BSPA view the whole UK sport. Clear vision or delusional? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Halifaxtiger 5,318 Posted July 28, 2019 (edited) 16 hours ago, bill94d said: Absolutely correct. Not totally it isn't. True, concessions were dropped - which has been advocated on several occasions by members of this forum - but entry for adults went from £17 to £16. http://www.somerset-speedway.com/news.php?extend.2121.1 http://www.somerset-speedway.com/ticketoffice.php Its a good example as to how a club's reputation can be damaged by misinformation being accepted as the truth. Edited July 28, 2019 by Halifaxtiger 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OveFundinFan 4,138 Posted July 28, 2019 Re concessions scrapped (was £15), and all adults now £16. Is the spectator base mostly over concession age? If so, scrapping £15 concession and decreasing adult entry to £16 most probably will provide an increase of revenue and make turnstile work easier. Clever, but risk upsetting those who were concessions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bill94d 105 Posted July 28, 2019 6 hours ago, OveFundinFan said: Re concessions scrapped (was £15), and all adults now £16. Is the spectator base mostly over concession age? If so, scrapping £15 concession and decreasing adult entry to £16 most probably will provide an increase of revenue and make turnstile work easier. Clever, but risk upsetting those who were concessions. As I said, me and my friends have given it up. OK I was wrong, strictly speaking about the adult entrance, but for me as a 70+-year-old it went up. That still doesn't negate the other reasons, namely that next year there will be 5 or 6 new riders, so team loyalty is never built up and we went down from the top flight. It's like charging more for the gods in a theatre than the front row. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShyTalk 22 Posted August 6, 2019 Did a couple of comparisons myself using Bank of England Inflation calculator. Went to some Sheffield Eagles rugby league games during their first season, 1984. Adult admission was £2.00, which wouold equate to £6.31 in today's terms. They now charge £16.00 in ticket ordered online in advance, £18.00 on the day. In 1979 did some bar work and remember beer was £0.30 a pint now the equivalent of £1.50, considerably cheaper than any pubs I know of. Seems leisure activities outpace inflation quite considerably. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arnieg 3,627 Posted August 6, 2019 6 minutes ago, ShyTalk said: Did a couple of comparisons myself using Bank of England Inflation calculator. Went to some Sheffield Eagles rugby league games during their first season, 1984. Adult admission was £2.00, which wouold equate to £6.31 in today's terms. They now charge £16.00 in ticket ordered online in advance, £18.00 on the day. In 1979 did some bar work and remember beer was £0.30 a pint now the equivalent of £1.50, considerably cheaper than any pubs I know of. Seems leisure activities outpace inflation quite considerably. Try using the GDP deflator - it gives a more appropriate result where labour and land are the principle costs rather than materials. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,343 Posted August 8, 2019 On 7/28/2019 at 7:53 AM, waytogo28 said: But within the sport, it is regarded as a well run, well-managed club. And that is how the BSPA view the whole UK sport. Clear vision or delusional? Delusional,IMO Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iwright71 206 Posted August 9, 2019 I think the sport has sunk so far in Britain for so long it will be impossible to resuscitate it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 9, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, iwright71 said: I think the sport has sunk so far in Britain for so long it will be impossible to resuscitate it. Slowly but surely IMO what you reflect iwright71 is beginning to be realised. Well said. Edited August 9, 2019 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
