2021 season

[Aces51 2,778]

Crowds have been dropping since the 1980's, long before the top riders departed.  That isn't to say that their departure hasn't had a significant affect but at the moment, we can't compete with the money on offer in Poland or even Sweden. That means, that in the short term, we are not going to attract those riders back in any numbers.  

However, there is much we can do to attract and keep more fans and at little or no extra cost. We can improve the credibility of the sport by having sensible rules applied fairly and consistently. Preferably by an independent body. We can improve the speedway experience by more professional presentation with meetings starting on time and a requirement to avoid all unnecessary delays during the meeting. There must be a greater realisation that speedway is an entertainment. Riders and team managers must be able and indeed encouraged,  to express their reasonable feelings and opinions during a meeting.  I certainly do not advocate violence but the antics of riders remonstrating about the actions of their race opponents or the referee and of team managers dashing to a centre green telephone to let the referee know what they thought about a decision, was often long remembered after the racing in that meeting was forgotten. It certainly added to the atmosphere and entertainment.  Fixtures must be run on the designated dates unless there are genuine and valid reasons to make a change.  Timely and sensible dates must be set for the completion of all competitions and every effort made to ensure that they are adhered to.  Proper training should be organised for those involved in track preparation and regular inspections made at tracks to ensure that high standards of preparation are achieved. Promoters need to work together to find out what works elsewhere in the country to increase crowds and to improve the overall product and where practical, to implement those things.  A working party of promoters, riders, referees and fans should be set up to  devise and consider new meeting formats that could potentially bring a new audience to the sport. 

Edited December 23, 2019 by Aces51

[waytogo28 2,054]

That is not only the perfect Wish List for the future of speedway, it is the List I Wish all promoters would read quietly to them selves once a week and vow to implement as much of it as they can ( in association with other promoters in the best interest of the sport in the UK ). 

But IF there had ever been a time when this was possible, it has long eroded away and this stands no chance of coming about in the UK.

The BSPA long ago lost the ability to learn lessons of any kinds. Every action they take ( inc the recent Eurpsport one ) hastens the end of speedway as we know it here. Merry Christmas. Oh Oh Oh.

[Sidney the robin 4,735]

On 12/23/2019 at 2:26 PM, Aces51 said:

Crowds have been dropping since the 1980's, long before the top riders departed.  That isn't to say that their departure hasn't had a significant affect but at the moment, we can't compete with the money on offer in Poland or even Sweden. That means, that in the short term, we are not going to attract those riders back in any numbers.  

However, there is much we can do to attract and keep more fans and at little or no extra cost. We can improve the credibility of the sport by having sensible rules applied fairly and consistently. Preferably by an independent body. We can improve the speedway experience by more professional presentation with meetings starting on time and a requirement to avoid all unnecessary delays during the meeting. There must be a greater realisation that speedway is an entertainment. Riders and team managers must be able and indeed encouraged,  to express their reasonable feelings and opinions during a meeting.  I certainly do not advocate violence but the antics of riders remonstrating about the actions of their race opponents or the referee and of team managers dashing to a centre green telephone to let the referee know what they thought about a decision, was often long remembered after the racing in that meeting was forgotten. It certainly added to the atmosphere and entertainment.  Fixtures must be run on the designated dates unless there are genuine and valid reasons to make a change.  Timely and sensible dates must be set for the completion of all competitions and every effort made to ensure that they are adhered to.  Proper training should be organised for those involved in track preparation and regular inspections made at tracks to ensure that high standards of preparation are achieved. Promoters need to work together to find out what works elsewhere in the country to increase crowds and to improve the overall product and where practical, to implement those things.  A working party of promoters, riders, referees and fans should be set up to  devise and consider new meeting formats that could potentially bring a new audience to the sport. 

From my  experience Aces51 this year racing  in the Premiership was one of the better ones of recent years.Swindon my club have really got the club on a even keel the track is exciting not perfect but we are  getting there.We have a management team that the supporters can relate two and you can approach them personally and they will listen.Your club is the benchmark ok your team has fell short a little but in Bewley, Kurtz, Wright, Lidsey you have got lots' s to look forward to in 2020?As for the NSS the track is one that everyone can be proud of for me in the top four tracks in the world.My wife actually got me three DVDs for Christmas of the Colts and the meeting's against Leicester were terrific and it is great the Colts are running again.My wish for the next couple of years is for the Premiership to get to ten clubs that enter that would be great and for the likes of Palin, Bickley, Bailey,Thompson twins, Gilkes, Rowe, Mulford to kick on in the longterm.

Edited December 25, 2019 by Sidney the robin

[Bagpuss 10,757]

It remains to be seen what the seven line ups look like, we may be whittling about nothing but there is definitely a case for spreading what decent riders we have left across the seven clubs. Such a small league is a bit of a nonsense anyway but if you are going to have four strong sides and three also rans those bottom sides may as well run in the Championship and the remaining teams can have six months of challenge matches and all qualify for the Play Offs. 

 

[Crabba59 156]

On 12/23/2019 at 2:26 PM, Aces51 said:

Crowds have been dropping since the 1980's, long before the top riders departed.  That isn't to say that their departure hasn't had a significant affect but at the moment, we can't compete with the money on offer in Poland or even Sweden. That means, that in the short term, we are not going to attract those riders back in any numbers.  

However, there is much we can do to attract and keep more fans and at little or no extra cost. We can improve the credibility of the sport by having sensible rules applied fairly and consistently. Preferably by an independent body. We can improve the speedway experience by more professional presentation with meetings starting on time and a requirement to avoid all unnecessary delays during the meeting. There must be a greater realisation that speedway is an entertainment. Riders and team managers must be able and indeed encouraged,  to express their reasonable feelings and opinions during a meeting.  I certainly do not advocate violence but the antics of riders remonstrating about the actions of their race opponents or the referee and of team managers dashing to a centre green telephone to let the referee know what they thought about a decision, was often long remembered after the racing in that meeting was forgotten. It certainly added to the atmosphere and entertainment.  Fixtures must be run on the designated dates unless there are genuine and valid reasons to make a change.  Timely and sensible dates must be set for the completion of all competitions and every effort made to ensure that they are adhered to.  Proper training should be organised for those involved in track preparation and regular inspections made at tracks to ensure that high standards of preparation are achieved. Promoters need to work together to find out what works elsewhere in the country to increase crowds and to improve the overall product and where practical, to implement those things.  A working party of promoters, riders, referees and fans should be set up to  devise and consider new meeting formats that could potentially bring a new audience to the sport. 

Think you will find from this comeing season the scb, and bspa are doing something to sort out the problem with track preparation on saying that some tracks are fine.