Guest Posted August 18, 2020 Where does speedway stand in a possible ratings list of favourite British sports. It would be interesting to see a 'favourite sport table' should one actually exist - and I have an idea one does. My rating for speedway in such a table would be 'a dodgy 15th'! Is any fellow BSF poster able to produce such a favourite sports table if there is one? Acting on previous Germanic advice in regard to searches I did try Google without any luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grachan 7,362 Posted August 18, 2020 This, from 2019, has speedway fifth, which seems a bit optimistic but it's good to see it recognised. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/most-popular-sports-in-the-united-kingdom.html I found another that had Speedway 7th. Others don't include it at all. It is the certainly something of a cult sport. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BWitcher 12,453 Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Grachan said: This, from 2019, has speedway fifth, which seems a bit optimistic but it's good to see it recognised. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/most-popular-sports-in-the-united-kingdom.html I found another that had Speedway 7th. Others don't include it at all. It is the certainly something of a cult sport. That list is certainly on the bizarre side! I wonder what it is based on? Hockey 4th, Speedway 5th but Horse Racing 9th and Boxing 10th? Edited August 18, 2020 by BWitcher Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, BWitcher said: That list is certainly on the bizarre side! I wonder what it is based on? Hockey 4th, Speedway 5th but Horse Racing 9th and Boxing 10th? I tend to agree with your observation BWitcher. Edited August 18, 2020 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BWitcher 12,453 Posted August 18, 2020 7 minutes ago, gustix said: I tend to agree with your observation BeWitcher. Genuine question Gustix.. if speedway ranks 15th in your list of sports you enjoy.... do you post on forums pertaining to the 14 sports above it? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grachan 7,362 Posted August 18, 2020 14 minutes ago, BWitcher said: That list is certainly on the bizarre side! I wonder what it is based on? Hockey 4th, Speedway 5th but Horse Racing 9th and Boxing 10th? I saw a couple of lists that have Netball third or fourth too, which I find strange. That one has rounders. I guess it must mean as a participation sport. All the lists do seem very subjective. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BWitcher 12,453 Posted August 18, 2020 6 minutes ago, Grachan said: I saw a couple of lists that have Netball third or fourth too, which I find strange. That one has rounders. I guess it must mean as a participation sport. All the lists do seem very subjective. Yes, Rounders, forgot to mention that one! If it was participation, angling should be there surely.. Not entirely sure how speedway gets in on that score! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,359 Posted August 18, 2020 I put Speedway right up there just behind tiddlywinks these days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grachan 7,362 Posted August 18, 2020 This is the official list of sports, taken directly from the "Life in the UK Test" official handbook for all the dodgy foreigners who want to live permanently in the UK and take all our jobs but claim all our benefits too. Cricket Football Rugby Horse Racing Golf Tennis Water Sports (bit general that) Motor Sports (and that. I guess that covers speedway although in the notes it's all about F1) Skiing (Yup. Skiing) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben91 1,743 Posted August 18, 2020 1 hour ago, gustix said: Where does speedway stand in a possible ratings list of favourite British sports. It would be interesting to see a 'favourite sport table' should one actually exist - and I have an idea one does. My rating for speedway in such a table would be 'a dodgy 15th'! Is any fellow BSF poster able to produce such a favourite sports table if there is one? Acting on previous Germanic advice in regard to searches I did try Google without any luck. I guess it depends on whether you mean solely for viewing or for participating too. In terms of viewing, if not cobbled in with “motorsport” then I imagine Speedway isn’t even on the radar of many people. Football, Rugby, Cricket, Golf, Boxing, Darts, Snooker, MMA, Horse Racing, Athletics, Tennis, Touring Car, Superbikes, F1, even American Football off the top of my head would all draw a bigger crowd/interest/TV audience. Then there are the likes of Basketball and Ice Hockey I wouldn’t be surprised to see being as, if not more popular. One thing is for sure, if you went into the average British high street and asked the general public “Do you know what (insert a sport above) is?” and asked the same question with Speedway as the sport, more people would know the first sport. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RS50 359 Posted August 18, 2020 1 hour ago, gustix said: Where does speedway stand in a possible ratings list of favourite British sports. It would be interesting to see a 'favourite sport table' should one actually exist - and I have an idea one does. My rating for speedway in such a table would be 'a dodgy 15th'! Is any fellow BSF poster able to produce such a favourite sports table if there is one? Acting on previous Germanic advice in regard to searches I did try Google without any luck. Does your question relate to popularity as a spectator sport, participation sport, or both combined? From a participation point, some sports, especially motor sports would be less popular due to cost (and possibly the danger) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, gustix said: Where does speedway stand in a possible ratings list of favourite British sports. It would be interesting to see a 'favourite sport table' should one actually exist - and I have an idea one does. My rating for speedway in such a table would be 'a dodgy 15th'! Is any fellow BSF poster able to produce such a favourite sports table if there is one? Acting on previous Germanic advice in regard to searches I did try Google without any luck. 10 minutes ago, RS50 said: Does your question relate to popularity as a spectator sport, participation sport, or both combined? From a participation point, some sports, especially motor sports would be less popular due to cost (and possibly the danger) I would base my requested opinion regarding the popularity of speedway on the basis of as a spectator sport. Edited August 18, 2020 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 18, 2020 Here's another 'popular sports' chart I have found - thanks to Google: https://sportsshow.net/most-popular-sports-in-the-united-kingdom/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,972 Posted August 18, 2020 2 hours ago, gustix said: Here's another 'popular sports' chart I have found - thanks to Google: https://sportsshow.net/most-popular-sports-in-the-united-kingdom/ That is weird though......not sure it really relates to your conditions. Although Athletics and Swimming etc might be popular, I don't think they really attract great crowds apart from the odd event. Especially swimming, but even athletics. I went to a couple of meetings at Crystal Palace, but unless it is an international event like European, World championships etc attandances are fairly poor. I'd say speedway does attract more than a lot in the list you provided 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,972 Posted August 18, 2020 https://www.statista.com/statistics/686971/highest-attended-types-of-sport-in-the-uk/ 2017 And this just mentions the top 3 from 2019 Football was the biggest contributor, accounting for 50.5 million of UK attendances, or 67.2 per cent of the 75 million annual figure. Horse racing came second, accounting for 5.9 million live spectators (7.9 per cent) while Rugby Union came third, hosting 4.3 million live spectators (5.7 per cent). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
