steve roberts 9,242 Posted August 17, 2021 39 minutes ago, Grachan said: Something occurred to me last night while watching the telly. I'm not sure why it occurred last night, but it did. Remember when all the house lights used to go off when a race was on, so the stadium was in darkness and only the track was lit up? When did that stop? Probably about 30 years ago, but it just came to me last night! ...even used to turn off the fairy lights strung up around the track at both Swindon & Poole! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieman72 588 Posted August 17, 2021 You can't do that it makes it more watchable, exciting and spectacular. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tyretrax 2,252 Posted August 17, 2021 3 hours ago, Grachan said: Something occurred to me last night while watching the telly. I'm not sure why it occurred last night, but it did. Remember when all the house lights used to go off when a race was on, so the stadium was in darkness and only the track was lit up? When did that stop? Probably about 30 years ago, but it just came to me last night! Probably Health & Safety. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skidder1 7,632 Posted August 18, 2021 Never gets dark enough at the moment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Humphrey Appleby 13,941 Posted August 18, 2021 23 hours ago, tyretrax said: Probably Health & Safety. That was the reason as I remember. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chunky 6,086 Posted August 18, 2021 8 hours ago, Skidder1 said: Never gets dark enough at the moment. I heard the future of British speedway is pretty black, though? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midland Red 2,383 Posted August 19, 2021 Interesting read - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58264373 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainb 4,962 Posted August 19, 2021 52 minutes ago, Midland Red said: Interesting read - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58264373 You could almost substitute the word Rugby for Speedway. Didn't they re-brand to Super League around 25 years ago? Time moves on you need to keep re-inventing yourself to gain new interest. I doubt many RFL punters stopped going when the Super League was introduced and it probably attracted a few more in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,242 Posted August 19, 2021 54 minutes ago, iainb said: You could almost substitute the word Rugby for Speedway. Didn't they re-brand to Super League around 25 years ago? Time moves on you need to keep re-inventing yourself to gain new interest. I doubt many RFL punters stopped going when the Super League was introduced and it probably attracted a few more in. ...to be honest Rugby could re-invent itself numerous times and It still wouldn't grab my interest having being forced to play the wretched game at school! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piotr Pyszny 206 Posted August 19, 2021 4 minutes ago, steve roberts said: ...to be honest Rugby could re-invent itself numerous times and It still wouldn't grab my interest having being forced to play the wretched game at school! You were probably forced (as I was) to play turgid old rugby union at school. League is much more interesting - to play, to watch and (in my case) to report on. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piotr Pyszny 206 Posted August 19, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Midland Red said: Interesting read - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58264373 Some would say Pearson's rant is designed to deflect attention from his shortcomings as a club owner. Interestingly, Barrow Rugby League Club (in a town that once had speedway), who play in rugby league's third tier, have grown their crowds substantially this season, simply by giving away season tickets to children and offering free admission to those entering the ground two hours before kick-off. 'Secondary' spend has gone through the roof. No tinkering with the actual game! https://www.rugby-league.com/article/35202/barrow-raiders-in-crowd-boosting-initiatives On the subject of speedway's need to reinvent itself, my wife (a speedway novice) accompanied me to Scunthorpe (last Friday) and Belle Vue (on Monday). First time I'd been to speedway in four years. A solicitor (hardly speedway's target market), my wife described the spectacle as "engaging" and is keen to go again. Maybe part of the answer to speedway's dire attendances is to provide racing worth watching. Edited August 19, 2021 by Piotr Pyszny 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arnieg 3,624 Posted August 19, 2021 44 minutes ago, Piotr Pyszny said: Some would say Pearson's rant is designed to deflect attention from his shortcomings as a club owner. Interestingly, Barrow Rugby League Club (in a town that once had speedway), who play in rugby league's third tier, have grown their crowds substantially this season, simply by giving away season tickets to children and offering free admission to those entering the ground two hours before kick-off. 'Secondary' spend has gone through the roof. No tinkering with the actual game! https://www.rugby-league.com/article/35202/barrow-raiders-in-crowd-boosting-initiatives On the subject of speedway's need to reinvent itself, my wife (a speedway novice) accompanied me to Scunthorpe (last Friday) and Belle Vue (on Monday). First time I'd been to speedway in four years. A solicitor (hardly speedway's target market), my wife described the spectacle as "engaging" and is keen to go again. Maybe part of the answer to speedway's dire attendances is to provide racing worth watching. His obsession with private equity as a solution seems rather odd, given their modus operandi is generally to buy up businesses and strip out costs (and assets, transferring them to the ownership of related companies). The end result is generally very good for property developers and not so good for the businesses. The care home sector has been particularly crippled by these vultures. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,242 Posted August 19, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Piotr Pyszny said: You were probably forced (as I was) to play turgid old rugby union at school. League is much more interesting - to play, to watch and (in my case) to report on. Yes I was a Grammar School laddie and it was Union...not being of particular big build (still not!) used to get flattened by all the fat kids (and those who thought themselves 'hard' and got away with what most would consider bullying tactics) who 'excelled' at Rugby but who were hopeless at everything else sportwise! Edited August 19, 2021 by steve roberts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lbw 869 Posted August 19, 2021 (edited) Rugby saying the same as to my suggestion at the start of this topic. Keep the league format, as cricket keeps the county cricket, then totally blow that format into touch with sum quick fire handicap racing for a cup competition. Not rocket science. Edited August 19, 2021 by PirateShip Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,242 Posted August 19, 2021 2 hours ago, iainb said: You could almost substitute the word Rugby for Speedway. Didn't they re-brand to Super League around 25 years ago? Time moves on you need to keep re-inventing yourself to gain new interest. I doubt many RFL punters stopped going when the Super League was introduced and it probably attracted a few more in. Followed both RL and Speedway closely for a fair few years, and always thought a certain closeness between their operating models.. Eg's Owners running the sport and making all the decisions with the usual vested interest rather than an independent body having total control for the common good. (The RFL exists but the Super League clubs rule the roost).. Club 'success' therefore, being more important than a successful national team. (Something RU and Cricket cottoned onto and moved forward from immeasurably, and their domestic games then fed off this success).. Loads of overseas players coming in rather than having development of UK based players (and guaranteed team places for them).. Players getting some eye watering contracts for a sport well down the sporting spectrum, and then trying to fund these contracts through sponsorship and debt, (supported by other businesses) rather than the inadequate gate receipts.. A very much "Open the doors and they will come" philosophy, with a view taken by those owners of "I love it as it's a very exciting sport so its bound to be attractive to everyone isnt it?"... No national joined up marketing of the sport with each club doing "their own thing" at local level, with varying degrees of success (or failure)... No set days or nights for each club, it used to be Sat and Sun and now it's any time at the behest of the broadcaster.. And. Play offs introduced that rendered many matches during the latter part of the season as "dead rubbers" given many of the same teams reached the play offs, (the ones with money), and the same others didnt... As you say, swap the word Speedway for Rugby League.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
