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The younger, better and most ambitious will Those at the other end of their career and those with a lower ceiling probably wont

In the mid 90’s I used to race at a weekend supercoss / speedway meeting in the Munich Olympic-halle ( the massive indoor velodrome stadium next to the main Olympic stadium.) 8-10,000 people watching. The speedway was on late afternoon / early evening, the floor was boarded over with wood and we were all supplied with Metzeler road tyres … they sponsored the event, lights / loud music/ lasers the lot. For the evening event they wheeled in all the jumps / berms etc made out of wood for the track set up ( it took about 1/2 hour). The meeting was just as you’d expect with the riders disappearing into the stands under the seating, racing around corridors and appearing on the other side of the stadium. Brilliant mental stuff. It was great fun, ( paid well), there was no expensive temporary track to be installed and apparently the supercross berms / jumps could be used at other events. it’s not rocket science.

thank god

I don't have specific figures but enough idea for an educated estimate that it isn't too far out

Was going off last year so granted may well be down in 2026 if its only 5. Not far off if the miracle 6th team appears KO Cup could be 4-6 plus potential of 4 play offs Worst case is 18 (5 teams 1 Cup round and no play offs) and max is 30 (6 teams and all the trimmings)

I bet they have earned double in the Prem

Good for you. I'm not the one who advocates to bin off the Top Tier that'll take away the vast majority of income for the Best of British Riders. I'm not the one who's ungrateful by moaning non-stop in regards to Club owners spending an X amount of £ on top riders with an intention to put on the best product possible for the fans. A reason as to why Scunthorpe fans prey that Simon Lambert doesn't sign for them every year, Nobody wants to mention that though as it doesn't fit the narrative. If NDL was as good as some make it out to be then the attendances wouldn't be so bad due to a severe lack of interest in the product. I can go on and on, But I cba because I've got better things to do.

The big challenge the UK version of the sport has is to make it relevant... If you run a team sport there has to be a "tribal, them v us, feel" to the competitions.. And the competitions must have something seen to be tangibly worth winning in the eyes of any prospective, (and even actual), followers.. The "War of fhe Roses" at the NSS is a case in point... Two local rivals yet hardly any away fans are in attendance even on a BH Monday which then delivers a flat atmosphere... Many "non regular" BV fans will visit on that day, so a huge opportunity to impress them enough to attend more... Often all it does is reinforce to them that their low attendance level is justified, and what made them visit less frequently iinitially is still the way that the sport is ran.. In short. Nothing has changed to entice them back.. The sport just meanders, doing the same old, same old, and, I presume, believes it will suddenly become popular again.. Give away fans free tickets if needs be to get them there, get a bit of banter and atmosphere going, build some tribal rivalries which can be "milked" ongoing... There is plenty of room in the stadiums to fit 100 or more away supporters I would suggest...

Pmsl

It does help when the sports are held indoors with light shows and music but promoters need to put on a show as you say. I remember going to an Ice Hockey game in Canada about 20 years ago and it was great , loud music when points were scored, big tv screens and fire machines etc.

I've watched Speedway in the USA and it's a similar vibe... It is a "night out" and not just a Speedway meeting... Kids races, sidecars, handicap racing, riders stalls with their merchandise, various competitions for the crowds to enter through the night, food and drink served to you in the stands, and a presentation level that keeps you engaged from announcer to roving mike person.. The towns I saw the racing in had a good many banners and boards up around them, including on the interstate, and loads of fhe restaurants, bars and hotels all had posters in their windows advertising the track and the racing... Crowds were "very decent" too, no GP riders in attendance, and, mainly, ex UK riders in their 40's and 50's dominating proceedings.. Speedway can be a great night out... The UK version just needs to find how to show it much more often..

I did go to Brighton once and it was OK but can't imagine there were too many people there from outside Speedway and not much to attract them.

Disagree too weak at reserve, Poole have much stronger reserves. Both reserves are riding Premiership that is where they will be under pressure, a lot of championship reserves are weaker than Poole's.

And just for comparison SGP - FIM Speedway

Arenacross World Tour I think Speedway can run a decent number of events purely because it is a team sport. However I do think they need to run far more at weekends, many more people now seem to work outside of the normal hours so can't make meetings even if they want to. For one I can very rarely go as I work nights so only Saturday and Sunday are possible for me. Somewhere along the line though they need to adapt so that the youngsters want to come, not kids but those in their 20s and early 30s. They will spend money but they need more than 15 races, they need a night out and Speedway stadiums could do that in the main as they have a bar which could be lively enough to make it worth their attending.

As a rugby pundit said many years ago about the football premiership - " we call it the Andrex League, because it's unneccessarily expensive"

If Oxford stay fit, they win. Too much pressure on young shoulders for Poole's reserves at this early stage in their career (, as well as Gilkes back from injury) but will be in Playoffs. Glasgow 50/50 make playoffs, they looked vulnerable at home at times last year & it'll take a while for Hausl & Pedersen to find their feet (thats if they are not ousted by then). Edinburgh & Redcar with their stable team from last season & well balanced 1-7 will be there. Whatever happens, the Championship is again the best and most competitive league for racing & entertainment in the country

The places he rejected last year were a Friday and Saturday night tracks. So pretty much same as Scunny. Also remember he couldn’t be bothered coming to Armadale one Friday for Belle Vue I think it was in the NDL but don’t tell anyone till the afternoon he wasn’t coming, real reliable. Nothing actually against Nathan, cause actually a good lad.

An excellent summary of how it works

Also Manchester December ‘91.

Ice Hockey in Canada and the US has a similar "event" status with music and razzmatazz.

There is definitely a "less is more" feel to UK Speedway due to so much of it being delivered poorly... Less meetings but much better planned, promoted and delivered could help it keep going... Two teams, seven riders per team, (any adhoc seven riders per team), fifteen heats, four laps clutch start, birthday dedications over the PA to octogenarians, etc etc etc, and all to try and win competitions very low on relevance and kudos, simply doesn't engage enough people anymore.. The racing itself though could still be "sold", and even more so if fhe prizes of the competitions engaged the wider public... Watching Speedway racing should feel like you are attending an "event".... Unfortunately, it rarely feels like you are attending one given the "sales pitch" and "race day experience" is so far away from being where both are required to be in 2026...

Looks one of those teams that could surprise a few if they all click or be bang average at best if they don't.

Also Brighton and Bournemouth withe some riders on 250cc bikes.

I've no inside knowledge but didn't Matt Ford say Championship was roughly a third cheaper than the prem ? given I would imagine stadium rent would be the same regardless of league I can't see that wages in the Prem being double against the championship when the overall saving is only 30%.