Halifordukesfan

I don't understand why Scott drops to reserve when he has the highest average, after following speedway for 55 years, the rules have finally beaten me.

Perhaps not as he's broken his hand at Cardiff. Jack Holders doing well though.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailystar.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fother-sports%2Fspeedway-wembley-stadium-fa-event-29883532%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3UFKWnfP6TxqoR5lJhg0igENmfcwZDiNL6MoP7wiNYzKnuhAHbLwRILRc&h=AT1ZXzKRPOT3JPLpiUAXiSiYG0VEcysbdraK7yj3LZQsLuUs9geObtYEWHHv5_TjnTxP0gZdkDaZPHKvvbqCHhuXPPuiUo_eD2gBph2Xpu_Veio-313_5m4twH6ExFsDdmwcvN0c3og

Sam Masters ?

And yet, like me, you still went every week, and presumably enjoyed it.

Much as it pains me, being a Dukes supporter week in week out, from 1969 to 1997, league racing at Odsal would be financial suicide, a series of individual events would seem to be a better option.

Not important enough for BSPA site, disgraceful.

This is a one off concert, not a weekly expense, probably the last chance to see an iconic singer in this country, the theatres will be full, unlike our speedway stadiums, as for miming, it's only todays excuses for singers who mime or the stadium/arena acts who are so far away, you wouldn't even notice if they were puppets.

Sheffield, for all the money that's been spent on the stadium, has to be one of the worst in the country for viewing, home straight is too flat, it's like sitting behind a tall guy in the cinema, kids have no chance of seeing the action, 1st bend has disappeared, back straight out of bounds for years, if Odsal can fix/maintain terracing, why can't Sheffield ? 3rd(ish) & 4th bend poor for watching starts & 1st-2nd bend action. Can't see crowds improving even with the lifting of covid restrictions.

Josh Auty would be a better bet than Batchelor & would allow a bit of freedom for other changes.

That is correct, presumably limit will increase for stockcars.

Crowd would have only been around 2000, as that is currently the number of tickets available for events at the moment, info on startrax ticket information page. Speedway would be delighted at a weekly crowd of 2000.

Agree, a nice small track similar to Redcar or Scunthorpe to produce good racing, would probably work but you've still got to attract a new audience, 36 years on, many previous fans will have departed to other pastures. One other point is Halifax had the greatest crowd puller in Kenny Carter, crowds would have dropped at Halifax after his departure.

There will be a few previous fans who would return, myself included, though now living in Lincolnshire, I would have to be selective, certainly couldn't make a weekly trip, many older Bradford fans have probably sadly departed. Bradford would somehow have to attract a new audience, a new name to start with, Dukes has run it's course, maybe even a county name rather than Bradford, it's worked elsewhere, Sheffield may protest but that's their problem, get kids involved, 1 lap bicycle races, all ages on 125 & 250cc motorbikes, extras every 4 races, keep the entertainment rolling, social media, think outside the box, the current box is broken.

I agree, weekly speedway at Odsal would be instant failure but a season of perhaps individual, showcase events, like stock cars, could be the answer, an independant neutral track for play off's or the fours meeting etc, do both leagues on the same day, mind you that would lead to some riders riding for two teams, could get complicated. Odsal needs to think outside the current, severely dated speedway box.

The lighting columns are at least 3 metres back from the fence on turns 3 & 4, allow for air bags as well, and the riders usually enter & exit the bends on the inside of the track, I can't see this being a problem. I would also box in the hospitality suite supports & utilise the space for further advertising revenue.

Vast improvements have been made since January this year, check out Startrax site, the track is identical to '85-'97, it would easily obtain the necessary approval, current stadium capacity is 22000, so even 25% would be far greater than Belle Vue or Ipswich, and before anyone mentions the hospitality building on turns 3 & 4, the track side supports could easily be covered/boxed in if necessary. Bradford is a goer in waiting if the authorities want it. I wouldn't be surprised to see some behind closed doors 2 wheel laps before long, as soon as the final top shale layer is in place.

You won't need any hotel now.

Use the same promoter as Cardiff, licence wouldn't be a problem with the kind of revenue the meeting would generate.

Superb opportunity for Odsal Speedway resumption this year now Cardiff has been cancelled, bring it on.

Speedway anywhere needs new blood, both running the sport & younger spectators through the turnstiles, a good percentage of the previous Dukes fans have probably departed to that great arena in the skies above us. Television only works to a certain extent, bringing the sport to a wider audience but that's got to be converted to bums on seats and they've then got to get a similar experience as TV, inter-heat activity, good presenters, re-runs on large tv screens, no long delays, you need to keep fans entertained for 2-2 1/2 hours, not just the 15 miutes of racing, modernize the whole package, not just the bikes & leathers.

People always knock Odsal's level of speedway fans but it's a vast stadium, you could put the fans of any British club in the stand & it wouldn't be full, no other speedway stadium has a capacity of nearly 23,000.

Brilliant photo of bends 3 & 4 on Startrax facebook page, not sure how to upload it, bend 3 foreground shows ideal place for trackside pits area.

Fully agree, would love to see speedway back at that awsome track, went every week from86 to 97, even some exhibition meetings this year would be a good taster, I now live in Lincolnshire but would be up like a shot. Full credit to Steve Rees & Startrax for bringing Odsal back to life.