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Theboss

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Posts posted by Theboss

  1. Posted

     

    Hardly surprising.

     

    Many of us predicted this over ten years ago. NO business survives by constantly cutting the standard.

     

    Not enough fans.. cut the standard.. fans walk away..

     

    AGM..

     

    Not enough fans.. cut the standard.. fans walk away..

     

    AGM..

     

    Not enough fans.. cut the standard.. fans walk away.

     

    Season after season.

     

    Eventually you get to a point where it's just not viable to operate anymore as you can't cut any further.. we're approaching that point.

    Sorry but I think you are missing the point. Never mind.

  2. Posted

    NOT sure it will be skeleton coverage. If they are prepared to pay the production costs I would anticipate an upgrade over 2016 in that department.

     

     

    Will this upgrade give them the £150k of extra revenue they need from sponsors?

     

    Like I say it is the elephant in the room and you like many are ignoring it.

     

    Fact is the promoters are right to not accept the BT deal, however from here whatever they do I believe they are in a no win situation and many will struggle to survive if they run as per the current team strength rules.

    • Like 1

  3. Posted

     

    I guess you wish to understand what clubs need to do to make ends meet.

     

    Bottom line is deep pockets are needed to bridge the gap because I am sure it will also be harder to attract decent sponsorship due to either having no TV or what looks like skeleton coverage from BT.

     

    My guess is the difference in sponsorship and TV income from 2017 and 2018 will be £150k.

     

    With 2 home and 2 away matches (ignore play offs for moment) then it is around £11k of net income lost per match. If outgoings remain the same as 2017 then clubs will require around 800 extra adults per match (£17 x 800 - 20% VAT) to make ends meet.

     

    As I said deep pockets and that is why I believe clubs will come to the tapes under strength in a bid to cut costs and try to survive the season.

    • Like 1

  4. Posted

    The elephant in the room that no one is talking about is if the clubs accept the BT offer how will those clubs the bridge the financial gap between the £120k plus they received from sky last season to the £6k they will potentially receive this season.... Plus on top of that two meetings where they will potentially bring in less income as they are being forced to lower their admission to £10?

     

    In my opinion this is what is stopping the clubs signing and I can not say I blame them.

     

    So what happens if they do not accept the TV deal? Well I would hope they have a back up plan for PPV broadcasting, and if they don't then I can see teams starting 4 or 5 points lower than the 42.5 point limit as they look to cut costs, possibly putting two national league riders at reserve.

     

    Shame all of this wasn't thought through prior to AGM. Hindsight was not required, just some business acumen.

    • Like 7

  6. Posted

    From what I have been told by a few sources is that BT had offered a tv deal to British Speedway subject to a few conditions being met etc £10 entry,a min amount of GP riders.

     

    However some promotions over value what they think British Speedway tv rights are worth and think that they should be getting Thousands just for the rights to allow BT to broadcast the racing.

     

    Then of course you have Terry & Ron Russell in the middle if BT offer just a meeting fee to the clubs or nothing but do cover the production costs how do old Tel & Ron make their money

    I have sympathy for the promotions who want to get a deal done, however you have to wonder how they ever got into this ridiculous scenario of not having the deal done before the AGM.

     

    Would look really stupid if the league had to meet up again and bring in new rules to try and lower costs.

    • Like 2

  7. Posted

    Looks like Lewis Kerr is back with the Stars in 2018.

     

    Running a crowdfunding page to help buy equipment - http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/enable-lewis-to-race-in-the-uk-premiership/

     

    "After coming back into racing last year I have been fortunate to have a couple of opportunities and now I have been offered a team place with the Stars but I need to fund my own new bike and engine. I am determined to do this and hope that you will help me on this journey and am grateful for as little or as much support as you can give. Simply the money I need to proceed is out of my reach at this time so I am looking to you to help me to succeed."

    Whilst I like Lewis and really wish him the best of luck, I honestly do not know why he wants to continue to put his neck on the line after so many serious accidents.

     

    Maybe he should take it as a sign to stop racing if he can not afford to buy equipment. My advice is to Jack it in, the chance of being a world champ is gone and he is still young enough to make a successful career in another trade that has far less risks and will give him an income all year round.

    • Like 3

  9. Posted

    Speedway in the UK is going to end up dying up it's own exhaust pipe anyway. Walking away from it being on TV will just hasten the end. They have never considered Pay Per View streaming which could bring in another revenue stream. The "dinosaurs" are not us old grey-haired fans lingering on the terraces.

    I had a proposal for PPV live streaming before I left the BSPA. It was when I was worried about the sky TV deal not being renewed last time around.

     

    5 years later and words fail me if this is not a back up option to a BT sport deal not being concluded this season.

  12. Posted · Edited by jchapman

    How easy is it to attract sponsors who dont already have a love of the sport?

    Do you push the TV coverage, the local media presence, the demographic reach or are there other buttons to press?.

    Some great questions and ones which get harder and harder to answer with each year that goes by. In truth social media is now a big selling point and Tai for example is at the top of his game in that respect.

     

    The clubs need to follow his lead.

  13. Posted · Edited by jchapman

    Maybe Mark could come back again JC. Can't see Roger chucking 40k at it. Now or before

     

    Not like the days when JC was there and they had 3, yes 3 main Sponsors. People mentioned a 6 figure sum with Money Centre, Banham and Jark all onboard. Happy days

    Mark Alexander now resides abroad and rarely visits the speedway. He is one of my closest friends and can not see why he would be tempted. However, i am sure there are many company's out there wishing to get on board.

     

    Robin is a great guy with good connections and a strong business acumen. I wish him success and hope his involvement at the club does not just stop at just at attracting new sponsors.

  14. Posted

    Just seen this on robin brundles linked in page so he is involved in some sort of capacity at the speedway as a commercial manager or co promoter

     

     

    Follow Follow Robin Brundle

    Managing Director and Executive Officer

    1 article

    Would you like to join me in sponsoring a UK Premier league Speedway team?

     

    Team naming rights for £40k through to just £1k for general sponsorship.

     

    Probably the most exciting form of motorsport in the world - come and enjoy the sponsorship experience.

    The club are clearly looking for a new main team sponsor according to Robins post. I wonder why Trucks R us are not renewing? Could Roger Warnes Transport take the opportunity up once again?

  16. Posted

    This is a desperate effort to try and save Kings Lynn's bacon because without it they would probably be up Manure Creek without a paddle. Same goes for Somerset. And even then it may not be enough.

    At least Leicester has gone out and got itself a no.1 without needing to rely on favours and handouts. Rye House should be ok as they have their Dad's Army to rely on and may also pull a rabbit out of the hat.

    I believe you have read the situation well.

     

    I do however believe every club will be up the creek without a paddle this year unless they find a way to fund the large gap left in their finances from the lose of Sky TV money.

  17. Posted

    Nothing inspiring or revolutionary and certainly a brave move to set a 42.5 point limit in the premiership.

     

    I believe 2018 is now a big financial risk for all clubs and it will be interesting to see how they will make up for the lost sky TV income in their budgets (for example will they increase ticket prices).

     

    I wish all the clubs luck in making a success of 2018.

  18. Posted

    Must be because some championship teams dont feel like they have the ability to get certain riders. Clubs must stay within there means.

     

    I will reserve final judgement until press release but if this is the case then the 8 existing teams did not do enough to encourage them up, for example lowering the points limit so they could get a competitive team or bringing in a pay cap so they were not taking such a big financial risk .

    • Like 2

  20. Posted

    I feel the product needs some set standards that need to be adhered to across all clubs. This includes prompt start times, no long drawn out meetings, riders having some real attachments to clubs not just riding free lance which has got to now, no TR rule, better presentation, tightening up of the rules....some of the things that have gone on in 2017 have been laughable.

     

     

    Do I think things will change for the greater good in 2018.....no.

    Agreed with most of that although I do sincerely hope change is coming for 2018

    • Like 2

  21. Posted · Edited by jchapman

    Who are these wealthy sponsors and how long is the queue of them vying to be the "Durex" Premier League 2018 brand owners?

    Agreed, 99% of sponsors across speedway are gained simply because they are a fan or a friend of a promoter who owes them a favour through other business.

     

    It would be nice if speedway could gain sponsors because of the prestige and popularity but that is a long way off.

  23. Posted

    SURELY 20 grand is better than nothing plus there is always the opportunity to glean additional revenue by working hard to bring sponsors on board on the back of TV coverage.

    I agree with you Phil, however how many of the premiership promoters can you honestly say will see this the same way?

  24. Posted

    The facts I shared Mr Chapman were that in 2017 the racing was better,Crowd numbers were significantly higher for TV matches, Promotors were in general more supportive of TV.

     

    For 2018 I have been told on good authority that there will be at least 7 GP riders appearing in the top league in the UK. This is to add to the regular race nights that's been agreed so wont have so many guests due to doubling up as won't be clashes.

    It all sounds rather promising, let's just hope either sky or BT pay up enough money for the TV rights to keep the bank balances of the clubs employing the 7 GP riders above water.

     

    Fine balance between sanity and vanity.

    • Like 3

  25. Posted

    I have just read with interest about the following BT sport pricing increase....

     

    BT Sport for customers with BT broadband will rise to £10 a month from £7.50, the biggest increase at 33 per cent.

     

    Non-BT broadband customers who watch BT Sport with a Sky box will see prices rise by £3 to £25.99 a month.

     

    Bt Sport via app will rise from £5 to £7 a month, but BT Sport for BT TV customers is staying at £3.50 a month.

     

    Will this extra income be used to make a significant bid for the 2018 speedway TV rights?

    It may well be that nothing happens from the Sky side but just wanted them to have the full facts and the product has improved and will be even better in 2018.

    I would be interested to hear what facts you shared on how the product had improved in 2017 and what plans are in place to continue these improvements in 2018?

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