AlexBrady
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Posts posted by AlexBrady
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Thoroughly enjoyable evening as previously mentioned on here. Good weather, good racing and all in all, a good night!
Fortunate enough to be able to watch from the centre green for the first time, and even more fortunate it was for heats 11&12 - What a race in heat 12.
I took 3 people along with me who'd never been to speedway before, and I'm pleased to say they will all be back for the Poole meeting next week!
Full marks for a brilliant start - best wishes to Lewis Rose for a speedy recovery.
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Slightly off topic, but I have 1 spare ticket for the Tatum & Pearson show with Jason Doyle for Friday if anybody is interested.
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A shame the edp have revealed the team prior to the official announcement. Couple this with the speedway star announcing Lambert last week, the promotion must be either fuming or kicking themselves - either way, I think they need to spring a surprise signing at the forum.
I will buck the trend and say that oddly, I’m quite excited by the team (big hitter and reasonable 5 point+ man to follow)
Having at least 1 strong reserve throughout the season will be key I think, the last time I can remember that is the draft season with the re-signed ‘team Lewis’
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A lot of talk saying we will only have whatever’s left over as other clubs are announcing signings, whose to say We haven’t signed our 1-7 and the other clubs are working within a pool of what’s left? The club seem pretty adamant the 1-7 will be in place for the January’s meeting, and with Christmas and New Years in between, I would imagine at least 5/6 are signed, if not the complete 7
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8 hours ago, Speedball said:It's a moot point discussing Doyle because as I understand it, he's not coming.
i also noticed a rider seemed happy on twitter yesterday and the most recent people he's followed are Dale and two (potential) new team mates. Seem to point he's in the mix for a team spot. Wont spoil the fun by naming him
Ty Proctor? What average would he be on?
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On 12/13/2017 at 4:40 PM, Hamish McRaker said:I think we now have a generation of men in their 20's, 30's and 40's (maybe more) who are obsessed by betting on sport, who probably find it strange that speedway meetings don't allow on-course betting. Look at who sponsors a lot of sport nowadays......
Fantastic comment and I think this would be a massive draw.
In 2017, I went to a number of meetings, and in 4 of these, I took car loads of friends who’d never been. All bar one of these questioned me if they could place a bet, and seemed genuinely annoyed they couldn’t and impacted on their experience. One of these was at Ipswich where they could see a betting shop, but light off and nobody home!
Having spoken to people within the industry, I understand it’s incredibly difficult for the bookmaker as it’s viewed as high risk minority sport - effectively meaning they feel they’d stand to lose more than they’d win!
They told me, the answer would be for them to have high volume of stakes on the GP, and particularly ‘home’ riders ie riders that race in the U.K. and this would encourage them to open up more markets, put kiosks in at clubs etc.
Someone with some good business acumen could Close a deal with a bookmaker I’m sure ...
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Ready Steady Go by Paul Oakenfold
Highway to the dangerzone - Kenny Loggins - Both remind me of the mid 00's around Kings Lynn.
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Alex Brady wrote " Lets give the promotion our full loyalty once again, and if things don't go to plan, I'm certain the club will listen to what the fans want, if we give them the support too!"
That has been at the heart of the problem for at least 5 years ( if not ten ) THAT style of NOT listening or responding in any way to the concerns of supporters. Yes IF ( and it's big if ) this great new way forward to be unveiled, in the first three months of 2018 includes a 2 way relationship ( and we are not just "end users" - customers in plain English ) then Hooray and the promotion will deserve the full support of the remaining fans. But come on, potential fans are not going to start their speedway adventure on here and anyway there are less than 10 posters who are critical ( less than half a dozen really ). Those who are critical of how the sport at KLS has been run are quite correct in posting their view of the slump in numbers on the terraces. It's a fact.
I'm not saying that people will only start their journey on here, and I also don't want to appear as if I'm making a sweeping generalisation of the comments on here. It is a similar story in each thread, the problem is not just exclusive to Kings Lynn.
Welcome to the forum Alex, always nice to see new names with their love for the sport.
I appreciate your views and can understand where you're coming from, but this feelings are nothing new. We have waited year after year for things to change, but all we get are promises. Throughout my 52 yrs of supporting the Stars I have experienced many ups and down's, but I cant remember such a prolonged period when the relationship between the fans and the management has been as bad as recent years. Unlike other teams, we don't expect to be winners, but we do need to enjoy ourselves. We want to be part of club that appreciated our involvement. We want to Shout and Cheer the loudest for a team that gives it all on the track. What we don't want is waiting around for an hours on end watching track grading, we don't want riders going through the motions, we don't want being taken for granted, We want to be kept informed of what happens within the club, .
All these issues are down to Buster... You only have to look back over the previous 5 yrs at the people, working by Buster's side, who have left, to understand this is a major problem. People will only take so much for so long until they reach the point of That's enough' and then it's too late. Even with the best intentions in the world, he has this attitude that its his way or no way.....I'm sorry for not being as enthusiastic as you, but until I see some changes made, I cant see my opinion altering. It appears Buster has learnt nothing from the problem of last year . He has no connection with the fans and expect them to turn up at the drop of a hat.
At the moment all I see is the same old, same old.... What I'd give to enjoy a club like we once had.....
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Appreciate the response and far be it for me to appear to judge people on here, but I truly believe that what we need right now is positive attitude from everyone, and everyone pulling in the same direction.
I can't say that I've seen all the going's on over the past 5/10 years, although I have kept my eye on this forum a lot over this time, but it appears to me like they are trying to put the right steps in place.
I think the addition of Robin Brundle can surely only help, good contacts, very keen to do right and keeps things off Busters seemingly very busy plate.
I am going to piece together some of my ideas over the coming days and would like to present them on here, and I will reserve a copy for the club.
As a group, I understand everyone's frustrations, but I would rather be in a Kings Lynn position than a Coventry, or Reading position etc, and I really do fear we could become a defunct club should we not all pull together.
I hope I've not come across in the wrong fashion - I too am just trying to air my opinions and fears for the future.
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I've had to think long and hard about posting this, but here goes;
Whilst I agree that I would love to see the team announced sooner rather than later, and I would give my right arm to see the Stars successful again, this wave of negativity after negativity does nothing to move things forwards for either the club or indeed the sport.
How is the sport supposed to attract new fans, sponsorship's, tv deals etc when the first place these people will look, is the single biggest platform where fans are together, and the bulk of what they will see is one fan after another trying to shout the loudest than the last person about 'how badly the club is run' and 'the sport is dying' etc.
I honestly believe now is the time for positivity. The club needs to do their bit, but it is a 2 way street. The fans need to get behind the promotion/club, and the promotion/club needs to support the fans too .
I have been away from the sport long periods of time over the previous decade so i fully respect the opinions of others who have been there more so than I, but I truly believe that the supporters as a collective need to stick together, stay positive and get the crowds swelling again, and I think this will bring success on track, more 'floating' supports back to the terraces and new ones too - more investment back into the stadium/track and we're moving in the right direction again, like we were in 2005/06/07 etc.
Lets give the promotion our full loyalty once again, and if things don't go to plan, I'm certain the club will listen to what the fans want, if we give them the support too!
Heres to a big 2018!-
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A riders remuneration package is usually made up of multiple factors with different rates for each.
1. A sign on fee which a rider may use to purchase equipment and get set up for season ahead.
2. Contribution towards travel to each meeting, including flight costs.
3. Contribution to accomodation costs ( sometimes required by the home office to obtain a work visa).
4. Guaranteed minimum earnings per match.
5. Tyre, oil and insurance costs
6. Contribution towards or supply of a mechanic
7. A fixed rate per point scored (including bonus points) which may increase or decrease based on team position. It may also have a step up in rate if the rider scores more than his average points.
When all this is combined and spread out across the whole team it is fair to say that based on 50 points being scored each meeting (including bonus points) the average cost per point was around £200 when I was running the team in the elite league. Since I left this has increased significantly and I would estimate it is around £300 per point.
This means each home meeting requires £30k of income (after VAT) to cover rider costs plus another £5k to cover rent and auxiliary costs such as paramedics.
The sky money (which ceases to exist after this season) would probably cover 30% of that and gate receipts another 30-40%. Each club then needs to rely on sponsorship and generous beneficiaries to make up the short fall.
That ladies and gentlemen is unfortunately why the sport is in the doo doos and I do not see how it can survive next year without a major revamp including cost cutting. Believe me the fixed race nights are the least of its problems.
Incredibly interesting and insightful, and as other posters have alluded too - perhaps a little scary.
There's no doubt that these riders deserve the very best pay for the job they produce, it is a skilled profession that with the added risk element, means there are very few who can fill the role - but at these numbers, the question is how long is this sustainable for?
Keeping it related to the Stars, I sincerely hope that the fans will continue to back the club, even with the 'rough' couple of years we have had following them, and allow the current/potential new promotion to learn from their mistakes, most notably communication.
Finally, a question to Jon - I recall a meeting which I believe was in the premier trophy in March 2007, where Kings Lynn Beat Sheffield 75-15, one of the most surreal things I've seen in this sport. Based on the above numbers, does there ever become a point where the promotion is hoping that their riders don't win races, to keep costs down? I'm sure I know the answer, but I would be interested to know your views.
Alex
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Woffinden wants to do it all with somebody elses money , if I was a promoter the last thing I would be doing is handing my cheque book over to someone who thinks it's mighty clever that they hardly went to school from age 14 and spent all day" hanging with mates " and messing with bikes .. to all those waving union jacks at Cardiff while the arrogant toad took a lap of honour he doesn't deserve hang your heads in shame !!
Well I for one appreciated the fact that Tai took the time to acknowledge the fans which were there for him - I can honestly say he was the main draw as to why I took an 11 hour round trip to attend Cardiff this year.
One thing we are renowned in this country for is hating winners, and loving the losers - Its why people hate Murray and love Henman, its why people hate Man United, Poole Pirates etc - the list could go on and on.
In my opinion, what is there to lose by giving me a chance at running it? We are going nowhere fast as it stands, at least on the Continental circuits, so why not give it a go? We cannot be in a much worse position than we are now. If Tai fails, we have lost nothing, if hes successful (and for the record, I think he would be) we are back on the world stage - surely its a no brainer as there is no risk element at all?
The only thing I can think of, is that somebody up the hierarchy has a different agenda . . . .
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Good to see! It might be on T.V. but for me, there is no substitute seeing it live in front of you.
I really hope everyone gets behind this - and here's hoping that JC can get back involved too!
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I for one will be delighted if we get Holder, and this will certainly inspire me, and at least a handful of other 'fleeting' Stars fans I know to make the 110 round trip journey to the AFA more often.
Regrettably, I can't make Friday night, but here's hoping of some good news, and something to inspire us all, after what's been a frustrating period. -
Absolutely shocking decision, I was just discussing with my Dad last night that we will have to get ourselves over to Peterborough for a couple of meetings this season now - 2 Extra paying adults a minimum of twice when normally we just head to Lynn - And its in the interest of British Speedway? Do me a favour!!!
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Long time admirer of this forum, first time poster.
I have to say that looking in from the outside world purely as a spectator/sponsor, JC seems to have hit the nail on the head. As mentioned, I think the only idea that is a difficult one to police as such, is the idea exclusion of top level riders - What would/should the criteria be? If it is solely pay related, who monitors this? If these details could be ironed out, this post could, quite simply, be the way to save British Speedway.
For too long now, it seems as if Promoters will solely rely on the product, and have done very little to actually promote. The product has become more diluted and certainly weaker over recent years, and as a result, it appears as if we are on the cusp of a crisis - Lower attendance levels, higher entry fees etc etc.
Running my own business, and having been an area manager for a large National firm previously, the helicopter View is a brilliant way of analysing the DNA of your business/product etc, and a way to troubleshoot any issues you have, to fix these.
I can only really call it how I see it with Kings Lynn - but things have not been the same since Mr J Chapman left - Things such as the theme nights really brought the crowds in, and added something extra to the meeting. This, along with the loss of Mike Bennett from the centre green (The voice of KL speedway for me) has never really been filled/replaced.To echo almost everybody else comments on numerous other threads on this forum, transpareceny in the key. In no other professional sport are fans treated in this manor, and I've read various comments from official members of clubs about attendances being down - THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION!
Something does need to be done to save professional Speedway before it is too late - the answers to me appear to be within this thread.
Alex
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Torun 2018
in Speedway Grand Prix and Speedway World Cup
Posted · Edited by AlexBrady
Planning on taking my (soon to be) wife and our 1 year old to this - At the risk of being incredibly naïve, can anyone recommend where is best to stay ie a decent hotel etc? Thank you in advance.