MD 1,307 Posted August 1, 2017 Not a lot happening in re-arranging fixtures, for a team in pole position for a play off place this is strange to say the least. If it was me I would be bombarding these teams with dates to get them up. then you have covered your arse with the BSPA when these dates are still outstanding it is also looking increasingly likely that we are going to struggle with our riders doubling up/down as the season moves forward, with us being able to use our stadium whenever we need surely dates to re-schedule should in theory be easier. Its not just us, seems to be the same issue across a lot of clubs. Season after season nothing seems to change. It would probably be worth Glasgow next year saying we are not running in July what with already losing 2 weekends to Cardiff and the Fours. Its already school holidays when crowds naturally dip anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheScotsman 2,483 Posted August 1, 2017 Why not have a couple of mid-week fixtures when the Fours and Cardiff are on? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SharpenRake 1,505 Posted August 1, 2017 Its not just us, seems to be the same issue across a lot of clubs. Season after season nothing seems to change. It would probably be worth Glasgow next year saying we are not running in July what with already losing 2 weekends to Cardiff and the Fours. Its already school holidays when crowds naturally dip anyway. The 4s are on a Sunday we are meant to ride on a Saturday night so there is no clash and no need to miss a weekend Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baba 562 Posted August 1, 2017 Saturday night isn't really working out. Back to sunday next season its gotta be. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MD 1,307 Posted August 1, 2017 Why not have a couple of mid-week fixtures when the Fours and Cardiff are on? Why indeed. The 4s are on a Sunday we are meant to ride on a Saturday night Allegedly. Saturday night isn't really working out. Back to sunday next season its gotta be. Friday nights would be best IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gazc 7,098 Posted August 1, 2017 Saturday night isn't really working out. Back to sunday next season its gotta be. Saturday has dampened most supporters appetite on attending, whenever we are lucky enough to actually have a meeting on a Saturday that is. As has been said Friday would have been a better option but we lost that right when we sold out to Edinburgh. This season has been the worst I can remember for blank weekend's , Saturday nights are having a negative impact because of this, all we ask is regular meetings and Sunday is when this was happening. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,371 Posted August 1, 2017 (edited) Saturday has dampened most supporters appetite on attending, whenever we are lucky enough to actually have a meeting on a Saturday that is. As has been said Friday would have been a better option but we lost that right when we sold out to Edinburgh. This season has been the worst I can remember for blank weekend's , Saturday nights are having a negative impact because of this, all we ask is regular meetings and Sunday is when this was happening. We need to get back to 1 rider 1 team ,only riders that want to ride in Uk.The sport will drop a level ,but in a few seasons should be on the way up again,there is a lot of new young riders about and given the chance we will unearth new talent,any rider who can't make it pay should just retire and find weekly employment.Im sure they will realise they were making decent money out of the sport.Fixtures should be able to be fulfilled much easier and fans will see regular speedway again. Edited August 1, 2017 by Fromafar 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paulco 7,080 Posted August 1, 2017 (edited) We need to get back to 1 rider 1 team ,only riders that want to ride in Uk.The sport will drop a level ,but in a few seasons should be on the way up again,there is a lot of new young riders about and given the chance we will unearth new talent,any rider who can't make it pay should just retire and find weekly employment.Im sure they will realise they were making decent money out of the sport.Fixtures should be able to be fulfilled much easier and fans will see regular speedway again. The sport is geared too much for the benefit of riders and the fans are no longer considered . Going two and three weeks without a home fixture was unthinkable in the 70's , 80's and 90's , but now it's not an unusual occurrence . I know at one time we did used to shut down for Glasgow Fair fortnight , but that was a time when industry would shut down and people all went on holiday at the same time . Now clubs wonder why they can't get punters through the turnstiles in sufficient numbers , but the riders don't care as they're away riding for their other team . Saturday nights has turned out to be a bit of a mistake , certainly Friday night would be the favoured option , but that opens another can of worms . Edited August 1, 2017 by Paulco 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,371 Posted August 1, 2017 The sport is geared too much for the benefit of riders and the fans are no longer considered . Going two and three weeks without a home fixture was unthinkable in the 70's , 80's and 90's , but now it's not an unusual occurrence . Then clubs wonder why they can't get punters through the turnstiles in sufficient numbers , but the riders don't care as they're away riding for their other team . Saturday nights has turned out to be a bit of a mistake , certainly Friday night would be the favoured option , but that opens another can of worms . The riders are dictating everything,tracks, weather, what team and country they want ride for on that day.Fans are fed up with and are deserting in droves.Promoters have to stop paying them money they can't afford. NL seems to be a good product but even they are going the same way paying over the odds and R/r and guests.When the original 2nd division started teams had to find juniors is looking for riders and it produced some good riders. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paulco 7,080 Posted August 1, 2017 The riders are dictating everything,tracks, weather, what team and country they want ride for on that day.Fans are fed up with and are deserting in droves.Promoters have to stop paying them money they can't afford. NL seems to be a good product but even they are going the same way paying over the odds and R/r and guests.When the original 2nd division started teams had to find juniors is looking for riders and it produced some good riders. Same with r-r , i'm pretty sure back in the day if both competing clubs were using rider replacement , it cancelled each other out and both teams tracked a novice . Now it's common practice for both clubs to do so . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Third Man 2,217 Posted August 1, 2017 Same with r-r , i'm pretty sure back in the day if both competing clubs were using rider replacement , it cancelled each other out and both teams tracked a novice . Now it's common practice for both clubs to do so . Yes, used to happen all the time, also two number 1s away, promote the juniors, however the problem now is that all the decent jumiors are already riding in a team Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daveallan81 330 Posted August 1, 2017 From 1964 to 2016 the longest gap between scheduled home meetings is 21 days. Including cancellations, the longest Tigers fans have had to wait for their fix is 28 days. If the 12th August Edinburgh fixture goes ahead it will have been 27 days since Ashfield saw any track action. Full analysis here https://app.box.com/s/ahlpg8ib3mmr6l0ndf39w35a25861iiy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SharpenRake 1,505 Posted August 1, 2017 don't know why some posters are saying saturdays aren't working. i've enjoyed them a lot more than the sundays- racings been better, track easier to prepare? crowd up for it, having a few beers better atmosphere, The fixtures could have been compiled better but the real problem is riders riding for more than one team both here and abroad. As has been said in lots of threads on here, we need to get back to weekly speedway and teams that had the original fixture rained off should be obliged to come to us on a blank Saturday otherwise what the point of having blank dates in the fixtures to accommodate rain offs! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ragdoll64 647 Posted August 1, 2017 All the fantastic work the promotion and their helpers have done to get new punters through the turnstiles has been totally ruined by the lack of continuity of race days and start times. It's sad to see all this good work seemingly go to waste. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gazc 7,098 Posted August 2, 2017 (edited) don't know why some posters are saying saturdays aren't working. i've enjoyed them a lot more than the sundays- racings been better, track easier to prepare? crowd up for it, having a few beers better atmosphere, The fixtures could have been compiled better but the real problem is riders riding for more than one team both here and abroad. As has been said in lots of threads on here, we need to get back to weekly speedway and teams that had the original fixture rained off should be obliged to come to us on a blank Saturday otherwise what the point of having blank dates in the fixtures to accommodate rain offs! On crowd levels they are working but in terms of consistency of meetings they aren't and I know we have had rain offs but it will be a full calendar month between home meetings by the time we meet Edinburgh. When we raced on a Sunday there was very little in the way of blank weekends I am sure you will agree so from that perspective Saturday nights is not working as we all would have hoped. It has to be looked at for next season if we are going to continue with a Saturday as this seasons scenario is not an option, what is the point of trying to introduce new fan's if there is hardly a meeting on. But totally agree on the riders doubling up scenario this appears to be the main issue and it is ruining the sport for the fan. All the fantastic work the promotion and their helpers have done to get new punters through the turnstiles has been totally ruined by the lack of continuity of race days and start times. It's sad to see all this good work seemingly go to waste. Spot on it is the same in all walks of life people just find something else to do if there preferred option is not on, then they like the other option and that is another potential fan lost, as I have said our fixture planning has been shocking with too many blank weekends. Edited August 2, 2017 by Gazc 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
