Guest Posted January 1, 2022 1 hour ago, Nickinho said: I'm going to be controversial here but a large reason for the dwindling fortunes of British speedway is the huge demographic and cultural changes which have taken place since the 1970s. The white working class of Britain which made up the vast majority of fans in the old days has to a large extent been decimated and the cultural rituals of fathers passing down their sporting and socialising interests to their sons is pretty much a thing of the past. Football in England was saved by television and the middle class whereas football crowds in Scotland (outwith the Old Firm) have halved in the past 30 years so speedway hasn't been the only casualty. These cultural changes have not spared places of leisure like pubs either and the only reason gyms have prospered (lockdowns notwithstanding) is because they made themselves more appealing to a burgeoning middle class who favour comfort over the wind and rain. Not many people from Gen Y onwards want to stand with a pie on the terracing in the pouring rain on a Friday night to attend a speedway meeting when they could be in a warm bar watching sport on the television. The only way for speedway to survive and prosper in the future is to secure television deals, or failing that (which is likely) to delve more into online revenue through streaming etc., because with the current stadia (Belle Vue aside) crowds are not going to increase any time soon. Wise words on your part Nickinho. IMO worthy of very serious consideration by those with genuine concerns about the future of British speedway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_martin 1,606 Posted January 2, 2022 On 12/19/2021 at 5:24 PM, mikebv said: Maximum pay rates would certainly help deliver this too, with a maximum meeting payment for every club being the same for all.. What would you consider to be an acceptable attrition rate in riders who would choose to ride in the French, Danish or German leagues rather than allow their earnings be affected? How many Australian riders will choose to ride in Britain if the return on their considerable investment in getting here isn't matched by the prospect of a worthwhile return? As a matter of interest, at what figure would you set your cap at? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,292 Posted January 2, 2022 4 hours ago, uk_martin said: What would you consider to be an acceptable attrition rate in riders who would choose to ride in the French, Danish or German leagues rather than allow their earnings be affected? How many Australian riders will choose to ride in Britain if the return on their considerable investment in getting here isn't matched by the prospect of a worthwhile return? As a matter of interest, at what figure would you set your cap at? £1 below the total income left after all other running cost bills are paid ..... 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
