Ipswich Witches 2024 serious team predictions

[Arch Stanton 2,255]

Not sure on the reasoning TTT, dunno if clubs were told they had a bye or whether they wanted fewer meetings and requested it, but personally I’d rather have the extra meeting to go and watch. Not enough meetings as it is for me. 

[Roger Jacobs 554]

16 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

If Jenkins is no longer eligible to be a rising star, then he'd be due a 25% reduction and signs on a 3.16 average.

That would mean a change to the RS eligibility, but I haven't seen anything announced about that?

Jenkins himself has said he's only the second rider to move out the Rising Star pool, so he must be getting the 25% discount, which means he starts at 6.

[The Cheese 2,025]

Looks a good side. Taken the two weaker links out from last season and replaced them with better. 

[Bagpuss 10,783]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

Why do KL get a bye in the KO Cup for being sh1te whilst the Champions have to enter the competition at the Quarter-Final stage.

Should be the other way round.

It must have been a draw surely? No other way it should be done.

[2ndbend 53]

Who would have thought that with our top 2 averages we would end up 1 point under the limit. Should we have gone for another 8 point big hitter?

[Baldyman 6,243]

Season tickets on sale,,, think they are same price as last year,,, which can only be applauded 

[Arch Stanton 2,255]

9 minutes ago, Baldyman said:

Season tickets on sale,,, think they are same price as last year,,, which can only be applauded 

£250 last year, £260 this year, but admission has risen to £23 from £22 so it means a saving of an extra 3 quid on the 13 meeting season ticket as apposed to last year. Overall a saving of £39 if you attend all 13 fixtures, or 20 quid a meeting.

[Baldyman 6,243]

Not as big as the savings I've made over the last few years,,, but hey it's still a saving for the people that will attend all meetings. 

[Baldyman 6,243]

Oh no,,, always praised ipswich for free kids under 16,,,but now only free under 6.,,,can they really be desperate for that extra 100 quid or so a week. 

[Falcon1983 557]

100% wrong move to charge Kids, especially if its just to gain £1 a head

BSPL should have made it mandatory that all clubs done kids 16 and Under FREE for the good of the sport

[Aries 440]

1 hour ago, Falcon1983 said:

100% wrong move to charge Kids, especially if its just to gain £1 a head

BSPL should have made it mandatory that all clubs done kids 16 and Under FREE for the good of the sport

Couldn’t disagree more and surprised this has got a “like”. They should be charged more or at least change the age ranges for free entry. Toddlers and kids under 10 who attend with their parents fair enough, but I’ve seen groups of mid teens walk in at both Ipswich and Lynn and not have to pay a single penny. That can’t be right surely? Name another event whether that be football even lower league, cinema, or any other event you can think of, where 14 and 15 year old teenagers get in Scott free? An amateur bangers meeting will cost a child between 5 and 14 a tenna! And people think charging a quid at Speedway is out of order? Unbelievable. 

[Toady 231]

2 hours ago, Falcon1983 said:

100% wrong move to charge Kids, especially if its just to gain £1 a head

BSPL should have made it mandatory that all clubs done kids 16 and Under FREE for the good of the sport

Agree, but it should be accompanied by an adult as at Oxford where it has been very successful  

[Falcon1983 557]

22 minutes ago, Aries said:

Couldn’t disagree more and surprised this has got a “like”. They should be charged more or at least change the age ranges for free entry. Toddlers and kids under 10 who attend with their parents fair enough, but I’ve seen groups of mid teens walk in at both Ipswich and Lynn and not have to pay a single penny. That can’t be right surely? Name another event whether that be football even lower league, cinema, or any other event you can think of, where 14 and 15 year old teenagers get in Scott free? An amateur bangers meeting will cost a child between 5 and 14 a tenna! And people think charging a quid at Speedway is out of order? Unbelievable. 

I couldn't disagree more with your perspective on Speedway entry charges for kids. While it might seem unusual compared to other events, the focus shouldn't solely be on immediate revenue. Speedway needs to prioritize building a sustainable fan base for the future.

Charging kids for entry can deter families from attending, as the financial burden may discourage parents from bringing their children to Speedway events. The average age of current Speedway supporters is relatively high, and it's crucial to attract younger audiences to ensure the sport's longevity.

By offering free entry for kids accompanying paying adults, Speedway is making a strategic investment in its future. The goal is to cultivate a love for the sport in the younger generation. As these kids grow into adults, they are more likely to become loyal fans who willingly pay for tickets. This long-term approach is essential for the survival and growth of Speedway.

Comparing Speedway entry charges to other sports may not be the most relevant metric. Instead, the focus should be on creating incentives for families and young individuals to choose Speedway as their entertainment of choice. It's about fostering a sense of community and passion for the sport, not just about the immediate revenue generated from kids' ticket sales.

In the grand scheme of things, whether it's 50p or £1 for a child's entry is a minor detail. The primary objective should be to secure the future of Speedway by building a diverse and enthusiastic fan base that will sustain the sport for years to come.

[Arch Stanton 2,255]

23 minutes ago, Aries said:

Couldn’t disagree more and surprised this has got a “like”. They should be charged more or at least change the age ranges for free entry. Toddlers and kids under 10 who attend with their parents fair enough, but I’ve seen groups of mid teens walk in at both Ipswich and Lynn and not have to pay a single penny. That can’t be right surely? Name another event whether that be football even lower league, cinema, or any other event you can think of, where 14 and 15 year old teenagers get in Scott free? An amateur bangers meeting will cost a child between 5 and 14 a tenna! And people think charging a quid at Speedway is out of order? Unbelievable. 

Agree here to be honest. 

4 minutes ago, Toady said:

Agree, but it should be accompanied by an adult as at Oxford where it has been very successful  

That’s the best way of doing it. The club get the attendance fee of the adult whilst the child is being introduced to the sport for free. Aries is correct, it is wrong that a group of teens can just walk in for free. At Ipswich it always used to be kids free with a paying adult, but for whatever reason, that changed to simply kids under 16 go free. End of the day it is still only a quid so hardly worth arguing over. Can’t even get a freddo for that these days. 

[MP78 17]

Just to chip in on this… my brother gets along to most home meetings and often has no childcare on a Thursday evening so takes his boys with him - he’s not too bothered if they don’t watch the action because he hasn’t shelled out for them. Will he swallow the extra pound each?… probably because it’s still so much cheaper than a sitter… but some fans in a similar position to him might find it is too much of an ask depending on their financial circumstances and then you have potentially ruled out some fans… think the Witches need to tread carefully on this.