Got to be Two leagues then

[Cast1rn 464]

With the announcement of Dickson at Berwick and Birmingham saying that if they're running (80%) then they'll be in the premier.

Now just to see what teams will be at the tapes in 2024 and pray to God it's 2h/2a.

[therefused 819]

42 minutes ago, Cast1rn said:

Now just to see what teams will be at the tapes in 2024 and pray to God it's 2h/2a.

Teams can barely fit in all the fixtures now so god knows what will happen if they go to 2 home and 2 away, unless the cups and play offs are scrapped. 

[mikebv 10,278]

12 minutes ago, therefused said:

Teams can barely fit in all the fixtures now so god knows what will happen if they go to 2 home and 2 away, unless the cups and play offs are scrapped. 

 2H and 2A?

Best start it next Monday then.....

[Normski 1,315]

20 minutes ago, therefused said:

Teams can barely fit in all the fixtures now so god knows what will happen if they go to 2 home and 2 away, unless the cups and play offs are scrapped. 

Looking at Berwicks fixtures this season including blank weekends and Bullets stand alone fixtures, works out roughly about 9 Saturday nights. So if League is 8 teams and 2H 2A that would be 6 extra meetings so is doable.

 

Edited October 9, 2023 by Normski

[Neila 1,159]

2 minutes ago, Normski said:

Looking at Berwicks fixtures this season including blank weekends and Bullets stand alone fixtures, works out roughly about 9 Saturday nights. So if League is 8 teams and 2H 2A that would be 6 extra meetings so is doable.

 

Yes it is doable but various promotions can't get this year's fixtures done before the October poor weather , never mind another set of fixtures 

[topaz325 1,859]

At that this moment looking like two leagues only , bad news for Workington and a few others with so many pulling out for different reasons but not enough teams to make the NDL work.

Possibly Birmingham and Oxford moving up to make that League remotely viable.

 

[Normski 1,315]

2 minutes ago, Neila said:

Yes it is doable but various promotions can't get this year's fixtures done before the October poor weather , never mind another set of fixtures 

I know at Berwick with blank weekends and Bullets meetings Bandits went about 6 weeks without a home meeting, obviously the fact we had a poor BSN and lost in first round of KO Cup didn't help.

[Fromafar 10,363]

8 minutes ago, Neila said:

Yes it is doable but various promotions can't get this year's fixtures done before the October poor weather , never mind another set of fixtures 

Speedway has been raced in October for the last 30-40 years.It’s the weather that can be changeable and even Rob Godfrey can’t mess that about

[Bojangles 594]

28 minutes ago, topaz325 said:

At that this moment looking like two leagues only , bad news for Workington and a few others with so many pulling out for different reasons but not enough teams to make the NDL work.

Possibly Birmingham and Oxford moving up to make that League remotely viable.

 

I don't know why the NDL needs a certain amount of teams to make it work. Surely it only realistically needs four teams...and they race each other four times. It's all about the kids after all isn't it? At least it should be! Would be a big loss without having a competitive league for some of these kids to race in. There's no doubts the likes of Ashton Boughen, Luke Harrison, Max Perry et al. have benefited from the league.

[Ben91 1,743]

Small leagues and two home and away against each team is so boring and repetitive. 

Things will never change. I’ll remain a stick record but it’s so frustrating as someone who loves the sport. 

[Bagpuss 10,780]

I suspect it'll be 6 in the Prem (Brum going up), 8 in the Champs and the NDL will remain with fewer clubs but an agreement among those remaining to have some kind of competition which means it can continue. 

[Skidder1 7,637]

Whatever the number of teams/leagues in 2024 - 2leagues (+NDL); 6 and 8 teams respectively, imo) - then fixture planning and the number/structure of competitions will need extra thought to avoid big clashes with TV Olympics coverage and Euro '24 matches, quite apart from the usual issues.

At least Championship clubs can have some flexibility with their race nights!

[TheWellBehavedWorrall 289]

I’m of the opinion that the for the sake of the sport’s long-term prospects in this country, the BSPA must insist on a Premiership and Championship merger.

I don’t see how “leagues” consisting of six and eight teams is a viable product.

”Let’s move Birmingham here” and “hopefully Workington step up” is the sporting equivalent to running around your house a few days before payday, looking for a lost fiver or some pound coins down the side of the couch to pay the bills. It’ll work, but it isn’t sustainable.

Imagine you’re a Sheffield fan, for example, and you’re looking at next season’s fixture list. You only have five other opponents. Five. Zero variety; that will drive fans away.

Merging both leagues creates a bit of excitement and significantly more variety than the current set-up which, again, I don’t believe is sustainable.

 

[Bagpuss 10,780]

10 minutes ago, Skidder1 said:

At least Championship clubs can have some flexibility with their race nights!

Fat lot of good that's done this year! 

[Cast1rn 464]

1 hour ago, therefused said:

Teams can barely fit in all the fixtures now so god knows what will happen if they go to 2 home and 2 away, unless the cups and play offs are scrapped. 

From a Glasgow perspective, we didn't start our league campaign until the 2nd June. That's two months into the "season". So scrapping the BSN league and starting from the beginning of April wouldn't be an issue. Award the champions of the league the BSN trophy for being the most consistent and successful team throughout the whole season and then top 4 for playoff finals.