old bob at herne bay 828 Posted November 21, 2023 1 hour ago, norbold said: New Cross closed in 1963. Lack of support. They weren't forced out. You are correct New Cross closed in 1963 after an ill fated half season revival in the Provincial League by Wally Mawdsley. When you were used to seeing riders like Waterman Briggs Nygren it was a step or two down too far to watch Reg and Eddie Reeves and the young Bob Dugard around the frying pan. In my opinion the real end of New Cross Speedway occurred a few years earlier when Fred Mockford ceased promoting due to the control board refusing to allow him to track the team he chose. Anyhow notwithstanding the Martini factor (anytime anyplace anywhere) that riders enjoy in British Speedway still think Wolves supporters might struggle to visit Birmingham .. unless they carry over a good few of the Wolves riders and promotion . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bagpuss 10,784 Posted November 21, 2023 The book 'Out of the Frying Pan' about New Cross speedway is a great read. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skidder1 7,637 Posted November 21, 2023 4 minutes ago, old bob at herne bay said: You are correct New Cross closed in 1963 after an ill fated half season revival in the Provincial League by Wally Mawdsley. When you were used to seeing riders like Waterman Briggs Nygren it was a step or two down too far to watch Reg and Eddie Reeves and the young Bob Dugard around the frying pan. In my opinion the real end of New Cross Speedway occurred a few years earlier when Fred Mockford ceased promoting due to the control board refusing to allow him to track the team he chose. Anyhow notwithstanding the Martini factor (anytime anyplace anywhere) that riders enjoy in British Speedway still think Wolves supporters might struggle to visit Birmingham .. unless they carry over a good few of the Wolves riders and promotion . So the 'good old days' that we keep hearing about, weren't so good after all? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old bob at herne bay 828 Posted November 21, 2023 Oh no the control board or whatever they call themselves nowadays haven't changed IMO ... speedway is still a sport with professional riders governed by amateurs. So many clubs continue to be destroyed by their decisions....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,292 Posted November 21, 2023 1 minute ago, old bob at herne bay said: You are correct New Cross closed in 1963 after an ill fated half season revival in the Provincial League by Wally Mawdsley. When you were used to seeing riders like Waterman Briggs Nygren it was a step or two down too far to watch Reg and Eddie Reeves and the young Bob Dugard around the frying pan. In my opinion the real end of New Cross Speedway occurred a few years earlier when Fred Mockford ceased promoting due to the control board refusing to allow him to track the team he chose. Anyhow notwithstanding the Martini factor (anytime anyplace anywhere) that riders enjoy in British Speedway still think Wolves supporters might struggle to visit Birmingham .. unless they carry over a good few of the Wolves riders and promotion . Obviously not knowing what the Birmingham business model is, but... You would have to think that Wolves closing is something that they would factor in, and see as an opportunity.... UK Speedway, uniquely for a team sport, does have a high proportion of followers who follow the sport generically rather than worry too much how "their team" does, which could give some potential.. 200 to 300 Wolves/Ex Cradley fans, starved of Speedway each week, allied to 200 to 300 extra Birmingham fans tempted back more regularly due to the higher standard of rider, might just be enough, with the TV money, to make it viable.. They appear to have done a decent job in at least trying to promote themselves, so maybe promoting the likes of Emil, Bewley, Doyle, Holder, Fricke etc, may just prick up more interest from those who still follow the sport locally, but no longer frequent the place... From what you can see looking at the crowds in Div 1, around 1500 seems to be a "decent" figure for tracks to compete and do "OK" financially.. Maybe Birmingham can also generate some extra sponsorship cash now they are in Div 1, and on a major TV sports channel, to offset any shortfall in gate revenue..? You have to wish them all the best for keeping Birmingham going.. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
noaksey 345 Posted November 21, 2023 3 hours ago, lewy said: Ermolenko will be team manager imo. I'd be very surprised Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
noaksey 345 Posted November 21, 2023 58 minutes ago, mikebv said: Obviously not knowing what the Birmingham business model is, but... You would have to think that Wolves closing is something that they would factor in, and see as an opportunity.... UK Speedway, uniquely for a team sport, does have a high proportion of followers who follow the sport generically rather than worry too much how "their team" does, which could give some potential.. 200 to 300 Wolves/Ex Cradley fans, starved of Speedway each week, allied to 200 to 300 extra Birmingham fans tempted back more regularly due to the higher standard of rider, might just be enough, with the TV money, to make it viable.. They appear to have done a decent job in at least trying to promote themselves, so maybe promoting the likes of Emil, Bewley, Doyle, Holder, Fricke etc, may just prick up more interest from those who still follow the sport locally, but no longer frequent the place... From what you can see looking at the crowds in Div 1, around 1500 seems to be a "decent" figure for tracks to compete and do "OK" financially.. Maybe Birmingham can also generate some extra sponsorship cash now they are in Div 1, and on a major TV sports channel, to offset any shortfall in gate revenue..? You have to wish them all the best for keeping Birmingham going.. 300 is a fair percentage of the Wolves attendance, I think that might be pushing it to expect that many to be regulars at PB. Its not on the doorstep, it's an horrendous journey in rush hour and the parking/viewing at PB isn't the best. Possibly the first meeting or two due to the novelty factor but it'll need to be good and the team competitive to stand any chance of getting people back regularly 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_martin 1,606 Posted November 22, 2023 (edited) 11 hours ago, mikebv said: 200 to 300 extra Birmingham fans tempted back more regularly You forget the age demographic. It's not like those 200-300 are youngsters whose fickle fancies can be tempted back at the drop of a hat. Brummies fans were "older generation" when speedway was reintroduced in 2007, and now they are 16-17 years older still. Getting older people back (those who are still with us) is a much harder thing to do. And attracting a new young crowd has been something that not only the Brummies but the sport in general has failed spectacularly to do. Edited November 22, 2023 by uk_martin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GiveusaB 1,145 Posted November 22, 2023 Would it be worth looking in to providing 'free' transport (bus) from Monmore to Perry Barr on match days? Obviously, if there was enough interest? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,292 Posted November 22, 2023 24 minutes ago, uk_martin said: You forget the age demographic. It's not like those 200-300 are youngsters whose fickle fancies can be tempted back at the drop of a hat. Brummies fans were "older generation" when speedway was reintroduced in 2007, and now they are 16-17 years older still. Getting older people back (those who are still with us) is a much harder thing to do. And attracting a new young crowd has been something that not only the Brummies but the sport in general has failed spectacularly to do. I do always feel "quite young" every time I have been to Brum.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,292 Posted November 22, 2023 6 minutes ago, GiveusaB said: Would it be worth looking in to providing 'free' transport (bus) from Monmore to Perry Barr on match days? Obviously, if there was enough interest? Maybe offer last years season ticket holders at Monmore a couple or three free meetings? Or even a heavily reduced season ticket? Proof of having one last year required obviously... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfie456 501 Posted November 22, 2023 2 hours ago, mikebv said: Maybe offer last years season ticket holders at Monmore a couple or three free meetings? Or even a heavily reduced season ticket? Proof of having one last year required obviously... No photographic proof on this years season ticket at wolves as was just a book of 15 tickets only the stubbs left. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattB 177 Posted November 22, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, mikebv said: Maybe offer last years season ticket holders at Monmore a couple or three free meetings? Or even a heavily reduced season ticket? Proof of having one last year required obviously... Birmingham did something similar to that a couple of years ago with Coventry and Cradley fans and by all accounts it did not go down well with their own fans, who questioned why they had to pay more while other clubs fans had a discount. Understandable that they want more fans in, but you don't want to get the regular ones backs up in the process. Edited November 22, 2023 by MattB 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GiveusaB 1,145 Posted November 22, 2023 2 minutes ago, MattB said: Birmingham did something similar to that a couple of years ago with Coventry and Cradley fans and by all accounts it did not go down well with their own fans, who questioned why they had to pay more while other clubs fans had a discount. Understandable that they want more fans in, but you don't want to get the regular ones backs up in the process. Quite right! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2ndbendbeerhut 1,781 Posted November 22, 2023 18 hours ago, lewy said: Ermolenko will be team manager imo. Maybe he was asked straightway when Birmingham knew they needed someone. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
