BWitcher

I can see where the OP is coming from. Barry Hearn includes an element of 'glamour' but the, for want of a better word, 'quality' is high. As it is in the GP's. The OP is referring to some of the start line 'models' used at certain league tracks who for the most part (not all) are not in the same league as those employed by Hearn and the GP's etc. As another poster said, I think jimmy jimmy, do it right or not at all.

White Knight, You still haven't come up with a reason why its bad? Who are these people who stop going to their local tracks on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday nights etc because they can watch another team race on a Monday? There is no logic in that argument and nothing to back it up I'm afraid. The damage is merely done by broadcasting meetings in front of a paltry, lifeless crowd. Fix that and reap the rewards.

Ward against Wells has produced some of the best races at Monmore in recent times. I can think of 3 absolute cracking races between those two immediately. Indeed, or get replaced. Happened in 1993 when a similar system was used, Wolves had Neil Evitts stuck in main body of the team all year.

Time you renamed yourself The Troller. Well there's been a number of people who have posted they have rekindled their interest because of Sky.. so we're in the positive for Sky

Sam Ermolenko was on it also. You are right, I used to never miss the show in my youth, back in the David Coleman era. As you say since Sue Barker took over it has become a scripted comedy show and I never watch now.

Who are these people WK? Speedway supporters for the most part support their own team. When their team closes, most of them don't go anymore, I'd say 95% at least. You get a few who continue around other tracks. So with that in mind, who are these supporters who would stop going to their own track on a Thursday night because there is a speedway match that most of the time won't involved their team on tv on a Monday night.. I doubt there are anything like a significant number.

You misunderstand him Steve, he's not saying it's 'because' of Sky.

How many fans had the sport lots BEFORE Sky. The sport has also lost many, many more since due to the corrupt/inept way it has been run during that time, some long term hardcore supporters too who finally just said enough is enough. The point that has been made over and over and is blatantly obvious to everyone, bar it seems promoters, is that TV is the most powerful too at their disposal. They HAVE to make it look like a speedway meeting is the place to be at. That means ensuring, by whatever means, there is a big crowd on hand for tv meetings. It's the sheep factor... and it works.

The sport going downhill is not the fault of television. I have outlined already the problems and how they could quite easily be resolved, however you, being utterly ignorant of the power of TV and how to use it, thought the idea was foolish. I have then given you examples of other sports/entertainments that have used it and reaped the rewards. You however, when challenged are unable to respond. For the 5th time I will ask what evidence you have to state that Birminghams crowds improved BECAUSE Radio WM were no longer broadcasting live. I have also asked for the 'loads of sports' that are successful without live TV, you have as yet failed to come up with one. So come on, back up your words.

You should go on tour around some business schools, you'd make a great stand up show for them. You still haven't come back to me on your ridiculous Radio WM claims, mainly because I've blown them out of the water. You mock the idea of free tickets, you should email Vince McMahon and let him know about that, let him know it simply won't work and that the concept of getting on national TV and then ensuring he presented shows with capacity crowds simply won't work. He'll never transform his business from a small (ish) regional operation to a world wide multi million pound entertainment business. I'm looking forward to the list of the 'loads of sports' that do well that don't have live coverage. Weekly sports mind you, not ones that are run once every couple of months, that's a different situation entirely.

They wouldn't care if they saw big crowds, they'd think, wow, I need to check this out. The racing makes bugger all difference. You could have a whole season of amazing racing on Sky, it wouldn't attract anyone if there were only a few hundred in the stadium watching it. Have a whole season of average racing with a packed stadium and some attempts to create an atmosphere and you'd get folk out of their armchairs.

None of that is the fault of being on TV. The blame if it to be applied lies with the promoters failing to capitalise on the exposure and making no effort to present what to the casual viewer would be 'the place to be'. I'm still waiting for you to backup your claims that Radio WM were keeping the crowds down at Brum and that the fact they were stopped from broadcasting caused the increase. Nothing to do with a series of .£10 entry offers and the team at the top of the league....

Yep, All the worlds biggest, most successful sports aren't shown live on tv or radio. He might be onto something.... oh wait...

That is precisely what the clubs should have been doing and the fact they haven't is the reason why they are in such a mess. The deals offered should be what is affordable BEFORE a tv deal. Any revenue gained from a tv deal should then be used for bringing on British riders and enhancing the sport etc.

You don't get this problem with Eurosport.

HenryW has explained it quite clearly.

The reaction to this thread shows just how out of date some speedway fans are. Excellent decision and a very sensible decision.

Not much different to how it's always been.

I do love you Sidney But how many LIVE meetings did you go to?

You must not live in an adult world then.. I'll try going into a work meeting with an 'opinion' that an idea of mine will make the company a fortune... when they ask me to explain why and back it up I'll just stamp my feet and say it's my opinion.. I wonder how successful I will be.

Everyone is quite chilled on this thread bar you. You've once again gone off on some nonsensical rambling about who knows what. A reminder, the thread is about 2013. Not how many matches you've been to in the last 5 years, not who you think is better in 2014. The facts show us Woffinden was better than Ward in 2013. Simples.

What are you babbling on about again Sidney? It doesn' t matter where you were, in 2013 Woffinden was better than Ward. It matters not one iota how many meetings you attended live, that doesn't change a result anywhere. Woffinden is still World Champion, No 1 in the averages in the EL (ahead of Ward) and well ahead of Ward in the Polish League. I've asked you what relevance to this debate how many 'live meetings' I've been to in the last 2 years has anything to do with it. I can guarantee I have seen Woffinden in live meetings more than you in the last 2 years and I wouldn't be surprised if I have seen Ward more too... but until you give some reason for your question I still fail to see the relevance.

I'd back Woffinden all day long. Faster from the gate and after that he's gone.

Based on?

Is it a different score when its live? Do they race differently? I always thought when you watched a recording you were seeing the same events, perhaps you know different? I'm failing to see your point, although I would be pretty confident I've seen speedway on more tracks in the UK in the last 2 years than you have, not that it has any relevance again to the topic.