mikebv

And the "big crowds" were largely driven by being able to watch the superstars, on one of only three channels racing in top level individual meetings or the World Cup... Nowadays there is a myriad of "entertainment" things to do which didn't happen back then, and also a huge amount of day to day living costs which, again, simply didn't exist 40+ years ago, which means today's disposable income is far more stretched... "Mickey Mouse" rules in a professional sport could be got away with in the days of no 24/7 information and instant communication.. Losing 100 punters a year was affordable in crowds of 5,000, however, it started happening year on year and nothing was done to listen to those fans as they walked as to the reasons why... The operating model simply just doesn't stand up to modern day scrutiny and has created "lazy" practices.. Not enough riders? Then simply run with less riders per team... How many per team? It depends on how many riders you have and how many "spare" you envisage you need.. Instead we have "let's plan this fixture in for this date, even though we know both sides will have key riders missing, as we can simply have a "guestfest".. The outcome being? Social Media spends the days leading up to the meeting ridiculing it, and, post meeting, those same promoters who planned it in, will scratch their heads trying to work out why the crowd level wasn't good.. It's 2025, not 1975, and, as with any business, (especially one that is struggling), you simply cannot run with the same operating model you used 50 years ago and say "Well, it worked then, so why not now?"..

I went to Newcastle one evening several years ago, and there were nearly as many in the pits as there were on the home straight!!!... Amazing that they closed...

As it always has been...

The RS's are, with all due respect, miles out of their depth generally, so shouldn't even be in the top tier.. It works in Poland due to their "juniors" being of a much higher standard at U24 level, with their tracks being a lot easier to ride due to their size, shape, and track prep... We see over here even top riders sometimes struggling to get around, so expecting young inexperienced lads to compete consistently against some of the worlds best is frankly ridiculous... Unless of course they are, on that rare occasion, "real talents" who don't need an RS position to deliver their career, as their talent will do it for them... They would have been better off with six man teams in the top league and saved a wage, or, if they didn't need to, given the six riders more... Replacing them with a "genuine" number 6 shouldn't be allowed.. Either have them and develop them by protecting all their races, or don't.. They shouldn't be used as tactical cannon fodder..

I didn't even know they were racing last night until I read a comment about the "top 3 losing" and saw that Leicester beat Sheffield, by some distance too!...😮 I have noticed that the NDL meetings don't always seem to have their own thread, and understand why, but it says a lot when no one can be arsed to start one for a "top league" match...😃 Hope the food was good.. 😁 Edit. Just seen it wasn't a "top league match" but a "KO Cup Semi Final", no less....😵

They need to fill him up with water during the afternoon then.... To be fair, comparing anything UK Speedway presents against what Poland delivers is not a fair comparison... I switched off last night, like I usually do most UK meetings, around heat five or six.. After watching weekends of Polish Speedway and the GP's, and the level of intensity these meetings are raced at, plus the crowd engagement in the events, it is difficult to summon up the same level of enthusiasm when watching on a Monday evening.. Even more so when you see opposition managers and riders stood alongside each other watching the generally poor racing, laughing and joking together in the pits...

Doesn't coming into a meeting with a known injury, and then pulling out with it, mean no replacements allowed? I think that used to be the rule to prevent exactly what you describe happening and teams getting a clear advantage... Who knows what the rules are now though...? And they may change by Thursday anyway...

Remember... "Riding in the UK is a lot more fun"...

They announced you were missing before they announced Brady....

Can he film it and WhatsApp me with it?

Is the pandemic back in Birmingham.?..

Shush!!!!!

"For one night only" on several occasions....

It is simply yet another "sticking plaster" which gets used ad nauseum to either get a meeting on, or get a team to not disappear before the season ends... These "sticking plasters" have become more and more used in the past decade as the clear fundamental flaws in the plan for each season starts to naturally unravel.... This constant "making it up as you go along", speaks volumes as to how much even those who compete in the competition's don't take them too seriously... One of then will "win" at the end of the season, but it is clear that far more important than winning something with delivers such small publicity, kudos, and rewards, is that all make it to the end of the season... With "survival" taking on such importance, it is not a great position with which to try and grow your sport.... Birmingham would have been better off running Mondays in Div 2, using all those same contrived ad hoc rules as and when required, to put decent, competitive teams out when their riders were riding in a Div 1 match...

What we have is the best it can be Dean,... Far too many opportunities have been missed... As has been said, many times, if you went on Dragons Den with the UK's operating model and business plan, it would be laughed out of the room... Not enough employees to open your doors? Then borrow them from your competitors, and let them use yours... Employees cannot work certain nights? Then change your opening hours to suit them, don't worry that your customers may not be able to attend on those nights but would be happy to visit you on other nights in greater numbers... Employees wanting to only work six months of the year? Then make sure you charge your customers a pretty penny to be able to pay them enough so they get six months off. However. Even by charging your customers "top doller" for 15 mins entertainment, you still wont earn twelve months money by only opening six months of the year, but don't worry, because your competitor's are doing exactly the same thing... The race to the bottom is almost over for UK Speedway. Covid should have been the reset button, with new and radical ideas, but instead we had the "same old, same old" with the result being the "same old, same old" ever dwindling fan numbers and interest.. Let's see what radical ideas they come up with now Birmingham will be gone,? A "purple helmet" may be possibly quite appropriate...? F'naaar, F'naaar... Edit. Just realised the promotional and marketing plan hasn't been mentioned... "Bring a Friend" should be ground breaking enough, (but obviously don't tell them how much it is to get in till they are there)...

I must admit, it does wind me up when riders in the lead get passed down the back straight on the inside... And it happens so often... They all seem to ride up against the fence, but surely riding mid track, or even nearer the kerb must give better protection? If a rider passes you the long way round then fair enough, but surely you shouldn't make yourself a sitting duck by leaving a huge space from the kerb to be used.. If someone tries to get around you, you still have the fence to help you, let someone up the inside and he then has the fence to use...

Does Tatum watch the racing? Kurtz had it won on lap 3 when Madsen was clearly closing.... Ummmm errrr... Clueless....

I did too....

Big cutback for Brady.... Hug that inside line for one lap.....😎

Lambert needing a good couple of GP's at the NSS .. Certainly knows they way round....

The inside now a graveyard....😀

Those in charge have ruined a great product haven't they? Let's hope Fireman Phil and the rest get nowhere near the NSS track...

They have worked their magic on the starts haven't they? 😁

Nicki P should be the series Wildcard...😁

Only one rider passing... Head and Shoulders ahead of the rest.. Madsen bricking himself...