mikebv

Teams getting hammered away isnt necessarily bad for their business to be fair... Putting together a team to win at home most weeks, and compete closely against the better teams, isnt the worst plan in the world to save money but also keep your income at its optimum.. Conversely. I hope the "too strong" teams that have been put together, that will batter the others at home and win a fair few on their travels, (by some big margins too I would think), have enough to keep paying out the big money their riders will be earning... Workington the classic example of big home wins, and (even though unexpected), big away wins, costing them thousands... And lots of big home wins can not only cost a lot but also can REDUCE attendances as "weak teams" visiting can sometimes get a swerve from some of the patrons.. Especially mid to late season if play off spots are already 100% secured, meaning some matches as pretty much "dead rubbers" given no relegation fight for the opposition..

Poland's 2nd and 3rd tiers have got excellent investment this season from a new TV deal and, with that, comes the usual increase in sponsors who want to get seen.... Maybe that has persuaded a fair few to give the UK a miss given they can earn well riding just one meeting a week in Poland, as well as riding in their own countries.... Just because they are allowed to do "Poland and two others" at that level, doesn't mean they have to if they feel they are earning enough... And the Polish Div 2 and 3 heat leaders are the "target market" I would think for the UK promoters...

Indeed... If the rules allow it then fair play... "When in Rome" and all that.. Blame the game, not the player..

Indeed, There was an interview in the Speedway Star a while back where the CEO said that they had a strategy to grow the sport in countries that are not the major Speedway nations, but do have a following, (no jokes about the UK please anyone)... This included where to (initially), give "free to air" coverage, (I seem to remember Germany was used as an example), as he feels that you can grow the demand in these countries to deliver PPV there later.. Someone will have to pay though as that is just the way it is..

Don't know to be honest... When I used to go the attendance hovered around 1200 to 1400 which wasnt "too bad" in the grand scheme of things... Cannot recall City being at home either when I have been there, but I suppose they must have played at the same time before now.. Although as City struggle to fill their ground maybe it doesn't have any impact? At the old place crowds held up pretty well to be fair given the Aces were so poor for a good many of the seasons from 93 onwards... And "if" the crowd last night was circa 1500+ I am sure those in charge would be quite pleased to maintain that all season... Income of around £30k a match would be more than most I would think...

I went to the PCM last week and felt quite young.... Not as young as I do if i go to Birmingham though..

Especially given its basically averaging around twenty quid to get in for an adult and not too many kids make up the numbers... Maybe if Matej Zagar comes over they may need a couple of hundred more if he is on his "old deal"....

Still pretty good for Speedway in the UK surely?

They can concentrate on the league.....

Coming around again - Carly Simon... Or maybe We don't need another zero...... ?

Never been to Redcar... Watched loads of races on YouTube from there though.. The racing can be very good from what I have seen and those promoting it for the past few years seem to know how to market it too.. Might give it a go sometime this summer...

And a plan....

Just a shame meetings cant be converted to "challenge" matches when such things happen, and then re run when Guests are not needed... ie. Provide a night at the Speedway but dont make it a "proper competition"... Only six teams in the league and cup so surely dates could be found between now and the end of the season..? Sadly "it's ok we can have a Guest, which riders go well around there? We could end up better off!!" is too often the refrain, rather than "let's keep credibility in our main competitions, make them mean something, and be worth winning"... At least the weather is looking good for tonight, which usually means decent crowd numbers....

First Guest booking of the year for Bomber....

And thank goodness he did... #betterthanthebritishchampion....

It's worked before... Didnt Cov threaten to tarmac their track..?

End of Feb (latest), should be the deadline for team completion.. It's nonsense that on the eve of a season starting that any "professional" sport still has teams not ready to go... So much of the many things that makes the sport get regarded as "a bit Mickey Mouse" could be easily resolved with clear leadership and accountability to comply.. And having teams planned well in front would also help with marketing and sponsorship for both riders and clubs... Maybe one day eh?...

Amazingly coincidental how when a No1 is not available, it is an away match they miss... Always seem to make the home meetings though... Why bother running such meetings? The home team may want to as they have an advantage, but all it does is devalue the very competition they want to get an advantage in, (to the point of the competition having no real value at all), and the away team may want to run it as they actually save money not having their most expensive rider there.. Either way, the fans lose out, but ultimately, long term so does the sport, as such nonsense finally erodes the support of even the die hards...

Very early days obviously... But ominous... Destroyed a decent field...

A bit harsh on Norbi that. ..

Dan riding in Poland today, very good field assembled too... Good to see him get invited to this level of events, (even if only because 3 Russians were not permitted from being there), as it can only be good for him going forward..

Very "Northern"..... I suppose they are "North of Birmingham" so it must count...

The Northern League Cup? FFS... Who else is in it?... Or is it like the Boat Race and this is "The Final"?

100%. If there was a chance then it was worth pursuing... And, (whisper it gently).. It is only UK Speedway after all, therefore there isn't too much riding on it (pardon the pun). There won't be any wider media national recognition of success, nor will there be big financial rewards for any winners, And you cannot get relegated... And the worst they can finish is sixth, meaning only two places outside the play offs, so conceivably for most of the season they will still be there or thereabouts, meaning some interest will be maintained.. And the NSS provides great racing so, even if they have a few defeats they will still be worth watching. Crowds at the old place held up very well considering the extremely poor teams the Aces had for a fair few years, (with many consecutively), and the racing was nowhere near the level of the new place. And in Max Fricke they have a GP rider returning so that will add a few to the gate, as well as providing some real entertainment given his talent.. Jake Allen too is usually worth watching, so all in all the entertainment on view at the NSS will still be amongst the very best (if not THE best), that you will find in the UK and even wider afield... Best of luck to the Aces this season, win lose or draw... Oh hang on. You cant draw any more can you?

That's what a team sport should be about though.. Pressure for your place... In UK Speedway you do seem to get a job for life regardless of performance.. As even if you get replaced, invariably you walk into another team place somewhere else. In fact, perversely, the worse you do can mean your own personal gain in the long run... Having pressure for your place can only help the team in my opinion as it means team members have to perform consistently well to maintain that job...