-
Posts
9,822 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
104
Everything posted by mikebv
-
No? Really?
-
One of the major issues the sport had when the 'superstars' rode over here was exactly the fact that they were quite often missing at away meeting, so it wouldn't be a 'new thing'.... Bizarrely. Teams would actually agree to meetings away knowing that they were going to be without their 'star man' who could be in an FIM meeting that weekend, or his own National Championships.. Strangely though, it seldom happened at home that way with the 'superstar' generally always being available except for injury... As for RR? It is a system that unfortunately isn't fit for purpose yet so easily could be... No 1 missing? Then all riders in the team can take his rides if the manager so wishes, up to a maximum seven each... eg. The other two heat leaders could take all his rides and still do Ht 15 together... Much better for the sports credibility than using a guest system, which ultimately destroys its credibility stone dead..
-
You see... That is EXACTLY the 'out of the box' thinking that the sport needs... We currently have adhoc guest riding now, so having it already planned in as part of "THE PLAN" can only be a benefit for the sport... Bomber and Scott could be time tabled in to ride Monday to Sunday for every team, rather than having them do so on such an adhoc basis like currently exists.. We will obviuosly need another "go to" guest now Rory has retired so "feelers" should be put out to see who wants this incredibly important position in UK Speedway.. Maybe send your idea to the BSPL Lefty...?
-
Not sure if he did a full season as he had been retired for a couple of years..
-
1984. He came back to ride for Exeter, but only rode in home meetings..
-
You could if they all did it... And I would suggest it is an ideal way of making it affordable given you only pay out for the one meeting to the "superstar", and then pay out "normal money" for guests or RR away from home... Speedway (in the UK), due to the way it is operated, isnt like other professional sports where winning a trophy can actually mean something, (eg financial reward, brand image reputation and kudos, and publicity for sponsors etc etc) so it should just market itself well enough to try and bring in increased crowds any way shape it can to build a better future.. Getting each team with a "superstar" would be a good start to this aim..
-
A shame if Tai doesnt ride over here as it would be a huge plus for the sport in the UK having his name attached to it.. If it is true he only wanted to ride home matches only, then surely a way could have been found to allow that to happen.. Just use guests or RR away from home.... As, lets face it, its not as if such contrived, "let's just make it up", situations are uncommon in UK Speedway is it? The facility is there so use it. It may make the league a bit less credible but not too much less credible than it already is I would suggest.. It would also only mean paying out for one meeting, not two, out of the attendance income, which maybe would have made it all viable to do... And possibly could have been a trailblazer for other top riders to do the same. ie just ride their respective teams' home matches... Having Tai (and possibly others of his level at every track in the top league) would have a far greater positive impact to the sports attendances I would say than any increases brought by any team actually winning any title...
-
Maybe, but let's be honest... A 'successful team' still wont generate even another (in reality) low number of 500 or so every week, (500 though being a huge % increase amazingly), as has been proven at most tracks.... The play off system seems to prevent incremental growth throughout a successful season, but does give a higher than usual (but still not massive), attendance in the 'semi', and a minimum 100% increase, (or maybe more?) of a usual attendance in the final.. The Aces have been "successful" in the main since going to the NSS and attendances are week on week not much different whether doing well or not... The sport is pretty much down to die hards who will rock up to watch it in whatever guise it is, no matter how 'their team' is doing.. And, ironically, as long as your die hards stay with you, a 'poor season' might actually be better financially...
-
As you will know more than most Phil, there has been many a year over the past 20 or so when the Aces have been pretty much cannon fodder.... Yet even when having pretty much zero chance of a successful season, crowds held up reasonably well, with the only year I remember being 'dodgy' was the one where we re-signed Jason Crump after a walloping off Wolves at home. Desperately needed at the time as crowds were becoming 'worrying' after several defeats on the bounce.. Unlike some teams, the Aces seem to have a loyal following who will be there regardless of how the team is doing... One of the very few pluses of the sport being virtually ignored by the media, and having pretty much zero financial gain and publicity by winning any title, means that fans (in the main), put the sport first before their team, and, regardless of results, many will still be there most weeks to watch the 'entertainment' on offer... And the NSS definitely provides that, and Max Fricke will certainly be worth watching in particular..
-
Tai would 100% put 600 on the gate at the NSS However.. I doubt it would be every week after the novelty wears off... When the Aces moved over crowds were, I would suggest, around 400 to 500 or so more than they currently run with (Friday and Saturday night racing obviously), and, I would also suggest, the Aces have around 3000 or so "followers" who attend in various degrees of regularity.. So getting around 600 more initially wouldnt be beyond being capable.. Unfortunately the inherent problem the sport has is that it spends far too much on riders who dont bring people in through the turnstiles, and so very little in comparison on marketing the sport strongly enough, which could bring people in to watch it... Woffy really could be "manna from heaven" for the sport in general, however, given the lack of cohesion and petty nonsense that goes on, you just know that even if he did come, the huge marketing opportunity for UK Speedway would be wasted and the opportunity to almost relaunch the domestic offering with Tai, Fricke and Doyle, would be lost..
-
For any team it is a big risk to sign any "Superstar" I would suggest.. You will inevitably get that "novelty bounce" and have "Bumper Crowds" for maybe the first few weeks.. (Bearing in mind, "Bumper Crowds" are probably only 500 to 800 more or so in real terms given the ultra low starting points for so many clubs).. Then, when the novelty wears off, it will become interesting to see how sustainable it all would be.. Especially as we can watch these "Superstars" many times a week in Sweden, Poland, SEC, and the GP's via TV... Ironically the away teams would be the ones who could benefit the most given they would have a "Superstar" visiting and wont be paying him anything.. Having someone like Tai over here would be a huge shot in the arm for the sport though, so, for once, maybe all should work together to make it happen, and all share the rewards of having him ride here, as collectively all should benefit... With even the most basic marketing strategy to announce his presence being enough to get some cut through locally at each track..
-
You either use averages, or you dont.. You cannot cherry pick when to use them or not... As is clear, they are no means an accurate measure anyway of any riders capability given how many variables are involved in attaining them.. UK Speedways default position though is often to bring subjectivity into what is basically a specific data based maths system, that they slavishly, and misguidedly follow, and amazingly, base their whole "team strengths" concept on..
-
Maybe when the Monarchs were there? Or Crewe Kings?
-
Wasnt there some "plan" devised to try and get the NSS into the hands of some existing promoters? But Mcr Council didnt fancy taking up that option... Hence Adrian Smith and his backers were given the Green light..
-
I bet "One" used to go to "Ones" local track though..... Took her kids too probably... As for Mort, and Dave Gordon, their legacy is quite conceivably the best race track in the world.. Even if it isnt officially recognised, that will always be the case..
-
The beauty of having minimal GP riders over here for such a fair amount of time will mean a bit of a "bounce" when some do come back.. eg I will go to watch Doyle when Ipswich turn up at the NSS... Tai would be worth a good few collective extra thousand around the country over the season... To be honest. If I were the other tracks I would even contribute to his arrival as the sport in general can only benefit (massively if properly marketed), from having him here...
-
Relax... That wont be his average... He will have his UK riders reduction taken off it too....
-
UK rider, not Charlie... Certainly a lot of money getting paid out to compete in a sport that gets crowds that many non league football teams would be concerned about getting.. With their players only outlay being a decent pair of football boots costing £150 to £200... Pity the sports marketing budget isnt the same amount the clubs pay out in points money.. If it was, maybe a brighter future would be the outcome..
-
They normally take them back just after Xmas...
-
A good few years ago now, (2012 maybe), I got talking in the pits at a meeting with the major sponsor of a rider who was then riding as a "top rider" in both leagues, as he doubled up/down as a heat leader in both.. The rider in question had spent circa £30k the year before, only riding in the UK.. He also told me how much approximately the rider had earned which left me amazed given how few patrons are engaged enough to attend Speedway meetings... The figure quoted was "impressive" but realistically, upon reflection, was around the "normal expectant return" on such a huge level of investment in your "business", especially as you then have the usual day to day living costs to pay out of your "profit"... A level of investment which was described as "normal for his level of rider"... In a sport that attracts so relatively few through the doors you can clearly see why it struggles, with their "employees", quite naturally, wanting recompense to reflect their considerable outlay...
-
Cannot remember which forum contributor it is who sponsors riders but a fair while ago he mentioned that one NDL/Championship rider he sponsored was looking at £25k a season (minimum) in running costs... Wasnt a "big name" either...
-
He should get a decent lowering of his average too, as he hasnt ridden in the UK for a few years... With the GB reduction maybe he would be on something like 4.5?... Worth a punt on that in my humble opinion....
-
Why wait till September...? Sign Woffy and use guests all year long for him... "Unfortunatley Tai cannot be here tonight (again), due to (fill your own reason in), but instead we have been very lucky to book the services of Scott Nicholls, (again).. "We did try and book Bomber, (the other usual "go to" guest rider for all teams), but quickly realised that he was already riding for us"...
-
25 years next year 2022
mikebv replied to TotallyHonestJohn's topic in SGB Championship League Speedway
£1 below the total income left after all other running cost bills are paid ..... -
Has he announced Terry Betts as the 'rising star'?