mikebv

For me that's the biggest threat.. if you own a stadium and your overall business is potentially going to the wall, or the stock market crashing has impacted you severely, then selling off the place for housing would be the 'quick cash fix' you may need...

The BV v Wolves matches of the early nineties were great... Big crowds and fantastic racing... Mark and the Woflcry gang used to stand next to us and the verbal (mostly good natured) banter between the two sets fans was always a huge part of the evening... RIP Mark..

Didn't Leicester increase their fan base by dropping down and losing Jason Doyle? They did it by simply riding on a Saturday rather than a Monday or a Wednesday or a Thursday as it was then... People's leisure time is traditionally weekend, therefore run when most people can watch you.. Let's be honest who cares who wins most speedway meetings given the way many teams end up as the season goes by as made up adhoc septets, so just run it by selling the entertainment you can get by watching four riders of similar skills racing against each other on nights most punters can get there... I would suggest the Aces for example would get 400 more at least on a Saturday to watch BV v Wolves with three or four guests on show than two full teams on a Thursday night... Each club will have its traditional 'best night' to run.. So just run then..

Suggest there would be significantly more watching at the NSS if they ran at weekends... 400 to 500 a week more I would think when you compare what crowds they were getting on the odd Fridays and Saturdays that they ran on in their first year.. 400 extra at 20 times a season would be an extra 8000 punters... At circa £20 a go that's £160k more in the coffers... 400 punters per week extra is, in the grand scheme of things, hardly any number, yet it would make a world of difference to some clubs.. Maybe a few weekends could be incorporated into any restructured fixture list?

At least no one has blamed Poole for this... (Yet)...

Thats probably the best to be hoped for I would think.. Logistically putting together a fixture list will be a nightmare given how many meetings will need to take place in such a short time, (especially with so many riders doubling up).. You will end up with teams full of guests which whilst giving the riders time to catch up some of the lost earnings will deter a sizeable number of fans I would think.. Running individual meetings will at least have credibilty and maybe could be ran using some of the team sponsors' money that hasn't been spent this year? Meaning some decent prize pots?

My biggest concern for the sport is more to do with how many people will have to take unpaid leave, or business owners suffer as people dont leave their homes.. You cant help thinking that as their disposal income crumbles then Speedway (and indeed sport in general) will become very, very low down their list of priorities.. It's fine getting 'payment holidays' but bill's will still need to be paid.. Premier League football is pretty much bomb proof given their sponsorship and level of season ticket holders, however not sure about the other leagues and sports.. And you also have to factor in the way several Speedway clubs are often subsidised by the promoters' other business's so these other streams of income may also be impacted, not to mention possible sponsors' other income streams being hit.. A bit random, but maybe Speedway would he better off writing the season off completely..? Many, it is often said, lose money anyway so maybe an hiatus would help the following year? A year to regroup, iron out its obvious flaws and start again with some modern publicity/marketing blaze 12 months in the making.. And a 12 month gap might mean the public are in better shape financially next year to attend once more?

Buddum Tish...

That would make sense.. I would imagine all ambulances will be instructed to be on standby 'just in case'... Having one parked up for the best part of three hours or more wouldn't be seen as being best use I would think..

I had two women literally fighting over the last packet of paracetamol in my shop last night.. One woman picked it up and another snatched it from her as she had gone for it at virtually the same time.. They kicked off an argument and the one who got there seconds late wouldn't give it to the other woman so the one who had got there first gave the other a proper good right hander to the head, knocking her clean over and she landed like a snotty heap on the floor.. I would suggest she needed the paracetamol after all.. A certain irony. .

Does their work Visa detail a specific role to be done over here? Would make sense if they are going home as they may not be able to get alternative employment? Hence 'no work' no income? It would also suggest that this isn't going to be a 'few weeks' of an issue..

Gutted...

I was selling Andrex 24 packs yesterday at £10.60!!! Found one in the back of the warehouse and put it on sale and less than 10 mins it was gone...

I can see every country closing their borders.. The W.H.O. have been focused on ensuring the poorer countries that have poor medical care. Eg In Africa, Far East Asia, Sub Continent etc dont get it in great numbers as that will lead to many deaths.. However, the 'first world' simply dont now/wont going forward, have enough capability to deal with their own people never mind ''visitors'...

I think its significant the way 'smaller' sports have reacted.. eg lower league football and rugby.. They are still playing domestic games with around 500 to a few thousand watching.. And for me it's because they dont have massive sponsorship to fall back on and wages need to be paid whether playing or not.. Speedway may be bomb proof from this if only paying out points money but riders will have spent lots of money on kit, (maybe on finance/credit) so will need income from somewhere.. And landlords will want the agreed rent I am sure.. Worrying times I would suggest for a sport which many sometimes sees 'survival' as a measure of success even in a 'normal' year...

Can't believe they would run any meeting without fans.. Given the rules they make up, the sport pretty much only exists in this country to allow riders to earn money, rather than be a bona fide sporting competition, so there wouldn't be any point letting them do that with zero income stream. Allied to the fact that most only rent where they race, so many would surely struggle to pay the costs of putting a meeting on without any fanbase paying to attend.. Maybe some '500 max' individual meetings may get organised in the interim to keep riders earning and venues receiving rent from their Speedway tenants?

Can't be long before this country does the same re banning mass gatherings.. When so many nations are starting to do it then it will leave you open to much criticism if you stay out and do your own thing.. And could look like a dereliction of duty should it become a major disaster..

If Carlsberg made Premier Leagues..

Be "devastating" if Liverpool win their first title in 30 years in front of 'nobody'. I will be gutted for them.... In reality of course there will be thousands who attend the occasion outside the stadium to celebrate, so not really sure what the point would be?

Will certainly bring a new meaning to being known as a 'hard rider'..

Well he wouldn't have to worry about feeding the 5000....

He said grandparent.. Not great, great grandparent..

Can only be a good thing for the sport., Maybe it can be a catalyst for it similar to the way 'marquee' signings helped the (then) struggling MLS in North America..? Top level competitors coming towards the end of their careers, but with still enough talent to compete, and a name and reputation that resonates outside the sport's own followers.. On the rare occasions I attend GB League Speedway I go to watch 'the speedway' with no regards as to who wins so the odd 'legend or two' on view will definitely stir my interest.. Hopefully do the same for a few more 'lapsed fans' around the country too..

All sounds a bit fishy to me that...

500 or so non regulars minimum I would expect.. At every track too, until the novelty wears off.. If you can get 500 or so on the gate then that's around £10k with the programmes.. Three or four matches of those numbers and it would boost the season.. Presume if not all, a large part of his salary will be sponsored as he wont be cheap I would have thought..? Looking forward to the Peter Craven meeting now... Always a cracking meeting but now made a 'must go' event..