mikebv

Twenty six pounds ninety...

The flights happen now though don't they? Which is why I think it is worth at least pursuing... The riders will fly out as they do now, but do it in the same league rather than three separate ones.. Maybe one of the large Scandi companies who have a large amount of businesses over here could get involved in sponsorship?.. Three "small" leagues combining would also lessen the Polish control of the sport... Each of the three leagues seem to just amble along from one year to the next, making constant changes to suit a model that never seems to work, with all getting to the end of the season being some kind of achievement, therefore, why not all collectively increase their profiles through an "International League"?..

I think that is something very worthwhile considering ... Logistically there would need to be some working around riders currently riding for two teams, however, it cannot be beyond the capability of those in charge to sort it surely? Five teams from the UK would make a league of 21 teams.. A minimum 20 home matches.. It would give a boost to Sweden and Denmark too I am sure, given they too have pretty much the same old/same old, every season.. Fixed nights, Monday to Thursday, are made for such a competition... Maybe run with the Danish five rider team format? And add in a number of fixed positions for UK, Swedish and Danish riders, as all three seem to need some young talent coming through.. Might stimulate some TV interest too?

At least they weren't showing the Sky logo...

A song for the fans of the winners... "We've just won the league".. "We've just won the leeeeeeeeague"... "We only beat four teams"... " But, we've just won the league"....

It actually doesn't say anything at all really does it? And is a perfect microcosm of the way the sport is ran.. No names of teams who make up the five suggests even that isn't signed off yet, as you would simply name them wouldn't you..? Just over three months to the start of the season and the best we have is a very vague press release telling us very little concrete information... "Something might happen, but it may not, and it isn't perfect"...

Wouldn't be hard to sort... When you ride for a team then you cannot ride for anyone else in that league.. But ride for the team who used you as many times as they see fit.. A squad system would by stymied by averages as the rider needing replacing may have a lower average than his possible squad replacement.. Cherry picking from Div 2 means the rider you pick to ride for you will have to have a lower average..

Or two "new" riders brought in on seven point assessed averages just to make it looks like a team is close to the 37 point total.. Seven point averages that they will get nowhere near... With every fan, with even a modicum of knowledge, knowing before a wheel is turned, that they won't get anywhere near..

Less is More?...

No.. With so few riders needed there will be a surplus so having a few "on stand by" should mean seven rider teams can be delivered without the need for RR and Guests.. The whole sport in the UK is ran solely so riders can ride as much as they can, therefore I am sure those without a DU position will be pleased to fill in where required...

Riders need to guest as well as double up too, don't forget. The only reason two leagues exist is because they need it to, remember.. Heaven forbid they have to get a job outside speedway, like so many did for the majority of the decades when the sport was popular...

Will it bollox, Phil... Even Six teams in a "Top League" of a "National Sport" will look exactly like it looks... ie. A waste of time, and a waste of yet another year that could have seen some sense, and forward planning brought to the sport.. All this will do is reduce crowds further... But. At least riders can double up... So. That's got to be worth paying around thirty quid next year to watch them do it..

Wow... A game changer ... All problems solved....

Surely a "self inflicted set of circumstances" should have been the press release? Imagine finding five people, in the 8 Billion on the planet, who actually believe that this is going to work?

And who wouldn't want to pay out around twenty seven quid for that? On a Monday......

They have all qualified for Europe though...

Why would they though? They have, year on year, systematically ignored it for many years.... Even now, when they have just FIVE teams, they still will put out the same old/same old "Barry White" that has led thousands to no longer attend... They deserve the attendances, publicity, and financial reward, that they get... Edit. I presume with only 35 riders needed, there won't be any guests, or RR next year?

Get in there!!!!!!!! What a time to be alive!!!!!

All laudable aims.. However.. That ship has passed a long, long time ago.. Belle Vue are the only current team that hasn't dropped down into Div 2 in the last 20 years, showing that, there really is, and has been for years, nothing "aspirational" about the top flight... And how could there be when the majority of riders compete in both top leagues? It is now truly time for a 100% total reset, building from the bottom up, as "top down" hasn't enough at the "top" to be even a starter.. With the "positive" being so few attend Speedway, so you are pretty much starting again, and, surely, that means that the only way is up!!!?

I would choose a format that is affordable, and sustainable, for as many teams as is possible... A format that makes the sport look like a "National One" covering the length and breadth of the country, and not some "By invitation only" one using a few random selection of teams scattered across England.. And a format that ensures ring fenced spaces for UK rider development, and not one that has riders riding for several teams, clogging up spots.. Currently you can win a league with some expensive GP stars, or win a different league with some NDL developing "wobblers"... The financial reward and wider mainstream media publicity is pretty much the same for both leagues... Put together a race format similar to the one used a few years ago whereby the HL's rode against each other more, as did the second strings and reserves, and build the sport again from scratch... The optics of a five team league in a pro sport look shockingly bad...

A few weeks ago, Danny King was saying how much doubling up meant to him, as it meant he was able to go home every night and spend time with his family, rather than having to ride abroad and stay in hotels... I spent a few years, two weeks at a time, in hotels, working away, even when my kids were small, and got home for three days every other weekend... UK Speedway is simply set up for some promoters to have a hobby, and too many riders to be "full time"... £5k a night for some competitors in a sport with attendances plenty of level seven, and below, football clubs would be concerned about cannot be a sustainable plan surely?

Add a flood in the car park, and then the "Jenny" going kaput.. It'd "Pack 'em in" the week after, Pack 'em in..

To those within the "UK Speedway Echo Chamber Bubble"... It is.... To those outside it...? Very much, not so...

In house streaming... I do remember one channel, (Premier maybe?), showing the UK play off final at least once over the last few years... Edit. FWIW, my opinion is that Ice Hockey, like Speedway, is "too small" to have live coverage going out, as, it won't bring too many extra fans into the sport, but could quite easily dissuade some from going along and attending in person... And any TV deal won't bring in "millions" given the size of the sports and expected viewing numbers. At least in house streaming keeps any money raised in the club...

Was it the Edinburgh Promoter who, a few weeks back, said he didn't understand how the Ice Hockey team in the city got three times the crowds the Speedway team got..? Really?... Not even one clue?...