oldace

Morning and afternoon TV is watched by mostly C2DE demographic and ads are tailored accordingly (Ambulance chasing lawyers/DFS Sale type ads) Prime time evening viewing starts to attract the ABC1 type and ad space can be tailored to these and attract a good rate. Whether you like it or not there are few ABC1s likely to watch speedway and coupled with non spectacular viewing numbers doesn't make it the "must have" slot for advertisers

ABC1s Ian are the type of people who wear decent clothing, wouldn't be seen dead in a wulfsport top or any of the tat that seems to adorn most of the people who frequent speedway stadiums. They would not dream of taking a flask and sandwiches to a sporting event, most likely would not have a collection of programmes dating back 50 years and they don't smell All in all then they are not really speedway types!!!!!!!!

There are approx 25,000 to 30,000 active fans in the UK currently, allowing for the fact that some count in the numbers for more than 1 track. Even if everyone of these watched the SKY match it would hardly be the figures SKY were looking at. A casual channell hopper tunes in to see one man and his dog watching live and most probably carries on channel hopping. Now if he tunes in and sees a vibrant, well presented product in a jammed to the rafters stadium he may just stick with it, may even make a note of the next match or even elect to visit for himself. It creates a snowball effect in both TV viewers and at the track fans. Another problem for speedway though is the demograph of those who support it, very few (none) ABC1s to put in front of blue chip advertisers making it hard to justify a prime viewing slot

And yet most, if not all, on here seem to think all speedway's problems could be solved with the right marketing, you know, creating awareness, that kind of thing. If that is so then surely getting thrust into thousands of living rooms each week should have done the trick. Strangely you think that is now not really important, perhaps taking a bike to a school fete every now and again is better marketing and exposure. Used properly the 15 years on SKY could, and should, have been the catalyst to propel the sport forward, instead the promoters simply stuffed any extra cash into mercenary riders back pockets and carried on as before. Rest assured the loss of SKY will be a massive problem for speedway in this country

I didn't make a contribution but that didn't stop Tsunami dragging me into another of his mindless posts did it

I must admit Kev that by and large I don't respond to him now. Most folk on here see him for the fool he is and he is simply not worth wasting a second of my time on anymore. He does on occasions though make me smile with (as you point out) the complete irony of his posts. Unfortunately though he is so far up his own arse he cant see it

That is almost certainly the case

If I recall Gunter was the ref at the 1977 inter continental final and was about the only person in the White City Stadium who though John Davis was to blame for Ivan Maugers fall. That aside he was a well respected referee and my condolences go to his family and friends

Spot on Mike, it is what I have been posting on here for years. What promoters have failed to grasp is that an unhappy customer who complains is actually giving you a valuable opportunity. Most customers, however dissatisfied, will rarely complain, they will simply not use the establishment anymore, gone never to be seen or heard from again I am largely the same, if I eat a poor meal in a restaurant I never go again, I don't complain to the business owner either personally or via any social media. That is because I have no real affinity to those business' to care one way or another if they get their act together and stay in business or not. With Speedway, and Belle Vue in particular, I do care and would like the slide turned round, hence why I voice my concerns on here

Ah that one again is it. I take it these newbies loved the sport until this came up and have now vowed never to go again, like with guests, tactical rides or whatever argument the poster is trying to sell. Over the years I have introduced many people to the sport who have either liked it or otherwise but their enjoyment, or lack of was purely to do with what they saw on track and wasn;t in anyway connected to any rules or regs. Jeez just imagine having to explain an old world final. 81 for instance. Penhall is world champion and Carter isn't but Carter beat Penhall. Bet they would find it embarrassing and vow to never come again. Maybe they would go off and support Championship football were the team finishing 6th can be promoted at the expense of the team in 3rd

You really don't have a clue how the SGP is packaged for TV do you?

No Mike, they didn't come to the rescue at all. They bought a product that they felt suited their profile with a view to attracting more viewers and advertisers, and therefore generate more revenue than it costs, exactly as any business operates. Their was no element of riding in to save the day for which we should be eternally grateful. Speedway must be about the only business model were the customers feel gratitude for being able to hand over their hard earned each week. Every other business operates totally opposite in that a business appreciates each and every customer and does its darnedest to keep them and add others, the gratitude is usually from business to customer, not the other way round

I agree to an extent. When I was going to speedway I didn't care if the promoter made, or lost, a fortune. Likewise i didn't really care whether the riders made or lost money. I only cared that I was entertained to the value of the admission I paid. So while you may be right that we have no real right to know what a rider/promoter is earning they are quick enough to tell all and sundry when they are losing money and expecting the public to help bail them out. Surely transparency is a two way thing

Mike I was, still am very sceptical that this project will happen but rest assured no one will be more delighted if it does. Having followed the Aces for nigh on 50 years I will always have an affinity with them.

I suspect he meant "free with the SGP" in the context of pay for the SGP and the SWC is thrown in FOC. Whether that is true or not I have no idea.

Surprised Briggo has not launched his own plastic cover, mandatory of course

I am not aware of too many "Athletic Stadiums" being constructed in the past 10 years or so (Olympics excepted) Maybe plenty of land is used for Athletics but that is rather more aimed at participation than spectating. Even as a school field (and the school next door were given to believe it would be used as such) it would get much more use.

It isn't just the money though. Can the council justify giving over a piece of land to a speedway stadium that will attract 800 to 1200 people on approx 18 nights a year. Even as a speedway fan who would love it to happen In my heart of hearts this whole project seems far fetched

What on earth are you wittering about. If people express concern that this project seems unlikely then that means they dont want it to happen ? What an idiotic comment I would wager that not 1, not 1 single person on this forum wants this to fail and to a man would be delighted if it ever comes off.

To be honest the way THF leisure ran the zoological gardens was the business model most speedway promoters would later follow. They spent zero on the grounds allowing them to deteriorate year on year believing the public would still come in their droves, paying the same, or more, for more and more substandard facilities. By the late 70s the grounds were an ancient relic of a bygone era, the crowds all gone never to return. Sound familiar!!!!!

Are you sure about that? I thought MCC were funding the stadium with the club paying it back over 60 years. Whatever the funding though with the perilous state of the sport in this country the council are likely going to be left with a £6,000.000 white elephant long long before the money is repaid.

Now to be fair they have only been pushing planning permission for a year or so, the previous 12 months they were dotting the I s and crossing the T s

Hope you are not including me in that

I dont think it was ever a scam but feasible?. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to be wrong but I have thought, and said so, that right from the off this was never going to happen.

The USA were also seeded for the two Long Beach Finals. They also had 2 guaranteed places in the 1982 Individual Final. Without the guarantee of home participation they would never have hosted any of those events. The WTCs of 76/79 and 82 prove that even in (what was at the time) speedway hotbeds fans wont turn out to watch these events if the hosts are not involved