waytogo28

All three promises of change on this were broken, lost or just ignored. Getting rid of "gardening" for example - lasted three matches at King's Lynn. Unnecessary delays ditto ( now such delays are tactics during the meeting as we saw recently at KL - 35 minutes of grading during the meeting ). As for sensible fixture lists, we had two doubleheaders ( both times against the same opposition ) in a month. Hmmm. As Rosco recently said 'it is what it is" about all such things in UK speedway. I suppose that means take it or leave it - a point of view the Chairman appears to hold.

I SO much want to believe in that dream too! But the realist in me says that in a Stars V Pirates final the Pirates would edge it.

That sums it up well, that UK speedway runs on the goodwill of existing and mostly long-term supporters. It has done so for about 10 years and that goodwill is now seriously running out ( age and infirmity has taken it's toll too ). Rosco et al will be standing in an almost empty stadium in two or three years. Not of course in Swindon's case as there will not be a new stadium for the faithful few to stand in.

I'm in the "can't see it happening myself " camp. I'm not a Swindon fan but I am a speedway racing fan. And the "another track bites the dust" news would be portentous.

Rosco is very like at least half of the BSPA Promoters ( and movers and shakers of UK speedway ) in that fan blaming comes as second nature to them. I am surprised that the usual threats of " use or lose it" have started so late. Swindon fans, ( if the Robins run in 2019 ) will have a weaker team because the leagues will be weaker all round. Unless Swindon are somehow in the Super Dooper Mega 5 Team League that seems to have been considered with Superstar Big Names galore.

So what would change if they go ahead with that idea? 2018 revisited. More supporters drift away and the 2019 AGM will be another "last chance saloon". Let's hope their joined up thinking is better than that,

These scenarios such as a five-team league ( no-one could have taken that seriously even at the BSPA ) make for a great new sit-com outline. You could have mikebv's idea of a four-team league ( in a four-team tournament format ) because Swindon are unlikely to have a stadium or a track on that site to race on, are they? Not unless all the new homeowners were speedway fans already.

Well, they intend to lay down a new track giving a variety of racing lines, something along the lines of the NSS but flatter perhaps. They have, seemingly, a great opportunity which should help gain some new fans.

Totally spot on Mr Webb. With Rose, Kerr and Anderson we are unlikely to have topped the table ( meaning no disrespect to any of that trio ). Eric Riss has, as you say, been the pivot around which positive changes have been made.

Oh, we certainly do have a perfect storm in UK speedway. Will there be sunshine after rain in 2019?

Dave G. implied that it was live on Freesport and got all our hopes up. He should have just added " you can watch the 2nd leg live on Premier" we were lucky to see the first leg - pity the racing was very poor.

Those fans need to bring friends in high multiples 2 / 3 / 4 each in order to finance even the Swedish menu! 2,500 average crowd needed? Is even Poole capable of doing that at the moment?

I am confident that there is a goodly number in Poland ( in cash in the safe ) and there are one or two in the UK but they are likely are too canny to spend it on an investment like a rider's medical needs! £40k.

They will not be calling on anyone regarding the design of the new track layout and shape. They know it all themselves about how best to please the supporters and their neighbours. We must sincerely hope that what they have in mind is not in slightest bit like Leicester! The Mildenhall shape would be OK but with wider and more banked corners. I remember Hans Nielsen riding Mildenhall as a complete circle, so I hope that Swindon, if it comes about, will not be less than 300 metres.

I don't think the envisaged "top" league is THAT kind of league level.

It's just too easy, you are right! UK speedway needs a big fat rulebook in order to drive away more existing fans.

Fast forward to 2121 and there will be no league/team speedway in the UK in any month with a vowel in it. Plans formulated by the BSPA will ensure this comes about.

I am in that camp. Tai is the greatest ever British rider of the modern era ( post-war) for me. I feel sure that had he lived Peter Craven would have got at least one more and may have joined the five and possibly even the six list. I think that Tai will get at least one more than three ( don't want to curse the next GP! ) and he is capable of going even further. Exceptional skills and a great racing brain.

Luckily there will be for a good few years left in speedway in Sweden and Poland ( well definitely Poland ) and hopefully the GP. The UK speedway scene is teetering on the edge, so who knows genuinely how long that we will be able to watch team speedway here unless it's at a semi-pro level.

Me too! So let's hope riders demands are more realistic for the new league set up in 2019. I mean more realistic with regard to the income streams of clubs. Especially turnstile income. Average crowds need to be above 1,000 with 1,500 to 2,000 the aim if the sport is to truly be viable in the UK.

My figure was not plucked out of the air but was based on my own observations and by talking to people at other clubs as to what they thought the reduction had been at their club and on their travels. That is the best I can work out because, as we all know no crowd figures are given out ( even if retained ). I would hope that other fans will put forward their estimates of the losses from the terraces at their club - or are they in denial? If it were only about 10% since say 2012 I think there would not be so much speculation or concern. It is very noticeable at some clubs. I still feel that most ( not all ) clubs have lost up to 30% in that time and some up to 50%. Otherwise, why is there so much speculation about it?

Don't think clubs will have much choice ( other than not running ) if the overall strategy demands two leagues with no doubling down of top riders. Riders who have been making a good living out of doubling down will need to accept a lower income from their racing work. Those days are either behind us already or not a part of the realistic future. Without major changes and vastly better marketing ( by whatever means ) we will be lucky to have 12 - 14 clubs running in three years time.

Put me and the small group of fans I know well in charge and we could only make a better overall job, than how it is being run now. I would be happy to do it for expenses only, as would the most thoughtful of posters on here. We all had lots of life and business experience besides our current part-time job as keyboard scribes. However, the BSPA recoils from the word feedback

It's obvious by now that the amount on income from the turnstiles is still not very important compared to other income streams ( sponsorship ) at a lot of clubs. Crowds are 30% to 50% down on five years ago at most clubs ( only one or two notable exceptions ) and that has not impacted much on how the sport is publicised to the outside world. Or perhaps it has, in that they have not spent as much on marketing of any kind. So supporters are still not high up on the need to know scale.

One thing you can be sure of is that the slow death of UK speedway will continue, mainly because most of the changes that will be unveiled will not involve anything about marketing that reaches the general public. I feel that we could do worse ( possibly ) than introduce the pink helmet cover which would at least be in tune with things the outside world are interested in and familiar with. The letter in the SS his week from Julie Bean says so much about the apathy of speedway clubs in taking up or looking for opportunities ( even when free except for their own expenses ). To paraphrase the song " The only way is down".