Wembleyfan

Would BE need to sell the site? Couldn't it merely lease the stadium to promoters? This would keep the land in BE's hands (until they finally get the go ahead for some kind of development plan?) and give them income in the meantime. A benefit to Speedway/stock cars is less capital required but less security for the future.

Not wanting to harp back to "The Good Old Days" too much, but responding to the question , is it still a working class sport? My answer is No. Not because of price, although it's a valid argument, but one reason is a disconnect between the fans and the riders. Riders were, mostly, semi-professional and had day jobs, mostly working class jobs, or at least jobs that people could associate with. The very top riders were full time professionals, the Maugers, the Briggs, of this world, but even people like Peter Collins had a day job in his early career while riding speedway.

Wembley

I know it was raised a few years ago and dismissed because King's Lynn (Buster) thought it was too close, but Swaffham Raceway has just had a makeover and the owner is looking for new opportunities. With Peterborough closing and Mildenhall withdrawing from regular league speedway, it may be an opportunity. It may draw new punters from Swaffham, Dereham, Watton,Fakenham, even Norwich etc as well as the Mildenhall faithful.

Just pointing out Josh Whatley is 17 with little experience internationally, Ana Carrasco is 26 and has much more experience, having won the 300 championship. Neither are in very top teams so at this stage she should be beating him, but they both have similar results at the moment.

What a sad indictment of the state of British Speedway that only one Brit is in the King's Lynn team for 2023 and that is only because of the Rising Star requirement. My personal view, and I am prepared to be shot down, is that one of the worst things ever done was to do away with second halves.

I agree, but the finances of the people attending the Ipswich game will, I suspect, be similar to those attending the Speedway not those with larger disposable incomes as you were suggesting in your initial example. It has always been a working class sport, similar to football, but football has retained its loyal following while attracting new supporters to fill the gaps, Speedway hasn't. It's probably this that needs to be looked at for it to survive. I don't have any answers by the way, I certainly don't enjoy Speedway like I used to and don't go regularly anymore.

The big difference relates to the fact that most concerts are one-off events for the punter and there are headline acts. Cardiff GP attracts good crowds, a one-off event with headliners. You would be better comparing it to a residency for the local folk group in the local pub. The same people will turn up each week (or month) to hear the same songs in the same format. The odd newcomer will come in, maybe enjoy it but probably won't be back.

I don't think there is any chance of speedway at the showground, the housing is now very close with even more planned. I believe that when the Firs closed the showground area was the preferred site, but then it wasn't as built up. There are massive developments planned at Easton as well as those already built up to the Showground. A few years ago there was a proposal for Swaffham Raceway to have Speedway, but I think King's Lynn objected saying it was too close.