bellevueace

Good post, its amazing how those in charge are so short sighted not to see they are going to actually destroy their own business, but back in the 70,s when crowds were large and teams numerous nothing was reinvested back into the sport. Just to think then Poland wasnt even on the speedway map in comparison to today, surely British speedway should look at their model and how they grew it, its probably gone too far here so no big business would come onboard as a main sponsor as speedway as nothing to offer and can you imagine councils here getting behind their local clubs with the backing they get over there, at least Manchester council got behind the stadium here or we wouldnt have a club let alone a GP.

I suppose the authorities are so desperate for tv coverage they sell themselves short.

I totally agree with you i remember hearing the powers that be saying the sport needs more tv exposure to make people aware and get crowds up, the opposite has happened and especially with clubs now doing their own live streams, its far cheaper for people to stream than attend, you cant beat being in the stadium, i wonder if clubs make enough to cover the loss of footfall into the stadiums thanks to TNT and their own streams?

Yes thats what its all about for them viewing figures will always be the deciding factor.

Thats what i mean by a realistic option Alexandra stadium is really no different to BV as regards to its location and would be a temp track, many football stadiums host concerts, boxing, american football but would all be out of reach of speedway cost wise and also said stadiums wouldnt open the doors for the crowds a speedway gp would pull, id love to see speedway in a stadium like Tottenham Hotspur, but as in Cardiff in the latter years the crowd would be swallowed up by empty seats, cost of hiring would be prohibitive, the days of the Wembley finals with 90,000 crowds are long gone and even the reported 100,000 that was quoted for the 1976 final in Poland. Do you think this is why the current rights holders seem to be taking speedway away from the big stadia? When they came in it was big plans for major stadia and to expand worldwide, perhaps they have seen it to be not worthwhile. Strange really as today younger generations are all about extreme sports but the majority dont even know what speedway is and you cant get much more extreme than racing 5oocc bikes with no brakes.

I get your point but moving the center of the event a quarter of a mile away is only 440 yards surely that wasnt the cause how long does that take to walk? As you said earlier "All I’ve said was it shouldn’t be at BV" Where else could it realistically be in the UK? Its here or no British GP, if they had put a large fan park next to the stadium how many more would it really have attracted? And lets not forget Parklife was on too.

Wembley attracted massive crowds far greater than anything seen in Cardiff for the world finals and the stadium was in the middle of nowhere, no big fan parks not based in central London, for me i stopped going to Cardiff quite a few years ago when the novelty of the stadium wore off the processional speedway did it for me, i like Cardiff as a city, i can spend a weekend there enjoy it without having to sit watching poor fare ontrack or being ripped off in hotels. Im just a speedway fan who puts the emphasis on the racing, you cant compare speedway gp to F1 for example how many people attend Silverstone for example, thats completely different go there its like a small village, speedway isnt on that level, even in Cardiffs heyday i used to note in the mainstream media when all the important sporting dates were given for the year the speedway gp never got a mention and that was in the days when it attracted 40 to 50 thousand, instead of people pulling it to pieces lets enjoy it for what it is, a minority sport event, the comments about catering are valid though.

I think the novelty of the stadium played a large part in the early years

You are either clueless or are begrudging of the track or both seeing as your a Coventry fan you should concentrate on getting your own club back.

At least he keeps reminding us who the world champion is

Some people are so eager for it to fail mate.

Wont look as bad as 19,000 if that in a stadium that holds 75,500

I think its the better league, at least theres variety and the British final proved you dont need the top riders to provide good racing only two riders in that final were world class.

In the 60,s and 70,s there was a far more competetive edge to league meetings but there wasnt the situation where riders were team mates one night and opponents the next, i think that has taken away the intensity there used to be.

So we are supposed to enthuse about the meeting then?

Technical?

Kerr might as well be sat with me

Another terrible advert for the sport, tv is certainly doing speedway no favours if the powers that be think this type of exposure will see gates increase, sadly the sport has had its day in the UK.

Street parking other side of Hyde Road behind Aldi i always park on road behind the flats to the left of Aldi, never had a problem and a 5-6 minute walk

I think a Sheffield win around 50-40 but Leicester should have enough with an 18 point lead, If Sheffield get off to a strong start though who knows?

Thanks, I cant disagree with that fair comments, ive had comments from a few calling me a hater when ive said i dont think we can win the league being so weak at reserve, i just think its being realistic, best to ignore those comments.

So we are all tarred with the same brush?

Yes thats true but is it worse than having your confidence totally destroyed? A difficult one

Not overly great either at the NSS from the back but see your point.