Sir Sidney

I suppose the other side to that is how many fewer will turn up to watch and how much revenue is lost as a result. I guess Nigel Tolley has done the calculations

Like you, I mainly use other stations. Of course, it's unlikely speedway would get a crowd that generates such queues, and, as you rightly point out, it's not a speedway thing. I went to the Champions Cup Rugby final at Cardiff last month. Again, queuing at the station was slow and disorganised. 5 minutes to get to the station, an hour in the queue.

I have been there plenty of times. If it is taking you 80 minutes to walk from the station to the stadium you are going the wrong way!

Would anyone be able to point me to any attendance stats for when the BLRC was staged at Hyde Road please? On the Belle Vue website it says the stadium capacity was 40,000 and, busy though it was in the years I attended I didn't think there was anything like that number present. Thanks

Yes it would be an eye opener to most. Massive housing development, Westfield shopping centre, bars and restaurants abound. A lot more attractive than it was pre Olympics. Most people would be leaving at the same time and heading to Stratford station. Very little chance of any trouble. Of course, a few in the know will opt for other stations and parking and might be well advised to avoid walking accross the dark park and to stay on the lit roads. All academic in any event because WBD will never risk promoting at the London stadium themselves, and the chanced of an independent promoter doing it must be slim

Not sure if it is etiquette to quote myself! However, last night the organisation was much, much better. Credit to Belle Vue management for listening and reacting. In the East stand there were double the amount of ticket checkers so everyone was in easily by start time. Food outlets were still busy but the queue moved quickly - it looked to me tgat they had lots cooking in readiness for orders coming in Extra bar facility added overnight. The PA was better, but still needs to be louder, and there will never be enough toilets - but queues manageable. For next time I hooe tgey will improve PA, get more food and drink outlets ( maybe get them in the Fan Zone and make that available during the meeting to East Stand ticket holders). Overall, a fabulous weekend with brilliant speedway.

I was in the East Stand. Whilst I don't wish to minimise the problems some people had, I suffered none of those. In early, fed and watered with no queue, used loos and went to seat. No problems. So many sporting events have issues with getting food and drink during the event, so that's not unique to Belle Vue. That said, Belle Vue need to ensure today that everyone gets in on time, and preferably the PA works. But far from a shambles from my point of view. Ask me again later to see if I have a different view after tonight

I can't think of much, if anything, that has improved since WBD took over. 'Made for TV' sums it up well.

The decline started way before the 80s. I started to go to Wimbledon in 1969 and the crowds, whilst large by today's standards, were way lower than for example the 50s

7 day suspension for non speedway injury or sickness? Will also miss Belle Vue on Monday

I agree. British Speedway just needs to decide what it is trying to be and who it is trying to attract, and then create and implement a plan to achieve that ( in fact, I'd almost guarantee that people with the skills to do so exist within the fan base and on this forum and would willingly help out). Now, as we know, the risk is that it alienates it's existing fan base in trying to attract and keep a new fan base - but those of us who have been watching since the 60s, 70s and 80s are drifting away or dying in any event.

I've pulled up my drawbridge and asked the guards to patrol the moat

I agree. The modern way of everything building to a final may create drama, but the best rider / team in a meeting or league does not necessarily win.

I thought you said nice meal out!

In Birmingham's own statement it says Said Jepsen Jensen: “After a few days of reflection, I’ve made a difficult but necessary decision – I will no longer continue racing in the UK. “From the beginning, the club knew I was going to give it a try and see where it goes.'

Where can a family go for a nice meal out, some drinks and the cinema for £60?

Quite possibly because there is little riding on most matches because of the play off system. They will all be back for the play offs. A shame 3 sides won't be in them and so don't get a boost - and the 4 who are in it can't be sure that the playoff numbers boost outweighs the reductions all through the year

My guess would be David Lowe, the Leicester Fans Voices rep.

I've seen it. Mind you, to suggest Laurence Rogers is dancing is a bit of a stretch! 🤣

Wimbledon

Much as I'm sure we would like GB to have 16 world class riders such as we did back in the day, that doesn't mean that the current British Final can't be a very good meeting. I very much enjoyed the British Finals at Coventry back in the day, when there was real jeopardy and world championship qualifying places on the line, but I expect to enjoy this year's event regardless of that.

There were roads from where we were dropped off to the stadium, as they go to the small airport next to the stadium, and were being used for cars going to car parks. I think perhaps the bus didn't drop off at the stadium entrance because it would then have got caught up in traffic queues. The route back to the collection point was not drivable, and which, in the dark, would have been difficult for some people - on distance alone, not taking the surface into account. It's one of these things where a little bit more organisation and thought would have transformed the experience.

Just a bit of feedback after using the shuttle service, and therefore worth checking for next year should you go. The shuttle journey to the stadium worked perfectly - bus as per timetable, and the driver collected the return fare on boarding (3 euro return per person) The drop off point was at the junction of Flugplatzstrasse and the st2045 road - about a half mile walk from there to the stadium entrance, on good roads - fine if, like me, you have no mobility issues, but some people did seem a bit concerned about the walk. Id be interested to know if others were dropped off there. However, what the driver didn't explain was that the pick up point was at a different location. That was at a bus stop on Ellermuhle. That is quite a long road. If you look on Google maps the stop is the one by Sagberger Muhlen. When we came out after the event we started to head back to where we were dropped off, as we assumed that was the pick up point. Fortunately, we spotted a small sign on the way back, directing us off down a farm track / unmade road. There was no lighting, or staff to direct you, and so it would have been easy to miss (and many did). There were also a couple of junctions on the track, again with small, unlit signs. Easy to go wrong, as others did Once we got to the bus stop, which we assumed was the correct place because there were people milling about, there was no shuttle bus signage, staff to organise arrivals, or queuing system in place. If a bus had arrived then that wouldn't have been a problem because there weren't many people waiting. However, it was over an hour before a bus arrived and then it was a scrum to get on. Many were left behind, including some who had been waiting as long as us. The driver wasn't sure when the next bus would be so I don't know how long people had to wait for the next one. A small bit of organisation on behalf of the club / FIM, a bit of lighting, a couple of staff to direct and organise a queue and a few more buses in the hour after the meeting finished would have made the experience much better. In fairness to the organisers the timetable that was published did give the shuttle drop off as Ellermuhle and so maybe our driver just dropped us off in the wrong place - however, if we were the only people who had thought the pick up was in the same place I'd accept it was our mistake - but we weren't. That also would not excuse the lack of organisation of the shuttle after the event. A shame because the 3 euro return fare is good value I hope that helps, and if you want any more info feel free to message me

A multi round championship would interest me, but would enough people ( and riders) support it to make it viable?

Wait until it is gone - and then you'll reconsider that statement I'm sure. I watched Wimbledon from 1969 onwards, and very rarely did they have a chance of winning anything - but I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.