StormMarketing

Colin Cook

I watched it on the odd occasion but would not have called myself a fan of it, fortunately for me though an old school friend competes and became a British Heavyweight champ and he approached me after losing contact for several years about going into a 50-50 partnership so it is part of my portfolio - obviously a difficult thing jumping into something you know little about but after two shows, I am now organising our next two events, matching fights etc. so my knowledge has increased and I would now say I am a fan. We recently signed a TV contract with Sky Active (Fitness) Channel who will air all of our shows in an hours highlights package, its a start... another rival show has had 13 shows compared to our two and they were not on tv until show 12 and only get half an hour.

UFC is Ultimate Fighting Championship, MMA is unfortunately also known as Cage Fighting. It is the fastest growing sport alongside Cycling in the World as I have already mentioned. More MMA gyms are springing up / expanding in the UK more than anything else barring kebab shops, corner shops, and charity shops of course. Interestingly enough, at the end of 2012 the UFC was the only sport in the US which saw an increase in spectatorship... this is against the mainstream sports such as Ice Hockey, American Football, Baseball and Basketball.... all the mainstream sports saw a decrease in support. My company own a 50% stake in a UKMMA promotion which is only at its early stages but over the next 3-5 years its going to boom.

its just poor that there has been no announcement.... sure Tai Woffinden would like to tell some uk companies its live on sky in the UK etc. Gemini - are you the gemini that knows my father?

and that Ray - and apologies for not saying your name earlier and just calling you another post - thats rude. I dont watch speedway on sky regularly but havent noticed any specific speedway related advertisers Sky Sports have incidently just dropped show UCMMA which is arguably one of the top 3 British mixed martial arts promotions and MMA/Cycling are the two fastest growing sports in the World - why? well Sky Sports are bidding for the rights to purchase the International rights to the UFC in the states which is ending its deal with ESPN.... in this country UFC is better known as its the biggest in the world.... what does this mean.... more pay per view nights

I would happily to a comparison to what a client pays to sponsor another form of motorsport in the UK and what coverage they get, then see what their exposure is vs what speeday provide. Sky sponsored to sport to increase its subscription, there are still may households who have no sky... if they splash £1million divide that by £30 per smonth subscription usually tv/internet etc. thats £360 per year.... 2777.78 subscribers.... have sky managed this through Speedway... I think so yes, are 2777.78 subscribers going to cancel their sky if they ditch Speedway? It will be a percentage but not many... as Sky would have opened up more programs to keep people interesting.... only the die hards who dont like other sports sky offer will cancel... so Sky has done well.

Someone is going to have to make an announcement soon otherwise I see a fair few Sky Sports subscriptions not being renewed/cancelled.

I like your last post oldace, now you're talking... and Mr Leslie, I cant be bothered to go back and re-read, but sponsors look at the Exposure first, and direct sales are secondary as I have said all sponsorships are risks... you could reach 10 million people and get 2 million new customers, or you could get none. So in that respect sponsors look at the exposure first more in "hope" of direct sales - and this is where Oldaces last post comes in.... if the product/brand is a good fit.... then the chances are the direct sales the company would get would be higher and less of a risk... For example sheilas wheels who target women would get very little return but as Oldace has suggested someone a bit closer to the sport or the demographic would, with the domestic "ageing" scene Tena For Men, Life Insurance, Nivea For Men, a Tyre company i.e. Pirelli etc. etc. there are quite a few people who would be best suited to speedway domestically but "is it seen as big enough and more importantly cost effective compared to other sports"..... thats a whole new debate But yes, I agree with your last post oldace an alcopops brand would not gain the right kind of exposure in the Elite league, but perhaps the poster was suggesting if a young vibrant company got involved, and proactively promoted their involvment in the sport, it could potentially attract a new younger audiences?? I would say its too much of a risk for a company to do that....

John welcome and thank you for joining the oldace club. Shouldnt really have to explain that one... if every sponsor got direct sales out of sponsorship then every company in the country would be doing it and splashing millions, sponsorship is a risk for any company, they buy into the EXPOSURE the sponsorship generates, everyone who dips a toe into sponsorship know full well it does not guarantee a flurry of direct sales from it. Clearly this subject is lost on some people who cannot participate in this discussion so decide to jump on me lol I am not biting and getting into an argument with either of you because I am better than you both. Oldace you agreed with the knows post... who first reply was "its a good question" so what is it? a good question that you are unable to contribute to, or a poor question because you know all the answers in life? just curious Allow me to run off a quick example lol Wrigley Airwaves became title sponsor of GSE Racing in British Superbikes a few seasons ago... "Team Airwaves Ducati" etc. this was a "Sponsorship" were the total brand exposure was X amount of million via Eurosport/ITV X amount of press coverage X amount of spectator coverage.... this was the EXPOSURE generated from this sponsorship... "The Risk" What Airwaves did extremely well was by following this risk up with direct promotions/advertising which was more based on capturing the "EXPOSURE" and pushing forward a more direct message to get future sales i.e. not only did they sponsor the team, advertising in Bike-Related Magazines, Competitions, Promo Girls handing out FREE product at race meetings and so on....

Oldace I think you have missed the bus on this one.... how bloody simple is it opening a discussion asking how much you tink someone would pay.... The know is spot on, people will not make money sponsoring/advertising speedway unless its a product a high percentage of elderly men may use - but sponsorship/advertising to some companies is all about brand exposure, from many sponsorships/advertising around the globe, it doesnt always lead to direct sales but companies are involved because of X amount of people will see their name Fly Emirates for example, sponsor Arsenal shirts and stadium, I am a supporter, I have never used Fly Emirates, would only ever do so if i booked a package holiday and they were the airline, I use Easyjet and BA most of the time. Its the same with Monster energy who now sponsor Tech3 and Yamaha in MotoGP - will people who already like the "taste" of Relentless/Redbull change brand....probably not.... but the exposure MotoGP offers plus the popularity of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi is huge and having your brand lining up alongside "Brands" Lorenzo/Rossi is worth the investment.... some fickle followers would change brand "if its good enough for valentino....." Oldace, you are very quick to judge and act as a forum police officer when you fail to grasp the initial question, maybe because its way over your head and you cant contribute. And to attack me and my "clients" on a forum... where I post personally not professionally - you're clutching at straws.... does oldace stand for old belle vue fan or are you an old racer with a chip on his shoulder?

Let me rephrase the question then while you all act like children (well most of you).... The debate for discussion is "What would the value be of sponsoring both the Elite League and Premier League as a sponsor say over 1-2-3 years".... "how would would you guesstimate it is worth as a speedway fan, what would you expect to see etc. Someone said the value to their business £0 - thats not the question... imagine a company has identified speedway as fitting to what their company brand defines, how much would you "speedway fans" suggest its worth..... the only positives is that Speedway offers national coverage as there are clubs up and down and across the country, combined gates x the number of meetings would be on par if not higher than another form of motorsport that gets a lot of national companies involved. Negative side, its a sport in chaos, its in decline, not many big names, and by going by this forum..... not so intelligent fans.... re: any sponsorship also may I add I think you will find not many companies are doing anything at the moment because there is a worldwide decline its called a recession, not sure if the person who questioned this watches the news at all?? I hope for improvement in the latter 2 1/4's of this year though going from forecasts so never say never

sorry for my poor english in my last post, I was suggesting it was an open discussion to see what you all feel a firm should pay for it, not come back with suggestions of what kind of company would be best associated to the exposure/sport... I have an idea of what a company would pay for it in comparison to other forms of motorsport for the coverage received IF you take the TV coverage away which seems may well happen. The Sky contract was an extremely good offer and the BSPA/GoSpeed etc. should be congratulated for this.... I cant say on a public forum, but this is why I was opening it up to the sports fans to have a punt at it. I wanted to sponsor a couple of brits this year but due to the way the world is, thats been put on hold for the immediate future.

I was trying to create a discussion but then get replys from miserable folk.... maybe its the lack of speedway on the box and everyone is having withdrawel symptoms, ah well....

Nobody is expected to know the true value because the BSPA release diddly squat.... but a forum allows people to have an opinion of what someone would pay to be title sponsor of both leagues..... as "Speedway Fans" you can have an opinion of what you feel it is worth..... just as a football fans you can have an opinion of what someone is likely to "pay" for shirt sponsorship, or what it is worth to the right sponsor. This is a topic of value not well it depends who the company is.... what would you pitch the value at?

Oldace - I know what its worth, falling crowds, possibly no TV exposure etc. I am just trying to open up a debate among the sports fans to get an opinion of what people think its worth.... forum = discussions no need to come back in such a tone with the "!!!!!!!!!!" very rude.

How much is it worth commercially is what I was thinking, The BSPA would think its worth more than what it is, but with minimal TV exposure perhaps in 2014, what would it be worth? £50k per season?

how much do you think to sponsor elite league and premier over 3 years?? how much is it really worth??

and when you present an opportunity to speedway clubs to offer a better way to connecting with sponsors, you only get one reply lol

Maybe as NKI says those clubs who have invested in assets cannot just lose that investment overnight. I would like an independant committee come up with a set figure of a season-long loan fee for certain averaged riders.... Clubs who have all the assetts each season should be given a cut-off point say 1st December to name any asset in their team for the following season.... Any Asset that is not named by 1st December is free to negotiate with other teams, with the signing club knowing what loan fee would be required before hand so at least the signing club can budget. Saves all the hassle and clubs can retain their assets

Nobody will pay to screen LIVE domestic speedway anymore, if anything Go Speed would have to pay a broadcaster to take it or offer it for free.

Tai is good enough if a ) his head is right b ) avoids injury He will show promise at 3-4 rounds but wont make the top 8 - no Brit or assigned-Brit would make the top 8 Harris has had his chance, Nicholls as well, who else ?? Harris its the same old, blames his machinery, has a good meeting, blames his machinery etc.

The GP Calender should be up first as the pinnacle of the sport, then the rest of the world including domestic leagues should work their way around the pinnacle of the sport..... a domestic meeting can be cancelled for a one-off gp round and so on It is about getting more exposure for the sport which will generate for income.... imagine going to places like Cape Town, New York, Abu Dabi, or Tokyo for speedway.... a lot of money will exchange hands in the future which will only benefit speedway....

This can surely only be a good thing for Speedway - it also needs more expansion over the next 2 years Lets say a 13 round World Championship - I would like to see 1) New Zealand 2) Great Britain 3) Poland 4) Denmark 5) Sweden 6) Czech Republic 7) South Africa 8) Russia 9) Croatia 10) Italy 11) United States 12) Poland 13) United Arab Emires (Abu Dabi). Poland still gets a polish round and a European round, scandinavia is covered, Russia is explored, africa added, middle east and state side... perhaps speedway can work on a 2 year plan where places like czech rep, italy, one from scandinavia and croatia alternate with say Australia, Brazil, India, China/Japan.

I've gone for 3 outsides to finish on the rostrum Lindgren Hampel Holder all at 14's, 20 & 25/1 each way. Hopefully two might make the final... Got a feeling Crump will miss out on final 4 tonight for some reason and the final will be contested between Hampel, Lindgren, Pedersen & Gollob....

Who realistically do you think will get into the Final tonight? I have placed a bet on Chris Holder @ 33/1 each way to get into the final also an outside shot at Tai Woffinden @ 100/1 each way what you think?