Birmingham Speedway

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

24 minutes ago, ShanoXtra said:

People need to be careful what they wish for though is all I’m saying. If this reshuffling means that’s, for example, Emil and Jason aren’t at Ipswich. Then even if the ticket is £10 you aren’t getting many people to attend to watch lesser quality riders.

And if the cake isn’t big enough for Emil and Jason to have their share then what ? Exactly my point it’s not black isn’t as black and white as you imply 

[ruckerroo]

Can't  moan about birminghams managed decline really . Im not convinced that with a top 3 side they would accrue more support anyway . Drury seemed to do ok in the late 2000s but that's a lifetime ago . I do think that the time has come for one league tho or at least an overhaul . 6 teams does not a league maketh

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

2 minutes ago, ruckerroo said:

Can't  moan about birminghams managed decline really . Im not convinced that with a top 3 side they would accrue more support anyway . Drury seemed to do ok in the late 2000s but that's a lifetime ago . I do think that the time has come for one league tho or at least an overhaul . 6 teams does not a league maketh

Putting finances aside and let’s pretend all was well financially , 1 big league poses its own problems like enough riders and an equal distribution of those riders, now we could get more foreign riders and then you have teams like Workington who can’t run on a Monday or Thursday night as they have no lights and running sat or Sunday they wouldn’t be able to attract a decent no1 like bewley as he rides in Poland, I would like 1 big league but it has so many problems to overcome I just can’t see it 

[IainB]

15 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Putting finances aside and let’s pretend all was well financially , 1 big league poses its own problems like enough riders and an equal distribution of those riders, now we could get more foreign riders and then you have teams like Workington who can’t run on a Monday or Thursday night as they have no lights and running sat or Sunday they wouldn’t be able to attract a decent no1 like bewley as he rides in Poland, I would like 1 big league but it has so many problems to overcome I just can’t see it 

Clubs must be allowed to run on a night that suits them and at a level that suits them... Birmingham were always doomed due to the stadium issues but the last couple of seasons could and should have been so much better.

If Speedway needs to run 4 or 5 rider teams due to rider availability then so be it, unfortunately we are at that stage now. 1 rider for 1 club and committed to that club home and away, if they can't commit then I'm afraid it's good-bye... it's time to make a choice for a lot of these riders.

[ShanoXtra]

9 minutes ago, IainB said:

Clubs must be allowed to run on a night that suits them and at a level that suits them... Birmingham were always doomed due to the stadium issues but the last couple of seasons could and should have been so much better.

If Speedway needs to run 4 or 5 rider teams due to rider availability then so be it, unfortunately we are at that stage now. 1 rider for 1 club and committed to that club home and away, if they can't commit then I'm afraid it's good-bye... it's time to make a choice for a lot of these riders.

And watch the whole of speedway collapse and then we have nothing to watch, that’s the other problem. 

[Aries]

1 hour ago, IainB said:

I'd dare say you could go to the local shopping precinct in Ippo and ask 100 people if they'd heard of Jason Doyle and/or Emil Sayfutdinov and barely any of them would have... and the same probably goes for them having heard of Speedway... You may just get the reply "oh is that still going, I used to go" or "my dad used to go" but even they are an ever decreasing number.

Of course they won’t know them! And that will simply be because they’re not speedway people, obviously. The target will be to entice back those that are 50/50 about going, used to go and still follow it from afar. The crowd have 100% increased at Foxhall since Doyle and Emil have been in the team, that is undeniable. 

Edited June 26, 2025 by Aries

[SJA]

On 6/25/2025 at 10:24 AM, IainB said:

 

Quote

 

I don't think that BSN help the situation. I have a season subscription, I am recently retired, and tend to travel by train to meetings. Normally I would jump on an EMT for Sheffield v Leicester tonight but frankly, its feet up on the sofa with a bottle of wine for me.  Speaking to other fans they do the same if the don't fancy the opposition, its to cold, to wet or as its been recently to hot to stand under a low metal roof for 2 hours. 

[Aries]

For what it’s worth, Dean machine is correct what he’s saying here about changes this winter. People will be sceptical, fair enough. But in Chris Louis’ report after last winters AGM, he also alluded to there being the major changes from next season, “drastic” changes. We’ll just have to wait and see what those are. 

[ShanoXtra]

3 minutes ago, Aries said:

Of course they won’t know them! And that will simply be because they’re not speedway people, obviously. The target will be to entice back those that are 50/50 about going, used to go and still follow it from afar. The crowd have 100% increased at Foxhall since Doyle and Emil have been in the team, that’s is undeniable. 

I didn’t know them 3 years ago when I was first introduced to the sport but best believe when I got hooked on it and saw how many levels above other riders they are then I was very happy to pay extra to watch some of the best riders in the world! People moaning about MJJ finishing at Birmingham and how BB isn’t a good replacement, well that will be the template for the one league everyone thinks will succeed. 

[ShanoXtra]

4 minutes ago, Aries said:

For what it’s worth, Dean machine is correct what he’s saying here about changes this winter. People will be sceptical, fair enough. But in Chris Louis’ report after last winters AGM, he also alluded to there being the major changes from next season, “drastic” changes. We’ll just have to wait and see what those are. 

Louis also stated in the winter that foxhall would hold some kind of individual junior meeting of some kind, do we have any news if that is actually happening?

[Aries]

Just now, ShanoXtra said:

Louis also stated in the winter that foxhall would hold some kind of individual junior meeting of some kind, do we have any news if that is actually happening?

He did you’re correct. Last he spoke about it a couple of months ago,he was struggling with timelines to get the riders competing in the actual event, and the experienced top class riders who he wants to attend also, to all be there at the same time. He wants the likes of Doyle and Emil there to help the youngsters and give them advice. He was working hard on a resolution to get all the pieces of the jigsaw together. Haven’t heard anything since. 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

42 minutes ago, SJA said:

I don't think that BSN help the situation. I have a season subscription, I am recently retired, and tend to travel by train to meetings. Normally I would jump on an EMT for Sheffield v Leicester tonight but frankly, its feet up on the sofa with a bottle of wine for me.  Speaking to other fans they do the same if the don't fancy the opposition, its to cold, to wet or as its been recently to hot to stand under a low metal roof for 2 hours. 

I believe BSN pay each clubs a % and as it can be streamed world wide so people in places like Australia or USA are contributing to the clubs and I subscribe and so I’m contributing to teams that I wouldn’t necessarily attend so yes it may discourage people from actually attending it is at least contributing to the clubs 

Edited June 26, 2025 by THE DEAN MACHINE

[ShanoXtra]

21 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I believe BSN pay each clubs a % and as it can be streamed world wide so people in places like Australia or USA are contributing to the clubs and I subscribe and so I’m contributing to teams that I wouldn’t necessarily attend so yes it may discourage people from actually attending it is at least contributing to the clubs 

My thoughts precisely, other revenue that wasn’t available years ago through BSN must be an added bonus. This is the same as TNT and any major sport which has TV rights, clubs take the hit on gate for the % and larger scale of viewing audience and future fans. Although I’m not naïve and understand speedway TV money isn’t as large as any other sport.

[Sings4Speedway]

3 hours ago, IainB said:

Have you thought about just sticking some silver tape on the back for the "I"... thar'll do 

Did you used to be Steve Boxalls mechanic......🤣

[IainB]

1 hour ago, SJA said:

I don't think that BSN help the situation. I have a season subscription, I am recently retired, and tend to travel by train to meetings. Normally I would jump on an EMT for Sheffield v Leicester tonight but frankly, its feet up on the sofa with a bottle of wine for me.  Speaking to other fans they do the same if the don't fancy the opposition, its to cold, to wet or as its been recently to hot to stand under a low metal roof for 2 hours. 

I too have had the same thoughts about tonight, it looks to be a nice night weather wise and there's 2 full (ish) teams, so I'm going to force myself to go, especially as BSN don't interfere in the running of a meeting, if it were TNT there's absolutely no way I'd entertain going. I do drive so it is easier for me, although I won't be paying an extra £3 for the privilege of parking! Or £4 for a programme!

[IainB]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

He did you’re correct. Last he spoke about it a couple of months ago,he was struggling with timelines to get the riders competing in the actual event, and the experienced top class riders who he wants to attend also, to all be there at the same time. He wants the likes of Doyle and Emil there to help the youngsters and give them advice. He was working hard on a resolution to get all the pieces of the jigsaw together. Haven’t heard anything since. 

He couldn't even get them out for the Billy Sanders Memorial Trophy, so there's no chance he'll get them out for a junior meeting!

[Bald Bloke]

20 hours ago, Pinny said:

I said nothing of the sort. I said to phil the ace "you clearly dont know who your talking to" or something along those lines when he was talking to steve brum regarding brady kurtz injury. Go and read it for yourself its on the BV vs KL thread. 
 

 

Apologies Pinny. I had been up the pub for 6 hours to celebrate my Son in Laws BirthdayI should of read twice, and posted once 👍

[mikebv]

3 hours ago, ShanoXtra said:

This forum is dammed if you do and dammed if you dont, it’s funny really. Now it’s all about how expensive the tickets are, when I suggested a few months ago to reduce the cost to get more people in the stadium the reaction was “you won’t get more people because it’s all about the poor promotion”. Again, if people haven’t got something to moan about they aren’t happy, look at the comments on here when even a SGP is on, still people moan about boring racing, maybe change your sport would be my suggestion.

Ipswich town tickets were about £40+ a pop last season and they couldn’t get a win at home for love nor money. People still packed the stadium every week though. The football wasn’t good, but people still supported. I don’t believe it’s just down to money, it’s a factor yes, but not solely money. People pay for many other sports without a problem, it’s more the product with the guesting, no loyalty with the riders, no jeopardy in the league, other stuff like that.

Ipswich Town was full as it is (was), a novelty value of seeing truly some of the worlds best players after so long...

And relegation was a shoe in from an early part of the season so why not still go and watch world class players? Even if they are on the other team..

And £40 is "good" for the Premier League...

The GP and Polish Top League riders generated initial uplift in crowds, but then the "novelty" wore off, (as predicted), and now unfortunately could become surplus to requirements..

 

[IainB]

1 hour ago, ShanoXtra said:

And watch the whole of speedway collapse and then we have nothing to watch, that’s the other problem. 

I can't think that speedway would collapse in this country if it was ridden with riders who are committed to it, if Ippo want to run Thursday night with riders that commit to that... and just as importantly away fixtures also, great! Difficult to see anything wrong with that. 

[TTT]

Reducing admission prices won't change a thing if the top riders aren't here imo, If anything it would backfire imo.

If you reduce admission to let's say £10 instead of £20 then you'll need to get double the amount of fans turn up just to end up with the same gate money on the night, Where are they going to come from? Bank Holiday attendances are good because everyone is off work.

Speedway taking place mid-week probably has an impact on attendances as well because Parents are working until 6-7 PM and it's a School Night for the kids etc. That's probably one of the reasons as to why you see a lot of older aged fans attend on a regular basis, Especially the TV meetings.

Another problem that Speedway has is that Britain is just too good at Sports unlike other countries to a point where Sports fans are spoilt for choice over here when it comes to attending Sporting events.

Speedway in the UK is competing with Darts, Football, Rugby, Cricket, Numerous Top Horse Racing Events throughout the year etc because barely anyone can afford to attend multiple Sporting events on a regular basis.

So it's a choice and something has to give, Youngsters will opt for the Darts just for the beer, Die Hard Football fans will always buy tickets to support their PL club etc. so Speedway will be way down the pecking order.

I love Speedway and it's the best Sport in the world imo but even I can't see a scenario where things can be turnt around.