Teromaafan Posted August 14 Report Share Posted August 14 The biggest plus for the Brummies this season is that it seems like they will fulfill their fixtures. Not the best way to round off their final season, with the bare minimum level of dignity. Hard to believe that the two biggest cities in the country don’t have a team between them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Sidney Posted August 15 Report Share Posted August 15 13 hours ago, Teromaafan said: The biggest plus for the Brummies this season is that it seems like they will fulfill their fixtures. Not the best way to round off their final season, with the bare minimum level of dignity. Hard to believe that the two biggest cities in the country don’t have a team between them. Perversely, it may be because they are the two biggest cities that they won't have a team between them - land values are so high and suitable sites so rare that to get a new location is very difficult, even if the demand is there 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted August 15 Report Share Posted August 15 1 hour ago, Sir Sidney said: Perversely, it may be because they are the two biggest cities that they won't have a team between them - land values are so high and suitable sites so rare that to get a new location is very difficult, even if the demand is there I think traditionally Speedway has been more successful in towns rather than cities probably due to less things to do in towns 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted August 15 Report Share Posted August 15 1 hour ago, IainB said: I think traditionally Speedway has been more successful in towns rather than cities probably due to less things to do in towns And the huge shift, since fhe 70's, in the demographics of those who live in the cities.. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted yesterday at 03:44 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 03:44 PM Excellent piece in the Speedway Star about the Brum closure... Nigel Tolley has put in two thirds of a million during his tenure... An incredible amount and he deserves great thanks from everyone who were able to keep attending... Crowds of 500 were the main issue and he said it costs £12-13k a match to run a home meeting... And then had the away costs in top! He said that having more UK based riders was vital for the sport, given the cost of flights, hotels, etc... Exactly what's been written in the letters pages of the Star for about three decades, and on here for 15 years or so...!!! If only promoters had realised that...! BZ wanted £7.5k a meeting so didn't get signed... A good interview with Brian Buck too, another who deserves great thanks for playing a huge part in the resurrection of the sport in Birmingham.. Another excellent publication this week from the Star team... 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldPitGate Posted yesterday at 06:15 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 06:15 PM 2 hours ago, mikebv said: Excellent piece in the Speedway Star about the Brum closure... Nigel Tolley has put in two thirds of a million during his tenure... An incredible amount and he deserves great thanks from everyone who were able to keep attending... Crowds of 500 were the main issue and he said it costs £12-13k a match to run a home meeting... And then had the away costs in top! He said that having more UK based riders was vital for the sport, given the cost of flights, hotels, etc... Exactly what's been written in the letters pages of the Star for about three decades, and on here for 15 years or so...!!! If only promoters had realised that...! BZ wanted £7.5k a meeting so didn't get signed... A good interview with Brian Buck too, another who deserves great thanks for playing a huge part in the resurrection of the sport in Birmingham.. Another excellent publication this week from the Star team... Yes despite some horrible teams you can't fault Tolley's commitment to the cause his other business must make an absolute mint to cover the speedway losses. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted yesterday at 06:57 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 06:57 PM 3 hours ago, mikebv said: Nigel Tolley has put in two thirds of a million during his tenure... If he's spaffed well north half a mill during his tenure to get the results he has then he's either completely mad or has been very poorly advised! 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naffer Posted yesterday at 07:19 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 07:19 PM 21 minutes ago, IainB said: If he's spaffed well north half a mill during his tenure to get the results he has then he's either completely mad or has been very poorly advised! Or he is altruistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted yesterday at 07:55 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 07:55 PM 36 minutes ago, naffer said: Or he is altruistic. I can think of better causes to give to than a bunch of mercenary Speedway riders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byker Biker Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago 14 hours ago, mikebv said: Excellent piece in the Speedway Star about the Brum closure... Nigel Tolley has put in two thirds of a million during his tenure... An incredible amount and he deserves great thanks from everyone who were able to keep attending... Crowds of 500 were the main issue and he said it costs £12-13k a match to run a home meeting... And then had the away costs in top! He said that having more UK based riders was vital for the sport, given the cost of flights, hotels, etc... Exactly what's been written in the letters pages of the Star for about three decades, and on here for 15 years or so...!!! If only promoters had realised that...! BZ wanted £7.5k a meeting so didn't get signed... A good interview with Brian Buck too, another who deserves great thanks for playing a huge part in the resurrection of the sport in Birmingham.. Another excellent publication this week from the Star team... My understanding is he was propping it up by £12k to £13k a meeting - these were his losses after gate receipts. Operating costs for Premiership home meetings begin with a 2 almost a 3 in some cases Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralMelchett Posted 13 hours ago Report Share Posted 13 hours ago 12 hours ago, IainB said: I can think of better causes to give to than a bunch of mercenary Speedway riders. yes like Mercenary footballers 😆 Whilst to us and speedway in general these are big losses / donations etc its small fry - the reason so many football clubs are in financial trouble is the old school traditional English / or Scottish cairman is long gone as so many no longer have the fortunes required to keep up! As you suggest mercenary speedway riders have largely been the benefit as are mercenary footballers - but in some respects fans ourselves are part of the issue - certainly in football always wanting bigger teams and to play at a higher level, its all part of the circle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naffer Posted 6 hours ago Report Share Posted 6 hours ago 18 hours ago, IainB said: I can think of better causes to give to than a bunch of mercenary Speedway riders. I was rather thinking he was being generous with his money and was doing it for the fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted 6 hours ago Report Share Posted 6 hours ago 15 minutes ago, naffer said: I was rather thinking he was being generous with his money and was doing it for the fans. Hasn't he put them through hell? 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Sidney Posted 6 hours ago Report Share Posted 6 hours ago 16 minutes ago, IainB said: Hasn't he put them through hell? 🤔 Without him it would likely have closed earlier. I don't remember there being a queue of willing buyers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted 5 hours ago Report Share Posted 5 hours ago 13 minutes ago, Sir Sidney said: Without him it would likely have closed earlier. I'm not sure whether that was a good thing or not tbh... Is any Speedway, however farcical at times, better than no Speedway? Having witnessed the goings on over (at least) the last 2 years I'm not sure it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noaksey Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago 3 hours ago, IainB said: I'm not sure whether that was a good thing or not tbh... Is any Speedway, however farcical at times, better than no Speedway? Having witnessed the goings on over (at least) the last 2 years I'm not sure it is. I think it's no good for him and no good for the sport either. The fact that you can lose these sort of figures is alarming. It'll be interesting to see what happens at the other tracks given some of the rumours around over the last few months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DEAN MACHINE Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago I think one thing that the interview in the star points out which is the same at 90% of tracks, the councils don’t care and are just as much part of the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago 4 hours ago, IainB said: I'm not sure whether that was a good thing or not tbh... Is any Speedway, however farcical at times, better than no Speedway? Having witnessed the goings on over (at least) the last 2 years I'm not sure it is. Another major issue the sport has... In business, being "Brand Damaging" is avoided st all costs... In UK Speedway, it could be argued that to damage its brand isimply isnt possible, given the way it is ran has delivered a very low bar... "Any Speedway is better than no Speedway" appears the only mantra, hence four guests and RR is "perfectly acceptable" in the eyes of those in charge.. With the untold damage done to the sport further down the line, never for a moment considered it appears.... "Saving from themselves" might also be a good mantra to follow, as well meaning amateurs do their level best, but never learn about best practice, and how to deliver it... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.