What about Northampton?

[Teromaafan]

3 minutes ago, heathen52 said:

I think the (Top) hat has other irons in the fire, very much closer to (his) home 🫠.

Oh dear, is he following his passion for red and yellow? 😩

[Wolfie456]

2 hours ago, Teromaafan said:

Oh dear, is he following his passion for red and yellow? 😩

No green and white me thinks.

[Teromaafan]

3 hours ago, Wolfie456 said:

No green and white me thinks.

Sounds promising then, be great to have another midlands track back.

[SJA]

I like the concept of Northampton becoming a speedway track but looking at a map its hard to see where a "local" crowd will come from. I think its pie in the sky to expect Peterborough and Coventry fans to make an 80 mile round trip for home meetings.  Depending on where a Peterborough fan lives Kings Lynn or Leicester could be closer. I hope Northampton does become an active speedway venue I just hope they have been realistic with a business plan.

[Normski]

2 hours ago, SJA said:

I like the concept of Northampton becoming a speedway track but looking at a map its hard to see where a "local" crowd will come from. I think its pie in the sky to expect Peterborough and Coventry fans to make an 80 mile round trip for home meetings.  Depending on where a Peterborough fan lives Kings Lynn or Leicester could be closer. I hope Northampton does become an active speedway venue I just hope they have been realistic with a business plan.

80mile round trip hmm. In 1981 when Berwick had no home track we had to make to begin with a 340 mile round trip to Barrow, 240 mile round trip to Workington, and a 200 mile round trip to Glasgow for our home meetings. Even now a large percentage of our fans can make a 50 - 120mile round trip for our home meetings.

[SJA]

14 minutes ago, Normski said:

80mile round trip hmm. In 1981 when Berwick had no home track we had to make to begin with a 340 mile round trip to Barrow, 240 mile round trip to Workington, and a 200 mile round trip to Glasgow for our home meetings. Even now a large percentage of our fans can make a 50 - 120mile round trip for our home meetings.

1981 is a lifetime ago when we had limited entertainment options. That is not the case anymore. Speedway fans don't travel. I think I am one of the few exceptions, but I don't fit the average speedway fan demographic. When I have attended Birmingham, Oxford or Leicester during the last two seasons I have seen very few Wolves or Coventry fans. Looking around maybe Leicester does the best out of the three venues I mentioned with maybe 20ish a meeting.  If speedway fans travelled then their would be greater support at away tracks rather than a hardcore 5-30 away fans at league meetings.

[therefused]

i wouldnt travel every week to a  fixture if it wasnt my team, i daresay a lot of the wolves/coventry fans feel the same

[Normski]

3 hours ago, therefused said:

i wouldnt travel every week to a  fixture if it wasnt my team, i daresay a lot of the wolves/coventry fans feel the same

Not the same i agree, but we have at Berwick Newcastle fans even a Rye House fan who proudly wear our merchandise

[Bojangles]

23 hours ago, therefused said:

i wouldnt travel every week to a  fixture if it wasnt my team, i daresay a lot of the wolves/coventry fans feel the same

Same at Oxford. There are numerous Reading (and even a few Swindon) fans who attend each week, wearing their old club kit.

[SJA]

20 hours ago, Bojangles said:

Same at Oxford. There are numerous Reading (and even a few Swindon) fans who attend each week, wearing their old club kit.

In the hundreds from each? As that is what I imagine Northampton would need from each of Coventry, Peterborough and Birmingham as their natural catchment area is not that highly populated.

[arnieg]

4 minutes ago, SJA said:

In the hundreds from each? As that is what I imagine Northampton would need from each of Coventry, Peterborough and Birmingham as their natural catchment area is not that highly populated.

Northampton, a mere 5 miles away has a population of 240,000+.

[IainB]

8 minutes ago, arnieg said:

Northampton, a mere 5 miles away has a population of 240,000+.

Greater Manchester has a population of 3m on the doorstep of the National Speedway Stadium but couldn't attract a crowd for a POSF... no doubt there'd be some novelty to the opening of a new track but inevitably crowds would eventually drop off.

[SJA]

5 minutes ago, arnieg said:

Northampton, a mere 5 miles away has a population of 240,000+.

So less than 10% of the population of the West Midlands (3,039,203) that cannot support a team. Even though Cricket and Football both have a footprint in Northampton it is basically a rugby town.  I hope I'm proved wrong but I am fearful for the success at this venue. It will be one I attend as its an Uber away from a late night train back to London. 

[arnieg]

2 minutes ago, SJA said:

So less than 10% of the population of the West Midlands (3,039,203) that cannot support a team. Even though Cricket and Football both have a footprint in Northampton it is basically a rugby town.  I hope I'm proved wrong but I am fearful for the success at this venue. It will be one I attend as its an Uber away from a late night train back to London. 

The West Midlands can support more than one team. However dense urbanisation means a lack of suitable sites.

Berwick and King's Lynn have both survived for over 50 years.

The problem for Northampton is not population based, it is that there is no history of speedway in Northampton [just 1929-30 in town, and 54/5 & 66/7 @ Brafield - all at a fairly rudimentary level]

[40-38]

36 minutes ago, arnieg said:

The West Midlands can support more than one team. However dense urbanisation means a lack of suitable sites.

Berwick and King's Lynn have both survived for over 50 years.

The problem for Northampton is not population based, it is that there is no history of speedway in Northampton [just 1929-30 in town, and 54/5 & 66/7 @ Brafield - all at a fairly rudimentary level]

Perhaps the novelty factor would lead to more interest then? I know that's probably naive but I'm trying to be hopeful...!

[YeOldPitGate]

5 hours ago, arnieg said:

Northampton, a mere 5 miles away has a population of 240,000+.

Counter argument London has nigh on 9 million population and not a single track.

[eric i]

Northampton best chance would be to run Sunday afternoons in the national league, allowing people to travel.

[The White Knight]

4 hours ago, IainB said:

Greater Manchester has a population of 3m on the doorstep of the National Speedway Stadium but couldn't attract a crowd for a POSF... no doubt there'd be some novelty to the opening of a new track but inevitably crowds would eventually drop off.

Or maybe the 'Play Off' System has had it's day.

Perhaps people are realising that when you win the League, and your reward is sod all - it's not worth the candle.

Back in the 60's, 70's etc. The League Champions won the League, and didn't have to win it twice.

While I am on, why not get rid of the Grand Prix Series too.

How exactly does that benefit British Speedway As far as I can see, it is a hindrance, For example, last night both Dan Bewley and Brady Kurtz had a potential World Championship to win or to get a medal. Why would they put themselves at risk of serious injury just TWO days before an Event like this, I for one, do not blame them at all, especially on a Track in the dreadful state that Foxhall was in last night?

Go back to the World Final -  one Meeting. It was good enough for Mauger, Peter Collins Olsen, Petersen etc. It would reduce the costs for riders. It would also bring back the thrill of everything depending on one race.

[flagrag]

Northampton and wider Northamptonshire like Kettering,Corby,Wellingborough have huge Eastern European populations so the hope may be to have a couple of Polish riders in the home team will encourage them to travel