What about Northampton?

[40-38]

1 hour ago, mikebv said:

One of the biggest (non self inflicted), reasons for the demise of the sport for me....

As an example, I ran a supermarket in Bradford with over 30,000 customers, with an 80% "Asian" customer base..

Many major cities and towns have changed demographically, hugely, since the halcyon days of the 60's...

And also became filled with commercial and apartment buildings, rather than the replaced traditional terraced residential properties which used to hold "working class" families, who made up a huge portion of the fanbase for many tracks...

  

 

You could argue that any successful sport needs to attract people it didn't before. Look at football, they have huge ethnic followings for what in the 60s and 70s was very much a white working class sport.

[mikebv]

26 minutes ago, 40-38 said:

You could argue that any successful sport needs to attract people it didn't before. Look at football, they have huge ethnic followings for what in the 60s and 70s was very much a white working class sport.

100%...

Without doubt, hardly anything, (if anything at all), has been done to engage those different ethnically diverse communities now found around many track locations..

But, you could also say the same about engaging the indigenous population who make up the majority of the fanbase too...

 

[Hawk127]

7 hours ago, mikebv said:

100%...

Without doubt, hardly anything, (if anything at all), has been done to engage those different ethnically diverse communities now found around many track locations..

But, you could also say the same about engaging the indigenous population who make up the majority of the fanbase too...

 

The only thing the powers that be are engaged in are their own self importance. No chance of thinking outside the box and looking at the demographic of the potential audience. I am assuming that they can spell and understand the definition of demographic. One lives in hope but cannot fail to be disappointed by the actions of a few who have brought the sport to its knees.

[thebaron]

Has somebody in the BSPL cocked up here and ended up in a Bra-field in Northamptonshire when they should have gone to Brad-ford in West Yorkshire ?

Is this not exactly why Speedway is failing to as a professional sport. There we have a proper stadium - Odsal with a world class track, all the history, Yet the BSPL would rather take it to an outpost, in a shell of a stadium with zero history.

I really cannot see the point in wasting time on Northampton, look to your heartlands BSPL if you want to grow the sport.

[Bendover11]

That would be the same Bradford in west Yorkshire that has kicked stock cars out of odsal, despite still having a year left on the lease 

[MajorMauger]

The BSPL are desperate for the top flight to increase in track numbers. I suspect both Northampton and Bradford would struggle to get viable crowds. 

[M.D]

I know they approached the Dugard's at Eastbourne but like us, was told flatly no.

[mikebv]

28 minutes ago, M.D said:

I know they approached the Dugard's at Eastbourne but like us, was told flatly no.

So the 6th team, looks like a "joint venture" led by all/some of the existing promoters?..

Makes sense from a shared loss point of view...

But seriously, why bother?

It wont give any more credibility to any of the trophies to be won across all leagues, as the operating model used will still stay exactly the same as always..

[Lefty]

How about a combined venture involving Northampton & Ipswich which could run as Northwich. The only problem is sat-nav would send fans to Cheshire and we would probably be looking for a track at Oulton Park!!! 🤔

 

 

 

 

[DaveWayne]

11 hours ago, Bendover11 said:

That would be the same Bradford in west Yorkshire that has kicked stock cars out of odsal, despite still having a year left on the lease 

The lease was far longer than that. I believe there were about 17 years left. The rubgy club have even lifted the shale without telling the stock car promoters !!

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

4 minutes ago, DaveWayne said:

The lease was far longer than that. I believe there were about 17 years left. The rubgy club have even lifted the shale without telling the stock car promoters !!

Surely that would be classed as criminal damage.....

[WRDukes]

12 hours ago, Bendover11 said:

That would be the same Bradford in west Yorkshire that has kicked stock cars out of odsal, despite still having a year left on the lease 

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/25798766.fans-upset-odsal-may-not-host-stock-car-racing-year/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPlz8FleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBmQ2pZNGRtMEh4eng4cmNac3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgEB1L90evVerLc6__3E67FcocdxydC1gte9f2W9bCcEyIrpA5cjf4wV2Xps_aem_fsn0R95MUsJD6HB89cwaCw

[Petecc]

On 1/26/2026 at 11:04 AM, mikebv said:

100%...

Without doubt, hardly anything, (if anything at all), has been done to engage those different ethnically diverse communities now found around many track locations..

But, you could also say the same about engaging the indigenous population who make up the majority of the fanbase too...

 

Perry barr was in that very diverse community that you talk about and they couldn't care less about speedway. I know, we tried 

[YeOldPitGate]

Hopefully Ipswich will get over the line and if it does I would have thought Northampton will be canned as I'm more getting the impression its back up plan z if Ipswich falls through.

Some credit is due if its existing prem promoters who are going to underwrite the expected losses to keep the top league going but as 99% of us on here have said at some point they are going to have to accept the current format just doesn't work anymore and the only way forward unless Futures really do come through is paring back the product to most likely championship lite standard and starting again.