What about Northampton?

[FishersGate]

1 hour ago, Steve Irving said:

And you know that how? Because Dickson said so in the Star? Funny how you and Iain are more than happy to Believe every word your Team manager says, but when riders openly state they can’t afford to ride in one league and would retire if one league came to pass, you’re all quick to disbelieve them and rip the pi$$ out of them!

Well I know how because the landlord told me. He ran the club and he's dealt with bates and now cairns. I'm telling a fact it's as simple as that. If you can't deal with it move on

[FishersGate]

2 hours ago, Steve Irving said:

And you know that how? Because Dickson said so in the Star? Funny how you and Iain are more than happy to Believe every word your Team manager says, but when riders openly state they can’t afford to ride in one league and would retire if one league came to pass, you’re all quick to disbelieve them and rip the pi$$ out of them!

I really don't understand your reply? What has Stewart Dickson got to do with what I commented? I'm talking about the rent the stadium owner charges per month. 

[YeOldPitGate]

2 hours ago, Steve Irving said:

Of course they all are. They LOVE losing money every year. I’ve heard they all take bets with each other at the AGM, to see who can lose the most money this year, and who can break their previous money losing record. They’re all in hysterics apparently it’s great fun. 
 

They can’t wait to lose even more of their money this year, but it’s ok though, their love of the sport means they’re not bothered in the slightest at losing shed loads of their wealth bless them. 
 

It’s all definitely true!

I think the reality is most have other businesses that make money that they can offset the speedway losses against the other business profits , its still not ideal as it doesn't eliminate the loss merely reduces it from a tax perspective.

I think 99% of us on here would agree from the current bunch of promoters other than Louis and the Fords probably nobody else makes money out of the sport.

The promoters take plenty of stick and a lot of time rightly so but equally they are subsidising the sport we all desperately want to succeed like it did in the 70's and early 80's sadly I'm coming round to the idea there is no saving it the sport is just a bygone of another age like nightclubs where the young of today just have no interest in either of them.

[IainB]

2 hours ago, Steve Irving said:

And you know that how? Because Dickson said so in the Star? Funny how you and Iain are more than happy to Believe every word your Team manager says, but when riders openly state they can’t afford to ride in one league and would retire if one league came to pass, you’re all quick to disbelieve them and rip the pi$$ out of them!

So you're happy to believe that Stewart Dickson is a liar while at the same time believe in your own mind that Mayfield Sport are going to be huge for British Speedway, with absolutely zero experience and no track record... how very strange

[mikebv]

13 hours ago, IainB said:

So, Leicester who have openly admitted to (heavy?) losses over the last couple of years, have binned off their draw card and are in for another season with a (heavy?) loss... yet are still propping up a new team, that is bound to make, erm a heavy loss!

You just couldn't make this stuff up! What on earth are those trying to make this happen thinking of? 🤷‍♂️

And that's just a Leicester perspective, Sheffield seem to be in a similar boat though they've kept their big hitters. Can't think that it would be any different for the Aces and Stars. 

It's barmy isn't it?

They will get around 1000 fans (tops), and spend around £400k to £500k to do it...

Money that, if they have got it to burn, would be better invested in getting 1000 extra fans at the 14 existing tracks...

This growing the sport hugely in percentage terms..

Maybe use some of this cash to fund free away fan admission to add a bit of tribal atmosphere, and make you feel you are actually at a team sport with relevance?

[mikebv]

13 hours ago, IainB said:

The trouble is they're rich enough to buy and run a club but not rich enough to really do anything meaningful to improve things.

I was listening to the guy from Mildenhall on the 360 podcast this week and he deserves all the credit for doing what he's done there and the same goes for the guy at Worky but when you listen to them speak it's painfully obvious that they have no real ideas on what to do to improve the sport, especially at a national level. 

Listening to Rob Godfrey also the other week and he said they've got David Howe's daughter helping them out with the socials. Now I know nothing about David Howe's daughter maybe she runs a successful creative agency, brilliant if she does and good luck to her, but if she doesn't then is that really going to achieve the results that the sport desperately needs?

Yet literally seven figures spent on the riders who if any of them rode down the street outside their track, no one would have a clue who they are or what they do...

A baffling complete waste of what is a huge resource, given "nothing changes" from one season to the next in regards to crowd growth....

[Hawk127]

1 minute ago, mikebv said:

Yet literally seven figures spent on the riders who if any of them rode down the street outside their track, no one would have a clue who they are or what they do...

A baffling complete waste of what is a huge resource, given "nothing changes" from one season to the next in regards to crowd growth....

What I do not really understand from a financial aspect is that very few if any riders are a major draw for fans who know the sport let alone potential new supporters so why pander to the riders demands paying over the odds for nil return?

Build teams that are viable and some riders will climb the professional ladder and perhaps make it to GP level but if the tracks that do exist put out teams who can provide exciting racing each week at whatever level and it is affordable and competitive then that is where UK speedway is.

Let’s face this country cannot get decent crowds to turn out for a GP and the halcyon days of big names attracting 50k to 60k are never going to happen.

If riders cannot make a living riding for one club then the cost of participating is too expensive and needs looking at. Expecting increasing numbers of supporters and sponsors to pay someone the equivalent of an annual salary for six months work is nonsense.

The whole business model is barmy and has been for years. Fools and their money are soon parted and that applies across the entire speedway spectrum.

[Neila]

11 hours ago, old bob at herne bay said:

All this alleged money being “lost” every year ! Yer still they come back every season for another loss ……are they really making a loss ??? 

Years ago a lot of the various owners used to run speedway as a tax loss/dodge for their main business, probably similar now, but it's more regulated, so a bit harder to do, unless you have a good accountant 🙃

[Phannan]

1 hour ago, mikebv said:

It's barmy isn't it?

They will get around 1000 fans (tops), and spend around £400k to £500k to do it...

Money that, if they have got it to burn, would be better invested in getting 1000 extra fans at the 14 existing tracks...

This growing the sport hugely in percentage terms..

Maybe use some of this cash to fund free away fan admission to add a bit of tribal atmosphere, and make you feel you are actually at a team sport with relevance?

A team sport with relevance would involve promotion and relegation in my humble opinion. Meeting’s with jeopardy in them. And teams not dictating to the sport what league they will and won’t ride in. It’s all so amateurish really. Professional in name only. For now.