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13 minutes ago, secsy1 said:

I have heard that Belle Vue increased admission prices for yesterdays Semi Final Play off match against Ipswich.

Can anyone clarify if that is correct and if so why?

Yes, £27 to stand up....:o

I presume it was felt a "bumper crowd" would be there, so the extra couple of quid across the board would be "bunce"...

Kerching!!!!

Season Ticket Holders also needed to purchase tickets too, don't know if they paid the normal rate or the POSF rate...

A great plan....

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1 minute ago, mikebv said:

Yes, £27 to stand up....:o

I presume it was felt a "bumper crowd" would be there, so the extra couple of quid across the board would be "bunce"...

Kerching!!!!

Season Ticket Holders also needed to purchase tickets too, don't know if they paid the normal rate or the POSF rate...

A great plan....

What was the crowd level.One end of Main Stand looked Ok but not sure about the rest of Stadium.

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8 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

What was the crowd level.One end of Main Stand looked Ok but not sure about the rest of Stadium.

I would estimate about 2000 Max...

The mainstand was about half full (900 or so), with possibly over 1000 on the back straight (there was still loads of room there)...

There was the usual lack of local promoting of the play offs, however, I believe Granada Reports mentioned it at around half six, (just over an hour before start!)...

Amazed people didn't put their teas down and get themselves down there!!!:D

I have only been once this season so I got there around 6.45 to try and get a space on Kirky Lane, (as I remember these spaces usually get filled quickly), and half the road was available, which tended to suggest there and then that the crowd wasn't going to be "bumper"..

I have said many times, Speedway needs to find a way to get Away Fans in attendance in decent numbers...

There may have been Witches fans there last night but they were few and far between...

Ironically, given the home crowd levels, the Aces do take a decent following away and I remember around 150 or more at Ipswich a couple of seasons ago for the first leg of the POSF..

And obviously 400 or so at Sheffield and around 300 at Leicester when they won their recent titles..

150 Witches fans, either sat together or stood together, would have given the meeting the feeling of being an "event", (that a POSF should be seen as), rather than the mundane, run of the mill, evening it ended up being..

No idea why clubs don't subsidise Away Fans admission (huge reductions), given so very few go now..

It would raise the atmosphere levels massively...

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8 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

What was the crowd level.One end of Main Stand looked Ok but not sure about the rest of Stadium.

I would estimate about 2000 Max...

The mainstand was about half full (900 or so), with possibly over 1000 on the back straight (there was still loads of room there)...

There was the usual lack of local promoting of the play offs, however, I believe Granada Reports mentioned it at around half six, (just over an hour before start!)...

Amazed people didn't put their teas down and get themselves down there!!!:D

I have only been once this season so I got there around 6.45 to try and get a space on Kirky Lane, (as I remember these spaces usually get filled quickly), and half the road was available, which tended to suggest there and then that the crowd wasn't going to be "bumper"..

I have said many times, Speedway needs to find a way to get Away Fans in attendance in decent numbers...

There may have been Witches fans there last night but they were few and far between...

Ironically, given the home crowd levels, the Aces do take a decent following away and I remember around 150 or more at Ipswich a couple of seasons ago for the first leg of the POSF..

And obviously 400 or so at Sheffield and around 300 at Leicester when they won their recent titles..

150 Witches fans, either sat together or stood together, would have given the meeting the feeling of being an "event", (that a POSF should be seen as), rather than the mundane, run of the mill, evening it ended up being..

No idea why clubs don't subsidise Away Fans admission (huge reductions), given so very few go now..

It would raise the atmosphere levels massively...

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11 minutes ago, mikebv said:

I would estimate about 2000 Max...

The mainstand was about half full (900 or so), with possibly over 1000 on the back straight (there was still loads of room there)...

There was the usual lack of local promoting of the play offs, however, I believe Granada Reports mentioned it at around half six, (just over an hour before start!)...

Amazed people didn't put their teas down and get themselves down there!!!:D

I have only been once this season so I got there around 6.45 to try and get a space on Kirky Lane, (as I remember these spaces usually get filled quickly), and half the road was available, which tended to suggest there and then that the crowd wasn't going to be "bumper"..

I have said many times, Speedway needs to find a way to get Away Fans in attendance in decent numbers...

There may have been Witches fans there last night but they were few and far between...

Ironically, given the home crowd levels, the Aces do take a decent following away and I remember around 150 or more at Ipswich a couple of seasons ago for the first leg of the POSF..

And obviously 400 or so at Sheffield and around 300 at Leicester when they won their recent titles..

150 Witches fans, either sat together or stood together, would have given the meeting the feeling of being an "event", (that a POSF should be seen as), rather than the mundane, run of the mill, evening it ended up being..

No idea why clubs don't subsidise Away Fans admission (huge reductions), given so very few go now..

It would raise the atmosphere levels massively...

midweek fixtures doesnt help at all. 

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28 minutes ago, therefused said:

Not the first team to do it for the play offs. 

I've known some clubs do it for the final but not the semi! Maybe Belle Vue assumed it was going to be their last match of the season 🤔

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56 minutes ago, mikebv said:

I would estimate about 2000 Max...

The mainstand was about half full (900 or so), with possibly over 1000 on the back straight (there was still loads of room there)...

There was the usual lack of local promoting of the play offs, however, I believe Granada Reports mentioned it at around half six, (just over an hour before start!)...

Amazed people didn't put their teas down and get themselves down there!!!:D

I have only been once this season so I got there around 6.45 to try and get a space on Kirky Lane, (as I remember these spaces usually get filled quickly), and half the road was available, which tended to suggest there and then that the crowd wasn't going to be "bumper"..

I have said many times, Speedway needs to find a way to get Away Fans in attendance in decent numbers...

There may have been Witches fans there last night but they were few and far between...

Ironically, given the home crowd levels, the Aces do take a decent following away and I remember around 150 or more at Ipswich a couple of seasons ago for the first leg of the POSF..

And obviously 400 or so at Sheffield and around 300 at Leicester when they won their recent titles..

150 Witches fans, either sat together or stood together, would have given the meeting the feeling of being an "event", (that a POSF should be seen as), rather than the mundane, run of the mill, evening it ended up being..

No idea why clubs don't subsidise Away Fans admission (huge reductions), given so very few go now..

It would raise the atmosphere levels massively...

Don’t think a Monday night helps.Certainly for away supporters.Also on TV

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59 minutes ago, mikebv said:

I would estimate about 2000 Max...

The mainstand was about half full (900 or so), with possibly over 1000 on the back straight (there was still loads of room there)...

There was the usual lack of local promoting of the play offs, however, I believe Granada Reports mentioned it at around half six, (just over an hour before start!)...

Amazed people didn't put their teas down and get themselves down there!!!:D

I have only been once this season so I got there around 6.45 to try and get a space on Kirky Lane, (as I remember these spaces usually get filled quickly), and half the road was available, which tended to suggest there and then that the crowd wasn't going to be "bumper"..

I have said many times, Speedway needs to find a way to get Away Fans in attendance in decent numbers...

There may have been Witches fans there last night but they were few and far between...

Ironically, given the home crowd levels, the Aces do take a decent following away and I remember around 150 or more at Ipswich a couple of seasons ago for the first leg of the POSF..

And obviously 400 or so at Sheffield and around 300 at Leicester when they won their recent titles..

150 Witches fans, either sat together or stood together, would have given the meeting the feeling of being an "event", (that a POSF should be seen as), rather than the mundane, run of the mill, evening it ended up being..

No idea why clubs don't subsidise Away Fans admission (huge reductions), given so very few go now..

It would raise the atmosphere levels massively...

It's such a long haul to get from Ipswich to Manchester and then add the fact, and more importantly, its on a Monday night... most people would be put off, I would have probably booked annual leave and travelled up if it was the final but all my eggs are in the basket of travelling to Leicester for the final away (fingers crossed). I wouldn't expect too many Aces fans on Thursday at Foxhall be i would love to see a lot! A full stadium makes it feel more of an event, i think everyone can agree on that.

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1 hour ago, secsy1 said:

I have heard that Belle Vue increased admission prices for yesterdays Semi Final Play off match against Ipswich.

Can anyone clarify if that is correct and if so why?

They class it as a premium event. 
 

I don’t agree with it. For a final yes. But not a semi final. 
 

That was the poorest crowd I’ve seen at belle Vue in a play offs, I’d say 1600-200

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1 hour ago, therefused said:

midweek fixtures doesnt help at all. 

I 100% agree, however .

It also highlights just how trivial both sets of fans see the competition's actual standing and value is in winning...

You go all season putting up with play off qualifiers and then decide "being there" at the business end of fhe season simply isn't worth the hassle...

If you cannot encourage the home and away teams' fans to attend play off semi's, in any decent numbers, regardless of night, then the sport really is in trouble, given this competition is its "flagship", and the one that goes out live on TV to advertise the sport...

A two thirds empty stadium, with not one group of away fans there to zoom in on when their team have a good heat, doesn't make the competition look like something with too much pulling power, or kudos...

Part of Poland's pulling power is the good many travelling fans who get plenty of camera time, making each meeting look like an "event" and adding hugely to that vital tribal atmosphere...

My biggest disappointment last night was Emil, as I was looking forward to watching him race well, given he is truly box office when on it...

When he rides in Poland I doubt opposition fans have the same thoughts...:D

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56 minutes ago, mikebv said:

I would estimate about 2000 Max...

The mainstand was about half full (900 or so), with possibly over 1000 on the back straight (there was still loads of room there)...

There was the usual lack of local promoting of the play offs, however, I believe Granada Reports mentioned it at around half six, (just over an hour before start!)...

Amazed people didn't put their teas down and get themselves down there!!!:D

I have only been once this season so I got there around 6.45 to try and get a space on Kirky Lane, (as I remember these spaces usually get filled quickly), and half the road was available, which tended to suggest there and then that the crowd wasn't going to be "bumper"..

I have said many times, Speedway needs to find a way to get Away Fans in attendance in decent numbers...

There may have been Witches fans there last night but they were few and far between...

Ironically, given the home crowd levels, the Aces do take a decent following away and I remember around 150 or more at Ipswich a couple of seasons ago for the first leg of the POSF..

And obviously 400 or so at Sheffield and around 300 at Leicester when they won their recent titles..

150 Witches fans, either sat together or stood together, would have given the meeting the feeling of being an "event", (that a POSF should be seen as), rather than the mundane, run of the mill, evening it ended up being..

No idea why clubs don't subsidise Away Fans admission (huge reductions), given so very few go now..

It would raise the atmosphere levels massively...

Don’t think a Monday night helps.Certainly for away supporters.Also on TV

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3 minutes ago, mikebv said:

I 100% agree, however .

It also highlights just how trivial both sets of fans see the competition's actual standing and value is in winning...

You go all season putting up with play off qualifiers and then decide "being there" at the business end of fhe season simply isn't worth the hassle...

If you cannot encourage the home and away teams' fans to attend play off semi's, in any decent numbers, regardless of night, then the sport really is in trouble, given this competition is its "flagship", and the one that goes out live on TV to advertise the sport...

A two thirds empty stadium, with not one group of away fans there to zoom in on when their team have a good heat, doesn't make the competition look like something with too much pulling power, or kudos...

Part of Poland's pulling power is the good many travelling fans who get plenty of camera time, making each meeting look like an "event" and adding hugely to that vital tribal atmosphere...

My biggest disappointment last night was Emil, as I was looking forward to watching him race well, given he is truly box office when on it...

When he rides in Poland I doubt opposition fans have the same thoughts...:D

Emil was disappointing.Brilliant in Poland on Sunday though.Tells us something !

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1 hour ago, mikebv said:

I 100% agree, however .

It also highlights just how trivial both sets of fans see the competition's actual standing and value is in winning...

You go all season putting up with play off qualifiers and then decide "being there" at the business end of fhe season simply isn't worth the hassle...

If you cannot encourage the home and away teams' fans to attend play off semi's, in any decent numbers, regardless of night, then the sport really is in trouble, given this competition is its "flagship", and the one that goes out live on TV to advertise the sport...

A two thirds empty stadium, with not one group of away fans there to zoom in on when their team have a good heat, doesn't make the competition look like something with too much pulling power, or kudos...

Part of Poland's pulling power is the good many travelling fans who get plenty of camera time, making each meeting look like an "event" and adding hugely to that vital tribal atmosphere...

My biggest disappointment last night was Emil, as I was looking forward to watching him race well, given he is truly box office when on it...

When he rides in Poland I doubt opposition fans have the same thoughts...:D

And lets be honest Mike a Monday is a terrible night to try and run any spectator event other than top line footie or mega singer event, its the first day back at work and most people have the blues feeling, a Thursday night would be so much better with the weekend in touching distance and only Friday to get through, but at least as you say maximum effort was put into shouting the event from the rooftops in the build up till last night.

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Put the semis on Saturday night at Belle Vue and Sunday afternoon at Ipswich then see how big the crowds would be but on a Monday and a Thursday both terrible nights to run a premium event - as for admission price last night maybe Belle Vue thought stick the price up as won’t be able to in the final as they doubt they will be in the final 

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23 minutes ago, Haza said:

Put the semis on Saturday night at Belle Vue and Sunday afternoon at Ipswich then see how big the crowds would be but on a Monday and a Thursday both terrible nights to run a premium event - as for admission price last night maybe Belle Vue thought stick the price up as won’t be able to in the final as they doubt they will be in the final 

Agree but the way it works, Poland calls the tune and if you are a rider in both leagues and Poland is paying top dollar, one you will not ride in the UK or be allowed to ride by your Polish team and two you will not take any risks if the Polish team can claw back money. The answer to achieve what you suggest is to ride these matches in October but then you are at the mercy of the weather. It is what it is and the UK version has capitulated to Poland and it is unlikely that the sport will get back to what it used to be to be in the foreseeable future. Poland dominates and that is it and until the UK presents a professional package with top quality sponsors, a t v deal that promotes the sport to a wider audience and the promoters get off the backsides and promote so that the spectators who can create an atmosphere turn up in the numbers that you see in Poland, it will continue to be the poor relation. Sadly U K speedway does not create any interest amongst Joe Public.

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I doubt many Ipswich fans would go to Manchester on a Monday night with the home leg on Thursday and who can blame them … same maybe said for Belle Vue on Thursday they might not travel as it isn’t the final 

 

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