What will 2026 UK speedway bring?

[Fromafar]

26 minutes ago, The White Knight said:

Could the same argument not be applied to Poole?

It’s not even an argument .

[The White Knight]

49 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

It’s not even an argument .

Nor should it be.

I only mentioned it because of a ridiculous Post saying that Glasgow should be forced to go up to the Premier League. You cannot do that with independent businesses, which is essentially what each Club in Speedway is. The Premier League, sadly, has for a long time been the be all and end all of Speedway. This is wrong, the so called Top League needs to get it's own house in order, and not rely on being propped up by the Championship.

That is how I feel anyway.

[mikebv]

13 minutes ago, The White Knight said:

Nor should it be.

I only mentioned it because of a ridiculous Post saying that Glasgow should be forced to go up to the Premier League. You cannot do that with independent businesses, which is essentially what each Club in Speedway is. The Premier League, sadly, has for a long time been the be all and end all of Speedway. This is wrong, the so called Top League needs to get it's own house in order, and not rely on being propped up by the Championship.

That is how I feel anyway.

Ultimately though...

They prop up each other...

If no top tier existed then the Championship teams would need to lay out more to cover the shortfall to the riders who are no longer riding in two leagues.. 

And it would need to be a fair few quid too...

Edited 19 hours ago by mikebv

[foreverblue]

1 hour ago, The White Knight said:

Could the same argument not be applied to Poole?

No it couldn't, we don't own our stadium and we don't have the money Glasgow have, I would love to be back in the Premiership but it is not viable.

[TTT]

Sense of entitlement from certain Championship clubs, They need to serve the Premiership because the Premiership is British Speedway.

Certain Championship clubs are waiting for the Premiership to collapse and end up in one big league mostly full of journeymen and out of depth NDL riders and Championship Promoters seem to think that everything will work out perfectly for them when it won't.

Current Championship No.1's & Certain No.5's would have offers galore and promoters will have to pay much more money for them during a bidding war because every one of them would demand much more money as they'll need to cover some of the losses from only having one British team place instead of the usual two.

[Mgas]

2 hours ago, foreverblue said:

No it couldn't, we don't own our stadium and we don't have the money Glasgow have, I would love to be back in the Premiership but it is not viable.

Again I don’t think singling out one business for being successful and exposing financial risk upon them would be legal. If one club is going to be forced into anything. Every club would have to be given the same “ultimatum” British speedway is in a very difficult position but it isn’t for one or two clubs to fix it

Edited 17 hours ago by Mgas

[PersonalResponsibility]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

Sense of entitlement from certain Championship clubs, They need to serve the Premiership because the Premiership is British Speedway.

Certain Championship clubs are waiting for the Premiership to collapse and end up in one big league mostly full of journeymen and out of depth NDL riders and Championship Promoters seem to think that everything will work out perfectly for them when it won't.

Current Championship No.1's & Certain No.5's would have offers galore and promoters will have to pay much more money for them during a bidding war because every one of them would demand much more money as they'll need to cover some of the losses from only having one British team place instead of the usual two.

Can't agree that there's a need for the Championship to "serve" the Premiership. Both leagues are equally reliant on each other to prosper, it isn't a one-way thing. 

Your last point is sadly an indictment of the situation we've sleepwalked into. If the riders are demanding twice the money due to only having one team place: good for them. Equally, the clubs are justified in only offering what they're happy to pay.

Sadly, we're now in a situation where this isn't practical because even a handful of riders quitting would be catastrophic, so the tail continues to wag the dog.

[tyler42]

10 hours ago, TTT said:

Bosses need to grow a backbone and refuse starting permission for Glasgow in the Championship imo.

It's a club with a Premiership business model in place on all fronts.

Under no circumstances can the Premiership take place with 5 Teams.

Why should Glasgow prop up the top league. The top league over the years have pocketed fortunes from the TV deals. Now because they haven't got a TV deal you expect 2nd division clubs to throw them a rope. I would tell them to get stuffed. The only reason the top league might only run with 5/4 teams is down to them. They stood by and watched Tolly skint himself last season and now you think other clubs should follow suit?. They made their bed. Let them lie in it.

Edited 15 hours ago by tyler42

[tyler42]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

Sense of entitlement from certain Championship clubs, They need to serve the Premiership because the Premiership is British Speedway.

Certain Championship clubs are waiting for the Premiership to collapse and end up in one big league mostly full of journeymen and out of depth NDL riders and Championship Promoters seem to think that everything will work out perfectly for them when it won't.

Current Championship No.1's & Certain No.5's would have offers galore and promoters will have to pay much more money for them during a bidding war because every one of them would demand much more money as they'll need to cover some of the losses from only having one British team place instead of the usual two.

Or just make the the 2nd division Semi Pro? how many riders in the lower league make a living? Unless the likes of Hodder are on £300 a point!!! Then I would say hardly any. Yes, the No1's especially with their doubling up, most likely make a living.

There might be other sports where their top league only consists of 4/5 clubs, but you can't really have a play off system with that amount of teams, can you? The sport is already laughed at by most news outlets. I don't even think you get the results in the National press anymore. The doubling up put a stop to the sport being taken serious by most.

Riders can't keep living in this fantasy world. How many people attend Redcar/Scunthorpe/ Edinburgh/Plymouth etc? The promoters have got themselves into this situation. They have bowed down to the riders wants and needs and this is the end result.

They have to tell the riders the bubble has burst. They should offer them a fair deal for what the club can afford. If they can't except the deal. Then unfortunately they will have to go and get a job! No one can justify calling speedway at 2nd division level professional anymore. If some riders reject the offers, then you promote the young lads from the 3rd division. Lets face it the sport at 2nd division level has been watered down so much over the last few years, a couple of more riders won't make that much difference.

The majority of riders in the 2nd division worked back in the 70s/80s. The sport was also in a lot better health. The leagues and crowds were a lot bigger. Every year the sport dies a little bit more. It's been on life support for a while now. How much longer before the plug is pulled?

[tyler42]

1 hour ago, PersonalResponsibility said:

Can't agree that there's a need for the Championship to "serve" the Premiership. Both leagues are equally reliant on each other to prosper, it isn't a one-way thing. 

Your last point is sadly an indictment of the situation we've sleepwalked into. If the riders are demanding twice the money due to only having one team place: good for them. Equally, the clubs are justified in only offering what they're happy to pay.

Sadly, we're now in a situation where this isn't practical because even a handful of riders quitting would be catastrophic, so the tail continues to wag the dog.

I don't agree. The promoters are the employers. It's come the time where they have to say to the riders. ( This is what we can afford) Then the riders can decide to reject or accept. If the don't like the terms then they can leave the sport and go and get a job. If the sport has to go semi pro then so be it. 

[The White Knight]

4 hours ago, mikebv said:

Ultimately though...

They prop up each other...

If no top tier existed then the Championship teams would need to lay out more to cover the shortfall to the riders who are no longer riding in two leagues.. 

And it would need to be a fair few quid too...

The Premier League has been in crisis for years. Teams dropping out for one reason or another and needing to be replaced by some poor unsuspecting sap from the next League down. They go up and shortly after are gone. They cannot afford to be competative in the top Division. I wonder how many Championship Teams have gone up, gone bust, and are lost to the Sport? Had they stopped in the Championship, they may still be running concerns.

[1 valve]

There have been very good and well meaning observations & suggestions on what should happen in 2026. 
However, maybe we should speculate more on what we think the promoters will actually instigate in 2026.  
For me, a move to two leagues (six teams in the top tier) with a dumbing down of both competitions by lowering the points limit and in doing so move the rising star concept to the lower tier. 
Note: this is what I think the promoters will do, not what I think should happen
 

[PersonalResponsibility]

7 hours ago, tyler42 said:

I don't agree. The promoters are the employers. It's come the time where they have to say to the riders. ( This is what we can afford) Then the riders can decide to reject or accept. If the don't like the terms then they can leave the sport and go and get a job. If the sport has to go semi pro then so be it. 

I completely agree that's what they should do, however I'm not sure it'd be as easy as that. It wouldn't take many riders not to bother and you'd struggle to have a worthwhile sport to sell. As I said, the riders shouldn't be dictating the sport, but sadly it feels like we don't have much choice atm.

[mikebv]

19 minutes ago, PersonalResponsibility said:

I completely agree that's what they should do, however I'm not sure it'd be as easy as that. It wouldn't take many riders not to bother and you'd struggle to have a worthwhile sport to sell. As I said, the riders shouldn't be dictating the sport, but sadly it feels like we don't have much choice atm.

The whole UK Speedway concept is "Donald Ducked"..

Promoters want riders to spend ridiculous amounts on machinery so they have a chance to win competitions..

Competition's that they then so undermine with their very own ludicrous operating model, that hardly anyone outside such a small following even notices, and no major sponsor will get involved with, hence no major financial reward is forthcoming...

With the riders, who have shelled out thousands and thousands of pounds on kit, now expecting (quite fairly), to get not only reimbursed but actually getting paid enough to be the full time professionals that the promoters expect them to be..

We have long said on here, it truly has been a year on year, vicious circle, race to the bottom...

It looks like that race has finally reached its inevitable location,...

 

[Ben91]

11 hours ago, TTT said:

Sense of entitlement from certain Championship clubs, They need to serve the Premiership because the Premiership is British Speedway.

Certain Championship clubs are waiting for the Premiership to collapse and end up in one big league mostly full of journeymen and out of depth NDL riders and Championship Promoters seem to think that everything will work out perfectly for them when it won't.

Current Championship No.1's & Certain No.5's would have offers galore and promoters will have to pay much more money for them during a bidding war because every one of them would demand much more money as they'll need to cover some of the losses from only having one British team place instead of the usual two.

Not wanting to move up because it isn’t financially viable isn’t sense of entitlement, it’s sensible. 

The overall standard of the sport here has dropped. The GP riders and Sayfutdinovs in the Premiership only mask the fact that the rest of the riders are Championship standard at best. That’s why they are racing in both leagues (that and the suggestion they’re owed a living from the sport so should be allowed to race for multiple teams in Britain). 

The sport here can’t justify the level it tries and wants to present. The fact that landlords want their rent so admission prices will only rise regardless of what’s on show doesn’t help.

This spiral will only continue. There’s no overnight fix. Those running the sport need to publicly acknowledge that and put a long term plan in place. Smoke and mirrors breeds rumours and discontent. Tell the fans what is happening and why and most of them will be a lot more understanding. 

[TTT]

It is financially viable for Glasgow to move up, They just refuse to do it.

Championship is a League set up for clubs like Plymouth who operate on a very tight budget.

Championship isn't a League that was set up for clubs like Glasgow who try and sign as many HL's as the rules allow them too whilst leaving lower end Championship clubs to scrap around for No.1's and No.5's, They're called money bags Glasgow for a reason, Signing riders like Tarasenko and Nagel at Championship level proves that.

Let Glasgow have the Berwick and Edinburgh meetings still as challenge meetings on the side of Premiership and Premiership KO Cup meetings.

Everything about Glasgow is Premiership level, Glasgow competing in the Championship is the equivalent of Chelsea FC competing in the Europa Conference League last season imo.

[Sir Sidney]

4 minutes ago, TTT said:

It is financially viable for Glasgow to move up, They just refuse to do it.

Championship is a League set up for clubs like Plymouth who operate on a very tight budget.

Championship isn't a League that was set up for clubs like Glasgow who try and sign as many HL's as the rules allow them too whilst leaving lower end Championship clubs to scrap around for No.1's and No.5's, They're called money bags Glasgow for a reason, Signing riders like Tarasenko and Nagel at Championship level proves that.

Let Glasgow have the Berwick and Edinburgh meetings still as challenge meetings on the side of Premiership and Premiership KO Cup meetings.

Everything about Glasgow is Premiership level, Glasgow competing in the Championship is the equivalent of Chelsea FC competing in the Europa Conference League last season imo.

How do you know it is financially viable for Glasgow to step up? Or do you just think the owners have sufficient financial assets to sustain a loss? 

[mikebv]

1 hour ago, Sir Sidney said:

How do you know it is financially viable for Glasgow to step up? Or do you just think the owners have sufficient financial assets to sustain a loss? 

I think we have seen how some clubs who are bank rolled using money from a larger company owned by the promoters, can struggle when that company loses business..

You often never know what the next 12 months will bring in business so any "financial projects" you get involved with away from your "core business" have to either break even or deliver non threatening sustainable (and budgeted), losses, and be part of your overall business profit and loss plan...

The same riders riding for Glasgow in the 2nd tier will need significantly more money to ride for them in the top tier...

And, as we know, the crowds don't usually suddenly "leap" when teams move up...

And to watch mainly the same riders, but now at an increased admission price of around five pounds, why would they?

So, the question has to be..

Why would Glasgow (or any other 2nd tier track) do it?  

Especially if no six figure TV deal is in place to help balance the books..

In summary. 

For any team moving up all they will get is increased costs with pretty much zero positive impact to their attendance, in fact, having to change race nights they could actually reduce their attendances..

The fans will watch around 50% to 70% of exactly the same riders but now at an increased admission of high double digit percentages, and get to watch it on nights that they don't currently attend....

And, ultimately the winner of either league will pretty much recieve as much publicity and financial reward as the other...

Not a great incentive is it? 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by mikebv

[TTT]

Why do Glasgow get various FIM events? Because it's a top level UK Speedway Model.

Why do Glasgow sign as many Championship Heat Leaders as the rules allow them too? Because they've got the money too.

Why are Glasgow signing Ekstraliga riders for second tier British Speedway that's a League mostly designed for the following? See above answer.

A -> British D/UP's that struggle to get opportunities in other well known Speedway Leagues abroad.

B -> Australian riders who are UK based but aren't good enough to get team places in the Premiership.

C -> Top end NDL Riders to gain more experience before taking the next step in their careers.

The only reason why Glasgow don't want to move is because of the Berwick/Edinburgh situation and that sort of outlook is why British Speedway is a mess, Too many Promoters / Owners who stroll into AGM's every winter with a me, myself and I mind set instead of putting British Speedway first.

Edited 2 hours ago by TTT

[Fromafar]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

It is financially viable for Glasgow to move up, They just refuse to do it.

Championship is a League set up for clubs like Plymouth who operate on a very tight budget.

Championship isn't a League that was set up for clubs like Glasgow who try and sign as many HL's as the rules allow them too whilst leaving lower end Championship clubs to scrap around for No.1's and No.5's, They're called money bags Glasgow for a reason, Signing riders like Tarasenko and Nagel at Championship level proves that.

Let Glasgow have the Berwick and Edinburgh meetings still as challenge meetings on the side of Premiership and Premiership KO Cup meetings.

Everything about Glasgow is Premiership level, Glasgow competing in the Championship is the equivalent of Chelsea FC competing in the Europa Conference League last season imo.

Bee in your bonnet about Glasgow.Their Promotion are successful business men, I’m sure they can make their own decisions regarding their finances.

Edited 1 hour ago by Fromafar