YeOldPitGate Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago 3 hours ago, mikebv said: There are two GP's this weekend in the UK, at one of the best tracks in the world, with one night already sold out.. That alone shows that the sport in this country can draw plenty of people "when done right", and also shows plenty of UK fans are still willing to pay out plenty to watch it.. Showing there is still a strong affinity from many towards it... Hopefully, the likes of Richard Coleman can lead the changes so every UK meeting is "done right" and the future is a positive one... What is the crowd for both night though Mike ? I'm all for anything that drags the sport up by its bootstraps but pre-covid the british round used to pull in north of 40k I'm guessing belle vue will be somewhere between 6-10k each night which is half that old number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago Just now, YeOldPitGate said: What is the crowd for both night though Mike ? I'm all for anything that drags the sport up by its bootstraps but pre-covid the british round used to pull in north of 40k I'm guessing belle vue will be somewhere between 6-10k each night which is half that old number. Last weekend there were a few hundred tickets left in the East Stand that they build for the GP's, on the Friday night... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldPitGate Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago 2 hours ago, mikebv said: Agreed, but Zmarzlik v Kurtz will still be worth the visit... Looking forwards to watching Woryna too... Plus Lambert... And Doyle, Madsen, and hopefully Lindgren and the others who don't ride over here... Always respect your views Mike as you have said previously there are ten's of thousands of lapsed fans of which I am one. I used to live near Lynn so in my late teens I could drive to Saddlebow in ten minutes and then be in the stadium, now I live about an hour and quarter drive away so roughly two and half hour round trip on a school night. I should be able to semi retire at sixty in three years time so might go a few times then but its the usual things that put me off, £25 (I'm guessing to get in now), track seems to have a bad rep these days against mid 80's early 90's when it produced great racing, plus likely guest fest and r/r as well throw on top probably £20 for fuel and another £20 for a dubious burger and a flat pint and your looking at getting on for a £75-£80 verses staying in and watching something of choice on 100 plus Sky channels. Its ever tougher for the sport to attract peoples dollar not just speedway but pubs and nightclubs decimated over the last 20-25 years and look like they are never coming back sadly. As I say to my to lads "in my day you had to go out and find a woman none of this online stuff, my generation had to take ---- off to the face" but great time also pre-mobiles and internet. Its a shame as the last four races of the world cup held in Poland when Poland just beat the UK were some of the best racing I've seen for years so it shows the sport can still be every bit as good as it was in the 80's and 90's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago (edited) 2 hours ago, mikebv said: Agreed, but Zmarzlik v Kurtz will still be worth the visit... Looking forwards to watching Woryna too... Plus Lambert... And Doyle, Madsen, and hopefully Lindgren and the others who don't ride over here... F*ckenback replaces Lindgren Edited 1 hour ago by IainB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago 35 minutes ago, YeOldPitGate said: What is the crowd for both night though Mike ? I'm all for anything that drags the sport up by its bootstraps but pre-covid the british round used to pull in north of 40k I'm guessing belle vue will be somewhere between 6-10k each night which is half that old number. 6,500 each night, most of them the same people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago 5 minutes ago, IainB said: F*ckenback replaces Lindgren Just seen that... A shame... Freddie always good value at the NSS... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldPitGate Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago Just now, IainB said: 6,500 each night, most of them the same people Thanks a long way off the mid 40's of ten plus years back sadly ,lord knows how the sport is to be saved in the UK if it even can be now. I sure don't know the answers its just tragic to see what can be such a brilliant sport absolutely bottom the pile as far as fanbase, sponsors and media interest goes. Its probably going to have to totally collapse and maybe an Eddie Hearn type figure might emerge to try and restart it but I can't help feeling team speedway will be finished in 5-10 years time and individual meetings will just be held ad-hoc round the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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