mikebv Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago 36 minutes ago, 1 valve said: If indeed it turns out that the role of CEO (incumbent Phil Morris) has been made redundant due to a lack of money then it’s difficult to see how an “independent body/person” that is often raised as a solution on this forum, could be funded to run the sport. That said, the sport is already “run” by a (supposedly) independent body - the SCB - which by and large get their objectives done and funded by license & similar fees. Which brings the conversation back to the BSPL & the intransigent hobbyist majority within. Their actions continue to block progress of the sport (to now include the removal of a CEO) simply because they have little or no intention or capability of implementing change which may (would) disrupt their hobby. Until, somehow, there is sufficient momentum by a group of well funded vested promoters to bring about long term change, then worryingly, we fans need to understand that whilst they remain in situ the hobbyist will continue to rule. Sadly, the operating model has been allowed to evolve into what it currently is... Meaning neither league runs with any real prestige or financial rewards... Win your league? Yay!... Finish bottom of your league? Oh well, there's always next year... Many meetings are ran with almost zero jeopardy or consequence, which is "perfect" for those promoters who don't want any pressure... "Having to win" to keep a crowd level, costs money, time and brings with it some anxiety... The result of the meeting being, for a good number of promoters, "perfection" if it is a 46-44 win.... And, given that lack of prestige, and financial gain available, I 100% get their outlook... Sadly, it appears only us fans that want to see the sport grow, however, to get that growth means a completely new operating model, but, to bring in a "proper" operating model costs money.... A proper vicious circle... You cannot have jeopardy, consequence, credibility, integrity and prestige in victory, without having some serious financial rewards for success, which in turn delivers big publicity... However. You will never get those serious financial rewards, and big publicity, and prestige for victory, by running meetings without jeopardy, consequence, credibility, and integrity... A real race to the bottom currently... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noelinho Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago The post above has it nailed. If there is no real reward for winning, and nothing really missed by losing, there is no incentive to invest more time and energy, so most don’t. This is meant to be (and is) the pinnacle of the sport in the U.K., but it looks more like Sunday league football in a dead-end division. The idea of paying BSN to stream for free on YouTube sounds nice, but I see two issues. One, would they have the capacity to stream more? Two, it would present a risk to their business model, and given they are probably the most sustainable entity in British Speedway right now, why would they want to take the risk? I don’t see the incentive for them. The Premiership clubs barely bothered to support a media day, so why volunteer to compromise a working model? I think the promoters need to show a lot more before you do that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago 14 minutes ago, Noelinho said: The post above has it nailed. If there is no real reward for winning, and nothing really missed by losing, there is no incentive to invest more time and energy, so most don’t. This is meant to be (and is) the pinnacle of the sport in the U.K., but it looks more like Sunday league football in a dead-end division. The idea of paying BSN to stream for free on YouTube sounds nice, but I see two issues. One, would they have the capacity to stream more? Two, it would present a risk to their business model, and given they are probably the most sustainable entity in British Speedway right now, why would they want to take the risk? I don’t see the incentive for them. The Premiership clubs barely bothered to support a media day, so why volunteer to compromise a working model? I think the promoters need to show a lot more before you do that. Open the track, hold the meeting, hopefully win closely, then lock up the track when the last one is out... Rinse and Repeat two weeks later, (maybe), with pretty much exactly the same fans in attendance... Find a guest for someone missing in Poland or Denmark, or is injured/banned over here but not anywhere else.... Aim to win at home to keep your own crowd attending, with all your riders in attendance... Agree to ride away on nights you know your No1 can't be there and book a guest instead... Don't be too successful as it can close you down... UK Speedway... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamish McRaker Posted 37 minutes ago Report Share Posted 37 minutes ago 19 hours ago, mikebv said: For me, "the hobbyists" are those who, year in, year out, are quite happy to lose a budgeted amount of money... League position, and aspirational growth of their club and sport, has little meaning for them, just getting to the end of the season "within budget" is their sole ambition.. Usually ex riders or ex sponsors of retired riders, who come into promoting, replacing someone with a similar background, and just enter the "Speedway Bubble Echo Chamber" knowing no different, so just carry on doing the same old, same old that has been the way "for a long, long time"... Ensuring riders get plenty of rides is an aim for some of them, given many will be mates of current riders, and, with many being ex riders themselves, they will have a certain level of empathy for those who ride the bikes... However if by doing this it mpacts the credibility, prestige or authenticity of the sport, it doesn't really matter, hence doubling up and guesting is rife, without any aim to stop either... Which all means that UK Speedway looks more like a "Gentlemen's Club" than a bona fide professional team sport, with many within it, I would imagine, enjoying more the social aspect of being in charge of their clubs, without needing the pressure of leading a "proper" professional sport, that has jeopardy, consequence, and high rewards , but, inevitably, the high pressure that comes with it.. Rinse and Repeat Ad Infinitum... But at all levels of organised sport, you're going to get a large and probably growing contingent amongst the owners, directors, sponsors, benefactors etc who do it to help fulfil their own ego and vanity, and/or have vested, personal interests as their main motivation such as the promotion of their own business interests. Being able to brag at their golf club on on expensive holidays about how much money they're putting into whatever sport club as way of saying "look how rich i am, aren't I wonderful". I don't know if these come into the category of "hobbyists" (or vice-versa). Is it actually possible to have these kind on involvements whilst being entirely altruistic and its probably impossible to differentiate - motivation for involvement differing vastly. So in terms of the owners of UK speedway clubs, is it more a case of those who behave primarily with a narrow-focus, versus those who are more "bigger picture" oriented, irrespective of whether they could be classified as "hobbyists" or "business focussed", or whatever? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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