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Post by Ramjam on Oct 7, 2023 13:26:09 GMT 12
I've been trying to find the words to say what I mean since this thead appeared. I dunno if I have them right even now but here goes...
This isn't about what a track should or shouldn't be charging it's about what the whole package that is a speedway meeting is worth to you as a person. I never used to fully understand the concept of what I'm about to say until it was too late but I'll have a go at explaining it and see if anyone agrees.
Its a given most ppl reading this forum are generally more than just casual fans and swing more to the die hard end of the imaginary spectrum of attendees at any given speedway meeting.
I understand that even die hards can fall out of love with speedway or any other passion, and that's just a given. That's not the group I'm talking to here.
If you consider yerself a dedicated (at the least) fan then I'd say whether you know it or not, you get more value for your gate price than your average spectator does.
You might think it's about cars going round and round, but when you stop and think about it, it's actually so much more than that for most absolute die hards. This depends how involved you are or how much speedway as a whole makes up who you are as a person.
I know money is expensive and things can get/are tight, but I would urge you to consider the value, not the price of following/doing what you love doing.
It might seem hard to imagine but when the choice of attending any given speedway meeting is no longer yours, you WILL miss it.
It will take something pretty special to replace the $30 you didn't spend at the speedway gate that will give you the same or greater value.
The OP has it right when he says I'll still go, acknowledging yep it's expensive, but it's worth it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2023 13:36:06 GMT 12
Certainly have to look on what's on offer..
Certainly wouldn't pay to watch Productins and 2 lots of Ministocks on the same night.
Add the cost of hotdogs that get smaller every year...
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Post by openwheelfan01 on Oct 7, 2023 15:37:21 GMT 12
Speedway racing nz unfortunately not the cheapest night out for families, unlike what it once was. your now seeing many are choosing which meetings to attend, because with half empty stadiums at many meetings. days of filled out stadiums just thing of the past, unless for special events. prices to get in well as food and Beverages. making it no longer necessity for families enjoy their speedway fix.
Maybe should do what Fifa did womens recently completed world cup. dropping the prices that way you can see full capacity . reason football world cup was . $10 for ticket and families turned out there droves. Eden park had most of their games sold out towards the end of the tournament.
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Post by tank11 on Oct 7, 2023 16:04:38 GMT 12
Only a die hard single fan would fork out 30 bucks to go watch cars go round and round and not hit each other .for my $30 I'd rather go fishing these days. After 30 odd years of racing or spectating I'm oveisn't there no more 100% agree with this , as a friend of mine now calls super stocks...super heavy modifieds.. I'll only be going to big meetings and teams events myself now tbh. 30 for a normal club night just isn't worth what it was anymore $30 of petrol isn't what it was either! A jug of beer may be the same size, but sure as heck costs a lot more now! I was somewhere the other day and I think one of the boys paid $9 for a glass, not a jug. |
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Post by tank11 on Oct 7, 2023 16:08:57 GMT 12
Speedway racing nz unfortunately not the cheapest night out for families, unlike what it once was. your now seeing many are choosing which meetings to attend, because with half empty stadiums at many meetings. days of filled out stadiums just thing of the past, unless for special events. prices to get in well as food and Beverages. making it no longer necessity for families enjoy their speedway fix. Maybe should do what Fifa did womens recently completed world cup. dropping the prices that way you can see full capacity . reason football world cup was . $10 for ticket and families turned out there droves. Eden park had most of their games sold out towards the end of the tournament. And yet, the women want the same pay as the blokes ! Who fill or 3/4 fill at $30/ticket. Go figure. |
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Post by orapiuwharf on Oct 7, 2023 16:43:21 GMT 12
Entrance price is a big issue. Food prices another.
I for one look at whats on and base my decision on whats racing that night.Once upon a time I just went along most weekends. Now I cherry pick.
Another issue is accommodation costs. Will I travel now takes into account this as well.
We have made lots of cut backs not because we so much cannot afford the costs more as we need to be able to see value to our dollar spent.
Just look at how empty bars and restaurants are nowadays.
If you are not a driver or in the team team Speedway is an entertainment sport.
Just my thoughts although I know many just like me.
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Post by accobra on Oct 7, 2023 16:56:01 GMT 12
Interesting read this Thread.
$30 in my opinion is still good value for a speedway meeting.
To me it's not just about watching the cars go round and round. It's the whole experience. Sound. Smell. Walking through the pits before, during and after the meeting. Chatting to drivers, crew and other spectators I know. Can't put a price on that.
I personally save after a season finishes for the next season. That will include. Entry, food, petrol and merch.
Everything in life has gone up. But we still have to live. So yes $30 is fine. The price of beer is fine. Petrol is what it is.
Get out there support our sport and enjoy it. Speedway.
🍻
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Post by scooterman on Oct 8, 2023 16:57:34 GMT 12
well its all good if you are over 65 but the other hand its the fuel cost
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Post by midway on Oct 8, 2023 22:27:52 GMT 12
well its all good if you are over 65 but the other hand its the fuel cost Most pensioners struggle even more so than wage earners do ,if they dont have life savings tucked away , There is a few perks using the gold card ,but generally speaking costs are the same for every one ,especially if the grand kids turn up , And if you are a poor peasant like me on the land the Green Party want to crucify you more ..... |
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Post by meeaneemic on Oct 9, 2023 6:36:46 GMT 12
Speedway is run by Speedway fans. Everyone on the Committee's etc are there because they love the Sport and many if not most still don't understand it is an entertainment first and a Sport second. If you want $30 from someone's pocket you need to earn it from them and not just expect to open the gates. Some tracks are great at involving the fans rather than just have them sitting there. It's the reason I started the TXT Phone Comps many years ago to involve the fans so they feel a part of the meeting too. Bay Park does a great job of investing in it's crowd and this is what's needed as well as entertaining racing to keep taking their $30.
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Post by grindingdisc on Oct 9, 2023 8:35:56 GMT 12
Like all sports, First there were competitors then there come fans that like to watch what the competitors do. the greater quality of competitors that turn up the better the show will be and a greater number of fans will turn up to watch said competitors.
Theres no good in charging All Black / Super Rugby game prices for games when all you get is heartland cup..
We hear it over and over again the feedback from the fans that every one comes and wants to see stockcars and superstocks they want crash and bash and that its no longer like the good old days..
Tracks need to take note and invest more into their draw cards like it used to be in those good old days,
Bring back the roll over money and stirrers every week, start paying travel money again and put decent prize money up for grabs, give drivers and crew back their free entry at the gate, really make it attractive and rewarding for competitors to come compete at YOUR track. Do those things right it will lift the quality of the show and your fans will see they are getting more bang for their buck and bring them back to the glory days where they dont look at the price on the gate they just want to be there apart of it
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Post by woodart on Oct 9, 2023 12:32:41 GMT 12
the last time I took a newbie to palmy speedway, he complained constantly about the admission price while repeatedly going back to the booze stand for overpriced grog. I bought a round of drinks(5 people) at a cobbe and co last week. $65, and the mains were $35+ each. a mate takes his 20ft boat out to get cheap fish. I worked out he was paying $40 per kilo by the time all of his costs were averaged out, and he still has to clean his boat and flush out the motor. been to a rock concert lately? speedway is still good value compared to most things.
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Post by theycallmewade on Oct 10, 2023 12:16:18 GMT 12
This is an interesting thread.
I guess it comes down to price vs value and there are a few ways to look at that. Where does the value lie for the sport of speedway, the clubs, promoters and the teams? My thoughts on that would tend toward full stands and generating a strong community which could then be monitised another way rather than at the gate.
Marketing people will have better idea than me on this, but what is the value of 100,000 people who feel they are part of a community? Might have a lot more value than the ticket price.... Think of the commercial partnerships ($) that could be generated by dropping the ticket prices to drive up spectator numbers for instance. There is a reason facebook is worth gazillions and its free.
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Post by nakifans on Oct 10, 2023 15:16:14 GMT 12
Good thread Wade.
Marketing people on different planet, eg has rugby got more thru gates since turning professional , not if current stats to be believed.
NPC struggling to draw crowds, Super 12/14 been revamped over the time and even getting blame for some of WRC mismatches .
What has this to do with speedway you ask, as many of threads pointed out, few meetings empty stands high entry fee or many meetings, full stands and reasonable, affordable entry fee.
What must be remembered when you run weekly or fortnightly meetings you need to make it competitive and attractive to entice regulars
As an example, you wouldn't get away with constant price hikes for Teams Champs if held more than once a year.
The punters want affordable value to be regulars, competitors put on the show and they should be financially rewarded for their professional presentation and commitment.
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Post by tank11 on Oct 10, 2023 15:31:56 GMT 12
Good thread Wade. Marketing people on different planet, eg has rugby got more thru gates since turning professional , not if current stats to be believed. NPC struggling to draw crowds, Super 12/14 been revamped over the time and even getting blame for some of WRC mismatches . What has this to do with speedway you ask, as many of threads pointed out, few meetings empty stands high entry fee or many meetings, full stands and reasonable, affordable entry fee. What must be remembered when you run weekly or fortnightly meetings you need to make it competitive and attractive to entice regulars As an example, you wouldn't get away with constant price hikes for Teams Champs if held more than once a year. The punters want affordable value to be regulars, competitors put on the show and they should be financially rewarded for their professional presentation and commitment. I was right with you, until the last sentence. The punters want cheap. The competitors want to be financially rewarded. The creditors want to be paid! The committee and ground staff are mostly volunteers, luckily Tellme, WHERE is this golden pot you talk about? From a small cub perspective. |
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Post by nakifans on Oct 10, 2023 17:46:31 GMT 12
Not being a mathematician, accountant or Minister of finance but from my co- ed state schooling make it as an example of gate takings ; 1500 people @ $30 entry = $45,000. 4,000 people @ $20 = $80,000 plus sell extra merchandise and food.
Without competitors no show to sell. No competitor expects to make money out of the sport but sometimes have to feed the hand that feeds you.
Only my thoughts to keep the turnstile turning and a future for the sport.
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Post by grindingdisc on Oct 10, 2023 19:49:19 GMT 12
Competitors will race with no crowds but crowds wont watch if no competitors
Crowds want crash and bash but want a cheap entry
Drivers want to race but dont want their expensive race bills to be even more through the roof so tend to not go out of their way to stop and wait to cause unessary contact, unless in a points situation
Crash and bash is cool to watch but the pit crew who just payed his $30 entry doesnt get to watch any other racing cause hes been too busy fixing someone elses car all night so he can perform said crash and bash to keep crowd happy
Easy give the driver and crew free entry for putting on a show
Reward for roll overs stiring
Crowd = happy stockcars use bumpers again
= satifised money well spent i will come back next week and tell a friend how great it was in the weekend = no complaining on macgors about no contact and more friends pay money at the gate next week, suddenly gold pot gets bigger = sucess
Theres a reason teams champs is such a great sucess
Teams and drivers are well looked after with massive money given out to teams and big prize money to help conpensate for putting on show
People happy to pay more to enter and it sells out
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Post by tank11 on Oct 11, 2023 8:05:33 GMT 12
Competitors will race with no crowds but crowds wont watch if no competitors Crowds want crash and bash but want a cheap entry Drivers want to race but dont want their expensive race bills to be even more through the roof so tend to not go out of their way to stop and wait to cause unessary contact, unless in a points situation Crash and bash is cool to watch but the pit crew who just payed his $30 entry doesnt get to watch any other racing cause hes been too busy fixing someone elses car all night so he can perform said crash and bash to keep crowd happy Easy give the driver and crew free entry for putting on a show Reward for roll overs stiring Crowd = happy stockcars use bumpers again = satifised money well spent i will come back next week and tell a friend how great it was in the weekend = no complaining on macgors about no contact and more friends pay money at the gate next week, suddenly gold pot gets bigger = sucess Theres a reason teams champs is such a great sucess Teams and drivers are well looked after with massive money given out to teams and big prize money to help conpensate for putting on show People happy to pay more to enter and it sells out Hey Regan, can you set the record straight again on what you as a driver might actually make out of a weekend of teams at Enzed. I know a few that still lose money after the weekend. |
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Post by tank11 on Oct 11, 2023 8:06:33 GMT 12
Not being a mathematician, accountant or Minister of finance but from my co- ed state schooling make it as an example of gate takings ; 1500 people @ $30 entry = $45,000. 4,000 people @ $20 = $80,000 plus sell extra merchandise and food. Without competitors no show to sell. No competitor expects to make money out of the sport but sometimes have to feed the hand that feeds you. Only my thoughts to keep the turnstile turning and a future for the sport. A big jump in attendance for just $10 less in entry? |
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Post by nakifans on Oct 11, 2023 11:48:14 GMT 12
Unfortunately to get the dollar out of your wallet is a physiological game
No more so than the ploys used in supermarkets,eg harder items to sell placed on right as read left to right and other ploys we fall for Unknow lying.
Told to me by person with marketing degree when I owned a shop. Do you ever see someone arguing price of 1/2 their trolley full of alcohol
In speedway case how many times do you hear , I'm not paying $30 to watch, ministocks, street stocks , six shooters or what ever class they dislike.
Reduce price of ordinary meetings and they accept their disliked class and may even spend at food stall
Young families the future to fill our stands need affordable entry fee to make them regulars and future die hard speedway fans
Admission price balancing act of survival and bums on seats.
If life was so readable and predicable we wouldn't have politicians enticing us with different flavoured carrot's each election.
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