Speedway does American football

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I am starting to believe an American football style conference system should be brought into speedway, the two division idea really isn't working, this would give all teams something to aim for, create more local matches and give play-offs real meaning.

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2009 16:57:15 GMT @hatcham said:

I am starting to believe an American football style conference system should be brought into speedway, the two division idea really isn't working, this would give all teams something to aim for, create more local matches and give play-offs real meaning.

British speedway league

Southern conference

Seattle, west ham, Rye House, Isle of Wight

South west conference

Newport, Somerset, Poole, Swindon

Midlands conference

Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Stoke

Eastern Conference

Kings Lynn, Ipswich, Peterborough, Scunthorpe

Northern conference

Belle Vue, Sheffield, Redcar, Newcastle

Even more Northern conference

Glasgow, Edinburgh, Workington, Berwick.

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2009 16:57:15 GMT @hatcham said:

I am starting to believe an American football style conference system should be brought into speedway, the two division idea really isn't working, this would give all teams something to aim for, create more local matches and give play-offs real meaning.

Yes, but there's still at least two, and possibly three economic levels within the sport. How are the likes of Buxton supposed to be competitive with (say) Coventry.

In addition, whilst the conference system works fairly well in North America because of the vast distances and the need to minimise travel, it's a bit contrived for a small island. By all means have raceoffs (not playoffs), but use the Australian-style McIntyre system.

With respect to more variety of fixtures, I suspect the best you can hope for is a substantial 'watering down' of the BEL to allow some of the stronger BPL teams to move up.

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2009 18:03:02 GMT @wibblemuis said:

Apr 22, 2009 16:57:15 GMT @hatcham said:

I am starting to believe an American football style conference system should be brought into speedway, the two division idea really isn't working, this would give all teams something to aim for, create more local matches and give play-offs real meaning.

Yes, but there's still at least two, and possibly three economic levels within the sport. How are the likes of Buxton supposed to be competitive with (say) Coventry.

In addition, whilst the conference system works fairly well in North America because of the vast distances and the need to minimise travel, it's a bit contrived for a small island. By all means have raceoffs (not playoffs), but use the Australian-style McIntyre system.

With respect to more variety of fixtures, I suspect the best you can hope for is a substantial 'watering down' of the BEL to allow some of the stronger BPL teams to move up.

If you look at my 6 conferences Wibbs, Buxton are not in it, there could and should still be a conference with riders allowed to double up, i also propose 6 man teams over 14 heats with the top 4 riders having 5 rider each, and the bottom 2 programmed 4 rides. Home team Always have choice of gate for heat 1, after that they are alternated 1+3 or 2+4 as per usual, with each team deciding who goes off which gate. Tactical substitutes re-instated and all guests and double points abolished.

Also a second half knockout tournament, with all riders expected to participate. Local sponsorship looked to supply trophy, money etc.

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2009 18:03:02 GMT @wibblemuis said:

Apr 22, 2009 16:57:15 GMT @hatcham said:

In addition, whilst the conference system works fairly well in North America because of the vast distances and the need to minimise travel

Hardly Wibbs.....Buffalo are in the same conference as Miami, New York Giants in the same conference as Dallas, Seattle in with St Louis etc.

[Deleted]

Yeah ok Hatcham, do you want a hammer to help put that stake in the heart of speedway?

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Apr 22, 2009 19:28:52 GMT @snyper1010 said:

Yeah ok Hatcham, do you want a hammer to help put that stake in the heart of speedway?

I'm from New Cross Snipster, we dont like to mention hammers, but why would my idea put a stake in the heary of speedway ?

[Deleted]

Well splitting it into so many smaller groups/divions or whatever would mean lack of variety in a seasons fixtures. Just like the EL just now 9 teams its boring and mundane as its the same teams meeting everyother week. Its the exact same argument in football with the Scottish premier not enough teams and too many fixtures against the same people.

Derbies would start to lose meaning and fans would soon get bored. I think the EL needs to be increased slightly maybe taking the stronger PL teams to do so. We need more teams and variety not fewer.

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Apr 22, 2009 19:42:15 GMT @snyper1010 said:

Well splitting it into so many smaller groups/divions or whatever would mean lack of variety in a seasons fixtures. Just like the EL just now 9 teams its boring and mundane as its the same teams meeting everyother week. Its the exact same argument in football with the Scottish premier not enough teams and too many fixtures against the same people.

Derbies would start to lose meaning and fans would soon get bored. I think the EL needs to be increased slightly maybe taking the stronger PL teams to do so. We need more teams and variety not fewer.

Snippy, teams would only ride each other home and away once, after that they would whenever possible ride against the same teams, depending on how many fixture there were to be. The winner and runner-up of each conference would progress to the play-offs

[Deleted]

So the teams that didnt make these play offs would get 6 meetings a season according to your conference diagram.

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Apr 22, 2009 19:54:51 GMT @snyper1010 said:

So the teams that didnt make these play offs would get 6 meetings a season according to your conference diagram.

Obviously your not familiar with american football Snippy, maybe you should read up on it before you critisize my plan.
There would be a minimum amount of fixtures for every team with that figure being decided on what was cost effective and appropriate.

[Deleted]

4 teams per section you said.
race once home and once away against each other, thats 6 meetings.

Is that not what you said? you had each conference with 4 teams i took that as being your plan.

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2009 20:09:28 GMT @snyper1010 said:

4 teams per section you said.
race once home and once away against each other, thats 6 meetings.

Is that not what you said? you had each conference with 4 teams i took that as being your plan.

In American football 16 is deemed to be the deired amount of games as a minimum, obviously speedway would require more than than, maybe even twice that, but conferences of 4 teams play each other home and away(6 games) then play another 10 matches against teams from other conferences.

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2009 18:22:05 GMT @hatcham said:

Hardly Wibbs.....Buffalo are in the same conference as Miami, New York Giants in the same conference as Dallas, Seattle in with St Louis etc.

American Football is not a good example as the conference system is more in place because the short season makes a proper home and away programme impractical. Divisional lineups are also based on traditional rivalries, although the original plan when the NFL was formed was for the divisions to be more strictly regional than they are now. Plus as time has gone on, expansion teams have had to be fitted in where there was space (hence New Orleans playing in the NFC West at one point)

However, if you look at the NBA and NHL they are more regionalised, and that it is done to save on travel. MLB is also regionalised to some extent.

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2009 19:54:51 GMT @snyper1010 said:

So the teams that didnt make these play offs would get 6 meetings a season according to your conference diagram.

If you understood the conference system, you'd know that teams play inter-conference matches as well. Usually teams play teams within their own conference more frequently than teams in other conferences as well.

Under Hatcham's scheme, the most likely scenario would be for teams to ride home and away within their conference (6 matches) and then the other 20 teams once (20 matches). Or you could ride home and away twice in your own conference (12 matches), and maybe home and away once against the two closest conferences (16 matches).