Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2010 14:56:45 GMT
Taken from Jon Cook's column in last night's Official Programme.
Jon was explaining the financial implications to a club when a meeting is rained off and commenting on the effect it has on the fans' morale having travelled to a meeting and seeing no/little racing. He then went on to say...........
I will also be making contact with the SCB/BSPA to change the ruling with regards to refunds after Heat 8. This rule, moved from Heat 6, does nobody, fan or promoter, any favours at all. As a promoter, once you start you want to get to Heat 8 at all costs and that seems to frequently take the mickey out of you, the fans, by all but stealing your admission for half the advertised product. And just to rub it in a bit further we make you stand in the rain waiting to be ripped off. Instead I believe a refund system based on heats raced would be 'fair for all'.
Oh dear, that sounds a bit Gordon Brown but on that basis our two heats on Friday would have cost adults £2 to watch but we would have over £3000 towards our costs and, more importantly, fans having been sent home with their pockets picked of £16 after a Heat 8 rain-off will enjoy half price admission instead.
Your views on this subject would be very welcome and we will be introducing this system if we get the blessing of the higher authority forthwith. It would definitely make all clubs keener to go the extra mile in getting a meeting on.
As always, Jon is forthright in his views and not afraid to make changes to something 'that's always been like that'. I tend to agree with what he's saying as it appears to be a lot fairer system, could save some clubs from financial ruin and does encourage promotions to continue racing. The only problem I can see is the riders' attitudes. In recent times they do appear to be calling the shots, so maybe they should be included in the scheme too. For example, in a meeting which is rained off before the end, they only get paid standard rates of pay?
An interesting subject...........any thoughts peeps?
Jon was explaining the financial implications to a club when a meeting is rained off and commenting on the effect it has on the fans' morale having travelled to a meeting and seeing no/little racing. He then went on to say...........
I will also be making contact with the SCB/BSPA to change the ruling with regards to refunds after Heat 8. This rule, moved from Heat 6, does nobody, fan or promoter, any favours at all. As a promoter, once you start you want to get to Heat 8 at all costs and that seems to frequently take the mickey out of you, the fans, by all but stealing your admission for half the advertised product. And just to rub it in a bit further we make you stand in the rain waiting to be ripped off. Instead I believe a refund system based on heats raced would be 'fair for all'.
Oh dear, that sounds a bit Gordon Brown but on that basis our two heats on Friday would have cost adults £2 to watch but we would have over £3000 towards our costs and, more importantly, fans having been sent home with their pockets picked of £16 after a Heat 8 rain-off will enjoy half price admission instead.
Your views on this subject would be very welcome and we will be introducing this system if we get the blessing of the higher authority forthwith. It would definitely make all clubs keener to go the extra mile in getting a meeting on.
As always, Jon is forthright in his views and not afraid to make changes to something 'that's always been like that'. I tend to agree with what he's saying as it appears to be a lot fairer system, could save some clubs from financial ruin and does encourage promotions to continue racing. The only problem I can see is the riders' attitudes. In recent times they do appear to be calling the shots, so maybe they should be included in the scheme too. For example, in a meeting which is rained off before the end, they only get paid standard rates of pay?
An interesting subject...........any thoughts peeps?
where is sub anyhow ?