Eagles back in the black (From The Argus)

Eagles back in the black

12:30pm Thursday 20th October 2011 in Eagles news By Brian Owen

Eastbourne Eagles are back in the black after their best season in almost a decade.

Senior co-promoter Bob Dugard has revealed the Arlington outfit have avoided big financial losses for the first time in years.

Now they are looking at ways to ensure a better balanced fixture list, and improved financial results, in 2012.

Dugard has regularly covered five-figure losses in recent campaigns but saw fans respond in decent numbers to support a side who finished second in this year’s Elite League.

He also believes a return to Saturday racing helped attendances remain well into four figures on a regular basis.

The home leg of the play-off final, televised live on a Monday night, brought almost 2,000 fans through the Arlington gates.

Dugard said: “We’ve done okay financially and possibly even made a small profit.

“That is a massive turn around which is largely due to race night and sticking more consistently to Saturdays as well as the team's success.

“Of course team success is a major, major factor.

“But I think in our particular case people are glad of the chance to come on Saturdays on a regular basis. When we raced on Mondays we had one-third of our normal crowds.”

The big drawback for a Saturday track is the number of blank weekends in mid-summer while Grands Prix and other international events take place.

Eagles do not run meetings at the same time as televised GPs are taking place but co-promoters Mike Bellerby and Trevor Geer might change that in 2012 by hiring a big screen at the track.

Dugard said: “A lot of people haven't got Sky Sports and can't watch the Grands Prix at home.

“It would be a chance for people to come along, watch that and see the Eastbourne meeting.”

Eagles are staging a one off Test between Great Britain under-23s and Young Australia on Saturday (7.30pm).