Gresham78 215 Posted April 10, 2017 Personally I think the long term future for the sport in Swindon is not good. As has been well documented on this forum GI has a poor record in keeping promises when it comes to building new facilities. I don't know much about Greyhound racing but it seems to be going backwards in terms of popularity (much like speedway). How much of a return are they going to get on their investment? I can't imagine they make much money out of the Robins. As has been mentioned already GI has absolutely no obligation to the Speedway club, I would imagine in truth Terry Russell and Rosco know little more than the rest of us about the progress of the facility. The other thing is the location of the stadium; Blunsdon is now becoming a very built up residential area - give it a few years and there will be a residents committee lobbying the council about noise, parking and other issues linked to the stadium. I know this is pessimistic but building a new venue for speedway in this day and age is very challenging to say the least. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The White Knight 9,039 Posted April 10, 2017 Personally I think the long term future for the sport in Swindon is not good. As has been well documented on this forum GI has a poor record in keeping promises when it comes to building new facilities. I don't know much about Greyhound racing but it seems to be going backwards in terms of popularity (much like speedway). How much of a return are they going to get on their investment? I can't imagine they make much money out of the Robins. As has been mentioned already GI has absolutely no obligation to the Speedway club, I would imagine in truth Terry Russell and Rosco know little more than the rest of us about the progress of the facility. The other thing is the location of the stadium; Blunsdon is now becoming a very built up residential area - give it a few years and there will be a residents committee lobbying the council about noise, parking and other issues linked to the stadium. I know this is pessimistic but building a new venue for speedway in this day and age is very challenging to say the least. As Belle Vue found out - but they managed it. While there is life, there is hope - fingers crossed for Swindon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damosuzuki 696 Posted April 10, 2017 Swindon should bite the bullet, get permission for a full size training track a few miles out and gradually move towards it. Temporary stands as necessary etc. Why on earth anyone is still listening to their bull**** is beyond me. Probably because most people can't imagine lying through your teeth for a few quid. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A ORLOV 8,628 Posted April 10, 2017 Swindon should bite the bullet, get permission for a full size training track a few miles out and gradually move towards it. Temporary stands as necessary etc. Why on earth anyone is still listening to their bull**** is beyond me. Probably because most people can't imagine lying through your teeth for a few quid. That would make sense because as more houses are built the more people there will be to complain about the stadium. Also if it is built no doubt Stadia will put up the parking charge so more fans will park on the roads in the housing development. The trouble, as it is with many promoters, that when speedway was making a lot of money they did not invest in their own stadiums. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ch958 2,398 Posted April 10, 2017 Swindon should bite the bullet, get permission for a full size training track a few miles out and gradually move towards it. Temporary stands as necessary etc. Why on earth anyone is still listening to their bull**** is beyond me. Probably because most people can't imagine lying through your teeth for a few quid. i agree - i think beleiving these people is crazy I assume the Robins promoters are not stupid and know this too theres a nice looking bit of land next to Swindon Supermarine - away from houses and aleady used for sport 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellevueace 917 Posted April 10, 2017 Maybe a move further away from encroaching housing might be the best bet if there is land available. We certainly dont want Swindon to go the same way as Reading with the false promises. With recent talk about the possibility of Oxford re-emerging does anyone think there is a possibility of the licence being moved there? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Starman2006 2,356 Posted April 10, 2017 Maybe a move further away from encroaching housing might be the best bet if there is land available. We certainly dont want Swindon to go the same way as Reading with the false promises. With recent talk about the possibility of Oxford re-emerging does anyone think there is a possibility of the licence being moved there? I think everybody quietly knows this will never happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,247 Posted April 11, 2017 Maybe a move further away from encroaching housing might be the best bet if there is land available. We certainly dont want Swindon to go the same way as Reading with the false promises. With recent talk about the possibility of Oxford re-emerging does anyone think there is a possibility of the licence being moved there? Unfortunately I think that Cowley Stadium has issues despite the recent proposals put forward into saving the complex...all very sad, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waytogo28 2,054 Posted April 11, 2017 Head in the sand appears to be the case once again as it looks more than likely that Swindon will not run in 2018 and fans should enjoy this season as much as they can. Another promoting licence "put on ice" ( rather like a football manager getting 100% support from the board ). The phoenix rising from the ashes, as at Leicester is sadly not the norm for "lost" speedway stadiums / clubs. If there was a genuine, positive aspect to the possibility of the new stadium they would be shouting about it loudly! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tsunami 10,219 Posted April 11, 2017 Head in the sand appears to be the case once again as it looks more than likely that Swindon will not run in 2018 and fans should enjoy this season as much as they can. Another promoting licence "put on ice" ( rather like a football manager getting 100% support from the board ). The phoenix rising from the ashes, as at Leicester is sadly not the norm for "lost" speedway stadiums / clubs. If there was a genuine, positive aspect to the possibility of the new stadium they would be shouting about it loudly! Yes they would, but Swindon Speedway are not building the stadium are they. They are in the hands of stadium owners who control the situation. Hardly speedways fault. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martinmauger 586 Posted April 11, 2017 (edited) Maybe a move further away from encroaching housing might be the best bet if there is land available. We certainly dont want Swindon to go the same way as Reading with the false promises. With recent talk about the possibility of Oxford re-emerging does anyone think there is a possibility of the licence being moved there? This is what happened when The Abbey was first built. I forget the actual year of construction but league racing began there mid-1949. The area was chosen as it was, at that time, 'middle of nowhere's ville', not anymore. Think it's called 'progress'.... Edited April 11, 2017 by Martin Mauger 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,247 Posted April 11, 2017 This is what happened when The Abbey was first built. I forget the actual year of construction but league racing began there mid-1949. The area was chosen as it was, at that time, 'middle of wowhere's ville', not anymore. Think it's called 'progress'.... Same with Cowley Stadium...constructed just before the war and no houses in sight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ommer Mon 381 Posted April 12, 2017 (edited) I remember many years ago standing on the bank by the pits and looking out beyond them. You could not see any lights let alone any houses. It was like being on the edge of the world. With the rapid expansion of housing in the immediate area I fear for Speedway once the noise and parking complaints start flying in. I really hope they don't go the same way as Coventry and the many more that have passed before them (including us!). Speedway is a very different sport these days to the one I grew up with. Very sad to see all these great venues disappearing. Edited April 12, 2017 by Ommer Mon 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted April 12, 2017 This place has so many memories for me been going through all my youth until now.I can't imagine not going to Blunsdon but something at the moment is not right just hope things turn out for the better. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
teaboy279 1,038 Posted April 12, 2017 I remember many years ago standing on the bank by the pits and looking out beyond them. You could not see any lights let alone any houses. It was like being on the edge of the world. With the rapid expansion of housing in the immediate area I fear for Speedway once the noise and parking complaints start flying in. I really hope they don't go the same way as Coventry and the many more that have passed before them (including us!). Speedway is a very different sport these days to the one I grew up with. Very sad to see all these great venues disappearing. Agree with your points although the Coventry example is actually a unique one, as I read somewhere that local residents would actually prefer the stadium to be be open then have houses built. If I was not into motorsports I think I would still rather a track in operation a few times a week for a few hours, then have 100 new noisy neighbours living behind my back fence..... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites