HGould 2,213 Posted September 4, 2023 6 hours ago, GiveusaB said: I think the way forward would be to 'create' a Midlands Speedway Venue and have B'ham, Cov, Cradley, Wolves, share the facility. It's not an impossible task.... I think there is merit to that but with a rather massive caveat. Cradley fans didn't support Heathens in numbers at PB, they did at Monmore. Bees fans didn't support Bees at Leicester. Speedway in the West Midlands has always been very tribal. Soccer is probably more tribal in Birmingham and the Black Country as anywhere. Having said that Wolves have a good following, Brummies a hardcore of 500, Cradley had a similar hardcore a few years ago in last ndl season. We can only guess Coventry level. Romantically those clubs could return. Purely pragmatically and IF all 4 clubs ceased to exist, is there a left field opportunity? If Essex, Kent and Somerset can be branded for Speedway purposes, could West Midlands Midlanders be viable option at a central site?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Petecc 352 Posted September 4, 2023 3 minutes ago, HGould said: I think there is merit to that but with a rather massive caveat. Cradley fans didn't support Heathens in numbers at PB, they did at Monmore. Bees fans didn't support Bees at Leicester. Speedway in the West Midlands has always been very tribal. Soccer is probably more tribal in Birmingham and the Black Country as anywhere. Having said that Wolves have a good following, Brummies a hardcore of 500, Cradley had a similar hardcore a few years ago in last ndl season. We can only guess Coventry level. Romantically those clubs could return. Purely pragmatically and IF all 4 clubs ceased to exist, is there a left field opportunity? If Essex, Kent and Somerset can be branded for Speedway purposes, could West Midlands Midlanders be viable option at a central site?? Another idea that has to be looked into. Club colours of red green Amber orange yellow white red and black could be a challenge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben91 1,743 Posted September 4, 2023 27 minutes ago, HGould said: I think there is merit to that but with a rather massive caveat. Cradley fans didn't support Heathens in numbers at PB, they did at Monmore. Bees fans didn't support Bees at Leicester. Speedway in the West Midlands has always been very tribal. Soccer is probably more tribal in Birmingham and the Black Country as anywhere. Having said that Wolves have a good following, Brummies a hardcore of 500, Cradley had a similar hardcore a few years ago in last ndl season. We can only guess Coventry level. Romantically those clubs could return. Purely pragmatically and IF all 4 clubs ceased to exist, is there a left field opportunity? If Essex, Kent and Somerset can be branded for Speedway purposes, could West Midlands Midlanders be viable option at a central site?? I think herein lies the answer. Fans won’t flock to a venue and team that were once their rivals. Should a new venture start with no ties to former clubs (and therefore no rivalries), then it becomes a more palatable option for otherwise partisan fans of other clubs. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skidder1 7,637 Posted September 4, 2023 1 hour ago, Ben91 said: I think herein lies the answer. Fans won’t flock to a venue and team that were once their rivals. Should a new venture start with no ties to former clubs (and therefore no rivalries), then it becomes a more palatable option for otherwise partisan fans of other clubs. Still a better option if faced with losing your club totally Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HGould 2,213 Posted September 4, 2023 It's very frustrating that one of the most obvious places for any new Sports Stadium in the area, which is adjacent to Birmingham Airport and the NEC, massive infrastructure, easy access train and motorway, no noise issues, massive advertising potential is mostly in the Council Area of Solihull and not Birmingham. A lot of land adjacent to M42, M6 and M5 and in the case of the M6 and M42 corridor lots of land laid waste by HS2 excavations. In fact mile after mile of it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_martin 1,606 Posted September 5, 2023 On 9/3/2023 at 2:21 PM, heathen52 said: the council who own PB may feel duty bound to provide the Brummies with an alternative venue. The Council who own Perry Barr are effectively bankrupt and aren't in a position to take on any new financial obligations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ruffdiamond 6,115 Posted September 5, 2023 2 hours ago, uk_martin said: The Council who own Perry Barr are effectively bankrupt and aren't in a position to take on any new financial obligations. A can't really get my head around this. Isn't the Council local Government? So, if the Local Government is bankrupt, does the General Government not help them out? Maybe just sell off any assets (to foreign investors) and, go from there? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HGould 2,213 Posted September 5, 2023 2 minutes ago, ruffdiamond said: A can't really get my head around this. Isn't the Council local Government? So, if the Local Government is bankrupt, does the General Government not help them out? Maybe just sell off any assets (to foreign investors) and, go from there? Almost all Councils of all political persuasions have seen their central Government Grant slashed in real terms by 50% since 2010. Birmingham has had to pay out over £1 billion since 2012 after the 2004 to 2012 Tory led Council lost a Court case about pay inequality in 2010. Councils in Thurrock, Croydon and Woking already declared bankruptcy and they have got no Govt help and they are Conservative. Many other Councils on a knife edge too led by various parties. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heathen52 385 Posted September 5, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, uk_martin said: The Council who own Perry Barr are effectively bankrupt and aren't in a position to take on any new financial obligations. I was going to make this a short reply, Developers want to develop the land so by paying for a speedway track to be put in on land provided for by the Council is a minimal outlay for developers as an example see (Burton RFC) and no financial outlay by the Council, There is no doubts that the council has the land it's the suitability to stage Speedway that is the major issue, I suggest you go and have a chat with Nigel T and see what he wants for the Brummies. Edited September 5, 2023 by heathen52 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ruffdiamond 6,115 Posted September 5, 2023 23 minutes ago, HGould said: Almost all Councils of all political persuasions have seen their central Government Grant slashed in real terms by 50% since 2010. Birmingham has had to pay out over £1 billion since 2012 after the 2004 to 2012 Tory led Council lost a Court case about pay inequality in 2010. Councils in Thurrock, Croydon and Woking already declared bankruptcy and they have got no Govt help and they are Conservative. Many other Councils on a knife edge too led by various parties. So, when a Council goes bankrupt, who does all the stuff that the Council is meant to do? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HGould 2,213 Posted September 5, 2023 1 minute ago, ruffdiamond said: So, when a Council goes bankrupt, who does all the stuff that the Council is meant to do? It's technical bankruptcy not full They carry on running essential services under supervision and have to be monitored. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Biffa 84 Posted September 5, 2023 Said on the radio today that it cost approx 1/2 billion pounds to build the Commonwealth Games Village but it wasn’t finished in time so the athletes had to be put up elsewhere. Don’t know if true but shocking if it is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ruffdiamond 6,115 Posted September 5, 2023 3 minutes ago, HGould said: It's technical bankruptcy not full They carry on running essential services under supervision and have to be monitored. A see, so they carry on but, under the watchful eye of 'the insolvency guy'?,,, making sure they're not wastefully using money, (best of luck to them). Not really akin to a normal bankruptcy then? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ruffdiamond 6,115 Posted September 5, 2023 2 minutes ago, Biffa said: Said on the radio today that it cost approx 1/2 billion pounds to build the Commonwealth Games Village but it wasn’t finished in time so the athletes had to be put up elsewhere. Don’t know if true but shocking if it is. When does the Council ever do anything on time? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GiveusaB 1,146 Posted September 5, 2023 (edited) On 9/4/2023 at 3:29 PM, Ben91 said: I think herein lies the answer. Fans won’t flock to a venue and team that were once their rivals. Should a new venture start with no ties to former clubs (and therefore no rivalries), then it becomes a more palatable option for otherwise partisan fans of other clubs. Then it's a sad world we live in. About time people got over their egos! Edited September 5, 2023 by GiveusaB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites