brianbuck 928 Posted August 29, 2023 It's true to say that no British Speedway Club owns their stadium or the land on which it is built. Most ownerships can probably be traced back to City or Town Councils, and could be commandeered for building purposes as and when a Council decided to do so. Birmingham Wheels Park, a previous home of Birmingham Speedway, was designated as a motor sports venue on the strength of the Council deciding that it was the most toxic pieces of land in the City, but this has not prevented this same council from taking back the lease and now deciding that it should be used to build industrial units, with the usual platitude of offering to help find an alternative site for the wheeled sports which have now been evicted, being very quickly forgotten. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neila 1,168 Posted August 29, 2023 On 8/24/2023 at 11:33 PM, Deano said: Can we add Workington and Glasgow? No Workington have an agreed long lease for the land off the local council who own the land Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piotr Pyszny 206 Posted August 31, 2023 (edited) Out of curiosity: do members of the Moss family own the site of the Buxton track (which is still used for track days and the like)? Edited August 31, 2023 by Piotr Pyszny Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GWC 495 Posted September 8, 2023 If clubs did own their own track I’m sure ‘some’ owners would have sold the ground to developers as in football. Difference is relocation would be so much harder so the club dies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HGould 2,213 Posted September 10, 2023 (edited) On 8/29/2023 at 7:14 PM, brianbuck said: It's true to say that no British Speedway Club owns their stadium or the land on which it is built. Most ownerships can probably be traced back to City or Town Councils, and could be commandeered for building purposes as and when a Council decided to do so. Birmingham Wheels Park, a previous home of Birmingham Speedway, was designated as a motor sports venue on the strength of the Council deciding that it was the most toxic pieces of land in the City, but this has not prevented this same council from taking back the lease and now deciding that it should be used to build industrial units, with the usual platitude of offering to help find an alternative site for the wheeled sports which have now been evicted, being very quickly forgotten. Interesting news I've been told by an ex City Councillor about Wheels Site which may indirectly help Brummies in longer term possibly. He believes that the 40acre Wheels site has been given to the new American Owners of Birmingham City Fc in exchange for the much smaller St Andrews site. There are a number of caveats, not the least that the new owners will take over the decontamination of Wheels a massive task likely to take 12 months and cost tens of millions. The new Owners will then build a City of Birmingham Stadium owned by the football club holding 62000 in 3 tiers. The top tier of 17000 will be cleverly hidden behind marketing banners to be opened for major events and it will have a retractable roof and drop in football pitch The aim is for multi sports including athletics, American football, stadium motor sport and concerts etc Associated facilities will include full soccer training facilities and pitches and a 400 metre training athletic track needed for major events. All funded by American Venture Capital. It will link with a massive new Movie Film and TV studio being built on the East Side by Stephen Knight of Peaky Blinders Fame. Hollywood Style facilities. The arrival and investment of Tom Brady NFL legend suggests a serious rival for London for an NFL franchise. Definitely a possible speedway GP venue of the future adjacent to HS2. The existing St Andrews site will pass to Council to develop for housing raising much needed funds. Apparently already all agreed and rubber stamped as part of BCFC takeover and signed off by City Council and Mayor Street. Brummies wise it may give access to Alexander Stadium if and when Birch field Harriers locate to the new smaller state of the art Athletics track. They (BCFC) have also bought the very modern Wasps Rugby Union training facility and moved in there. Alexander Stadium may therefore be available ultimately for other sports but timescale is 3 to 5 years. One final interesting correlation is Gary Cook who orchestrated Man City move to Etihad after it was transformed and start of their massive rise has been installed as their CEO with Brady working as a global ambassador. Win for the Council who rid themselves of a contaminated eyesore that was Wheels. Glimmer of hope though for Speedway to move to Alexander Stadium Edited September 10, 2023 by HGould 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*JJ 520 Posted September 11, 2023 19 hours ago, HGould said: Glimmer of hope though for Speedway to move to Alexander Stadium Looking at Googe Earth, there are actually two tracks with the Alexander Stadium. While the main stadium is probably not on for speedway, there is no reason (except financial?) why a speedway track could not be built inside the second (training?) athletics track. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bunce 347 Posted September 11, 2023 On 8/29/2023 at 7:14 PM, brianbuck said: It's true to say that no British Speedway Club owns their stadium or the land on which it is built. Most ownerships can probably be traced back to City or Town Councils, and could be commandeered for building purposes as and when a Council decided to do so. Birmingham Wheels Park, a previous home of Birmingham Speedway, was designated as a motor sports venue on the strength of the Council deciding that it was the most toxic pieces of land in the City, but this has not prevented this same council from taking back the lease and now deciding that it should be used to build industrial units, with the usual platitude of offering to help find an alternative site for the wheeled sports which have now been evicted, being very quickly forgotten. I think Buster Chapman owns the Kings Lynn stadium and land it stands on. The site was originally a greyhound stadium bought by Cyril Crane & Maurice Littlechild after Norwich closed in 1964. I believe Buster then bought it from them in later years? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toady 231 Posted September 11, 2023 1 hour ago, Bunce said: I think Buster Chapman owns the Kings Lynn stadium and land it stands on. The site was originally a greyhound stadium bought by Cyril Crane & Maurice Littlechild after Norwich closed in 1964. I believe Buster then bought it from them in later years? Already been mentioned near the start of thread Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JamesHarris 390 Posted September 14, 2023 On 9/10/2023 at 2:15 PM, HGould said: Interesting news I've been told by an ex City Councillor about Wheels Site which may indirectly help Brummies in longer term possibly. He believes that the 40acre Wheels site has been given to the new American Owners of Birmingham City Fc in exchange for the much smaller St Andrews site. There are a number of caveats, not the least that the new owners will take over the decontamination of Wheels a massive task likely to take 12 months and cost tens of millions. The new Owners will then build a City of Birmingham Stadium owned by the football club holding 62000 in 3 tiers. The top tier of 17000 will be cleverly hidden behind marketing banners to be opened for major events and it will have a retractable roof and drop in football pitch The aim is for multi sports including athletics, American football, stadium motor sport and concerts etc Associated facilities will include full soccer training facilities and pitches and a 400 metre training athletic track needed for major events. All funded by American Venture Capital. It will link with a massive new Movie Film and TV studio being built on the East Side by Stephen Knight of Peaky Blinders Fame. Hollywood Style facilities. The arrival and investment of Tom Brady NFL legend suggests a serious rival for London for an NFL franchise. Definitely a possible speedway GP venue of the future adjacent to HS2. The existing St Andrews site will pass to Council to develop for housing raising much needed funds. Apparently already all agreed and rubber stamped as part of BCFC takeover and signed off by City Council and Mayor Street. Brummies wise it may give access to Alexander Stadium if and when Birch field Harriers locate to the new smaller state of the art Athletics track. They (BCFC) have also bought the very modern Wasps Rugby Union training facility and moved in there. Alexander Stadium may therefore be available ultimately for other sports but timescale is 3 to 5 years. One final interesting correlation is Gary Cook who orchestrated Man City move to Etihad after it was transformed and start of their massive rise has been installed as their CEO with Brady working as a global ambassador. Win for the Council who rid themselves of a contaminated eyesore that was Wheels. Glimmer of hope though for Speedway to move to Alexander Stadium Well that is very interesting. I'm a Bluenose and I've not heard anything about this so if true it's very exciting indeed. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piotr Pyszny 206 Posted September 25, 2023 (edited) On 9/11/2023 at 10:06 AM, *JJ said: Looking at Googe Earth, there are actually two tracks with the Alexander Stadium. While the main stadium is probably not on for speedway, there is no reason (except financial?) why a speedway track could not be built inside the second (training?) athletics track. Midlands Hurricanes Rugby League Club played the bulk of their 2023 home fixtures on the pitch (sorry, potential speedway circuit) inside that second athletics track, known as the warm-up arena. Hurricanes are in talks with Birmingham Council about moving into the main stadium for 2024. Edited September 25, 2023 by Piotr Pyszny Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HGould 2,213 Posted September 26, 2023 On 9/14/2023 at 5:20 PM, JamesHarris said: Well that is very interesting. I'm a Bluenose and I've not heard anything about this so if true it's very exciting indeed. Fairly common knowledge around both Villa and Blues. Villa were awaiting planning approval and some funding to extend 2 Stands for when UK bids for World Cup Soccer. We're now worried on 2 counts (1) Ciry Council now under Government Commissioners (2) Blues new Owners plans would make that new Stadium the prime West Midlands site. The news also from Piotr about the RL Club moving from Athletics Training Track to main Alexander and Athletics second track possibly being used for Speedway also ties in with 2 things (1) The New City of Birmingham Stadium would have an Athletics Training Track (as I mentioned) and (2) it ties in with a comment from Phil Morris that "a completely new venue for Speedway could be opening" - although 2024 seems optimistic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
