Swindon Stadium

[heathen52]

20 hours ago, R87 said:

But he's absolutely right.  Its NOT viable

I believe i am right in saying there used to be a Market on site, there was definately Vehicle auctions on site, there was Greyhound racing, and there was Speedway not to mention a possibility of Park & ride, so when you take away all the income streams is it any wonder the site is not viable?, but basically it's been a form of asset stripped by the owner.

[frigbo]

1 hour ago, heathen52 said:

I believe i am right in saying there used to be a Market on site, there was definately Vehicle auctions on site, there was Greyhound racing, and there was Speedway not to mention a possibility of Park & ride, so when you take away all the income streams is it any wonder the site is not viable?, but basically it's been a form of asset stripped by the owner.

And a Motorcycle training business.

You're absolutely spot on. Asset Stripping or Corporate Vandalism sums it up nicely 

[piston197]

59 minutes ago, frigbo said:

And a Motorcycle training business.

You're absolutely spot on. Asset Stripping or Corporate Vandalism sums it up nicely 

And Swindon VMCC Moonrakers ran an autojumble at the Abbey on the Easter bank holiday Mondays.

Our local cattle Market site runs car boot sales every Sunday, an autojumble 3 times a year, motorcycle training, Lorry park every evening as well a regular livestock auctions, franchises the cafe, and a local motor club uses it for a special test for a car club rally

There were similar opportunities available for the Abbey as well as Speedway and Greyhounds, but if these opportunities are not utilised , it is easy to make it look like it adds no value to the community and is not viable

[Toady]

5 hours ago, heathen52 said:

I believe i am right in saying there used to be a Market on site, there was definately Vehicle auctions on site, there was Greyhound racing, and there was Speedway not to mention a possibility of Park & ride, so when you take away all the income streams is it any wonder the site is not viable?, but basically it's been a form of asset stripped by the owner.

I think you’re confusing the fact that the site was owned by ADT Auctions, who incidentally sold it to Clark Osbourne. They never ran car auctions from that site. Also, there was a Park and Ride at nearby Groundwell, but it closed around 2009 through lack of use, so it would have been unlikely that option would have been open to Abbey Stadium.

[frigbo]

2 hours ago, Toady said:

I think you’re confusing the fact that the site was owned by ADT Auctions, who incidentally sold it to Clark Osbourne. They never ran car auctions from that site. Also, there was a Park and Ride at nearby Groundwell, but it closed around 2009 through lack of use, so it would have been unlikely that option would have been open to Abbey Stadium.

You're right. But the point stands that multi-use opportunities are there IF the owner WANTS to make a success of the stadium.

[SteveLyric2]

Surely the only people saying that 'speedway at the Abbey was financially unviable' were Osborne (the stadium owner - who also ran the greyhounds) and the previous speedway promotion of Russell and Park.

Maybe there was some sort of financial incentive (brown envelope?) offered to Russell/Park to say that speedway was unviable at the Abbey. And surely it would only become 'unviable' because of the exorbitant rent and stadium costs charged to the speedway promotion by the owner (Osborne)?!

Pure supposition on my part of course....!😉

NB, Hasn't Rosco declared he would be in a position to front a new consortium with financial backing, for the Robins to continue at the Abbey - assuming of course that the running costs (stadium charges etc) were of an acceptable level?!

[frigbo]

4 hours ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Surely the only people saying that 'speedway at the Abbey was financially unviable' were Osborne (the stadium owner - who also ran the greyhounds) and the previous speedway promotion of Russell and Park.

Maybe there was some sort of financial incentive (brown envelope?) offered to Russell/Park to say that speedway was unviable at the Abbey. And surely it would only become 'unviable' because of the exorbitant rent and stadium costs charged to the speedway promotion by the owner (Osborne)?!

Pure supposition on my part of course....!😉

NB, Hasn't Rosco declared he would be in a position to front a new consortium with financial backing, for the Robins to continue at the Abbey - assuming of course that the running costs (stadium charges etc) were of an acceptable level?!

The fact Mr Park was so keen to support the demolition of the stadium would certainly suggest he stands to gain something from it!

There are people keen to run the sport in Swindon, but that's very hard to take forward whilst dear old Uncle Clarke still owns the stadium.

[heathen52]

51 minutes ago, frigbo said:

The fact Mr Park was so keen to support the demolition of the stadium would certainly suggest he stands to gain something from it!

There are people keen to run the sport in Swindon, but that's very hard to take forward whilst dear old Uncle Clarke still owns the stadium.

Does he, or did i read some months ago that another developer (Taylor Wimpey ?) had acquired an option/rights on the stadium, I am sure something like that was posted somewhere, or maybe i was dreaming.

[frigbo]

1 hour ago, heathen52 said:

Does he, or did i read some months ago that another developer (Taylor Wimpey ?) had acquired an option/rights on the stadium, I am sure something like that was posted somewhere, or maybe i was dreaming.

There's a charge on Gaming International's Companies House account to L&G Affordable Homes who submitted the rejected housing plans.

Gaming International are listed as owners on the Title Deed.

 

[Chris116]

It should also be remembered that stock cars and bangers have also featured at Abbey Stadium for many years but the asset strippers sold the pit area for redevelopment meaning that another income source for the stadium was lost.