Youhave2minutes Posted September 6 Report Share Posted September 6 (edited) In the past as you all may know there was loads of teams that raced in and around the capitol. Manchester has remained to have speedway of today and also Birmingham. Why no London tracks now. Will it ever return. If so Where? Edited September 6 by Youhave2minutes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted September 6 Report Share Posted September 6 Are there any venues where Speedway could be raced. I would suggest that a new purpose built Stadium like the NSS, Manchester, would be prohibative in London where I would expect the land prices to be so high. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rearingtogo Posted September 6 Report Share Posted September 6 1 minute ago, The White Knight said: Are there any venues where Speedway could be raced. I would suggest that a new purpose built Stadium like the NSS, Manchester, would be prohibative in London where I would expect the land prices to be so high. Surely it’s got to be profitable with only one club. The population there is enormous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youhave2minutes Posted September 6 Author Report Share Posted September 6 3 minutes ago, The White Knight said: Are there any venues where Speedway could be raced. I would suggest that a new purpose built Stadium like the NSS, Manchester, would be prohibative in London where I would expect the land prices to be so high. I agree and with a massive population in and around the outskirts I’m sure it would pay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWellBehavedWorrall Posted September 6 Report Share Posted September 6 It would be nice, but I’m afraid I doubt it due to the economics associated with it. Too many factors challenge the prospect; the cost of land, rent rates, lack of money in the sport itself, etc. On that note, how many clubs actually race “in” cities? Ashfield isn’t too far from the city centre of Glasgow; probably a bit further out than Shawfield was, but in the other direction. Depending on traffic, Armadale is closer to Glasgow than Edinburgh. If I remember correctly, Wimborne Road is bang in the middle of Poole, but is Poole a city or a town? Odsal was in the city, assuming Bradford is a city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJA Posted September 6 Report Share Posted September 6 No land prices are to high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noaksey Posted September 6 Report Share Posted September 6 Not a chance, doubly so now the new government want to ease planning restrictions on brownfield sites "London's" best/only hope is the return of Rye House, an easy trip up the A10 or train from Liverpool Street Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted September 6 Report Share Posted September 6 2 hours ago, TheWellBehavedWorrall said: On that note, how many clubs actually race “in” cities? Odsal was in the city, assuming Bradford is a city. Owlerton is less than two miles from Sheffield city centre (in a straight line)while the NSS is a little bit further out from central Manchester but both close enough. Odsal is right out on the outskirts of Bradford but with good road links of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bojangles Posted September 6 Report Share Posted September 6 2 hours ago, TheWellBehavedWorrall said: It would be nice, but I’m afraid I doubt it due to the economics associated with it. Too many factors challenge the prospect; the cost of land, rent rates, lack of money in the sport itself, etc. On that note, how many clubs actually race “in” cities? Ashfield isn’t too far from the city centre of Glasgow; probably a bit further out than Shawfield was, but in the other direction. Depending on traffic, Armadale is closer to Glasgow than Edinburgh. If I remember correctly, Wimborne Road is bang in the middle of Poole, but is Poole a city or a town? Odsal was in the city, assuming Bradford is a city. Sandy Lane at Oxford is within the city limits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chadster Posted September 6 Report Share Posted September 6 Sadly, I can't see it happening. When the Dons were booted out of Plough Lane they looked long and hard for some land on which to build a track but to no avail and I would imagine the situation would be worse now. Another consideration is that if we accept that speedway is traditionally a white, working-class sport, then the demographic changes in London (and many other cities) would suggest that the target audience is either no longer there or would be vastly reduced. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youhave2minutes Posted September 6 Author Report Share Posted September 6 1 minute ago, Chadster said: Sadly, I can't see it happening. When the Dons were booted out of Plough Lane they looked long and hard for some land on which to build a track but to no avail and I would imagine the situation would be worse now. Another consideration is that if we accept that speedway is traditionally a white, working-class sport, then the demographic changes in London (and many other cities) would suggest that the target audience is either no longer there or would be vastly reduced. I think there is a lot of truth and sense in the opinion you expressed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted September 6 Report Share Posted September 6 59 minutes ago, Bojangles said: Sandy Lane at Oxford is within the city limits. If Ryanair were running Oxford speedway would it be in the city of London? 🤔 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackInTheDHSS Posted September 6 Report Share Posted September 6 6 minutes ago, arnieg said: If Ryanair were running Oxford speedway would it be in the city of London? 🤔 Funny you should say that. Oxford Airport is optimistically titled ‘London Oxford Airport’! 😄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 If I'd got the cash and ambitions, I'd be looking at Crystal Palace. Historically a motorsports venue with an active audience trying to get motorsports re-instated. But I think before any of that could happen the sport needs to be growing or at least have a plan to grow. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregularisback Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 25 minutes ago, Deano said: If I'd got the cash and ambitions, I'd be looking at Crystal Palace. Historically a motorsports venue with an active audience trying to get motorsports re-instated. But I think before any of that could happen the sport needs to be growing or at least have a plan to grow. Spot on. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris116 Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 Crystal Palace would be a great place but sadly the old circuit racing track had massive problems with the locals (including a hospital) and opening a new track would never be allowed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 But, I'd want to go a bit stupid as the name "London" didn't work at Hackney. So, to maximise my investment I'd push for more than one day per week and attempt to run one day as "Crystal Palace", another as "Wimbledon" and another as "Hackney". Three teams from one venue, that way I could get more bucks for my investment. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Chris116 said: Crystal Palace would be a great place but sadly the old circuit racing track had massive problems with the locals (including a hospital) and opening a new track would never be allowed. I went to the cricket last night at Edgbaston, speedway has a long way to go, before it gets back to that level. But I bet, a new cricket ground, would get the same level of rejections due to noise, but would get over looked due to the cash it brings in to the area. Edited September 7 by Deano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DEAN MACHINE Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 Imo no, the demographic has changed too much in London to support speedway and even the “old cockneys” still there don’t want noisey motorsport 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregularisback Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 51 minutes ago, Deano said: But, I'd want to go a bit stupid as the name "London" didn't work at Hackney. So, to maximise my investment I'd push for more than one day per week and attempt to run one day as "Crystal Palace", another as "Wimbledon" and another as "Hackney". Three teams from one venue, that way I could get more bucks for my investment. Wot! No West Ham?. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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