Birmingham Speedway

[Petecc]

9 hours ago, tyretrax said:

Greyhounds moving out of Perry Barr for new track at Dunstall Park, Wolverhampton, in the Autumn.

That's been common knowledge for the last 2 years? 

[tyretrax]

9 hours ago, Petecc said:

That's been common knowledge for the last 2 years? 

Yes, common knowledge they were moving but not when. Why the question mark, are you asking for confirmation?

[Brummies_Ste]

From Birmingham Official Site

IT is with great sadness that we confirm that Birmingham Speedway will close its doors at the end of the 2025 season.

Club CEO Nigel Tolley said: “It’s something I never wanted to say, but this will be the last year of speedway in Birmingham.

“I think everyone will be aware of the approaching redevelopment works planned for the site at Perry Barr and work will begin shortly after the lodging of the planning application which is imminent.

“The greyhounds are moving out of the venue at the end of the summer and our lease at Perry Barr runs out in September.

“We have discussed every possibility of us remaining at Perry Barr, but we have now exhausted all our options and the situation will, sadly, not be changing.

“I know the news won’t come as a major surprise to the majority - but it doesn’t mean it won’t hurt any less.

“We may not have masses of numbers who come through our gates at Perry Barr, but the Brummies do have a small band of truly loyal supporters who stick by us through thick and thin and this will be devastating news to those few hundred people.

“There’s not much else to say on the matter really except let’s savour each and every racenight us Brummies have got left at Perry Barr and let’s hope we can all make some lasting memories between now and the end of the season.”

The Curtis Sport Brummies host league leaders Ipswich in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership on Monday (May 19, 7.30pm

 

[LagutaRacingFan]

Really sad.

 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

I don’t understand putting this statement out now, even though we all knew it was coming the whole Birmingham set up is on a downer because of results and that statement is only going to add to that. 

[Bellers101]

Another track gone. Sad and worrying times for the sport in GB. 😭

[mikebv]

4 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I don’t understand putting this statement out now, even though we all knew it was coming the whole Birmingham set up is on a downer because of results and that statement is only going to add to that. 

Maybe to get a few more punters in between now and closure? 

"Last chance saloon" and all that ..

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

2 minutes ago, mikebv said:

Maybe to get a few more punters in between now and closure? 

"Last chance saloon" and all that ..

Yes that is his thinking, glass half empty and all that 

[mikebv]

"Devastating news to those few hundred people"...

Says it all....

Never more than a tier 2 team at best given their fanbase, yet had to get shoe horned into tier 1...

I hope Nigel gets plenty of punters between now and season end, and it offsets at least some of the tremendous costs he has incurred keeping afloat a sport in a town that not enough people could be bothered to watch..

Should get plenty of away fans for their teams' last meeting ever at Perry Barr.

[noaksey]

45 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I don’t understand putting this statement out now, even though we all knew it was coming the whole Birmingham set up is on a downer because of results and that statement is only going to add to that. 

Also stops people moaning about the team I'd imagine 

[Manifesto]

Another very sad day for British speedway. Doesn’t feel like it will be long until this happens to my club too. Heartbreaking for the loyal brummies fans 

[LagutaRacingFan]

Birmingham should be going out with a bang.

Bring over Artem Laguta

[therefused]

Just now, LagutaRacingFan said:

Birmingham should be going out with a bang.

Bring over Artem Laguta

For the love of god shut up for once

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

When there is no clubs left in the West Midlands the sport is official in the clink, I banged on about this 15-20 years ago about changes that need to be made both inside and outside the track, I don’t have all the answers or indeed may have non but the writing was on the wall from the late 90s but who am I ? It’s not your money yada yada yada and I took stick from some real tossers from both sides of the fence who are still running the sport into the ground today, angry ? damn right I am, I have lived speedway all my life and it’s really starting to hurt badly now and if I’m honest I think the sport is finished as a professional sport in the uk and I don’t know where we go from here 😢 

[SteelShoe]

Sad news at a time when the sport in the UK could use some good news. Time riders and those running the sport got real. The ever declining fanbase can't support the running costs at many clubs.

[SteelShoe]

11 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

When there is no clubs left in the West Midlands the sport is official in the clink, I banged on about this 15-20 years ago about changes that need to be made both inside and outside the track, I don’t have all the answers or indeed may have non but the writing was on the wall from the late 90s but who am I ? It’s not your money yada yada yada and I took stick from some real tossers from both sides of the fence who are still running the sport into the ground today, angry ? damn right I am, I have lived speedway all my life and it’s really starting to hurt badly now and if I’m honest I think the sport is finished as a professional sport in the uk and I don’t know where we go from here 😢 

Agree. It can't really be called a professional sport any longer .

[stevebrum]

4 hours ago, tyretrax said:

Yes, common knowledge they were moving but not when. Why the question mark, are you asking for confirmation?

It was known last year that the dogs were moving out in the summer and speedway had till end of September.

Maybe, just maybe Tolley and co were hoping another compromise could be reached with the stadium but speedway alone was never going to save the stadium from closing to the sport.

Sad day however it’s not surprising news tho. 

[JamesHarris]

Sad news but expected. Greyhound racing is now a dying sport and the need for housing will always be a priority for any local authority. Speedway will only continue at purpose built tracks soon. 

[tyler42]

9 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

When there is no clubs left in the West Midlands the sport is official in the clink, I banged on about this 15-20 years ago about changes that need to be made both inside and outside the track, I don’t have all the answers or indeed may have non but the writing was on the wall from the late 90s but who am I ? It’s not your money yada yada yada and I took stick from some real tossers from both sides of the fence who are still running the sport into the ground today, angry ? damn right I am, I have lived speedway all my life and it’s really starting to hurt badly now and if I’m honest I think the sport is finished as a professional sport in the uk and I don’t know where we go from here 😢 

Its not just the West Midlands though Dean. Here In London and the South East. Wimbledon, Hackney, Eastbourne, Canterbury, Crayford, Rye House, Arena Essex all gone. Only Iwade left.

The South West. Swindon, Reading, Weymouth, Exeter and Somerset all gone. 

Plymouth, Poole and Oxford are the only three clubs from that region who are still running.

Then you have to travel all the way to Ipswich and Kings Lynn who fortunately  are still running, but Peterborough and Mildenhall have gone. This has all happened since the 80s.

Very sad, but this must prove, as much as we all love the sport that is not far from dying, certainly as a Professional Sport anyway.

[screm]

Obviously its sad news that Birmingham speedway will be no more, but not a complete shock.

Odd timing though as you can bet every rider currently in the Birmingham team will be looking to get their averages down to secure a job for next season, to be honest I`d be surprised if the Brummies win another match this season.