Wimbledon Dons...back from the dead?!!

[old bob at herne bay]

Add this to the list of clubs allegedly reopening around London. 

Rye House, Lakeside/Arena Essex now Wimbledon. 

 

 

 

[Ray Stadia]

12 hours ago, old bob at herne bay said:

Add this to the list of clubs allegedly reopening around London. 

Rye House, Lakeside/Arena Essex now Wimbledon. 

 

 

 

I think, probably, all 3 would happen if there was enough money behind the ventures. All 3 are viable, but trying to do it on a 'shoe string', means it might or may not happen. If there was money in the sport, they never would have closed, even Plough Lane. 

[Sir Sidney]

12 hours ago, Ray Stadia said:

I think, probably, all 3 would happen if there was enough money behind the ventures. All 3 are viable, but trying to do it on a 'shoe string', means it might or may not happen. If there was money in the sport, they never would have closed, even Plough Lane. 

Plough Lane closing had nothing to do with viability. 

The owners wanted to develop the site, and 600 flats in London was worth much more than rent from speedway and stock cars.

It was lucrative enough for the owners to give AFC Wimbledon the land and £12m ( or £17m - I can't remember now ) towards the stadium build costs so that they could say to Merton Council that sports use was being maintained on the site 

Edited Saturday at 10:35 PM by Sir Sidney

[old bob at herne bay]

On 6/28/2025 at 11:01 AM, Ray Stadia said:

I think, probably, all 3 would happen if there was enough money behind the ventures. All 3 are viable, but trying to do it on a 'shoe string', means it might or may not happen. If there was money in the sport, they never would have closed, even Plough Lane. 

Yup Money helps….. but potential crowds of 50000 supporters would also help. Football has little difficulty in rebuilding or building new stadia .

UK speedway playing to crowds of several hundred every other week for 6 months a year makes a very difficult business case, especially around London. 
 

 

 

[Bear_Bottom]

😉