HGould

It seems to be emerging that-: Stadiums who share with Dog Racing are going to struggle to get Landlord approval for 2020 as Landlords religiously look to safeguard their Betting Levy payment which is principle income for many. Stadiums that stage Stock Car Racing will not necessarily be opened for Speedway as Sports have different governance and very different categorisation in terms of amateur and professional. In all cases Tracks have to get local Authority approval and in some areas Councils are far less likely to approve than in others, based on R-rate and other local factors. Those Tracks that can get past those hurdles then have to strongly consider business viability and whether "its worth the risk". Sad to say, it looks increasingly bleak for 2020. I've all but given up on Brummies getting past Landlord issue (Dog Track) let alone Local Council (useless) let alone Business viability. I'm 100% behind Peter and David Mason and trust them to make the right call for next year and future years and not just a few Fixtures now.

Stock Cars have a loophole though as it is a sport where competitors pay to participate. Classed as an amateur Sport and may get permission based on the update by Oliver Dowden last week of participation sports with small crowds. Local Councils will approve on that basis but Government has yet to confirm what % or number Crowd can be. It's possible crowd may only be friends and families of drivers. It seems that Dog Tracks are guarding "betting levy turnover" and understandably as that's majority of any income. If a speedway event with a few hundred people delivers a positive test the Stadium is automatically closed for 7-14 days and some Dog Tracks have 4-5 meetings a week. That would be very negative for Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Kent; Sheffield, Newcastle (as we have seen); Swindon chances. The Dogs have not restarted at Poole as the Stadium staff are all on furlough still. The best hope currently seems to be the Stock Car venues although Speedway is classed in a different category to Stocks as payment is made it's considered "professional" but may be good news for King Lynn, Ipswich ; Scunthorpe, Mildenhall and Eastbourne who stage Stock Car Meetings. The "standalone" Speedway Tracks like Berwick, Edinburgh, Redcar, Leicester, Belle Vue, Somerset; Plymouth, Peterborough , IOW will have to decide whether it's viable to open for speedway alone or with other stadium uses to cover their costs.

Steve do ARC run Brummies too I think took over from GRA

Wouldn't surprise me if Brummies similar as you say GRA too. Wonder if Ladbrokes will do same and other Dog track owners..few biggies there. Wolves, Poole, Sheffield ,Swindon and also Kent

Mate who helped at Wheels and helps at Hednesford told me that Bangers and Stocks might be back sooner than speedway. Drivers pay to race and sport is classed as amateur as a result, so may have found a loophole speedway can't find yet.

Yes a dirty trick, take the OAP Licence funding from BBC tell them to pay it and then blame BBC when they can't. Meanwhile Cummings awards family firms millions in untendered contracts and starts defence review without having iisual security checks or official role.

Always get them mixed up.

Somerset have a practice for the first time this Wednesday evening - advertised on Speedway GB. Plymouth have been holding sessions on Saturdays every other week - seen pics at the weekend (very nice new stand too) Lydd are back using the larger and smaller Tracks - seen pics at the weekend Redcar are also up and running - seen pics at the weekend - track looked excellent

Most Speedways nowadays Rent stadiums so don't make anything from Catering so that's not an issue for them, but those who do own and make money from Catering can often rely on it to break even. Lack of Catering and the vexed issue of Toilets will be a problem for all Sports not in the least Speedway.

I stopped reading when I got to the second "No Spectators". No Spectators = No Speedway. Looks like we have to wait for transition from Stage 3 to Stage 4, whenever that may be?

Speedway GB suggest several Clubs are ready?? What does that mean? Does it mean most aren't? More questions than answers!

At a guess max 50 as in a few Scandinavian countries

There is one thing missing. No reference to spectators / crowds. Team Sports I would suggest are amateur / junior sports like soccer, cricket, netball, hockey etc.... My grandson has been training non contact and socially distances for past 3 weeks so hopefully now some matches. As for taking him to Villa or Brummies Speedway, I don't think today's announcement make any change at all?

indeed. speedway is 22 separate businesses, some good, some average, some poor, a few awful. Peterborough on this issue certainly awful!

Can't understand why Peterborough can't act quickly like some other Clubs have?

Not good reading today especially front page of Telegraph (traditionally a Paper that gets accurate leaked info from Tories). Says Govt going to announce a number of Elite Sporting Events in July / August (most tbh already known like F1 / Open Golf / Test Cricket / Champions League) but all will be "behind closed doors, this announcement will be part of stage 4 easing. It says no spectators at sport until "final stage later in the year". The wording suggests that "later in the year" is not before beginning of September and may even be later. At best then 8-9 weeks of Speedway but probably less. Few Open Meeting at Tracks who want to run them would seem best option based on that if correct.

Most of the more progressive Clubs seem to be offering option of full immediate refund or defer ticket to use in 2021. Not fair I think to assume all are as tardy as Peterborough seem to be.

Poole I read somewhere the only main Greyhound track not to re-open on 1 June when others like Perry Barr did. If the Stadium staff remain furloughed until October hard to see what Speedway can do, unless they pick up cost of Stadium staff as you can work for someone else while furloughed.

Len seemed very negative earlier in the season and although a bit more optimistic now it'll be interesting to see if he runs CL or NDL as can't run both in limited tome surely? He's very astute, probably the most astute and will know his likely crowd and margins and unique circumstances. NDL would seem the sensible logical cost effective route?

Nothing but reading what promotions have said in past few months I think Berwick, Redcar, Scunthorpe, Leicester, Brummies, Poole will run. Rest not sure will run, Glasgow we know won't.

Based on general concensus the "other club" is named elsewhere in the article. There is also clear indication that Poole may not have Stadium clearance.

There were and still sadly are unfortunately some real horror stories too of British Riders (especially in level 2 and 3 in Poland) not getting paid and being owed relatively large sums of money that never materialised in Polish Leagues going back several years. Better to ride for £50 a point and get paid here than £500 a point and never get paid there!

Bit of an understatement that I'd say when most Clubs can't survive on 100% gates and receipts and rely on sponsorship and advertising and even then most make a loss and rely on Promoter / Owners to make out of cover losses. Glasgow perfect example rely totally on great support of Faceena family

The measure here must be "space". 1000 / 67000 at Murrayfield is a lot different to 1000 / Armadale (capacity ???? 2000) same with BSB 1000 in to Donnington Park / Silverstones huge spaces. Big number of Turnstiles / Entrances at Murrayfield / Donnington + Silverstone. Things are moving in right direction but was always the fear it would be soon enough / big enough numbers for Speedway on a League basis at least.

It makes it harder to see any chance of League Speedway starting in August as they have been positively and optimistically talking up. which is a shame. Hopefully everyone in Leicester will stay safe and the Track will be able to start practice sessions by the end of July or early August.