A Return To Stockholm?

[ladyluck]

It appears that the president of Sweden's Hammarby, is looking for a SGP return to the capital city of Stockholm from 2013, dismissing current GP venue Malilla as "too small and a bit provincial":

 

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&sl=pl&u=http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/2011/05/03/gp-sztokholm-pozazdroscil-lesznu-tez-chce-byc-gospodarzem/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsportowefakty%2Bzuzel%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1G1TSEA_ENUK335%26prmd%3Divns&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&usg=ALkJrhgLJashll-Qo0A-3HAhiAeHmUf-bQ

[PHILIPRISING]

WITH two (I believe) new covered stadiums being constructed in Stockholm a move to the Swedish capital must be on the cards... but would it necessarily be at the expense of Malilla?

[Humphrey Appleby]

WITH two (I believe) new covered stadiums being constructed in Stockholm a move to the Swedish capital must be on the cards... but would it necessarily be at the expense of Malilla?

 

You tell us!

 

I imagine it again comes down to finding a promoter willing to stand the readies, or BSI actually putting up the cash themselves. If someone in Stockholm is willing to pay more though, then Malilla is the obvious candidate for the chop unless someone imagines Sweden could somehow support three GPs.

[PHILIPRISING]

You tell us!

 

I imagine it again comes down to finding a promoter willing to stand the readies, or BSI actually putting up the cash themselves. If someone in Stockholm is willing to pay more though, then Malilla is the obvious candidate for the chop unless someone imagines Sweden could somehow support three GPs.

 

GIVEN the problems with the weather in northern Europe and the risks in staging hugely expensive events at Ullevi, perhaps Stockholm (with a roof) would be a wiser choice than Gothenburg.

 

Malilla, while a backwater venue, is successful and very popular and might be less easily sacrificed than some might believe. I would very much three GPs in Sweden being in the cards.

[ladyluck]

GIVEN the problems with the weather in northern Europe and the risks in staging hugely expensive events at Ullevi, perhaps Stockholm (with a roof) would be a wiser choice than Gothenburg.

 

Malilla, while a backwater venue, is successful and very popular and might be less easily sacrificed than some might believe. I would very much [doubt] three GPs in Sweden being in the cards.

 

Depends when the agreement with the Ullevi comes to an end. Isn't the GP at Ullevi promoted by BSI? If so, I could see the Ullevi being dumped if someone is prepared to cough over for the rights to stage one in Stockholm. The Ullevi seldom seems to attract the punters in huge numbers anymore, although it is a huge stadium.

By the way, it isn't me calling Malilla "too small and a bit provincial", it's the bloke from Hammarby. Well, according to sportowefakty.pl he is.

Edited May 4, 2011 by ladyluck

[PHILIPRISING]

Depends when the agreement with the Ullevi comes to an end. Isn't the GP at Ullevi promoted by BSI? If so, I could see the Ullevi being dumped if someone is prepared to cough over for the rights to stage one in Stockholm. The Ullevi seldom seems to attract the punters in huge numbers anymore, although it is a huge stadium.

By the way, it isn't me calling Malilla "too small and a bit provincial", it's the bloke from Hammarby. Well, according to sportowefakty.pl he is.

 

I WOULD imagine that if BSI are happy to promote in Gothenburg they would be in Stockholm and especially at a covered stadium like Parken and the Millennium ... but that is just a personal opinion.

 

There are many people, inside and outside of Sweden, who feel that Malilla isn't a big enough GP venue but BSI require a mix and the beauty of that particular round is how little outside help is required. The local club are superbly organised and do a wonderful job and provide a respite for the BSI team from their more arduous promotions.

[ladyluck]

There are many people, inside and outside of Sweden, who feel that Malilla isn't a big enough GP venue but BSI require a mix and the beauty of that particular round is how little outside help is required. The local club are superbly organised and do a wonderful job and provide a respite for the BSI team from their more arduous promotions.

 

Malilla has to compare favourably with Terenzano and Gorican, neither of which constitute a metropolis.

[The Know]

i would welcome a return to stockholm.

[mickthemuppet]

As Gothenberg has never made a profit and the attendances have fallen every year since it's return there surely this one will be for the chop

[spiegal]

i would welcome a return to stockholm.

 

I would very much welcome a return to Stockholm. I have always regarded Gothenburg as a city without soul.

Personally I would prefer Sarasota as a replacement.

[PHILIPRISING]

I would very much welcome a return to Stockholm. I have always regarded Gothenburg as a city without soul.

Personally I would prefer Sarasota as a replacement.

 

Now you're talking ...

[Humphrey Appleby]

As Gothenberg has never made a profit and the attendances have fallen every year since it's return there surely this one will be for the chop

 

Agree that Stockholm is infinitely more attractive from a tourist perspective, but what were attendances like in Stockholm last time GPs were held there...?

Edited May 4, 2011 by Humphrey Appleby

[ladyluck]

Agree that Stockholm is infinitely more attractive from a tourist perspective, but what were attendances like in Stockholm last time GPs were held there...?

 

Wasn't there some sort of public transport strike one time in Stockholm, with the whole GP being shifted to Avesta? Can't imagine that went down as well as Gelsenkirchen to Bydgoszcz in the Gollob camp, as I seem to recall Gollob avoiding Avesta like the plague when it came to the Swedish league.

Edited May 4, 2011 by ladyluck

[PHILIPRISING]

Wasn't there some sort of public transport strike one time in Stockholm, with the whole GP being shifted to Avesta? Can't imagine that went down as well as Gelsenkirchen to Bydgoszcz in the Gollob camp, as I seem to recall Gollob avoiding Avesta like the plague when it came to the Swedish league.

 

IT was a public workers strike affecting not just transport but rubbish collection and much, much more. Subsequently there was a problem with stadium availability in Stockholm... might have been a big athletics event, cannot quite recall, and that was that.

 

Much will obviously depend on what these new stadiums are like, whether a track can be laid, etc, etc. But like most on here would much prefer Stockholm to Gothenburg as a city. I am only guessing but from BSI/IMG's prospective, unlikely to be more costly than Ullevi (huge track, no cover) and comes without the baggage of the aborted meeting in Gothenburg which probably still puts off many prospective punters given the unpredictable nature of the weather in that part of the world, especially in mid-May.

[Humphrey Appleby]

unlikely to be more costly than Ullevi (huge track, no cover) and comes without the baggage of the aborted meeting in Gothenburg which probably still puts off many prospective punters given the unpredictable nature of the weather in that part of the world, especially in mid-May.

 

Whilst I appreciate it happened under the 'previous' regime, the weather in Sweden is unpredictable all the time, yet even the smallest clubs there generally know how to get meetings on. That an organisation running the sport's premier competition could not manage to do the same was an absolute embarrassment.

 

All speedway fans understand that even with the best track preparation, the weather can sometimes intervene and most are accepting of that. Nevertheless, despite the propaganda that attempted to divert the blame to everyone but BSI, most fans recognised the Gothenburg fiasco was down to sheer complacency. Yes, the locals undoubtedly stuffed up, but BSI were responsible.

[ladyluck]

Nevertheless, despite the propaganda that attempted to divert the blame to everyone but BSI, most fans recognised the Gothenburg fiasco was down to sheer complacency. Yes, the locals undoubtedly stuffed up, but BSI were responsible.

 

I'm sure lessons were learned and it would never happen again. Whoops.

[Ghostwalker]

IMO Gothenburg willl be axed, ItTs has similar or less attdandance then Målilla but the stadium is much larger and more expensive and it can hardly handle any rain or sun for that matter.

Målilla on the other hand is a profitable GP which is very popular and also provides good racing.

 

Ullevi is way to big when you look at how little interest there is for that GP, 10'000 people in a stadium with a 40'000 spectator capacity.

 

However i do like the City of Gothenburg even if i like Stockholm better.

 

IT was a public workers strike affecting not just transport but rubbish collection and much, much more.

 

Much will obviously depend on what these new stadiums are like, whether a track can be laid, etc, etc. But like most on here would much prefer Stockholm to Gothenburg as a city. I am only guessing but from BSI/IMG's prospective, unlikely to be more costly than Ullevi (huge track, no cover) and comes without the baggage of the aborted meeting in Gothenburg which probably still puts off many prospective punters given the unpredictable nature of the weather in that part of the world, especially in mid-May.

 

The arena is Stockholm, The Olympic Stadium, was referbished with new runningtracks and as a result it became forbidden to cover the tracks with things like gravel/dirtwhich meant speedway was not allowed back.

Then Eskilstuna took over Stockholm's GP and Målilla took over Gothenburg's GP.

Edited May 4, 2011 by Ghostwalker

[PHILIPRISING]

Whilst I appreciate it happened under the 'previous' regime, the weather in Sweden is unpredictable all the time, yet even the smallest clubs there generally know how to get meetings on. That an organisation running the sport's premier competition could not manage to do the same was an absolute embarrassment.

 

All speedway fans understand that even with the best track preparation, the weather can sometimes intervene and most are accepting of that. Nevertheless, despite the propaganda that attempted to divert the blame to everyone but BSI, most fans recognised the Gothenburg fiasco was down to sheer complacency. Yes, the locals undoubtedly stuffed up, but BSI were responsible.

 

OF course they were ultimately responsible even though, on that occasion, SVEMO insisted that they be in charge of track preparation. These things happen... they have in international cricket and so on. And no matter who actually screws up the buck ends at the top.

 

Whatever else people might think of John Postlethwaite, he met the fiasco head on at massive financial cost. But I do feel the legacy lingers on and although Ullevi has a magnificent speedway tradition the lack of a roof over a stadium which costs so much to stage a SGP has to be considered risky.

[Humphrey Appleby]

These things happen... they have in international cricket and so on.

 

Can only remember a couple of occasions in recent times where the pitch was unfit, and both were in the West Indies which is well-known for having a totally incompetent governing body. By contrast, the likes of the ECB have put a lot of effort into giving matches the best chance of going ahead even after torrential downpours.

 

Speedway admittedly doesn't have the same money to do this, but I'm still a bit surprised that no-one really seems to have investigated more robust materials or even something as simple as cricket style covers (i.e. with pitched roofs).

 

Whatever else people might think of John Postlethwaite, he met the fiasco head on at massive financial cost.

 

It's not a matter of what anyone thinks about him (and who incidentally I have no particular views on). It was his company though, and he was ultimately responsible for the show.

[PHILIPRISING]

Can only remember a couple of occasions in recent times where the pitch was unfit, and both were in the West Indies which is well-known for having a totally incompetent governing body. By contrast, the likes of the ECB have put a lot of effort into giving matches the best chance of going ahead even after torrential downpours.

 

Speedway admittedly doesn't have the same money to do this, but I'm still a bit surprised that no-one really seems to have investigated more robust materials or even something as simple as cricket style covers (i.e. with pitched roofs).

 

BELIEVE me, the search goes on. The covers used at Vojens are very good and hopefully what has been done at Torun and will be at Gorzow (extending the grandstand roofing over the track if not the whole centre field) show what can be done but, as you say, speedway just isn't blessed with massive funds. Efforts have been made and still are to find an artificial surface but the very nature of speedway makes that almost if not completely impossible.

 

 

 

It's not a matter of what anyone thinks about him (and who incidentally I have no particular views on). It was his company though, and he was ultimately responsible for the show.

 

WHICH is why he coughed up...