Phil Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Wonder if the corners will need to be changed ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Third Man Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Wonder if the corners will need to be changed ? didnt the last time they played there, and its not a done deal yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted September 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 That's good. When did they play before ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchesterpaul Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 (edited) According to Wiki 1984-89 "Sheffield's record attendance at Owlerton was set at 3,636 (stadium capacity 4,000) for a third round Challenge Cup game against Oldham in 1989. In the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, stadium safety became an issue in British sport and Owlerton was declared unfit to stage professional rugby league." Hee hee apparently well fit for speedway gatherings! Edited September 16, 2013 by manchesterpaul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 According to Wiki 1984-89 "Sheffield's record attendance at Owlerton was set at 3,636 (stadium capacity 4,000) for a third round Challenge Cup game against Oldham in 1989. In the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, stadium safety became an issue in British sport and Owlerton was declared unfit to stage professional rugby league." Hee hee apparently well fit for speedway gatherings! Not initially, the speedway was sadly closed for a few years. I presume the RL team is homeless after the closure of the Don Valley Stadium. Let's hope the pitch size regulations haven't been changed. The infield was also used for American Football for a while, wasn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchesterpaul Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Not initially, the speedway was sadly closed for a few years. I presume the RL team is homeless after the closure of the Don Valley Stadium. Let's hope the pitch size regulations haven't been changed. The infield was also used for American Football for a while, wasn't it? What not initially? Did Sheffield drop out of speedway in the relatively recent past? I was totally away from speedway for over a decade in the 80's i think. If it isn't clear the attendance figure above is indeed for the rugby club. Last i heard quite a few months ago was that the rugby side were intending to move to the Woodburn Road Athletics Stadium which the council deemed would be cheaper to reopen than keep Don Valley running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 (edited) I can't remember the exact years offhand but the first division promotion failed, then there were several blank years as attempts to reopen at the lower level were then met by very stringent safety regulations brought in by Sheffield Council in the wake of Hillsborough. I'm sure the local fans can fill in the details. I seem to remember that when Owlerton did re-open the back straight remained closed. I haven't been for far too long. Can a Tigers fan confirm if it's still the case? At Sheffield RL's current level Owlerton's probably just about large enough but if the unlikely event they were to go to a higher level I doubt it would meet requirements. Edited September 16, 2013 by rmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerite Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 (edited) What not initially? Did Sheffield drop out of speedway in the relatively recent past? I was totally away from speedway for over a decade in the 80's i think. If it isn't clear the attendance figure above is indeed for the rugby club. Last i heard quite a few months ago was that the rugby side were intending to move to the Woodburn Road Athletics Stadium which the council deemed would be cheaper to reopen than keep Don Valley running. Sheffield closed down for 2 seasons between 1989/90 after Maurice Ducker pulled out. After Hillsborough Disaster and Taylor Report, the old wooden seating on the homestraight was torn down and replaced by what you see now, the pits were removed from behind the homestraight stand and put on the second bend. The 3rd/4th bend/backstraight terrace were closed when the stadium was reopened in 1991, after investment during the years they have reopened and been brought up to safety standard and the pits brought back to the 4th bend, but the back-straight is only opened when the crowds demand, which sadly is not often these days. I can't remember the exact years offhand but the first division promotion failed, then there were several blank years as attempts to reopen at the lower level were then met by very stringent safety regulations brought in by Sheffield Council in the wake of Hillsborough. I'm sure the local fans can fill in the details. I seem to remember that when Owlerton did re-open the back straight remained closed. I haven't been for far too long. Can a Tigers fan confirm if it's still the case? At Sheffield RL's current level Owlerton's probably just about large enough but if the unlikely event they were to go to a higher level I doubt it would meet requirements. The backstraight was opened for Speedway World Cup in 2002 when over 5,000 rocked up but only been used a couple of times since. I believe Owlerton has a 4,500 capacity with backstraight closed, which is plenty for speedway (PLRC is usually around 2,500-3,000 mark) and I don't believe the Eagles get those kind of numbers. Some work would need doing on changing rooms and pitch to accommodate Rugby, but speedway would be unaffected. Hopefully would mean getting rid of Stock cars from Owlerton. Edited September 16, 2013 by Tigerite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hel'n'Back Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 (edited) Would be fantastic to get rid of the stock cars.... would Rugby being at Owlerton affect the speedway though? Would Rugby run on Sundays... if speedway need to have an air fence, would they need to run on Sundays? So many questions yet little answers from the powers that be... Edited September 16, 2013 by Hel'n'Back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerite Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Would be fantastic to get rid of the stock cars.... would Rugby being at Owlerton affect the speedway though? Would Rugby run on Sundays... if speedway need to have an air fence, would they need to run on Sundays? So many questions yet little answers from the powers that be... Its not been confirmed that this is happening, a spokesman for the Eagles was on Look North earlier and said they'd had talks with the stadium owners last Friday and it had gone well. So I guess we'll wait and see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hel'n'Back Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 hmmmm.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brujas Espanolas Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 As far as I can remember,the world's oldest club now playing association football. Sheffield Football Club, played at the Stadium during the nineties. From what I recall this had little or no impact upon the speedway, so can't see why staging rugby league would be any different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secsy1 Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 This could be a saviour for both Rugby and Speedway clubs if they worked together on marketing the products together. Nothing to stop a bonus ticket for a 3pm Eagles sunday afternoon kick off, with the Tigers on track at 5pm. I know many rugby fans that follow speedway and the novelty of a sunday experience that can offer both would be special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyK86 Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 This could be a saviour for both Rugby and Speedway clubs if they worked together on marketing the products together. Nothing to stop a bonus ticket for a 3pm Eagles sunday afternoon kick off, with the Tigers on track at 5pm. I know many rugby fans that follow speedway and the novelty of a sunday experience that can offer both would be special. I think Dave Allen will be one happy man if he can get Eagles playing 2pm kick off and then Tigers racing at 6:30pm on a sunday ! Then he can shift his greyhounds to thursday night which he has wanted for years of course and it helps us with Air Fence as well no doubt. Just hating all the rumours, hopefully soon all our questions and the rumours will be answered and we can look forward to 2014 and a hopefully injury free season and a successful one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scaramanga Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 (edited) wiil speedway be at sheffield next year ive heard a tale about someone not willing to buy safety fense and pulling out from end of season that would be a shame as sheffield is 1 off the better tracks to visit Edited September 17, 2013 by scarra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Third Man Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 wiil speedway be at sheffield next year ive heard a tale about someone not willing to buy safety fense and pulling out from end of season that would be a shame as sheffield is 1 off the better tracks to visit heard that someone is quite willing to operate at Sheffield next season, and that the deal may already be done, but we will see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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