The White Knight Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 It was to build it in Manchester.. Where would you have liked it built Starman? Poole? :rofl: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Thumper Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 Where would you have liked it built Starman? Poole? :rofl: I'm sure Poole Borough Council would be keen to invest some of the council tax payers money into such a scheme, particularly when they see how well it has all panned out in Mancunia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 Where would you have liked it built Starman? Poole? :rofl: Nope the midlands would have been fine. I'm sure Poole Borough Council would be keen to invest some of the council tax payers money into such a scheme, particularly when they see how well it has all panned out in Mancunia. Have the same conversation this time next year. Your honeymoon period is over. Nothing against the stadium, although i do feel the track is to big and the weather is appauling. Lets see how your crowds hold up next season... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 Nope the midlands would have been fine. Have the same conversation this time next year. Your honeymoon period is over. Nothing against the stadium, although i do feel the track is to big and the weather is appauling. Lets see how your crowds hold up next season... EVEN by your standards this is an incredible post.. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 EVEN by your standards this is an incredible post.. Good init. Lets see who's right... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagpuss Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 Ah that famous, or informous, Nigerian individual. I thought that was George Abdgwengo? 'Goooooood afternoon madaaaaame......' 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEPHEN 333 Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 I seem to remember that the week (or so) before the swc there was a rumour of a problem which could have jepordised the event. Was it posted here can anyone remember or did anyone else hear a similar story? Think it was something to do with no supply of Tyres for the event, maybe wrong, but strong rumour at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 Since John Perrin threatened annually to have to withdraw speedway from the Manchester people, starting sometime in 1994, any threat to a speedway club is taken with a pinch of salt. Speedway fans seem to live with the constant threat that the next meeting could actually be the last at their local track - Workington just being saved - and you cannot live a life of worry for the sport. When Perrin announced first of all, I was worried. But you can only take so much. Belle Vue will live on, like most tracks in trouble eventually do... but dark clouds and metal shutters will always be close by. We have a sport that seems to dangle from one year to another. I know one thing... I'd never buy a season ticket for a speedway track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Little Un Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 I'm sure Poole Borough Council would be keen to invest some of the council tax payers money into such a scheme, particularly when they see how well it has all panned out in Mancunia. I am sure that if Matt Ford thought it was viable he would have made it happen. Why has no consortium come forward to buy and run speedway at Plough Lane? Because it is not financially viable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted November 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 Just not paid for!! BUT it's not an on-going situation like the Olympic Stadium which is still costing millions to stage both football and athletics and for the seating to be changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 Speedway Star putting some of the pieces of the jigsaw together for next week but, of course, many lips are sealed because of impending litigation. We wait with bated breath for the full expose... BUT it's not an on-going situation like the Olympic Stadium which is still costing millions to stage both football and athletics and for the seating to be changed. For goodness sake, what has the Olympic Stadium got to do with Belle Vue? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 Good init. Lets see who's right... How many wrong ends of the stick can you pick up ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted November 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2016 We wait with bated breath for the full expose... For goodness sake, what has the Olympic Stadium got to do with Belle Vue? I'M sure you can work it out if you really tried. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Thumper Posted November 5, 2016 Report Share Posted November 5, 2016 I'M sure you can work it out if you really tried. PHILIPRISING, you are coming over as a little patronizing which I am sure is not your intention. Obviuously Humphrey Appleby has not fully grasped your reasoning and I feel sure that you would wish to elucidate for the benefit of HA and anyone else that is not fully up to speed with these matters. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry1603 Posted November 5, 2016 Report Share Posted November 5, 2016 Taken from the Manchester Evening News Website:- Belle Vue Aces bosses say they are not to blame after club had speedway licence revoked They were effectively shut down under their current management yesterday after having their speedway licence revoked by the sport’s governing body due to ‘concerns over financial management’ The bosses of Belle Vue Aces say they are not to blame for the crisis that has engulfed the historic club. They were effectively shut down under their current management yesterday after having their speedway licence revoked by the sport’s governing body due to ‘concerns over financial management’. Their tenancy of the brand new £8 million National Speedway Stadium in Gorton was also ended, after just seven months, with the council saying they had been paid no rent. The Aces management have expressed their dismay, laying the blame squarely at the door of the contractors who built it and their landlord, the city council. In March, disaster struck when the stadium’s grand opening had to be abandoned due to issues with the track, which was declared unsafe, with the club having to offer refunds to the 5,000 capacity crowd. A further four home meetings also had to be cancelled whilst emergency repairs were carried out. Belle Vue’s former chief executive David Gordon, who ran the club with ex-Aces rider Chris Morton, said they never recovered from the financial impact of the debacle which ‘spelled the beginning of the end’. And he says the stadium builders and the council, who were project managers, should shoulder the blame. The city council have refuted this, with sources saying the club’s financial problems run much deeper than the effects of one or two cancelled meetings. They also say they offered lots of support, including the offer of loans, the kind of which no other club in the country received. In a statement released on Thursday night, Mr Gordon, who stood down earlier this week, said: “The actions of other people are the cause of the problems we have faced this season. “Those responsible are the stadium and track builders, ISG, and, as a consequence, Manchester City Council in their role as Project Managers. “A report by structural engineers, Arup, clearly put the blame for the defective track on the builders.” He added they never recovered from the ‘financial impact’ of the grand opening failure. Mr Gordon added they would be pursuing legal action. ISG said they were not aware of any litigation. An ISG company spokesman told the M.E.N: “We are saddened to hear that Belle Vue Aces has had its licence revoked, as we forged a strong relationship with the club over the course of the development of the new National Stadium in Manchester. “Undoubtedly, the cause of the Belle Vue Aces’ financial position is multi-faceted, however we firmly reject any suggestion that the club’s current issues arise from our delivery of the new stadium facilities. “We can confirm that there has never been any form of legal dispute between ISG and Manchester City Council as a result of the stadium’s delivery, and we continue to work closely with the council delivering projects across the region.” Belle Vue have been promised a spot in next year’s top division but their affairs will now be taken over by the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA). whilst new promoters are found. The Aces were run under the BV Group of businesses. A Manchester City Council spokesman said: “Early track issues were rectified quickly to ensure that races could be fulfilled, including the successful Speedway World Cup event in July. “Following completion of these works, the track has been fully operational allowing the club to race their full schedule of elite matches this year, and has been acknowledged for its high quality within the speedway world. “The council also allowed BV Arena Ltd to occupy the stadium rent free during the period of time when the track issues were being rectified to ensure they could continue operating. “At the request of the BV Arena Ltd, the city council offered further financial support through a commercial loan. “The directors of the BV Group of businesses decided to not take up the offer. “Following completion of the works, BV Arena Ltd have not made any payments due to the Council for use of the stadium. “The fact is that both the BSPA and Manchester City Council now have major concerns about the financial management of the BV Group companies – accruing significant debts with the City Council and other parties - which has had a far more detrimental effect on the club than any postponed matches. “The important thing is that the team will race at Belle Vue next season under new management, and through our partnership with BSPA, speedway will have a sustainable future in Manchester.” If true, the fact that the management declined the offer of finanical assistance means that they knew the business would have to fold at the end of the season. 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Little Thumper Posted November 5, 2016 Report Share Posted November 5, 2016 If true, the fact that the management declined the offer of finanical assistance means that they knew the business would have to fold at the end of the season. I believe that the item states that a commercial loan was offered to the current promoters. A commercial loan would surely need to be backed by some form of security such as a tangible asset or a guarantor. Perhaps no guarantor was prepared to come forward at that particular time and the promoters decided against putting up an asset such as their homes as security. This is a sad tale and it is quite possible that more will be revealed in the fullness of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry1603 Posted November 5, 2016 Report Share Posted November 5, 2016 I believe that the item states that a commercial loan was offered to the current promoters. A commercial loan would surely need to be backed by some form of security such as a tangible asset or a guarantor. Perhaps no guarantor was prepared to come forward at that particular time and the promoters decided against putting up an asset such as their homes as security. This is a sad tale and it is quite possible that more will be revealed in the fullness of time. Good point - I didn't mean it to read as anything other than a commercial arrangement, but I think that they knew the writing was on the wall. As you say, a sad tale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Thumper Posted November 5, 2016 Report Share Posted November 5, 2016 Good point - I didn't mean it to read as anything other than a commercial arrangement, but I think that they knew the writing was on the wall. As you say, a sad tale. Oh yes, there was plenty of writing on the wall.........in the form of engraved bricks that speedway lovers from all over the world had handed over money for! I would imagine that the financial challenge was very clear virtually as soon as the tapes went up for the first time. You can only surmise that they kept the show going in the belief or hope that somebody or something would come along and bale them out in order to maintain some credibility in the brand that is British Speedway. For whatever reason, no help arrived and the promoters have been removed. To be continued............................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted November 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2016 (edited) PHILIPRISING, you are coming over as a little patronizing which I am sure is not your intention. Obviuously Humphrey Appleby has not fully grasped your reasoning and I feel sure that you would wish to elucidate for the benefit of HA and anyone else that is not fully up to speed with these matters. Thank you. Oh yes, there was plenty of writing on the wall.........in the form of engraved bricks that speedway lovers from all over the world had handed over money for! I would imagine that the financial challenge was very clear virtually as soon as the tapes went up for the first time. You can only surmise that they kept the show going in the belief or hope that somebody or something would come along and bale them out in order to maintain some credibility in the brand that is British Speedway. For whatever reason, no help arrived and the promoters have been removed. To be continued............................ MCC spent around £7 million of tax payers money (although that was gleaned from the sale of land to MCFC) but their expenditure has ended and what they are losing out on now is rent. The Olympic Stadium cost taxpayers hundreds of millions, to build, hundreds more to convert and is still costing tens of millions to switch from football to athletics and the like and the tenants (WHFC) only pay a peppercorn rent which does not even include the upkeep or the people who man the turnstiles. If Belle Vue's rent was pro rata to that of West Ham no doubt they could easily survive on speedway attendances. Edited November 5, 2016 by PHILIPRISING 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted November 5, 2016 Report Share Posted November 5, 2016 MCC spent around £7 million of tax payers money (although that was gleaned from the sale of land to MCFC) but their expenditure has ended and what they are losing out on now is rent. Is that right? If you look at the documents (such here) it says the stadium costs comes from Prudential Borrowing, which is a mechanism for local authorities to borrow money for infrastructure projects. Therefore MCC have the debt and presumably interest on the cost of the stadium, whether it is utilised or not. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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