Swindon Stadium

[martinmauger]

Copied and pasted my own post from the Swindon 2019 thread as they are busy arguing about asset ownership:  any sign of the big Lego trucks yet ?  Not being sarcy by the way, failing that anyone nearby able to take some pics of the pegged-out new track shape.  When Hull returend in 1995 I bunked off college several times to have a look, watched the marking out of the track shape, removing turf, etc  and <<family forum mode: on>> forgot my flipping, blinking camera each and every single blooming time.  Still passed my City & Guilds and enjoyed 11 years of speedway so it was (mostly) ok....

[Bavarian]

Just like the Hammers have moved from Lakeside to Rye House, maybe the Robins will have to move from Swindon to Oxford one day ?

[MattK]

10 hours ago, martinmauger said:

Copied and pasted my own post from the Swindon 2019 thread as they are busy arguing about asset ownership:  any sign of the big Lego trucks yet ?  Not being sarcy by the way, failing that anyone nearby able to take some pics of the pegged-out new track shape.  When Hull returend in 1995 I bunked off college several times to have a look, watched the marking out of the track shape, removing turf, etc  and <<family forum mode: on>> forgot my flipping, blinking camera each and every single blooming time.  Still passed my City & Guilds and enjoyed 11 years of speedway so it was (mostly) ok....

Planning permission for demolishing of the old stadium and construction of the new one has yet to be granted.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

1 hour ago, MattK said:

Planning permission for demolishing of the old stadium and construction of the new one has yet to be granted.

And the restaurant has Xmas bookings for their greyhound meetings up till the 22nd of December 

[martinmauger]

Thanks, so it's as you were then....

[The H Man]

On 11/4/2018 at 11:46 AM, Bavarian said:

Just like the Hammers have moved from Lakeside to Rye House, maybe the Robins will have to move from Swindon to Oxford one day ?

That of course was similar to that plan of Gaming International (Stadia UK) initially - move Dogs/Speedway from Blunsdon to the new Racino in Reading.  

I actually drove round the land which Reading Council had offered GI/Stadia today.  Warehouses - made me think what it could have been if GI/Stadia had kept their word.   

They of course didn’t and never have when it comes to any stadium construction / replacement.   

[JOS50]

Tues. 13 Nov. the plans go before SBC planning committee, details viewable via Swindon council website, 18 pages on PDF.

[MattK]

Squeaky bum time for the stadium owners:

Quote

2 It is recommended that the section 106 agreement should include the following matters;

a) No additional housing is to be developed until the new stadium is operational and substantially complete. (The definition of operational and substantial completion are to be agreed.)

I wonder how they are going to play out the above clause if permission is granted next week?

[cityrebel]

I wonder how the homeowners will react if the stadium remains in its present location. So much uncertainty attached to the whole project.

[Paul]

This makes grim reading  [apologies if this link has already been quoted]

or am I miss interrupting what’s been written on the link? I just can't see speedway happening at Swindon.

It’s gone from their farewell meeting [4 years ago was it?] with a definite new stadium the following season, to midway through the following season, to next season, to resubmitting plans, remarking a new track in the present arena to this lovely quote from the article to "if it is rebuilt"!

I read somewhere the Oxford main grandstand is a bad state of disrepair so unless someone with mega money steps in at Sandy Lane that'll be a no go.

 

I did here the reason why John Cook moved swiftly into Rye was there were other interested parties in going in there, make of that what you may!

 

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17207636.changes-to-swindons-abbey-stadium-plans-to-be-decided/

[steve roberts]

1 hour ago, Paul said:

This makes grim reading  [apologies if this link has already been quoted]

 

or am I miss interrupting what’s been written on the link? I just can't see speedway happening at Swindon.

 

 

 

 

It’s gone from their farewell meeting [4 years ago was it?] with a definite new stadium the following season, to midway through the following season, to next season, to resubmitting plans, remarking a new track in the present arena to this lovely quote from the article to "if it is rebuilt"!

 

 

 

I read somewhere the Oxford main grandstand is a bad state of disrepair so unless someone with mega money steps in at Sandy Lane that'll be a no go.

 

 

 

I did here the reason why John Cook moved swiftly into Rye was there were other interested parties in going in there, make of that what you may!

 

 

 

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17207636.changes-to-swindons-abbey-stadium-plans-to-be-decided/

Last time I called in at Cowley earlier this year it was looking very sorry for itself. Personally, despite all the good intentions, I can't see speedway returning there...which is very sad as I enjoyed 32 years following  the 'Rebels' and 'Cheetahs' and it holds so many great memories!

Edited November 7, 2018 by steve roberts

[A ORLOV]

There is a Council Planning meeting this week where the Stadium changes are being voted on.
The main objections listed so far seem to be from half a dozen people, mainly from the Bristol area, re an argument against dog racing in general and not anything to do with Speedway, but without a dog track and dog racing it is unlikely there would be any speedway .

I am not sure if the Councillors will take much note of this as it is obvious that all the objections are in the same format and are from an anti greyhound racing group that no doubt object to any greyhound racing anywhere as a matter of course.   

[Humphrey Appleby]

On 11/7/2018 at 8:40 PM, steve roberts said:

I enjoyed 32 years following  the 'Rebels' and 'Cheetahs' and it holds so many great memories!

I notice you don't remember the 'Silver Machine'. 

[steve roberts]

2 minutes ago, Humphrey Appleby said:

I notice you don't remember the 'Silver Machine'. 

The first year (2003) and a wee bit! Awful 'nickname!'

[Triple.H.]

5 hours ago, Humphrey Appleby said:

I notice you don't remember the 'Silver Machine'. 

There's many on this forum who slagged Waggy off.

Strangely lots of his supposedly daft ideas now seem to have been taken on board. 

Everybody can have a dig about the Silver Machine name. Which I did think sucked on the big one if I'm honest. and his problems paying riders at the end of his tenure. 

But he tried his best to gain publicity and advertise the team. Strangely having been a member on this forum for donkeys years, I seem to think lack of promotion or even attempting something new to try and promote a team is one of the biggest gripes I read about.

But back on topic IMO Swindon if the stadium ever does get rebuilt will probably only get a couple of seasons before the inevitable happens. 

Virtually nowhere to park and houses skirting the perimeter. It's got Nimbyism written all over it.

[steve roberts]

42 minutes ago, Triple.H. said:

There's many on this forum who slagged Waggy off.

Strangely lots of his supposedly daft ideas now seem to have been taken on board. 

Everybody can have a dig about the Silver Machine name. Which I did think sucked on the big one if I'm honest. and his problems paying riders at the end of his tenure. 

But he tried his best to gain publicity and advertise the team. Strangely having been a member on this forum for donkeys years, I seem to think lack of promotion or even attempting something new to try and promote a team is one of the biggest gripes I read about.

But back on topic IMO Swindon if the stadium ever does get rebuilt will probably only get a couple of seasons before the inevitable happens. 

Virtually nowhere to park and houses skirting the perimeter. It's got Nimbyism written all over it.

I actually did some promotional work on behalf of Nigel Wagstaff at some local schools...however I had been promised a bike to display but nothing materialised.

What was odd was that the outgoing promotion (Steve and Vanessa Purchase) apparently 'owned' the 'Cheetahs'  nickmane and it wasn't part of the deal when Waggy took over hence the adoption of 'The Silver Machine'. All very complicated!

Edited November 12, 2018 by steve roberts

[Humphrey Appleby]

1 hour ago, Triple.H. said:

There's many on this forum who slagged Waggy off.

Strangely lots of his supposedly daft ideas now seem to have been taken on board. 

Not really sure what ideas have been taken on board. 

I suppose he did try to modernise the presentation a bit, but it was typical speedway - done in a two-bob and tacky way. Unfortunately, I don't think the finances ended-up matching the ambition, and the random cancellations and ever changing team really did nothing to encourage fans to come - new or existing.

He was really the beginning of the end at Oxford although it wouldn't be fair to put the blame at his door.

[steve roberts]

6 minutes ago, Humphrey Appleby said:

Not really sure what ideas have been taken on board. 

I suppose he did try to modernise the presentation a bit, but it was typical speedway - done in a two-bob and tacky way. Unfortunately, I don't think the finances ended-up matching the ambition, and the random cancellations and ever changing team really did nothing to encourage fans to come - new or existing.

He was really the beginning of the end at Oxford although it wouldn't be fair to put the blame at his door.

Have yo agree that the constantly changing team did no favours in my opinion...the team selection seemed to change every week and/or month.

[Triple.H.]

10 hours ago, steve roberts said:

I actually did some promotional work on behalf of Nigel Wagstaff at some local schools...however I had been promised a bike to display but nothing materialised.

What was odd was that the outgoing promotion (Steve and Vanessa Purchase) apparently 'owned' the 'Cheetahs'  nickmane and it wasn't part of the deal when Waggy took over hence the adoption of 'The Silver Machine'. All very complicated!

I remember him saying at a fans forum that he couldn't use the Cheetahs name. Pretty sure he also said that he thought it could be thought of as Cheaters the idea of which he didn't like. 

Regarding team changes we were pretty much decimated by injuries.

[steve roberts]

Just now, Triple.H. said:

I remember him saying at a fans forum that he couldn't use the Cheetahs name. Pretty sure he also said that he thought it could be thought of as Cheaters the idea of which he didn't like. 

Regarding team changes we were pretty much decimated by injuries.

Remember when at Ipswich (1980's) the programme front cover had Oxford down as 'Cheaters'...would prefer to think that it was a printer's error and not a wicked comment made by the Ipswich promotion at the time! I recall that Bernard Crapper had a good rapport with the incoming Witches promoter Chris Shears.