National Speedway Stadium - Too Sanitized?

[Little Thumper]

Greetings Friends.

I went to watch BV Colts take on IOW Warriors on Wednesday night and came away with very mixed emotions.

FOR

Excellent WOT racing surface and layout with plenty of passing opportunities.

Free motorcycle parking.

Audible PA system.

Good spectator viewing without having to peer over a dog bowl.

Decent pit facilities for the riders.

Reasonable ticket price (NL)

 

AGAINST

Dreadful fight through motorway traffic to get to the place.

Dogs not welcome.

Food and drink regulations are draconian (particularly for vegetarians).

Spectators nearly out-numbered by blokes in hi-viz coats, who were keen to search your belongings and tell you what you couldn't do.

Penned into the main stand and no option to watch the action from alternative view points.

Prohibition on horns and other noisy methods of showing excitement/appreciation/disgust.

Not much attempt to generate much enthusiasm from the relatively small audience (Give me an "A", give me a...........perhaps not).

 

I am sure that at a big event, the atmosphere is considerably better but at this National League meeting, there was an antiseptic feel to the whole thing.

Whilst I might be a little biased (old), in no way does the atmosphere compare to for example, Hyde Road where there were people milling about all over the place, drinking, smoking, engaging in good-humoured heckling, eating their butties or consuming beefburgers and hot dogs which had the unique smell and taste of speedway about them and Soldier Boy or some other wag having a good shout at that Coventry bloke, Ole somebody or other.

 

So, would I go back to the NSS again?

 

I think not. I shall hang about instead at "old fashioned" National League venues with other "those were the days" supporters where the volumes of Health and Safety regulations and Stadium Prohibitions are kept on a dusty shelf in a locked cupboard in an abandoned store room.

 

Just my opinion, obviously

 

 

 

 

[brianbuck]

Very surprised to read comments like this. I made my first visit to the stadium for the Belle Vue v Birmingham National League match and was outstandingly impressed with everything about the venue. It is just what speedway needs and I can't wait to make another visit.

 

With relatively small crowds expected for NL matches it makes sense to only use part of the stadium, and the air horn ban (which I was not aware of), is understandable when the stadium is so close to residential housing.

 

Really, I couldn't fault the stadium in any way and it seems rather pointless to make comparisons with Hyde Road which operated in the days of crowd levels that just don't exist anymore.

[John Leslie]

Why do stadiums have such measures about people bringing in their own food and sarnies?

What puzzles me is why people make such a fuss about it. Aren't they capable of going a couple of hours without the constant need to stuff their face?

 

If I go to a fairly local track I'll tend to have my meal before I go. If I travel a distance to a meeting I'll tend to stop somewhere for a bite to eat on the way. On the odd occasion I'm in a rush I've always been able to buy a can of coke and a hot dog or something at the track. I've never thought to give them Egon Ronay stars, but I've never actually died at a speedway meeting through lack of food.

 

I might be the odd one out, but I go to speedway to watch racing, not to constantly stuff my face all night. Similarly if I go out for a meal, I don't want bikes racing round my table.

[Alex2000]

 

I might be the odd one out, but I go to speedway to watch racing, not to constantly stuff my face all night. Similarly if I go out for a meal, I don't want bikes racing round my table.

and the award for post of the year goes to...

[teaboy279]

What puzzles me is why people make such a fuss about it. Aren't they capable of going a couple of hours without the constant need to stuff their face?

 

If I go to a fairly local track I'll tend to have my meal before I go. If I travel a distance to a meeting I'll tend to stop somewhere for a bite to eat on the way. On the odd occasion I'm in a rush I've always been able to buy a can of coke and a hot dog or something at the track. I've never thought to give them Egon Ronay stars, but I've never actually died at a speedway meeting through lack of food.

 

I might be the odd one out, but I go to speedway to watch racing, not to constantly stuff my face all night. Similarly if I go out for a meal, I don't want bikes racing round my table.

Whilst I agree in normal cases but at the world cup final I saw a security guard take a pot of Pringles out of a child of 3 or 4s hands, I was genuinely gobsmacked. Things like that are going to far.

Fine don't let people in with cool boxes full of rolls quiches pies and half a case of lagar. But what's wrong with a parent taking in a bottle of fruit shoot and a bag of watsits for thier toddler, or the old boy who spends his pension going to Speedway and takes in a corn beef sandwich and a handful of worthlers Originals.

[*JJ]

Why do stadiums have such measures about people bringing in their own food and sarnies? I haven't been to Belle Vue but was totally gobsmacked by the price Buster charges at King's Lynn for a cup of tea.

You've answered your own question! Also, food vendors have to pay for the privilege of using the venue; understandably, they expect to be protected. Finally, in some stadiums where the speedway is a tenant, the actual owners reserve the right to sell food themselves. At Perry Barr, for example, the GRA runs the bars and food outlets (and car parking) and so charge what they like. I once bought some chips there, and having tasted them, swore never again ... But lead me to the Mildenhall chip bar!

[uk_martin]

Why do stadiums have such measures about people bringing in their own food and sarnies? I haven't been to Belle Vue but was totally gobsmacked by the price Buster charges at King's Lynn for a cup of tea.

 

Belle Vue is run as a business, not a social service. I dare say if you went to a pub with your own bought at a supermarket beer, or took your own food into a restaurant, you may get the same reaction, and for the same reasons. Who knows, there may even be licensing restriction insisting that the only drinks consumed "on premises" are those sold on the premises (a bit of a guess but it wouldn't surprise me)

 

 

Aren't they capable of going a couple of hours without the constant need to stuff their face?

 

LOL

 

 

Whilst I agree in normal cases but at the world cup final I saw a security guard take a pot of Pringles out of a child of 3 or 4s hands, I was genuinely gobsmacked. Things like that are going to far.

Fine don't let people in with cool boxes full of rolls quiches pies and half a case of lagar. But what's wrong with a parent taking in a bottle of fruit shoot and a bag of watsits for thier toddler, or the old boy who spends his pension going to Speedway and takes in a corn beef sandwich and a handful of worthlers Originals.

 

Now here's the irony. Speedway fans are constantly complaining about the rules being too complicated. So Belle Vue have a simple one-line rule about "no food and drink", and now that's posing problems. Maybe we need a whole rule book about the ages that the rules apply to?,,,or the types of food and drink?...or the quantities?... OK, so "apply common sense" some may say...well, you write us a document defining common sense in clear and unambiguous terms so that everyone can apply it equally, and you might have something that can be used as a way forward.

[Little Thumper]

Very surprised to read comments like this. I made my first visit to the stadium for the Belle Vue v Birmingham National League match and was outstandingly impressed with everything about the venue. It is just what speedway needs and I can't wait to make another visit.

 

With relatively small crowds expected for NL matches it makes sense to only use part of the stadium, and the air horn ban (which I was not aware of), is understandable when the stadium is so close to residential housing.

 

Really, I couldn't fault the stadium in any way and it seems rather pointless to make comparisons with Hyde Road which operated in the days of crowd levels that just don't exist anymore.

 

 

BBuck, you are so right - making a comparison with the great Hyde Road is a little pointless, but you know what it's like - you never forget your first love!

I can still remember clearly going to the Zoological Gardens some 50 years ago and witnessing speedway for the first time - the spectacle, the sounds, the smells, the wonderful fans in all their strange clothing and most of all the charged atmosphere - the atmosphere that filled you full of anticipation that you were about to witness something thrilling.

 

That experience is etched on my soul all these years later and whilst I might not recollect what I did yesterday, that day so many moons ago when me and my dad cheered for the Aces like our lives depended on it is indelibly inked on my soul.

So BBuck, I apologize for pointless comparisons but I feel sure you will forgive me this once?

 

Now with regard to the ban on horns of which you were unaware, I am taking the liberty of providing a link to the stadium regulations which pertain to this matter. Paragraph 17 will be the one that informs you of that which you did not know:-

 

http://www.bellevueaces.co/terms.aspx

 

Now as these conditions will form part of the contract between the customer and BV Arena Ltd, they will obviously need to be displayed clearly at the location where tickets are purchased at the stadium but hopefully, if you have read them in advance of your visit perhaps it may spare you some inconvenience.

 

And finally, my friend, you talk about crowd levels that do not exist an more. My question to you is why not?

 

The core ingredient of a normal speedway meeting is approximately 15 minutes of racing.

If you were to stand in Kirkmanshulme Lane and offer potential customers the opportunity to watch 15 minutes of sporting action in exchange for 10, 15 or 20 pounds of their hard-earned money, you would likely be ridiculed.

So speedway has got to offer so much more than 15 minutes of activity.

 

For me the extra ingredient, that makes speedway worth the effort of hours of travelling and pounds in admission fees is the speedway experience. In addition, I want to be treated with the respect that a paying customer deserves and I do not expect to be poorly informed and taken for a fool.

 

That is the feeling that I enjoyed all those years ago as a child and it is the feeling that I struggled to re-discover on my recent trip to Belle Vue Arena.

 

But hey, times change and the paying customer probably wants something a bit different to what was served up to people like me, Soldier Boy and all the other FANATICS all those years ago.

 

I'm not sure what this new speedway product could look like but judging by the shortage of spectators when I visited BVS last Wednesday, I think there is some considerable way to go.

 

Only my opinion, obviously.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

 

Belle Vue is run as a business

and it business is to entertain the public , without them it has no business

[Shadders]

Owlerton Stadium have the same restrictions on food & drink for the PLRC, but not for Sheffield home meetings.

[Mike.Butler]

For some peculiar reason I feel less inclined to drive from Liverpool to Sussex via the National Stadium than I did to go to Kirky Lane..

I think it must be to do with 'sanitisation' as suggested earlier. Very odd. But then how will I feel about Brentford's new ground when its built compared to 50+ years going to Griffin Park.. maybe the same...Anyway, I promise to make more of an effort..maybe its just getting used to the place

[bellevueace]

Thing is the NSS is liable to the latest H&S regulations hence the gestapo in situ around the stadium, Old Trafford the Etihad and the Manchester Arena are also liable to the same regs, in those cases the implementation is no where near as draconian. If we have to have a security presence perhaps a change of company could make it more fan friendly? As for comparisons with stadiums from years ago that's pointless especially as people today expect a certain comfort level for their hard earned. The days of grass banking and wooden benches covered in shale don't cut it anymore. I never bother with food and drink at any stadium for home meetings its not an issue for away meetings taking Coventry as an example I arrive early and visit the Royal Oak in Brandon for a couple of decent real ales and a good meal, much better than a burger and greasy chips.

[martin_t]

Now hang on a minute..regulation 17.No Poles (longer than one metre) to be bought into the stadium..Hey,that means we won the World Cup,all the Polish team were more than one meter tall !!

Edited August 22, 2016 by martin_t

[Rob B]

Greetings Friends.

I went to watch BV Colts take on IOW Warriors on Wednesday night and came away with very mixed emotions.

FOR

Excellent WOT racing surface and layout with plenty of passing opportunities.

Free motorcycle parking.

Audible PA system.

Good spectator viewing without having to peer over a dog bowl.

Decent pit facilities for the riders.

Reasonable ticket price (NL)

 

AGAINST

Dreadful fight through motorway traffic to get to the place.

Dogs not welcome.

Food and drink regulations are draconian (particularly for vegetarians).

Spectators nearly out-numbered by blokes in hi-viz coats, who were keen to search your belongings and tell you what you couldn't do.

Penned into the main stand and no option to watch the action from alternative view points.

Prohibition on horns and other noisy methods of showing excitement/appreciation/disgust.

Not much attempt to generate much enthusiasm from the relatively small audience (Give me an "A", give me a...........perhaps not).

 

I am sure that at a big event, the atmosphere is considerably better but at this National League meeting, there was an antiseptic feel to the whole thing.

Whilst I might be a little biased (old), in no way does the atmosphere compare to for example, Hyde Road where there were people milling about all over the place, drinking, smoking, engaging in good-humoured heckling, eating their butties or consuming beefburgers and hot dogs which had the unique smell and taste of speedway about them and Soldier Boy or some other wag having a good shout at that Coventry bloke, Ole somebody or other.

 

So, would I go back to the NSS again?

 

I think not. I shall hang about instead at "old fashioned" National League venues with other "those were the days" supporters where the volumes of Health and Safety regulations and Stadium Prohibitions are kept on a dusty shelf in a locked cupboard in an abandoned store room.

 

Just my opinion, obviously

 

So you say the track and racing was excellent but you won't be coming back because you couldn't bring in your dog, butties and air horn? Was the traffic Belle Vue's fault too?

 

I know what my priorities are and its to watch good racing in a clean modern stadium rather then crap racing elsewhere where you can take in your butties.

 

Regards the atmosphere, the NL is our junior team, there was probably only about 500 there, try coming on bank holiday Monday when there will probably be over 3000 there, we don't need air horns to make some noise. As for no 'Give us an A' it wasn't the Aces riding!

[ouch]

I take it you didn't like the dreadful motorway traffic when going to Hyde Road either?

 

Dog not welcome.

Clutching at straws here me thinks.

 

Food and drink issue covered by other posters.

 

I need more information about security as I've only had my bag searched and they've helped me with a couple of things. I always have a laugh with the regular guy on my block. I've found if I behave then I don't notice them.

 

You mustn't like Wolves and other such tracks where parts of the stadium are out of bounds?

 

Some air horns are ok. There were plenty at the SWC.

 

The crowd was as you would get for an NL meeting anywhere and the atmosphere was down to that. This is not unique to the NSS.

 

Aside from the smoking (thank god) and the butties your Hyde Road paragraph describes the recent SWC well though it was actually better. You could even have a go a Ole again!

 

Great shame you won't be visiting again but many thanks for sharing. Welcome to the forum as well, at least you NSS experience saw you sign up to share your views. Hope you enjoy it.

[uk_martin]

and it business is to entertain the public , without them it has no business

Would you book a table at one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants and take your own packed lunch with you?

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

Would you book a table at one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants and take your own packed lunch with you?

yes his food is garbage But you don't go to belle vue to eat you go to watch speedway and you don't go to Gordon Ramsey's rant to watch speedway ,if I booked a table in his restaurant and he tried to charge me to watch speedway on a tv screen there I would kick off and yes we do take our own popcorn to the cinema, it's not the food that's puts me off bv , it's anything with health and safety strapped to it , it's just not for me Edited August 22, 2016 by THE DEAN MACHINE

[Shadders]

Would you book a table at one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants and take your own packed lunch with you?

That's a ridiculous comparison

[Little Thumper]

 

Great shame you won't be visiting again but many thanks for sharing. Welcome to the forum as well, at least you NSS experience saw you sign up to share your views. Hope you enjoy it.

 

Thank you for your words of welcome.

[mikebv]

 

Would imagine the food venders pay for their 'spot' in the stadium?

 

Subletting the food sales is also much simpler in managing any rules with H+S and EHO implications. ie the vendor is responsible not the person they are renting from.

 

If you were a vendor you would rightly expect that the person you pay your money to would do their utmost to help you make a profit on the investment you have made with them..

 

A Speedway meeting from entrance to home time lasts about two, maybe two and a half hours. I am sure most people can go that without the need for something to eat and drink?

 

And if they do, several food and drink vendors will be very pleased to take your money off you to provide you with exactly that service..

 

Although you may find that the frozen food fayre prepared by a random selection of 17 year old kids or indeed the food produced in a mobile kitchen run by a generator with very basic cooking facilities, surprisingly isn't up to a Michelin starred rating...!

 

Modern day stadia equals modern day stadia rules, however I did hear someone last week say this..

 

"It was much better in the old days when I could take me camping chair in, tartan blanket for my knees (I'm a martyr for me knees yer know), a matching tartan flask full of hot sweet tea and lovely foil wrapped corned beef and beetroot butties, four rounds of bread cut in eight same sized squares, got to be all equal"

 

"Used to have me own space every week too at the old place, on a lovely lickle grassy knoll, sat on the second bend just to the right of a broken old park bench type thing and just to the left of the dog poo where the greyhounds used to do their business"..

 

"Its not the same here, last week I were sat in me chair and couldn't even see the racin' as there were a bloody load of people stood in front of me, at the old place no-one ever got in the bloody way!"..

 

"Eeee.. it's not the same at this new place, we'd be better off goin' back down the road"...

 

"Bring yer own butties in there......"

Edited August 23, 2016 by mikebv