National Speedway Stadium - Too Sanitized?

[Little Thumper]

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?

 

 

Very valid comments, mikebv.

 

And surely the logical counterpoint to your reasoned assertion would be that the recipient of the food vendor's "investment" (i.e. the venue owner) would take all practicable steps to ensure that the food and drinks that were being served to the users of the venue were of merchantable quality and represented reasonable value for money.

 

Due to my religious beliefs, I am a vegetarian. I contacted the stadium owner in advance of my visit to enquire whether i would be able to purchase suitable food at the catering outlets and was informed that there was no provision for vegetarians and that I would not be allowed to bring my own food into the stadium.

 

Therefore, mikebv, I have not had the opportunity to sample the culinary delights at Belle Vue but have no reason to believe that the service provided is not perfectly acceptable to both the management of the establishment and the paying customer and I am hopeful that the investment that has been made will reap the reward that it deserves.

 

My whippet is also vegetarian but as far as i am aware, she has no religious beliefs.

 

Just my opinion, obviously.

[uk_martin]

That's a ridiculous comparison

Not at all. These are places that make money out of selling food and drinks. Whether as a main attraction or as a sideshow is irrelevant. Staff are employed), costs are incurred and the revenue has to be generated.

[Shadders]

Not at all. These are places that make money out of selling food and drinks. Whether as a main attraction or as a sideshow is irrelevant. Staff are employed), costs are incurred and the revenue has to be generated.

Oh come on Martin. You go to a restaurant primarily to eat the food on offer. You know in advance what type of cuisine you're getting, so if you're not a fan of spicy food you wouldn't go to an Indian restaurant.

Speedway Stadium food consists largely of burgers, chips, pies etc

Not many have a healthy option for those who are watching their weight. I agree with a previous post that you shouldn't need to eat for the couple of hours it takes to run a normal 15 heat meeting, but you've been to the PLRC at Sheffield. That meeting takes 3 or 4 hours to run, so by the time you've parked, queued to get in a left that's a good 5-6 hours.

You're telling me that I've got to go that long without anything to eat because they want me to eat their processed fast food rubbish?

Edited August 23, 2016 by Shads

[ouch]

 

Thank you for your words of welcome.

Thanks. I think you'll enjoy it on here and there's plenty going on in this NL section to keep you interested

 

Out of interest, what were you doing to prompt the security staff to approach you and start reading out the dos and don'ts?

[Little Thumper]

Thanks. I think you'll enjoy it on here and there's plenty going on in this NL section to keep you interested

 

Out of interest, what were you doing to prompt the security staff to approach you and start reading out the dos and don'ts?

 

A trained security operative can smell a trouble-maker at 50 paces.

[ouch]

I'll have to get a job in security as it looks like I have the necessary skills. 😏

[SCB]

The security guys at the SWC made me laugh. Behind the temp stand on bends 3 and 4 there were people smoking, in some cases out of the way. Security come charging in and tell people that they couldn't do that, rules and all that. Now that fine but what they didn't take exception to was the fact a lot of people had bought a lot of beer and there was a lack of toilets (10 of them, for the whole of the 3rd and 4th bend!) which meant that a large number of men were urinating against the back wall/hockey pitches. That was perfectly acceptable, there are clearly no rule that forbid it so security let people get on with it. One Polish bloke found it amusing that to be able to smoke he had to pretend to be urinating against the hockey pitches so he could hide his cigarette

[Little Thumper]

The security guys at the SWC made me laugh. Behind the temp stand on bends 3 and 4 there were people smoking, in some cases out of the way. Security come charging in and tell people that they couldn't do that, rules and all that. Now that fine but what they didn't take exception to was the fact a lot of people had bought a lot of beer and there was a lack of toilets (10 of them, for the whole of the 3rd and 4th bend!) which meant that a large number of men were urinating against the back wall/hockey pitches. That was perfectly acceptable, there are clearly no rule that forbid it so security let people get on with it. One Polish bloke found it amusing that to be able to smoke he had to pretend to be urinating against the hockey pitches so he could hide his cigarette

 

Wow! Good job he wasn't a cigar smoker.

[Little Thumper]

I'll have to get a job in security as it looks like I have the necessary skills.

 

Ouch, my friend, I think you will find yourself more than adequately qualified and I hope you come to enjoy the world of work.

[Halifaxtiger]

 

Truth is, the NSS is a fantastic stadium and something that speedway has needed for decades.

 

I have no issue with the Grandstand only policy for the Colts as it makes perfect sense given the smaller gates and hardly affects viewing. Banning air horns I have never totally understood given the noise made by the bikes but it maybe that it is a case of cutting the noise down as much as possible.

 

I, too, don't go to speedway to eat but I see no problem with allowing a flask or a few sandwiches in. The reason they don't allow that is obvious : they want to force people to pay the ridiculous prices charged. The answer, to me is don't buy anything as they'll soon get the message and I suspect a properly publicised picture of a hulking security guard grabbing a small can of crisps from a young child might have had a radical effect on this policy.

 

As to the security, I have had only one experience with them and I found that they demonstrated all the very worst aspects of that profession : arrogant, unhelpful, surly and officious. They need to be told all too clearly that that must stop.

[gee jay]

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

 

 

 

 

after years of hearing about this legend 'soldier boy' i've finally got a sighting of him recently , on a video of a test match from belle vue . there's a team meeting/huddle on track and s boy is shouting to peter collins about telling the team what to do . is s boy still around ?

[Halifaxtiger]

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..

Or, to put it another way, help you to rip people off as much as possible.

[Little Thumper]

after years of hearing about this legend 'soldier boy' i've finally got a sighting of him recently , on a video of a test match from belle vue . there's a team meeting/huddle on track and s boy is shouting to peter collins about telling the team what to do . is s boy still around ?

 

I would be surprised if he is because his blood pressure was going through the roof when I stood with him at Hyde Road all those years ago. He had, shall we say a ruddy complexion.

 

I know someone said that he turned up at the Dog Bowl a few years ago but I would be amazed if he is still with us in the flesh.

 

But even if he has passed through the Pearly Gates, you can be sure he will be dressed in his smart brown jacket (with elbow patches), brown trousers and properly polished shoes looking down from the celestial terraces adjacent to the start line, smiling benevolently at the gleaming new home for his beloved Aces and thinking, " I can't believe they won't let you take your own bloody sandwiches!"

 

Edited August 24, 2016 by Little Thumper

[maneacat]

Oh come on Martin. You go to a restaurant primarily to eat the food on offer. You know in advance what type of cuisine you're getting, so if you're not a fan of spicy food you wouldn't go to an Indian restaurant.

Speedway Stadium food consists largely of burgers, chips, pies etc

Not many have a healthy option for those who are watching their weight. I agree with a previous post that you shouldn't need to eat for the couple of hours it takes to run a normal 15 heat meeting, but you've been to the PLRC at Sheffield. That meeting takes 3 or 4 hours to run, so by the time you've parked, queued to get in a left that's a good 5-6 hours.

You're telling me that I've got to go that long without anything to eat because they want me to eat their processed fast food rubbish?

Well said and my grievance is not financial but rather from a health perspective. My partner and I are both Diabetic (he has to carry suitable food and drink at all times and cannot go as long as 3 hours without). My sister in law is Gluten Free (something which seems to be on the increase judging by the amount of products now on sale in most Supermarkets). Most restaurants and pubs we all go to are very helpful and obliging when made aware of our dietary requirements but you really cannot expect a stadium or its vendors to be in a position to do so. Even the Millenium stadium for GP's were very accommodating when we explained our situation and showed the products and Consultant's letter he always carries. If it's good enough for them and Airports when we travel it certainly should be for Belle Vue stadium but we dare not risk it - a four hour drive to be faced with such problems followed by a four hour trip home again is not worth the risk.

[Little Thumper]

Well said and my grievance is not financial but rather from a health perspective. My partner and I are both Diabetic (he has to carry suitable food and drink at all times and cannot go as long as 3 hours without). My sister in law is Gluten Free (something which seems to be on the increase judging by the amount of products now on sale in most Supermarkets). Most restaurants and pubs we all go to are very helpful and obliging when made aware of our dietary requirements but you really cannot expect a stadium or its vendors to be in a position to do so. Even the Millenium stadium for GP's were very accommodating when we explained our situation and showed the products and Consultant's letter he always carries. If it's good enough for them and Airports when we travel it certainly should be for Belle Vue stadium but we dare not risk it - a four hour drive to be faced with such problems followed by a four hour trip home again is not worth the risk.

 

I sympathize with your predicament, maneacat but as you say, in this day and age most service providers are aware that different people have different dietary restrictions and requirements and hopefully go that extra mile to ensure that people are not discriminated against on the grounds of medical conditions or religious conviction.

 

I had hoped that when I contacted Belle Vue Arena and explained that my religious beliefs dictated that I was unable to eat that which had lived and breathed, they would have acted in an inclusive non-discriminatory manner and issued me with some kind of permit to consume my own food.

 

Clearly, this "opt out" could have been applied to all of us whose genuine dietary needs are different to the norm.

Sadly, I was informed that the venue was not able to assist with this matter and therefore, maneacat my friend, you and I may be considered to be treated in a manner less favourable than others.

 

Not the end of the World but you would hope that anybody operating a venue with "National" in the title would have the ability and foresight to be able to implement policies and procedures which are inclusive and fair rather than divisive and hurtful.

 

Best wishes to you and your family, maneacat.

 

Just my opinion, obviously.

Edited August 24, 2016 by Little Thumper

[maneacat]

I sympathize with your predicament, maneacat but as you say, in this day and age most service providers are aware that different people have different dietary restrictions and requirements and hopefully go that extra mile to ensure that people are not discriminated against on the grounds of medical conditions or religious conviction.

 

I had hoped that when I contacted Belle Vue Arena and explained that my religious beliefs dictated that I was unable to eat that which had lived and breathed, they would have acted in an inclusive non-discriminatory manner and issued me with some kind of permit to consume my own food.

 

Clearly, this "opt out" could have been applied to all of us whose genuine dietary needs are different to the norm.

Sadly, I was informed that the venue was not able to assist with this matter and therefore, maneacat my friend, you and I may be considered to be treated in a manner less favourable than others.

 

Not the end of the World but you would hope that anybody operating a venue with "National" in the title would have the ability and foresight to be able to implement policies and procedures which are inclusive and fair rather than divisive and hurtful.

 

Best wishes to you and your family, maneacat.

 

Just my opinion, obviously.

 

Thank you for your response - not at all surprised at the reply to your query re dietary requirements which is why I haven't even bothered to contact them myself. I fully expected that to be the case but I am sure I will survive without trips to the NSS. There are plenty of other tracks and I have never had this problem before in over 40 years of attending and thankfully my home circuit at the Eoes is not restrictive like Belle Vue.

 

As for its title of "National" stadium since the first time I read that I thought it was laughable - sadly it has proved to be very much so!

[ouch]

I spoke to the management tonight and if you contact them and tell them what's what you won't have an issue.

Come say hello if you visit and we can have a pint if you're allowed.

[mikec]

Well said and my grievance is not financial but rather from a health perspective. My partner and I are both Diabetic (he has to carry suitable food and drink at all times and cannot go as long as 3 hours without). My sister in law is Gluten Free (something which seems to be on the increase judging by the amount of products now on sale in most Supermarkets). Most restaurants and pubs we all go to are very helpful and obliging when made aware of our dietary requirements but you really cannot expect a stadium or its vendors to be in a position to do so. Even the Millenium stadium for GP's were very accommodating when we explained our situation and showed the products and Consultant's letter he always carries. If it's good enough for them and Airports when we travel it certainly should be for Belle Vue stadium but we dare not risk it - a four hour drive to be faced with such problems followed by a four hour trip home again is not worth the risk.

 

Totally understandable your concerns about coming to the NSS based on what you have posted. I find the stewarding is a bit mixed, some of them friendly, some are jobsworth (especially on entry to the stadium). I also get frustrated about the stadium outlets, because as a vegetarian there is little/no option for me, should I want or need it.

 

On the flipside, for dining in the Peter Craven Suite in the grandstand pre-match they've looked after me well the 3 or 4 times I've used it - this should be the case throughout the stadium. I'd hope & expect the catering outlets are reviewed in the close season.

 

Would recommend you contacting the speedway office at BV, with the evidence you mentioned would be surprised if Hayley or Mort didn't assist you.

[Little Thumper]

Come say hello if you visit and we can have a pint if you're allowed.

 

Ouch, you are a kind person.

 

My religion does not absolutely prohibit or allow me but rather helps me find enlightenment that provides guidance in this challenging world.

We are encouraged to find a middle way and obviously, followers of all religions and beliefs may place their own interpretation on that which is before them.

 

For me, many things such as eating animal product, consuming alcohol or indulging in sexual practices are activities from which I choose to refrain.

I haven't always been this boring and indeed my earlier life could be described as rather more exciting.

 

Namaste.

[ouch]

No problem.

 

I was going to hook you up with the butchers daughter who works in a pub, she's a right goer.

 

I'll have a rethink.

Edited August 25, 2016 by ouch