Oxford

[Guest]

I used to follow Oxford with great interest. An old friend of mine - the late George Bason - was among the 1939 pioneer riders at the track.

However, I aways have misgivings when a see enthusiasm for a track that has long been closed linked with a possible 'future return.' I seem to recall that when the Oxford track closed for speedway there was concern about dwindling attendances?

Now - is it 10 years later - there is hope for a return there - in an era when interest for speedway nationwide is sadly much diminished. Just how many of the old hardcore supporters are there? Possibly about 200? More importantly is there locally a new generation who are interested and care about an Oxford speedway revival?

Edited November 30, 2020 by Guest

[Triple.H.]

Possibly a light at the end of the tunnel

 

https://greyhoundbet.racingpost.com/#news-story/story_id=495396

[Odds On]

very positive news in the greyhound world that greyhound racing is to return to Oxford.

[noaksey]

All we need now is a speedway promoter!

With deep pockets 

 

 

[lucifer sam]

- Greyhound Star | News from the Greyhound Industry

[Hilly]

 

[Noodles]

3 hours ago, Triple.H. said:

Possibly a light at the end of the tunnel

 

https://greyhoundbet.racingpost.com/#news-story/story_id=495396

Great news for Oxford. Sad to read Henlow is closing though, just down the road from me. 

[Triple.H.]

9 minutes ago, Noodles said:

Great news for Oxford. Sad to read Henlow is closing though, just down the road from me. 

Apparantly Henlow is currently having a new lease negotiated

 

[Rosie76]

Just listened to the new leaseholders interview above. Ok he was interviewed by someone in the dog racing world, but there was no mention of him running other sport such as speedway. He said, he plans to run Friday and Saturday nights, Friday night seemed the only sucessful night for speedway in later years. He has got a 10 year lease on the site but that leaves the site owned by the same owners that have tried to put houses on it for the last 15 years. They have got nothing to lose land prices will increase, dog racing will probably be  even more unpopular, and the odds are speedway crowds will be even less. Sadly this lease probably finishes off the idea of the chap that wanted to purchase and redevelop Oxford Stadium as a sporting  complex for speedway, greyhounds and other good community usages. The new leaseholder also mentioned he has done a deal  to lease Mildenhall stadium and he plans to have Sunday lunchtime meetings there so he can do meals in the restaurant, so this could be trouble for Speedway there.

We can only at this stage see what the new leaseholder does, but if speedway does not materialise at Oxford and Swindon in the next couple of years and no land found in Reading, is there any potential promoter willing to look at land in the Newbury area? That is central to pick up the fanbases from Oxford Swindon and Reading. I  expect land would be expensive or would it be worth them approaching Newbury Showground to see if they would build a set up like Peterborough have, although there one or two houses nearby that might not be to happy.

[Steve Shovlar]

He has said he is open for speedway to return. Guess it’s down to someone with the money to promote speedway to go and see him.

[noaksey]

11 minutes ago, Steve Shovlar said:

He has said he is open for speedway to return. Guess it’s down to someone with the money to promote speedway to go and see him.

Same as Bradford.

The capital costs are going to be the issue here as well I'd imagine.

Might be interest once the fate of Swindon is known perhaps...

[eric i]

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19375357.oxford-stadium-will-re-open/

'He is open to speedway returning as well if a viable plan can be put in place'

[Sings4Speedway]

Exciting prospect but only a 10 year lease would cause a few concerns, namely if someone steps in gets it all up and running again there would be limited years left before the plug could be pulled (if of course Speedway still exists in 10 years time)

[Tim G]

18 hours ago, Rosie76 said:

Just listened to the new leaseholders interview above. Ok he was interviewed by someone in the dog racing world, but there was no mention of him running other sport such as speedway. He said, he plans to run Friday and Saturday nights, Friday night seemed the only sucessful night for speedway in later years. He has got a 10 year lease on the site but that leaves the site owned by the same owners that have tried to put houses on it for the last 15 years. They have got nothing to lose land prices will increase, dog racing will probably be  even more unpopular, and the odds are speedway crowds will be even less. Sadly this lease probably finishes off the idea of the chap that wanted to purchase and redevelop Oxford Stadium as a sporting  complex for speedway, greyhounds and other good community usages. The new leaseholder also mentioned he has done a deal  to lease Mildenhall stadium and he plans to have Sunday lunchtime meetings there so he can do meals in the restaurant, so this could be trouble for Speedway there.

We can only at this stage see what the new leaseholder does, but if speedway does not materialise at Oxford and Swindon in the next couple of years and no land found in Reading, is there any potential promoter willing to look at land in the Newbury area? That is central to pick up the fanbases from Oxford Swindon and Reading. I  expect land would be expensive or would it be worth them approaching Newbury Showground to see if they would build a set up like Peterborough have, although there one or two houses nearby that might not be to happy.

I think Eddie Stobart are moving into part of the Newbury Showground.

[SteveLyric2]

3 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said:

Exciting prospect but only a 10 year lease would cause a few concerns, namely if someone steps in gets it all up and running again there would be limited years left before the plug could be pulled (if of course Speedway still exists in 10 years time)

The interview on BBC Radio Oxford suggests once he's settled in and up and running - plus hopefully speedway also returning -  he wants to negotiate the purchase from Galliard Homes.

[hans fan]

On 11/14/2020 at 7:40 PM, hans fan said:

Will be Kevin boothby after the track ,had a meeting there fortnight ago with track owners and members off sis

Said it in November  

[hans fan]

1 hour ago, Skidder1 said:

The interview on BBC Radio Oxford suggests once he's settled in and up and running - plus hopefully speedway also returning -  he wants to negotiate the purchase from Galliard Homes.

Don’t believe a word he says if he said it was raining outside I’d have to check  as for purchasing .he  ain’t got a pot to piddle in

Edited June 16, 2021 by hans fan

[SteveLyric2]

Well he's obviously got enough in his pot to take out a 10-year lease on the whole stadium!

[heathen52]

20 hours ago, hans fan said:

Don’t believe a word he says if he said it was raining outside I’d have to check  as for purchasing .he  ain’t got a pot to piddle in

I wouldnt know about the step outside bit, but he does (or companies he owns) own Henlow Greyhound Stadium and when thats sold for Housing Development that should give him enough ££££££,s to purchase Oxford or some other Sports Stadia, the operative word being Sports Stadia not somewhere thats rife for Development as they cost a good deal more £££££,s.

[hans fan]

15 minutes ago, heathen52 said:

I wouldnt know about the step outside bit, but he does (or companies he owns) own Henlow Greyhound Stadium and when thats sold for Housing Development that should give him enough ££££££,s to purchase Oxford or some other Sports Stadia, the operative word being Sports Stadia not somewhere thats rife for Development as they cost a good deal more £££££,s.

He doesn’t own henlow he rents it