iris123 Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 Why did we have a number of clubs/stadiums called White City ? Was it just the fact that White City(London) was such a good stadium that others around the country and of course Glasgow named their new stadiums after it.Anyone out there know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireblade Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 Good question, I seem to recall that there were white City stadiums in Nottingham, Cardiff, and Manchester as well. Were this stadiums not built by a company called White City developments? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 White City Stadium London was built in 1908 for the Olympic Games and as part of the Franco-British Exhibition. It was called White City because the stadium and other main exhibition buildings were painted white. I suspect the other stadia were named after it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 12, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 (edited) White City Stadium London was built in 1908 for the Olympic Games and as part of the Franco-British Exhibition. It was called White City because the stadium and other main exhibition buildings were painted white. I suspect the other stadia were named after it. Suspected so as well,but didn`t know Generalisimo Franco had anything to do with it Edited April 12, 2004 by iris123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogH Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 The White City stadiums were all funfairs. There was one in Hull in the thirties where we had an open licence track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hullangel Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 Way to inform em RogH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2004 So its a case of Brazil being named after the nut rather than the nut being named after the country so to speak The area getting the name from the stadium Seems like a strange name to copy though especially so many time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liontamer Posted April 13, 2004 Report Share Posted April 13, 2004 An interesting question & one I've often thought about myself, especially when recently doing some work for the new White City shopping mall in London. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted April 14, 2004 Report Share Posted April 14, 2004 (edited) So its a case of Brazil being named after the nut rather than the nut being named after the country so to speak The area getting the name from the stadium Seems like a strange name to copy though especially so many time Yes, that is the case. The district was named after the Stadium and Exhibition area. As far as other stadia being named after it, you have to remember that White City was Britain's prestigious stadium before Wembley, so I suppose that's why other cities named their stadium after it.....though having said that, you don't get Manchester Wembley or Glasgow Wembley do you? Edited April 14, 2004 by norbold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miro Posted April 14, 2004 Report Share Posted April 14, 2004 There is/was Wembley Stadium in Johannesburg, with 'Lions' teams in Speedway and Ice Hockey, home of the Transvaal Speedway league in 1947 which was the origin of the four team format. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howling gorgon Posted April 14, 2004 Report Share Posted April 14, 2004 do they still have speedway in S Africa/Zimbabwe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2004 As far as other stadia being named after it, you have to remember that White City was Britain's prestigious stadium before Wembley, so I suppose that's why other cities named their stadium after it.....though having said that, you don't get Manchester Wembley or Glasgow Wembley do you? Its a good point.Seeing as Glasgow`s stadium was built in 1928 ,some 20 years after London.I don`t know when the others were built but i would have thought that White City was a bit "old hat" by then even allowing for the fact the world moved at a different pace back then as you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miro Posted April 14, 2004 Report Share Posted April 14, 2004 regarding the Manchester venue found this http://manchesterhistory.net/whitecity/home.html: 'The prospectus of the White City Company indicates that it was formed in February of 1907 for, "the purpose of establishing and carrying on a pleasure garden of the highest class to be called the "White City".' One year before London then or the same company planning both at the same time? There was another White City in Onchan IoM, I bet there were lots... maybe two words that became associated with a bit of quality fun in those days ? noticed last month they've started to demolish the last trace of the London White City site - the covered walkways that went alongside the railway track. pity stadiums and such places arent counted as heritage... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireblade Posted April 15, 2004 Report Share Posted April 15, 2004 I find it interesting that White City (London) were called the Rebels and used the confederate flag as their emblem. The flag is seen as racist in many parts of the USA. Didn't the film "Absolute Beginners" make referals to White City developments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted April 15, 2004 Report Share Posted April 15, 2004 Think the only reason that White City were called the Rebels in the late 70's was because that was the nickname of the Oxford team who moved there. Having said that using the Confederate flag wouldn't probably have been the smartest move given the rich mix of cultures resident in that part of West London. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted April 15, 2004 Report Share Posted April 15, 2004 noticed last month they've started to demolish the last trace of the London White City site - the covered walkways that went alongside the railway track. I can't picture that miro, where exactly were they situated in relation to the track - was it on the other side of the road next to the car-wash? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addy Posted April 16, 2004 Report Share Posted April 16, 2004 regarding the Manchester venue found this http://manchesterhistory.net/whitecity/home.html: 'The prospectus of the White City Company indicates that it was formed in February of 1907 for, "the purpose of establishing and carrying on a pleasure garden of the highest class to be called the "White City".' One year before London then or the same company planning both at the same time? There was another White City in Onchan IoM, I bet there were lots... maybe two words that became associated with a bit of quality fun in those days ? noticed last month they've started to demolish the last trace of the London White City site - the covered walkways that went alongside the railway track. pity stadiums and such places arent counted as heritage... bravenet connection cannot be made ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I think that is very likely as plans were made in the early 1890's for the whole of Trafford Park to be made into a funfair, sports & pleasure gardens. So it is very likely the idea and name came from Manchester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miro Posted April 16, 2004 Report Share Posted April 16, 2004 Kevin Coming off the A40 and going down the dual carriageway towards Shepherds Bush, they were away to your right, big covered bridge-type structures with windows, sat there for 90 years doing nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted April 16, 2004 Report Share Posted April 16, 2004 Thanks miro, I still can't picture them but I'll have a look next time I'm in the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 (edited) Just to emphasise how much the name caught on generally we have a prewar council estate in Gloucester called White City - well the houses are rather light in colour. There is even a White City Community Project. No trace of speedway sadly ;-) Edited July 5, 2004 by rmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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