Tinker Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 Been to Cardiff several times and always a real treat. Some of my mates are not real Speedway fans but they love the experience. The atmosphere outside the stadium with thousands of fans milling about, the electric atmosphere inside the stadium, the colour, the razamataz etc. Some really nice bars and restaurants at the waterfront once the live action has finished. Locals absolutely fine with us and no problems whatsoever. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff100 Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 31 minutes ago, Tinker said: Been to Cardiff several times and always a real treat. Some of my mates are not real Speedway fans but they love the experience. The atmosphere outside the stadium with thousands of fans milling about, the electric atmosphere inside the stadium, the colour, the razamataz etc. Some really nice bars and restaurants at the waterfront once the live action has finished. Locals absolutely fine with us and no problems whatsoever. No mention of the racing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 From memory I've been four times. Two excellent meetings with lots of passing and the other two not so good. However, even the "not so good" meetings were still very enjoyable and exciting due to the fantastic atmosphere generated. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 3 hours ago, iris123 said: I've never been o Cardiff, for anything. Wouldn't really consider it. But Wembley.......that just has something extra for me. Possibly would consider the other option in London as well though I'm not sure if you've been to the new Wembley in recent years? Sadly, I don't think the present reality matches the name. If there was ever a magic about the place, then I think it's long gone or I am seriously missing something. I've been to a midweek England game there and an FA Cup semi final and both times, it was very underwhelming. You'd be hard pressed to find a worse part of London for a drink or a bite to eat and the stadium itself is pretty soulless...it reminds me of an airport terminal. I'm sure there was a time when Wembley was the greatest stadium in the world. Now, I'd say there were at least five better sporting venues in London alone...Olympic Stadium, Twickenham, The Emirates, Lord's and Wimbledon (haven't been to the new Spurs ground!) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 1 hour ago, falcace said: I'm not sure if you've been to the new Wembley in recent years? Sadly, I don't think the present reality matches the name. If there was ever a magic about the place, then I think it's long gone or I am seriously missing something. I've been to a midweek England game there and an FA Cup semi final and both times, it was very underwhelming. You'd be hard pressed to find a worse part of London for a drink or a bite to eat and the stadium itself is pretty soulless...it reminds me of an airport terminal. I'm sure there was a time when Wembley was the greatest stadium in the world. Now, I'd say there were at least five better sporting venues in London alone...Olympic Stadium, Twickenham, The Emirates, Lord's and Wimbledon (haven't been to the new Spurs ground!) No I haven’t been to the new one, but the name and tradition alone should attract a fair few, even from abroad, if only for the first one or two years The Olympic Stadium sounds good. Been to Spurs ground, but only in the new shop and even at the time the museum wasn’t finished. Looks very impressive, but without seeing inside when a game is on, hard to say 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StyxofRock Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 Great thread about Odsall... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 15 minutes ago, StyxofRock said: Great thread about Odsall... But not Odsal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 Or did they mean Sod all ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 (edited) 38 minutes ago, iris123 said: Or did they mean Sod all ? ...Odsal that "big hole in the ground" as John Berry once described it! Been to the old Wembley three times (never for football) and even did the tour which was a magical experience! Went to Cardiff once...found it underwhelming if I'm honest. Edited April 30, 2021 by steve roberts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 3 hours ago, falcace said: I'm not sure if you've been to the new Wembley in recent years? Sadly, I don't think the present reality matches the name. If there was ever a magic about the place, then I think it's long gone or I am seriously missing something. I've been to a midweek England game there and an FA Cup semi final and both times, it was very underwhelming. You'd be hard pressed to find a worse part of London for a drink or a bite to eat and the stadium itself is pretty soulless...it reminds me of an airport terminal. I'm sure there was a time when Wembley was the greatest stadium in the world. Now, I'd say there were at least five better sporting venues in London alone...Olympic Stadium, Twickenham, The Emirates, Lord's and Wimbledon (haven't been to the new Spurs ground!) Twickenham would be a good call IMO. They are quite happy to cover the pitch for concerts etc and seem open to various events Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 2 hours ago, steve roberts said: ...Odsal that "big hole in the ground" as John Berry once described it! Been to the old Wembley three times (never for football) and even did the tour which was a magical experience! Went to Cardiff once...found it underwhelming if I'm honest. Spot on Steve. Unless I am mis- remembering I saw every major speedway meeting at Wembley between 1965 and 1981. I went to Cardiff once,in 2014 and decided not to go again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldhawk Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 18 hours ago, Humphrey Appleby said: There simply aren't 55k speedway fans in the UK anymore... There would be at 55k + at Wembley - from all around the World, without a doubt. Have been to Warsaw, WOW, Cardiff is not a spot on that. The atmosphere at Wembley would just be incredible. West Ham's stadium another maybe possible if not Wembley ? I religously went to Cardiff every year bar one due to death of my mother in 2009 from 2001 to 2016. We have stopped going now was getting same old and the racing pretty poor and Cardiff hotel prices plus other a complete rip off, put up specially for the event ! Put Cardiff's racing up against Wroclaw and others and it doesn't even come anywhere near. Up to pandemic I watched the GP's abroad now. Cardiff is completely over hyped and over rated in my view. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringitsneck Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Goldhawk said: There would be at 55k + at Wembley - from all around the World, without a doubt. Have been to Warsaw, WOW, Cardiff is not a spot on that. The atmosphere at Wembley would just be incredible. West Ham's stadium another maybe possible if not Wembley ? I religously went to Cardiff every year bar one due to death of my mother in 2009 from 2001 to 2016. We have stopped going now was getting same old and the racing pretty poor and Cardiff hotel prices plus other a complete rip off, put up specially for the event ! Put Cardiff's racing up against Wroclaw and others and it doesn't even come anywhere near. Up to pandemic I watched the GP's abroad now. Cardiff is completely over hyped and over rated in my view. Whilst I agree with your Cardiff and Warsaw comments Wembley would not lend itself to a good speedway venue. Poor location for fans , doubt they would even consider putting a track in ( even a temporary one ) and I doubt very much that there are 55k + speedway fans left in the UK these days and don’t expect travelling fans this year at any venue. And before anyone points out this is an Odsal thread.......there isn’t and won’t be any speedway there for the foreseeable future, GP., individual or otherwise. Edited April 30, 2021 by Ringitsneck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim G Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 I would be shocked if you got 55k at Wembley for speedway and if you did the atmosphere would be nowhere near as good as 40k at Cardiff. The cost of renting Wembley would be astronomic so at 55k you would probably be losing money unless minimum ticket price was £50 and most speedway fans wouldn’t pay that price for the cheapest ticket. If you want speedway in a big stadium Cardiff is the only option with the roof and financial help from the government. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 10 minutes ago, Tim G said: I would be shocked if you got 55k at Wembley for speedway and if you did the atmosphere would be nowhere near as good as 40k at Cardiff. The cost of renting Wembley would be astronomic so at 55k you would probably be losing money unless minimum ticket price was £50 and most speedway fans wouldn’t pay that price for the cheapest ticket. If you want speedway in a big stadium Cardiff is the only option with the roof and financial help from the government. With speedway in Britain dying, maybe we will see the day when the outfit behind the GP, won't consider Britain having a round. After all, a GP in Wales, when there isn't a Welsh track is a bit odd in itself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 1 hour ago, Ray Stadia said: With speedway in Britain dying, maybe we will see the day when the outfit behind the GP, won't consider Britain having a round. After all, a GP in Wales, when there isn't a Welsh track is a bit odd in itself! But Wales is part of Britain, and it’s a British Gran Prix. Sorted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldhawk Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 If 40k - 45K fans will go to Cardiff then 55k plus will go to Wembley, the capital of England and a Speedway Mecca that dwafts all others in Speedway history. The fans will come from home and abroad. If you have never seen a meeting there then maybe some here wouldn't appreciate it. Needs to be moved now in my view away from Cardiff which has become stale and doesn't produce decent racing . Agree SGP not likely either way in UK this year but sure it will be back in UK next year. Hope new organisers bring new and higher horizons for the sport at this level. Wembley for British SGP would be massive ! Crikey it would be the talk of World Speedway !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 1 hour ago, Ray Stadia said: With speedway in Britain dying, maybe we will see the day when the outfit behind the GP, won't consider Britain having a round. After all, a GP in Wales, when there isn't a Welsh track is a bit odd in itself! WALES is in Great Britain ... it's the British SGP. There are many reasons including the lack of a roof (no insurance against the weather for such an expensive project) and agree that 55k is totally unrealistic these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldhawk Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 I watched Ove Fundin as a kid in the 1970 WTC . He had "walked" on Wembley's club which come back to league racing that year. He was BOO'ED out of the stadium by a capacity crowd . The more they booed the faster he went ! Only beaten by Briggo if my memory serves me right in four rides ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuxtonTiger Posted April 30, 2021 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 Why is Wembley being mentioned? Now owned by the FA, there will be nothing allowed to interfere with the hallowed turf. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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