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What a difference in stadiums


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On 11/30/2020 at 2:18 PM, uk_martin said:

And the some "top level" football clubs like Coventry City have to pay rent to Rugby Union clubs like Wasps.

CCFC actually play at the Trillion Trophy Stadium, or St Andrews to give it it's former name. 

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On 11/30/2020 at 7:56 AM, JohnHyam said:

Yesterday (Sunday) I followed with some interest the TV coverage of the football. What especially impressed me was the appearance and standard of the stadiums - even those of the lower level clubs.

I think even the 6th tier of English football - i.e. National League North/South - gets better average attendances than anything in British speedway. There's even some teams down in the 8th tier that have attendances that speedway would die for. 

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42 minutes ago, Humphrey Appleby said:

Which was a bit of dump to be honest - even after various attempts to upgrade it with modern facilities. No doubt that's why it got demolished and replaced with a much better, albeit less iconic stadium. 

WE actually agree on something. Used to attend most soccer matches at Wembley (internationals, etc) in World Soccer days and it was a dump. But it did have an aura. The two dressing rooms had huge baths rather than showers... more like a swimming pool. Practice for speedway World Finals were always held on a Thursday. Media were allowed in and we used to stage a mock soccer game for a few minutes to say "we played at Wembley." 

Actually did the same at Ullevi in Gothenburg one year. Happy days ...

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2 minutes ago, PHILIPRISING said:

WE actually agree on something. Used to attend most soccer matches at Wembley (internationals, etc) in World Soccer days and it was a dump. But it did have an aura. The two dressing rooms had huge baths rather than showers... more like a swimming pool. Practice for speedway World Finals were always held on a Thursday. Media were allowed in and we used to stage a mock soccer game for a few minutes to say "we played at Wembley." 

Actually did the same at Ullevi in Gothenburg one year. Happy days ...

I did the official Wembley Tour a couple of years before it was developed. Very interseting and full of history and iconic moments but was looking very depressed all the same.

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26 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

I did the official Wembley Tour a couple of years before it was developed. Very interseting and full of history and iconic moments but was looking very depressed all the same.

I actually think the new Wembley is fantastic - properly designed and well appointed with the football spectator in mind. Almost the best stadium I've visited, with the exception of the Dallas Cowboys one.

What is/was a bit rubbish, was they obviously ran out of money for the surrounding infrastructure when they re-developed the stadium.

Whilst in fairness the old Wembley was hardly situated in the most salubrious area - surrounded as it was by old warehouses and a concrete plant - they largely left it as a building site along with the crummy old concrete walkway which no longer makes any sense. Whilst I admittedly haven't visited since 2017, it was then only just starting to have been developed into something approaching a respectable complex.  

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49 minutes ago, Humphrey Appleby said:

I actually think the new Wembley is fantastic - properly designed and well appointed with the football spectator in mind. Almost the best stadium I've visited, with the exception of the Dallas Cowboys one.

What is/was a bit rubbish, was they obviously ran out of money for the surrounding infrastructure when they re-developed the stadium.

Whilst in fairness the old Wembley was hardly situated in the most salubrious area - surrounded as it was by old warehouses and a concrete plant - they largely left it as a building site along with the crummy old concrete walkway which no longer makes any sense. Whilst I admittedly haven't visited since 2017, it was then only just starting to have been developed into something approaching a respectable complex.  

ARSENAL'S Emirates is very impressive. Hopefully will get to Tottenham's new home next year.

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1 hour ago, PHILIPRISING said:

ARSENAL'S Emirates is very impressive. Hopefully will get to Tottenham's new home next year.

I’ve only attended the Emirates as an away fan but it left me underwhelmed. The place was devoid of atmosphere, although that could be down to the home fans I guess. 

I went to one of the test events at the new Spurs ground and it’s easily the best of the “arena” style football grounds that are popping up now. The fan experience from variety of hospitality options available in the concourse to the atmosphere and views of the pitch were very impressive. 

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In the time many years ago (late 1950s) when I regularly visited speedway meetings, three tracks that stand out in mind from that era are Southampton, Sheffield and dear old (Hyde Road) Belle Vue.

These venues had promoters who knew out to promote, excellent 'personality' riders and were in stadiums it was a pleasure to visit. How in now modern times things have changed IMO to a complete reversal of that period.

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Edited by Guest
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14 hours ago, OGT said:

CCFC actually play at the Trillion Trophy Stadium, or St Andrews to give it it's former name. 

I'll take your word for it that that might be the case. I know that was the case last season but I'm sure I'd read that they were talking about moving back to the Ricoh again. 

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7 hours ago, uk_martin said:

I'll take your word for it that that might be the case. I know that was the case last season but I'm sure I'd read that they were talking about moving back to the Ricoh again. 

There have been "discussions" but the stumbling block is SISU not dropping the legal action against Cov City Council which concerns Wasps getting ACL (the company that operates the Ricoh) on the cheap. It's gone through the UK courts and as now awaiting a decision from the European Court. Any verdict in favour of SISU could impact Wasps, hence why they want the legals dropped. As always in these situations, it's the fans that suffer. The sooner Cov's owners sell up, the better for the club.

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....Skodaman........

But the stadium is owned by David Hemsley!

.Does he still own it?

Edited by Gemini
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On 12/2/2020 at 5:22 PM, PHILIPRISING said:

ARSENAL'S Emirates is very impressive. Hopefully will get to Tottenham's new home next year.

Certainly is, have done the stadium tour with Charlie George.

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On 12/2/2020 at 3:01 PM, Humphrey Appleby said:

I think even the 6th tier of English football - i.e. National League North/South - gets better average attendances than anything in British speedway. There's even some teams down in the 8th tier that have attendances that speedway would die for. 

I follow Dulwich Hamlet, the pride of souf London, in National League South, best supported club, averaging over 2000 last season, 2019/20. Seen them at Oxford City and Hungerford, around 350 average, Chippenham average around 650, Bath averaged over 1000.

Swindon Robins, probably the best supported speedway club, averaged around 1400-1500 in title winning 2019.

Edited by auntie doris
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34 minutes ago, Skodaman said:

According to Dickson, DH is still collecting rent from him

Ah....okay thanks. 

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42 minutes ago, auntie doris said:

Certainly is, have done the stadium tour with Charlie George.

...another 'crap' player from the seventies!  ;)

Recall the goal that he scored in the 1971 FA Cup Final and celebrating by laying down with his arms out stretched! Another great player.

Edited by steve roberts
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11 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

...another 'crap' player from the seventies!  ;)

Recall the goal that he scored in the 1971 FA Cup Final and celebrating by laying down with his arms out stretched! Another great player.

Yes winning the first Double for the Gunners. They have that statue in club museum. Great character, some great stories from the 70s. Still lives locally in Islington. Didnt ask him about the time he head-butted Kevin Keegan. Was arrested as young Arsenal fan at Peterborough! Not as good as Don Rogers though:rofl::party:

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