Clubs that own their own tracks

[Daniel Smith]

6 minutes ago, Toady said:

Allied group own Ashfield and have same directors as glasgow speedway ltd I believe

Correct 

[tyretrax]

23 hours ago, Toady said:

Allied group own Ashfield and have same directors as glasgow speedway ltd I believe

But that doesn't mean Glasgow Tigers Speedway Ltd. own Ashfield Stadium.

Edited August 28, 2023 by tyretrax

[Grand Central]

This must be the most poorly informed thread in many a long day here.

[noaksey]

1 hour ago, Grand Central said:

This must be the most poorly informed thread in many a long day here.

Might have been better saying which clubs own the freehold of their stadium or a lease longer than say 10 years

[tyretrax]

48 minutes ago, noaksey said:

Might have been better saying which clubs own the freehold of their stadium or a lease longer than say 10 years

Like ARC don't own Perry Barr, they lease it from an asset management and Birmingham Council own the freehold

[Toady]

15 hours ago, tyretrax said:

But that doesn't mean Glasgow Tigers Speedway Ltd. own Ashfield Stadium.

Allied group own Ashfield stadium and also own  Glasgow tigers speedway ltd so it’s as close as that.

[tyretrax]

Close but no cigar. On paper at least Glasgow could pay Allied a rent.

[Toady]

27 minutes ago, tyretrax said:

Close but no cigar. On paper at least Glasgow could pay Allied a rent.

Of course they do that’s how business works.keep the cigar I don’t smoke

[Happy Hunter]

On 8/27/2023 at 9:13 AM, iainb said:

The thing is if the council wanted to sell the land it doesn't matter if there's a kitten orphanage built on the land they can sell it... unless there's some kind of covenant in place

It's a bit more complicated than that. The land on which the stadium is built was where the effluent from the City's Victorian  sewage treatment works was disposed of. The part on which the stadium stands was badly contaminated by heavy metals like lead and cadmium and is not fit for housing or any kind of development where people are going to spend a lot of time. Its extremely unlikely therefore that the Council will be able to sell the land for the forseeable future. The bits where development has taken place were not so badly contaminated. 

[IainB]

1 hour ago, Happy Hunter said:

It's a bit more complicated than that. The land on which the stadium is built was where the effluent from the City's Victorian  sewage treatment works was disposed of. The part on which the stadium stands was badly contaminated by heavy metals like lead and cadmium and is not fit for housing or any kind of development where people are going to spend a lot of time. Its extremely unlikely therefore that the Council will be able to sell the land for the forseeable future. The bits where development has taken place were not so badly contaminated. 

Haven't the government just scrapped some environmental building rules today? If there's a quick buck to be made it's amazing how quickly rules and regulations can be changed

[brianbuck]

It's true to say that no British Speedway Club owns their stadium or the land on which it is built. Most ownerships can probably be traced back to City or Town Councils, and could be commandeered for building purposes as and when a Council decided to do so.

Birmingham Wheels Park, a previous home of Birmingham Speedway, was designated as a motor sports venue on the strength of the Council deciding that it was the most toxic pieces of land in the City, but this has not prevented this same council from taking back the lease and now deciding that it should be used to build industrial units, with the usual platitude of offering to help find an alternative site for the wheeled sports which have now been evicted, being very quickly forgotten.

[Neila]

On 8/24/2023 at 11:33 PM, Deano said:

Can we add Workington and Glasgow?

No Workington have an agreed long lease for the land off the local council who own the land

[Piotr Pyszny]

Out of curiosity: do members of the Moss family own the site of the Buxton track (which is still used for track days and the like)?

Edited August 31, 2023 by Piotr Pyszny

[GWC]

If clubs did own their own track I’m sure ‘some’ owners would have sold the ground to developers as in football.

Difference is relocation would be so much harder so the club dies.

[HGould]

On 8/29/2023 at 7:14 PM, brianbuck said:

It's true to say that no British Speedway Club owns their stadium or the land on which it is built. Most ownerships can probably be traced back to City or Town Councils, and could be commandeered for building purposes as and when a Council decided to do so.

Birmingham Wheels Park, a previous home of Birmingham Speedway, was designated as a motor sports venue on the strength of the Council deciding that it was the most toxic pieces of land in the City, but this has not prevented this same council from taking back the lease and now deciding that it should be used to build industrial units, with the usual platitude of offering to help find an alternative site for the wheeled sports which have now been evicted, being very quickly forgotten.

Interesting news I've been told by an ex City Councillor about Wheels Site which may indirectly help Brummies in longer term possibly. 

He believes that the 40acre Wheels site has been given to the new American Owners of Birmingham City Fc in exchange for the much smaller St Andrews site. 

There are a number of caveats, not the least that the new owners will take over the decontamination of Wheels a massive task likely to take 12 months and cost tens of millions. 

The new Owners will then build a City of Birmingham Stadium owned by the football club holding 62000 in 3 tiers. The top tier of 17000 will be cleverly hidden behind marketing banners to be opened for major events and it will have a retractable roof and drop in football pitch

The aim is for multi sports including athletics, American football, stadium motor sport and concerts etc

Associated facilities will include full soccer training facilities and pitches and a 400 metre training athletic track needed for major events. All funded by American Venture Capital. 

It will link with a massive new Movie Film and TV studio being built on the East Side by Stephen Knight of Peaky Blinders Fame. Hollywood Style facilities. 

The arrival and investment of Tom Brady NFL legend suggests a serious rival for London for an NFL franchise. 

Definitely a possible speedway GP venue of the future adjacent to HS2. 

The existing St Andrews site will pass to Council to develop for housing raising much needed funds. 

Apparently already all agreed and rubber stamped as part of BCFC takeover and signed off by City Council and Mayor Street. 

Brummies wise it may give access to Alexander Stadium if and when Birch field Harriers locate to the new smaller state of the art Athletics track. 

They (BCFC) have also bought the very modern Wasps Rugby Union training facility and moved in there. 

Alexander Stadium may therefore be available ultimately for other sports but timescale is 3 to 5 years. 

One final interesting correlation is Gary Cook who orchestrated Man City move to Etihad after it was transformed and start of their massive rise has been installed as their CEO with Brady working as a global ambassador. 

Win for the Council who rid themselves of a contaminated eyesore that was Wheels. 

Glimmer of hope though for Speedway to move to Alexander Stadium 

Edited September 10, 2023 by HGould

[*JJ]

19 hours ago, HGould said:

Glimmer of hope though for Speedway to move to Alexander Stadium 

Looking at Googe Earth, there are actually two tracks with the Alexander Stadium. While the main stadium is probably not on for speedway, there is no reason (except financial?) why a speedway track could not be built inside the second (training?) athletics track.

[Bunce]

On 8/29/2023 at 7:14 PM, brianbuck said:

It's true to say that no British Speedway Club owns their stadium or the land on which it is built. Most ownerships can probably be traced back to City or Town Councils, and could be commandeered for building purposes as and when a Council decided to do so.

Birmingham Wheels Park, a previous home of Birmingham Speedway, was designated as a motor sports venue on the strength of the Council deciding that it was the most toxic pieces of land in the City, but this has not prevented this same council from taking back the lease and now deciding that it should be used to build industrial units, with the usual platitude of offering to help find an alternative site for the wheeled sports which have now been evicted, being very quickly forgotten.

I think Buster Chapman owns the Kings Lynn stadium and land it stands on. The site was originally a greyhound stadium bought by Cyril Crane & Maurice Littlechild after Norwich closed in 1964. I believe Buster then bought it from them in later years?

[Toady]

1 hour ago, Bunce said:

I think Buster Chapman owns the Kings Lynn stadium and land it stands on. The site was originally a greyhound stadium bought by Cyril Crane & Maurice Littlechild after Norwich closed in 1964. I believe Buster then bought it from them in later years?

Already been mentioned near the start of thread

[JamesHarris]

On 9/10/2023 at 2:15 PM, HGould said:

Interesting news I've been told by an ex City Councillor about Wheels Site which may indirectly help Brummies in longer term possibly. 

He believes that the 40acre Wheels site has been given to the new American Owners of Birmingham City Fc in exchange for the much smaller St Andrews site. 

There are a number of caveats, not the least that the new owners will take over the decontamination of Wheels a massive task likely to take 12 months and cost tens of millions. 

The new Owners will then build a City of Birmingham Stadium owned by the football club holding 62000 in 3 tiers. The top tier of 17000 will be cleverly hidden behind marketing banners to be opened for major events and it will have a retractable roof and drop in football pitch

The aim is for multi sports including athletics, American football, stadium motor sport and concerts etc

Associated facilities will include full soccer training facilities and pitches and a 400 metre training athletic track needed for major events. All funded by American Venture Capital. 

It will link with a massive new Movie Film and TV studio being built on the East Side by Stephen Knight of Peaky Blinders Fame. Hollywood Style facilities. 

The arrival and investment of Tom Brady NFL legend suggests a serious rival for London for an NFL franchise. 

Definitely a possible speedway GP venue of the future adjacent to HS2. 

The existing St Andrews site will pass to Council to develop for housing raising much needed funds. 

Apparently already all agreed and rubber stamped as part of BCFC takeover and signed off by City Council and Mayor Street. 

Brummies wise it may give access to Alexander Stadium if and when Birch field Harriers locate to the new smaller state of the art Athletics track. 

They (BCFC) have also bought the very modern Wasps Rugby Union training facility and moved in there. 

Alexander Stadium may therefore be available ultimately for other sports but timescale is 3 to 5 years. 

One final interesting correlation is Gary Cook who orchestrated Man City move to Etihad after it was transformed and start of their massive rise has been installed as their CEO with Brady working as a global ambassador. 

Win for the Council who rid themselves of a contaminated eyesore that was Wheels. 

Glimmer of hope though for Speedway to move to Alexander Stadium 

Well that is very interesting. I'm a Bluenose and I've not heard anything about this so if true it's very exciting indeed. 

[Piotr Pyszny]

On 9/11/2023 at 10:06 AM, *JJ said:

Looking at Googe Earth, there are actually two tracks with the Alexander Stadium. While the main stadium is probably not on for speedway, there is no reason (except financial?) why a speedway track could not be built inside the second (training?) athletics track.

Midlands Hurricanes Rugby League Club played the bulk of their 2023 home fixtures on the pitch (sorry, potential speedway circuit) inside that second athletics track, known as the warm-up arena. Hurricanes are in talks with Birmingham Council about moving into the main stadium for 2024.

Edited September 25, 2023 by Piotr Pyszny