Wolverhampton Speedway Bosses Pledge To Find New Venue

25 April 2023
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Nick Clitheroe & Clare LissamanBBC News


Speedway club employers have actually pledged to discover a new venue after news they can not remain at their home of 96 years.


said on 17 April they were ravaged their occupancy agreement for Monmore Green would not be extended beyond this season.


About 17,000 individuals have actually now signed a petition requiring it to be conserved.


But Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten said the "incredible" support had resulted in talks with authorities about a brand-new website.


"The fact that this petition has actually been signed and got such a huge quantity of support in simply a couple of days is quite remarkable and I believe that's definitely been the impact and opened the door to these meetings for the club," he said.


Site owner Entain has stated it will concentrate on greyhound racing however understands fans and the club will be "disappointed".


Mr Van Straaten, who took control of running the club from his father in 1986, stated speedway was "a vital part of Wolverhampton folklore".


"My energy in the last couple of days has actually turned to providing a brand-new website where we can establish a Wolverhampton Speedway club and we can be the primary occupants," he stated.


"I wish to develop our own location, I wish to be the primary holder of the occupancy and likewise create something that is open 6 days a week to help train motorcyclists; to train youngsters to take them off the streets."


He said he had actually handled to bring an arena to Redcar and had actually gotten knowledge from that job.


"I 'd love to be in a position where I can bring a speedway stadium to the city of Wolverhampton," he said.


The response from people made him believe this was possible.


"The quantity of individuals that signed the petition has took my breath away. The assistance for this sport is rather incredible," he stated.


Mr Van Straaten stated it would be an "tremendous" blow if it didn't occur, but included he was going to be favorable and they had the rest of this year to look for a website.


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