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 brand-new venue after news they can not remain at their home of 96 years.


Wolverhampton Speedway said on 17 April they were devastated their tenancy contract for Monmore Green would not be extended beyond this season.


About 17,000 individuals have now signed a petition calling for it to be saved.


But Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten said the "remarkable" assistance had led to talks with authorities about a brand-new site.


"The truth that this petition has been signed and got such a huge quantity of assistance in just a few days is quite exceptional and I believe that's definitely been the influence and unlocked 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 daddy in 1986, stated speedway was "an important part of Wolverhampton folklore".


"My energy in the last few days has actually turned to offering a new site where we can develop a Wolverhampton Speedway club and we can be the primary occupants," he stated.


"I 'd like to produce our own place, I want to be the main holder of the tenancy and likewise create something that is open 6 days a week to assist train motorcyclists; to train children to take them off the streets."


He stated he had actually managed to bring an arena to Redcar and had actually from that task.


"I 'd enjoy to be in a position where I can bring a speedway arena to the city of Wolverhampton," he stated.


The response from people made him believe this was possible.


"The amount of people that signed the petition has took my breath away. The assistance for this sport is quite remarkable," he said.


Mr Van Straaten said it would be an "tremendous" blow if it didn't take place, however included he was going to be positive and they had the rest of this year to look for a site.


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