Wolverhampton Speedway Bosses Pledge to find Brand-new Venue

25 April 2023
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Nick Clitheroe & Clare LissamanBBC News

Speedway club managers have pledged to find a brand-new location after news they can not remain at their home of 96 years.

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

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

But Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten stated the "remarkable" support had actually led to talks with authorities about a brand-new website.

"The truth that this petition has actually been signed and got such a substantial amount of support in just a few days is quite remarkable and I believe that's certainly been the influence and opened the door to these meetings for the club," he stated.

Site owner Entain has stated it will focus on greyhound racing but understands fans and the club will be "dissatisfied".

Mr Van Straaten, who took over running the club from his father in 1986, said speedway was "an essential part of Wolverhampton folklore".

"My energy in the last couple of days has actually turned to offering a new website where we can establish a Wolverhampton Speedway club and we can be the primary tenants," he said.

"I wish to produce our own place, I wish to be the main holder of the tenancy and also produce something that is open 6 days a week to help train motorcyclists; to train children to take them off the streets."

He said he had actually managed to bring an arena to Redcar and had actually acquired understanding from that project.

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

The reaction from individuals made him think this was possible.

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

Mr Van Straaten stated it would be an "tremendous" blow if it didn't take place, but included he was going to be favorable and they had the rest of this year to attempt to discover a site.

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