Wolverhampton Speedway Bosses Pledge To Discover New Venue

25 April 2023
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Nick Clitheroe & Clare LissamanBBC News


Speedway club employers have actually pledged to find a new place after news they can not stay at their home of 96 years.


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


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


But Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten stated the "fantastic" assistance had actually led to talks with authorities about a new website.


"The truth that this petition has been signed and got such a big amount of support in simply a few days is rather impressive and I believe that's certainly been the influence and opened the door to these conferences for the club," he stated.


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


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


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


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


He stated he had actually handled to bring a stadium to Redcar and had gotten knowledge from that project.


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


The reaction from people made him believe this was possible.


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


Mr Van Straaten said it would be an "tremendous" blow if it didn't happen, 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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