Feature

Speedway team kicked out of new National Stadium

Manchester City Council has curtailed the tenancy of the Belle Vue Aces speedway team at the new National Speedway Stadium.

The council said that the team had failed to pay rent and “meet important requirements” of its tenancy agreement, according to UK commercial broadcaster ITV.

The club has also had its licence revoked by the operators of the national speedway league, the British Speedway Promoters’ Association, “due to concerns over financial mismanagement”.

Manchester City Council’s leader, Sir Richard Leese, said that the team’s parent company, BV Arena, had failed to pay any rent since the new £7m (€7.9m/$8.8m) stadium opened in April.

“The BSPA and the City Council have been in regular dialogue over the situation and both parties remain absolutely committed to speedway in Manchester, but this must be a long-term and sustainable solution for the club to ensure that Belle Vue Aces continue as the city’s speedway team,” Leese said.

“The City Council will now work closely with the BSPA to put in arrangements that can ensure the success of the National Speedway Stadium and develop speedway in Manchester. The Eastlands Trust will take over operations of the National Speedway Stadium in the short term.”

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