Hackney Wick Stadium
Encyclopedia
Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, in the London Borough of Hackney
, was opened in 1932 and was mainly used for greyhound racing
and speedway
.
In 1994, a £12M stand and restaurant was built and the stadium was renamed the London Stadium, Hackney. In December 1997 the company that owned the stadium, London Stadium Hackney Ltd., went out of business.
and demolished in 2003. The site is now to be used as part of London's Olympic Stadium
site in 2012. According to a report in The Observer
newspaper on 9 December 2007, it will host the new Olympic media and broadcast centre, and, after the Games, will be turned over for commercial use.
speedway team raced there before the second world war. The Hackney Hawks
speedway team rode at the venue from 1963 to 1983. Hackney Kestrels
speedway team rode here from 1984 until 1990. In 1996, a speedway team under the name of London Lions
rode but it was found to be financially unviable.
The British Speedway Grand Prix
was held at the stadium in 1995 and 1996.
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, was opened in 1932 and was mainly used for greyhound racing
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
and speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
.
In 1994, a £12M stand and restaurant was built and the stadium was renamed the London Stadium, Hackney. In December 1997 the company that owned the stadium, London Stadium Hackney Ltd., went out of business.
Stadium today
The Stadium was left derelict for several years until it was bought by the London Development AgencyLondon Development Agency
The London Development Agency is the Regional Development Agency for Greater London, England. It is a functional body of the Greater London Authority...
and demolished in 2003. The site is now to be used as part of London's Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (London)
The London Olympic Stadium will be the centrepiece of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The stadium is located at Marshgate Lane in Stratford in the Lower Lea Valley and has capacity for the Games of approximately 80,000 making it temporarily the third largest stadium in Britain behind...
site in 2012. According to a report in The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
newspaper on 9 December 2007, it will host the new Olympic media and broadcast centre, and, after the Games, will be turned over for commercial use.
Speedway History
Hackney Wick WolvesHackney Wick Wolves
Hackney Wick Wolves speedway opened in 1935 at Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, London, and operated until the outbreak of World War II in 1939.-History:The Walthamstow Wolves closed at the end of the 1934 season and the team moved into Hackney Stadium...
speedway team raced there before the second world war. The Hackney Hawks
Hackney Hawks
Hackney Hawks speedway opened in 1963 at Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, London and operated until 1983.-Early days:Originally opened by Mike Parker, the promotion was then sold to Len Silver who was the club's promoter for the next twenty seasons....
speedway team rode at the venue from 1963 to 1983. Hackney Kestrels
Hackney Kestrels
The Hackney Kestrels were a Speedway team which operated from 1984 until their closure in 1990 when the Crayford Kestrels transferred the promotion to Hackney.In 1988 the Kestrels won the League Championship, winning twenty-six of their thirty league matches...
speedway team rode here from 1984 until 1990. In 1996, a speedway team under the name of London Lions
London Lions (speedway)
The London Lions were a motorcycle speedway team that operated for one season in 1996 from the Hackney Wick Stadium, the former home of the Hackney Hawks and the Hackney Kestrels..-Management:...
rode but it was found to be financially unviable.
The British Speedway Grand Prix
Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain
The Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series.-Winners:-See also:...
was held at the stadium in 1995 and 1996.
External links
- Hackney Hawks Website
- Aerial view of Hackney Wick Stadium 1938
- UK Running Track Directory Details of the history of the track
- The Wick was ramshackle, basic beast of a greyhound track ... and all the better for it Article on Betfair.com
- Bankrupt on the first night - the desperate story of the 'new' Hackney Wick Article on Betfair.com
- Regeneration came five years too late for much-loved Hackney Wick Article on Betfair.com
