It’s over 22 years since engine’s thrashed in anger around Bradford’s Odsal Stadium for both speedway and stock cars. It’s closure it 1997 was supposed to be temporary whilst Superdome was built - which never happened and eventually in 2003 the Bulls returned to Odsal for a 17 year roller coaster of boom and bust!
As a promotion we have now talked with 3 different owners of the club to return our sport and several years ago Speedway veteran Tony Mole and ourselves came the closest to realise that dream. With a deal secured with OK Bulls and with them Malaysian owners, confidence was high of an imminent return.Sadly they crashed and that ended another bid. Trust me, we have left few stones unturned over 23 years - several years ago we even had George Galloway MP on the case an extremely supportive which was when we found out that the council had quietly offoloaded the lease to the RFL and therefore no longer in control.
In Administration the steel fence was plundered and ripped out in what must be regarded a criminal act by an individual who at the time was a preferred bidder for the then stricken Bulls but then walked away.ASTONISHING & the man, immoral
The current operators, despite attempts to make contact have as yet not shown any enthusiasm for motorsports to return.
We then come up to date when in the Spring of last year the Bull’s sensationally announced they would leave Odsal and move to Dewsbury citing the crippling costs of operation.
In fairness that was where I personally believed the Odsal Stadium saga would end with probable redevelopment likely.
There have been murmured resurrections in the months since, indeed Tony Mole and myself again discussed it last Autumn
Thus far nothing had developed.
In the last few weeks Keith McGhee, a respected person I have known for many years and a writer for Speedway Star and local media as well as speedway roles, made contact revealing a new twist that the RFL are considering inviting proposals for usage of Odsal which may allow the Bulls to return if the operating costs were significantly lowered. An obvious point which one must wonder why this was not considered for almost 2 decades ago!
Keith is liasing with the RFL attempting to broker a solution and attempting to bring parties together to see if there is common interest. We have once again stated our strong interest and conveyed our own thoughts on an investment north of £300k required. It is hoped that a preliminary meeting can be arranged with the RFL in coming weeks to ascertain their own ideas, understand what plans exist for the return of the Bulls and how and if Motorsports can return and contribute to the future.
Personally I think it is far too premature and speculative for a public airing and indeed we have not divulged anything and quite obviously there is a passion for the place. Keith as I would expect has released the story. We are only commenting as an update to the breaking story.
But let’s not all get overly optimistic. I have to admit to being intrigued and certainly the RFL have a major challenge in making Odsal viable. It could not survive on just speedway and stock cars, the overall stadium operation costs are enormous just o keep it alive. If the RFL thoughts are serious and the sports can once again ‘fit’ then this pig might eventually fly. It will be hugely costly, but where there is a will there is a way if circles can be squared.
We have fully committed our support to discussion but at the moment I would park it until this had more integrity to it and we will keep you updated. At the moment it’s talks about talks!