‘We just couldn’t let speedway die in Birmingham after 95 years with development plans for Perry Barr’

Birmingham Brummies, the city’s 95-year-old speedway team, will remain in Perry Barr ‘for the next two to three years’ following confirmation of the team’s promotion to the Premiership.

The Brummies’ future was in doubt earlier this year after developers set their sights on demolishing the team’s home track, Perry Barr Stadium, in favour of a 400-plot housing development, known as The Races.

Developers Corbally Group had intended to submit a planning application this year ‘to deliver 427 new homes as part of a vibrant new community’. However, following talks with the Brummies, the redevelopment of the stadium off Aldridge Road will now be put back to allow the motorsport team to find a new home while they compete in the speedway’s top flight. It’ll be the first time the Brummies will race in the top tier of speedway in a decade where they’ll compete against Belle Vue, Ipswich, King’s Lynn, Leicester, Oxford and Sheffield.

Brummies’ CEO Nigel Tolley said: “It’s been a stressful few months not knowing what the future had in store for Brummies. But our persistence and determination has paid off in the end and it’s absolutely terrific that we can keep Brummies on track for at least another season.

“People were already aware that the Premiership was the only option open to us due to the stadium only being available to us on a Monday night now – but it’s a new challenge and adventure that we are all very excited about.

“The Premiership grew in stature once again last year and we saw some big name riders with plenty of talent coming back to the league. We feel honoured to be a part of that league now and we won’t be going into it just to make up the numbers.

“Despite not being able to promise anything concrete, we’ve been speaking to riders for quite some time now – and it’s fair to say we are more than well underway with our team building.

“We’re going to have some names and exciting talents that the Brummies supporters will love. And once we’ve fully completed the jigsaw in the next week or two, we’ll start unveiling our team that will lead us into 2024.”

Mr Tolley added: “We just couldn’t let speedway die [in Birmingham]. We are going to lose the stadium eventually, and in the next couple of years we’re going to have to look around for new land where we can build a new stadium or use an existing stadium. But at least we’re going to be in business for the next couple of years, hopefully.”

The current lease on the Perry Barr Stadium is set to expire in 2026. Speaking back in August, Mr Tolley said if the Brummies did become homeless, one answer could be a move to nearby Alexander Stadium, home to the Commonwealth Games last year.