The Oxford Stadium commercial team discuss the latest developments at Sandy Lane ahead of our official launch event on Wednesday, April 13!
When we were handed the keys to Oxford Stadium in June 2021, the entire site required major refurbishment and the scale of our exciting regeneration project became apparent.
While the interior features remained in remarkably good condition, it was evident the stadium had been subject to almost a decade of neglect. Outside, the speedway and greyhound tracks resembled a jungle – parts of the site had been vandalised and we had tonnes of waste to dispose of.
It therefore gave our hard-working grounds team, tradesmen and support staff a huge buzz when tickets for launch night on April 13 when Oxford Cheetahs host Scunthorpe Scorpions were released.
The response to tickets going on sale has been excellent, and we cannot wait to welcome you all trackside for this historic evening. Naturally, work behind the scenes continues to ensure everyone attending has the best possible first experience of Oxford Stadium’s new era.
We are acutely aware of the limited number of parking spaces available on site, which is why we are in advanced talks to offer free parking to visitors attending our speedway and greyhound racing fixtures at a location within a 10-minute walk of our entrance.
We are also in discussions to provide a complementary shuttle service from our intended offsite parking location to our main entrance for those who do not wish to walk. It’s services like this which will minimise disruption locally and ensure visitors experience a smooth entry procedure which is vital to our short and long-term success.
We have received a lot of enquiries about disabled parking for opening night. Regrettably, spaces at the stadium are limited and available on a first come, first served, basis only. Our friendly team will be happy to assist with any additional enquiries sent to enquiries@oxford-stadium.co.uk.
BUY NOW! Tickets on sale for Oxford Stadium launch night
On the topic of speedway, the last month has been particularly busy as we countdown to the beginning of Oxford Speedway’s 2022 campaign.
We are pleased to confirm a new title sponsor has been agreed and we’ll be releasing further information very soon. On-track, a perimeter safety fence has been installed and we’ve taken delivery of our air fence which has been blown up and added real character outside.
The recent strong spell of weather has also enabled our team to add the finishing touches to the track and our new pits bay along the back straight which will enclose riders into a natural amphitheatre and generate a terrific buzz and noise on race nights.
We’re expecting tickets for Cheetahs’ opening fixture to reach capacity before the day of the meeting, so if you want to be trackside and part of our new era, we cannot encourage you enough to buy tickets now.
READ MORE: Oxford Speedway launches one-off draw for ticketholders on opening night
Work inside to complete the Savana Bar and Restaurant and Champs Bar is reaching its conclusion as well. We were pleased to welcome Molson Coors beverage company last week who have installed all the key functionalities to deliver its iconic beer brands to our visitors.
It’s the latest piece we’ve completed in our jigsaw to introduce the popular ‘Fab Five’ package to Oxford Stadium when greyhound racing returns in the summer. For £16.95, racegoers will gain admission, receive a race card, burger and chips, a pint of carling or glass of wine / soft drink and a £2 Tote bet.
We’ll be confirming more ticketing and fixture details once we have received our full licence from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) following inspection to ensure our facilities meet their world-leading welfare and care standards.
On a final note, we are pleased to have welcomed new members to our team in hospitality, customer-experience and kitchen-based roles since launching our recruitment drive last month.
Due to the volume of positions our regeneration has created, we are still on the lookout for bright, friendly, customer-focused individuals either searching for their first job or a management position in our hospitality areas.
To view a full list of current vacancies at Oxford Stadium, please click here.
As ever, we are grateful to our latest partners Logic Comms, Oxford Plumbing Supplies and Blanchford Building Supplies for their support.
Not long remains until our opening night – we’re just as excited as you are!
The Oxford Stadium commercial team.
