Oxford Stadium Managing Director Kevin Boothby has encouraged racegoers to buy tickets for the city’s first greyhound racing fixture in a decade in advance due to high demand.
The Cowley venue is preparing to host its biggest crowd since it reopened in April of this year when the first race begins at 7.30pm on Friday, September 2, as part of the Star Sports Gala Weekend Festival of Greyhound Racing.
Mr Boothby – who secured a 10-year lease from stadium owners Galliard Homes in June 2021 – has extended the stadium’s capacity to 3,500 ahead of opening night and confirmed all executive suite tickets have been sold out.
“The public’s response to our regeneration project has been truly staggering,” said Kevin. “We forecast a crowd of up to 2,000 for our first greyhound racing fixture when drafting our initial plans.
“But uptake on tickets since they were launched suggests we’ve again underestimated demand, which is why capacity has been extended once more.
“It promises to be an emotional but memorable night for the many thousands of individuals and families we’re excited to welcome through our doors, many of whom would not have stepped foot in our building for at least 10 years.
“We’ve launched an online ticketing platform and I would encourage anyone considering attending to book in advance.”
Racegoers can attend opening night for just £9 while all U14s who attend with a paying adult go free.
A Fab5 deal has been introduced too, entitling adults to admission, a drink, a programme, £2 bet plus burger and chips for just £19.95 per person.
There is also an option to enjoy a two-course meal in the Savana Bar and Restaurant with panoramic views of the stadium for £34.95, U14s cost £10.95.
The same pricing will apply to Oxford Stadium’s other scheduled greyhound racing fixtures on every Friday and Saturday night from September 2 until Saturday, October 29. No racing will take place over the weekend which falls on Bonfire Night.
Mr Boothby hopes the return of greyhound racing coupled with speedway racing and the delivery of mental health and wellbeing programmes in partnership with the Frank Bruno Foundation can help Oxford Stadium become a self-sustaining venue.
He added: “I’ve been brought up around greyhound racing, a sport which is my passion and my life.
“But there is a bigger picture to Oxford Stadium. We’re reinstalling sports and community projects which are positively impacting the lives of local people and creating scores of jobs a short period after the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.
“The stadium is now back in the hands of the local community which is everything I could have wished for, now we want everyone living in Oxfordshire to be part of it.”
Tickets for the first greyhound racing fixture in Oxford for a decade can be purchased directly from the Oxford Stadium website by clicking here.
