Tigers fans
Since announcing details of our plans for press and practice, and the annual meet the riders event, we have become aware of a strong, and growing, sense of supporter disagreement with what had been proposed. We would like to now address this and make you aware of changes to some of those plans.
Unfortunately this year the press & practice event will have to be behind closed doors.
This is due to a combination of us wanting to really focus on gaining the maximum media publicity we can achieve which is its purpose after all, and which is so vital to the club in support of our desire to grow our crowd base and lead to a secure future as we all wish. Also, we will have some final remedial work yet to complete in and around the stadium and will require those additional few days in order to safely complete this in good time for our Sunday opener against Edinburgh.
We accept that this maybe a disappointing departure from previous seasons, and that supporters who are available to attend mid week do like to see their first glimpse of riders on track. However, with all of the work which has gone in to presenting supporters with a much improved Ashfield we wish everything to be fully in place for opening day. We want our supporters to come along to the opening fixture, not only looking forward to the track action, but also to feel excited about the changes and improvements they will see in their surroundings, and we ask please that you support us in waiting just those few more days. We will revisit this again for 2014.
As regards the Meet Your Riders event. Our selection of the Marriott Hotel had been intended to allow us a bigger space and to be able to bring you coverage of the live Birmingham V Coventry Elite League meeting on SKY SPORTS as an additional attraction to hearing from the new look Tigers team.
We have always claimed that we will listen to supporter opinion, and whilst we cannot change direction on every occasion, we have decided to bow to feedback we have received and hold a smaller event within the Ashfield Bar function room.
This event will run from 7:00pm to 9:30pm and will be free of charge, however we will look to take a collection for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund.
We trust that the above will help the majority, and look forward to receiving your support at this hectic, but exciting time for the club.
Alun, Gordon, Colin, Craig, Derek & Ian