Poole Pirates - Stadium

Stadium

Further information: Poole Stadium

Poole Stadium (also known as Wimborne Road Stadium), has been the Pirates home track since the club was created in 1948. It is situated near to the town centre and is owned by Poole Borough Council. The stadium's capacity was limited to 5,500 people in 2008 for safety reasons. Prior to 1948, the stadium had been used as a cycle track and had been home to Poole Town Football Club since 1933. There is an all seater grandstand on the home straight, and a glass fronted grandstand on the back straight. The viewing areas on the track bends are un-sheltered and standing only.

At the start of 1948 the tarmac cycle track was dug up and replaced with a 384 metres (420 yd) speedway track. A steel safety fence was erected around the outside of the track and the football pitch remained within the centre of the track. The first speedway meeting took place in the stadium on April 26, 1948, in tragic circumstances. The match against the Yarmouth Bloaters, which Poole won 74-32, saw Yarmouth's Reg Craven killed in the first race in the very first match at the track. A sheltered 1,100 seat grandstand was erected on the home straight in 1960 and is still in use. The terracing on the back straight of the speedway track was demolished in 1997 and replaced with a new glass fronted grandstand incorporating a 440 seat restaurant, two bars, Tote betting facilities and multiple viewing screens. The speedway track was reduced in size to 299.1 metres (981 ft) to accommodate a new greyhound track. Stadia UK were issued a long term lease on the stadium by the council, with the Pirates promotion sub-leasing use of the stadium and facilities from Stadia UK.

In 2004, Poole Stadium was chosen to host the Speedway World Cup final by organiser Benfield Sports International (BSI). Poole hosted the race-off on August 5, in which Sweden and Poland progressed to the final. The final took place on August 7 with Sweden becoming World Champions, defeating Great Britain into second place by one point. Temporary stands were erected around the corners of the track to provide 2,200 extra seats. The official attendance figure at the stadium for the final was 7,131.

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