History
In the past the ground was used mostly for rugby league matches and was the home stadium of Hull F.C. prior to the opening of KC Stadium. The main entrance was on Airlie Street, giving rise to Hull FC's nickname as 'the Airlie Birds'. When it closed, the stadium's capacity was 10,500 people. It hosted four matches in various Rugby League World Cups. The ground had a strong connection with the city's former fishing industry being not far from Hessle Road.
The stadium has also been used for football with Hull City A.F.C. using the ground at times for their home matches.
In 1970, British League Division Two speedway was introduced and proved to be exceedingly popular with large crowds cheering on the Hull Vikings each Wednesday. Hull had the dubious distinction of being the very last league speedway team ever to appear at the famous West Ham Stadium, on 23 May 1972, when they beat the closing Hammers 40-38. Subsequent years saw their promotion to the first division and the inclusion of world champions Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger and Egon Müller to ride for the team. Promotional changes, falling crowds and financial problems eventually saw the Vikings demise until their resurrection some years later at Hull's other rugby league and speedway stadium, Craven Park.
The Boulevard was also the host of the annual Yorkshire Television Trophy meeting during the 1970's and early 1980's. With the British leagues home to not only the best British riders such as Peter Collins, Dave Jessup and Malcolm Simmons, but also to many top class riders from around the world including Briggs, Mauger, Müller, Ole Olsen, Bruce Penhall and Phil Crump, the meetings often attracted fields which were as good in quality as many World Finals.
The ground consisted of three stands, the most popular being the Threepenny stand, where the majority of singing and chanting occurred. It was given its name when the stadium opened as it was 3 old pence for entry. In July 1985, Hull's threepenny stand closed for safety reasons. A plaque was unveiled on the 'new' threepenny stand some years ago by STAND and Hull FC. It has since been rescued.
In 2003 after Hull FC left its home ground a new promoter gained a lease from Hull City Council for two years with the intention of running greyhounds once again. Whilst they were negotiating for a possible third year the stadium's future looked in doubt due to a hostile takeover by a well known Stainforth promoter and an accountant Philip Webster of Cherry Burton. He failed to file a new lease and do repairs the council considered necessary so they refused to extend the lease.
On 25 October 2007 The Boulevard reopened for greyhound racing for the first time in 28 months. There were eight races in total. The stadium will also be used for reserve rugby league games.
Read more about this topic: The Boulevard (stadium)
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“The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is that they do not know the present. History is a hill or high point of vantage, from which alone men see the town in which they live or the age in which they are living.”
—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)
“Every generation rewrites the past. In easy times history is more or less of an ornamental art, but in times of danger we are driven to the written record by a pressing need to find answers to the riddles of today.... In times of change and danger when there is a quicksand of fear under men’s reasoning, a sense of continuity with generations gone before can stretch like a lifeline across the scary present and get us past that idiot delusion of the exceptional Now that blocks good thinking.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)
“Revolutions are the periods of history when individuals count most.”
—Norman Mailer (b. 1923)