A key part of Peterborough’s leisure scene is to close after 75 years in the city.
The owners of Peterborough Greyhound Stadium – which survived a large fire back in 1999 – have announced it is to close as a racing venue due to the financial impact of the coronavirus.
A statement from the Perkins family which own the stadium says they have decided to – ‘cease trading as a greyhound racing stadium with immediate effect’.
It’s a sad loss to the city’s leisure scene and a venue where ESP and many other local organisations have held many special events, including fundraisers for local charities.
The venue was closed when the pandemic hit and the owners say the long- term viability of continuing to trade from the site as a greyhound racing stadium is unsustainable and they’ve been forced to take a difficult decision.
In a statement the owners thanked everyone for their support over the years – “So, it is with a heavy heart that the Perkins family would like to thank all greyhound owners and trainers, past and present, who have been attached to the stadium over the years for their support. We would also like to thank all those patrons who have visited and enjoyed a night’s racing with us over the years.”
The stadium in Fengate was a lively hub of racing, dining and entertainment and the huge loss of revenue due to the enforced closure has hit them hard like so many other leisure outlets in the city.
The statement said – “We are an evening greyhound racing venue and rely heavily on income from customers attending the venue to eat, drink, and bet (on our Tote) to survive. Without the substantial number of visitors we have experienced in the run up to the current Coronavirus outbreak, and the prospect of this not being achieved in even the longer term as social distancing measures remain in place, the long- term viability of continuing to trade from the site as a greyhound racing stadium is unsustainable.
“This is a decision that has not been taken lightly and has been taken in conjunction with and on the advice of our accountants. Long term, we are advised that the site cannot make a sufficient return to continue operating profitably as a greyhound racing stadium.”
However, they do say that the company remains active, and they are looking at other opportunities.
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