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Swindon Stadium

A Speedway event at the stadium in 2009
Interactive map of Swindon Stadium
Full name	Abbey Stadium, Swindon
Location	Lady Lane,Blunsdon,Swindon, England
Coordinates	51°36′25″N1°47′31″W / 51.607°N 1.792°W /51.607; -1.792
Capacity	2,000[1]
Construction
Broke ground	1947
Opened	23 July 1949
Closed	27 December 2025
Demolished	2026 (scheduled)
Tenants
Greyhound racing Swindon Robins
Website
Official website

Swindon Stadium, also known asAbbey Stadium, was agreyhound racing andspeedway track inBlunsdon,Swindon, inWiltshire, England.^[2]

From inception, the stadium was home to theSwindon Robins, who later competed in theSGB Premiership.^[3] Three years later in 1952, greyhound racing was introduced, with regulation from theGreyhound Board of Great Britain, using theARC fixture schedule.^[4]

Since July 2006, the stadium's footprint was the subject of numerous redevelopment proposals. In November 2016, housing developments began on disused land towards the rear of the stadium. On 17 October 2019, the Swindon Robbins raced at the end of the season, and did not return due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, and uncertainty regarding the stadium's future.^[5] In June 2022, permission was granted to build houses on the majority of the stadium's car park.

In March 2025, its owners announced the stadium would close at the end of the year. The stadium hosted its final public greyhound racing event on 23 December 2025, and its final greyhound racing event was held on 27 December 2025, behind closed doors.^[6]

The stadium is planned for demolition in early 2026, and a planning application to demolish the stadium and convert the land into residential and community development has been filed.^[7]

Abbey Stadium opened to the public on 23 July 1949 when it hosted the Swindon Robins speedway team; greyhound racing followed three years later on 1 November 1952.^[8] Initially, the greyhound racing wasindependent (unlicensed), with 2,000 people attending to watch a greyhound called Don't Care win a 324-yard race in a time of 19.02 secs at odds of 6–1.^[8][9]

Swindon had two earlier short-lived greyhound track venues, in the village ofWroughton and near the town centre in Edinburgh Street, but both had disappeared by the mid-thirties.^[10] Abbey Stadium occupied a rural setting south of Lady Lane and was named after the Blunsdon Abbey estate in Blunsdon St Andrew, a Victorian estate which had seen its main house destroyed by fire in 1904.^[11]

Abbey Stadium was later acquired by the Bristol Greyhound Racing Association, owners ofOxford andEastville (Bristol) stadiums. This led to the track becoming part of theNational Greyhound Racing Club during April 1968. The Silver Plume competition arrived in the same year, as the track's principal event.^[12] Another independent track to the northwest of Swindon opened during the sixties at Common Platt, but had little effect on the business of its larger neighbour.^[13]

In 1983,ADT (British Car Auctions) acquired Abbey Stadium and used its large car park as a base for their sales. Other competitions at the track were the Grand National of the West, Pride of the West and the Jubilee Stakes.^[14] In 1997, Gaming International (then The BS Group) sold their Eastville Stadium and bought Abbey Stadium from ADT. The entire Bristol operation including the racing office, bookmakers, trainers, theWestern Two Year Old Produce Stakes and the BAGS contract transferred to Abbey Stadium.^[15]

In 2008, due to the closure ofWalthamstow stadium, Abbey Stadium hosted theArc competition. In 2018, Abbey Stadium signed a deal withArena Racing Company to hold weekly matinée meetings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.^[16] In 2018, the Arc competition was discontinued due to expected track changes, but following the sudden closure ofTowcester Greyhound Stadium, leading owner John Turner stepped in to save theOaks with a late scheduling in December.^[17]

Abbey Stadium signed a new media rights five-year contract extension with Arena Racing Company to run from January 2025.^[18]

In July 2006, landowners Gaming International announced that they wished to demolish the stadium, and transform the site into a business park, but would work to find a new home for the Swindon Robins. The announcement triggered a petition with over 2,000 signatories to save the speedway events. Clarke Osborne, chief executive of Gaming International, argued that there was not enough support to keep speedway events commercially viable, and pointed to noise complaints from local residents.^[19]

In May 2007, following the Save Our Robins campaign, Gaming International proposed a new purpose-built stadium for speedway and greyhound racing, as well as a new business park, covered market, and 450 homes, using disused land towards the back of the stadium.^[20] In February 2008, councillors approved plans for the new stadium.^[21] In May 2008, planning inspectors approved plans for the new stadium.^[22] In September 2008, the plans for the new stadium were approved, but halted due to theGreat Recession. In November 2010, the plans were given the green light again.^[23] In August 2011, outline planning permission was granted again.^[24] In March 2013, the plans were proposed to the public at an exhibition.^[25] In December 2013, permission was granted to build 66 homes on disused ground at the stadium, in the hope these would kickstart plans for the new stadium.^[26] In March 2015, plans for a new stadium were renewed.^[27]

In November 2016, housing development plans on disused grounds went ahead. but the stadium redevelopment plans were delayed.^[28][29] In June 2019, the original plans to reposition the stadium and track were scrapped, and the track was reduced in circumference from 463 metres by creating two new bends inside the old circumference, making way for housing; and as a consequence the 509-metre distance was also scrapped.^[30] The planning authority disallowed any further housing additions until progress was made with renovating the stadium.^[31] The stadium and track remained in its original position with plans to install prefabricated buildings in place of the existing buildings, instead of a new-built stadium as originally promised.^[30][32] The stadium hosted its final speedway racing event at the end of the season on 17 October 2019, and the Swindon Robins did not compete in future seasons due to uncertainty surrounding the stadium's redevelopment plans.^[33][3] The development plans were largely halted throughout 2020 and 2021 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, however a new pre-fabricated seating stand was constructed during this time.^[34]

In June 2022, buildersTaylor Wimpey were granted permission to build 127 homes in the stadium's car park.^[35] In December 2022, a stand-off occurred between Gaming International,Swindon Borough Council and Taylor Wimpey over perimeters and expected redevelopment. Clarke Osborne of Gaming International issued a press release, stating that it wanted to instead relocate the stadium entirely, seeking a new ground to host a 5,000-capacity stadium to host speedway, karting and car racing.^[36] However, the industry remained sceptical as similar statements had been issued in prior years by Gaming International forMilton Keynes Greyhound Stadium,Poole Stadium,Reading Stadium andEastville Stadium.^[37][38] In March 2024, an application to remove the requirements for the site to host speedway and greyhound racing events was presented.^[39] In September 2024, the Swindon Needs Speedway group was launched and created a petition to attempt to save speedway events at the grounds. At the same time, Gaming International speculated that a new stadium could be built nearRoyal Wootton Bassett.^[40]

In March 2025, Gaming International announced that the stadium would host its final greyhound racing event at the end of the year and that the stadium would be demolished, with Clarke Osborne highlighting mounting costs and declining attendances.^[41] In April 2025, Gaming International andLegal & General proposed a new housing development to sit on the footprint of the Abbey Stadium.^[42] In September 2025, Gaming International's new division, Swindon Motorsports Ltd, urged residents to have their say on a consultation into a proposed new speedway stadium on the outskirts of Swindon.^[43]

The Abbey Stadium hosted its final greyhound racing event on 27 December 2025 behind closed doors, and is planned for demolition in early 2026.^[7]

^[44]

• Sports venues in Swindon
• Defunct speedway venues in England
• Defunct greyhound racing venues in the United Kingdom
• 1949 establishments in England
• 2025 disestablishments in England
• Sports venues completed in 1949

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