Haunting pics reveal abandoned UK sports stadium with 24,000 capacity terraces left to ruin
HAUNTING pictures have revealed the inside of an abandoned UK sports stadium which used to house 24,000 fans.
Once a historic venue, the Brandon Stadium used to be the home of the Coventry Bees motorcycle speedway team which raced from 1928 to 2018.
The popular club enjoyed a rich history, and won the now defunct Midland Cup eleven times before it’s closure five years ago.
But the once grand stadium, which used to host thousands of cheering fans in its pomp, is now a shadow of its former self.
Pictures taken by urban explorer Macorlee Farnaby gave viewers a glimpse into the iconic but ageing stadium which is located six miles east of the city.
The cavernous ground has an aura of a bygone era with rows of empty seats and eerie silence piercing the air.
Abandoned staircases leading to and from the stadium are now heavily adorned with graffiti.
While the colourful stands leading to the main enclosure and the visiting team are now sadly fading away.
Old fridges and worn betting counters are markers belonging to happier times for motorcycle fans.
And he also captured old tickets and flyers littered around the grounds where overgrown weeds have now taken over.
Dilapidated food stall signs hail back to when the stadium was a bustling hub for thousands of fans.
But there are still faded murals depicting legendary motorcyclists on the walls.
Macorlee was even lucky enough to stumble upon an old regular fan of the stadium who had been a regular visitor of the stadium until it shut down.
Macorlee told the Mirror: “He told us about so many amazing memories and how all families used to come together, put their differences aside and enjoy a great day out.
“Walking around you could sense how many memories must have been held in this place.
“I could feel a real positive vibe full of happy memories. Trees were growing through the concrete platforms. The greenery stood out against the decay.
“There was a lot of graffiti that made some amazing artwork. People who saw my photos thanked me. They said their memories came flooding back.
“One man told me that his elderly father couldn’t stop smiling after looking at this.
“Coventry Stadium was indeed a big part of people’s life back in the day.”
The motorcycle club enjoyed success over the years, especially during the 1960s to 1990s.
Notable riders at the club include Nigel Boocock, Chris Harris and Simon Cross.
The Bees’ legacy could still live on in the future as there is a local ongoing campaign to bring back stock car racing and dirt bike racing to the site.
In early 2022, an organization advocating the return of motorsport to the site, Save Coventry Speedway, proposed to the council that speedway be restored to the stadium, along with a museum and restaurant.
However, Brandon Estates maintained plans to build a housing development, stating that speedway at the stadium is currently not “financially viable.”
Despite its history, the stadium has notoriously been a site for many fires including an arson attack recently in May 2022.