ARC to buy Newcastle’s Central Park greyhound stadium
Arena Racing Company will buy Newcastle’s Central Park greyhound stadium from Cearnsport Limited.
UK.- Arena Racing Company (ARC) continues to expand its portfolio of UK greyhound racing stadia after reaching an agreement to buy Newcastle’s Central Park stadium from Cearnsport Limited.
The racetrack operator already has greyhound venues in Nottingham and Sunderland as well as Perry Barr in Birmingham.
Mark Kingston, ARC director of media and technology, said: “We are delighted to have reached agreement with Cearnsport Limited, and to welcome Central Park into the ARC group of venues.
“Central Park will really enhance the portfolio of greyhound racing that we host and reiterates our long-term commitment to the sport. We will, of course, fulfil any standing arrangements with regards the track’s media rights, but look forward to Central Park becoming a key part of our schedule going forward.”
Roger Cearns will stay on as Central Park’s lead promoter during the transition as the racecourse prepares for the return of live spectators. SIS will continue as lead media rights distributor under its current agreement.
Cearns said: “I have, for some time now, thought that after 60 years connected to greyhound stadiums and 23 years at Central Park that the time is right for me to retire for younger people to take charge and to secure a sound future for Central Park, its trainers and employees.
“I believe that being within the ARC group will give Central Park, it’s staff and trainers a secure and prosperous future and my best wishes go to them.”
See also: Curtain falls on iconic Belle Vue greyhound stadium
Revamp of UK greyhound racing
ARC has entered a strategic joint venture with Entain Plc in a bid to revamp the appeal of greyhound racing in the UK and reach new audiences.
The two companies will collaborate to create “a single optimised UK Greyhound Racing schedule” and a vehicle for licensing media rights to Entain and other domestic and international betting operators from January 1 2024 to December 31 2029.
The JV will hold the long term exclusive rights to content from 12 stadia – Arena Racing’s stadia, independent stadia within Greyhound Media Group (Kinsley, Sheffield, Swindon and Yarmouth) and those owned by Entain (Crayford, Hove, Monmore Green and Romford).
