On the eve of the new speedway season, Workington Comets have had to retain their afternoon start time, in place since the move to Northside.
One of the planned improvements to the track facilities was the installation of floodlights which had been planned to be in place for the start of the season.
Promoter Andrew Bain said: “Unfortunately there will be a slight delay and as a result, all our home fixtures throughout April will now commence at 3pm, rather than 6pm as originally planned.
“I am continually trying to improve the facilities wherever possible and as we head into the new season, one or two improvements around the club will be noticed, and I really hope fans like what has been done.
“We are always looking for ways to move forward, and these changes are part of our ongoing commitment to making the club better for everyone.”
Bain has also revealed how tough it was sort to sort out the Comets line-up for the 2026 season.
He said: “Team building has been one of the most challenging tasks yet. I had a number of different teams drafted, and I won’t pretend the process was easy. Some very tough decisions had to be made along the way.
“However, I truly believe the team we have settled on has been built not only to give us the firepower we need at home, but also to be competitive away from home, which is vital in this league.
“As we approach our third consecutive season of Championship League racing, it’s fair to say the journey so far has been a steep learning curve for everyone involved. That said, I hope the fans can all see what I’m aiming to achieve — not just short-term success, but real longevity and stability for the club.
“As well as off-track facilities, I am always looking to improve the on-track entertainment, but judging by the feedback from the riders — along with the consistently high standard of racing we see — I believe the track really does speak for itself.
“We’ve also worked hard to keep things affordable for our supporters. For the third consecutive season, we have absorbed the cost of any admission price increases for 2026, because we understand how difficult things can be in today’s world and we never take supporters’ commitment lightly.
“In fact, we’re going a step further by running a kids go free for 2026 community campaign in association with Forth Engineering, First Image Signs and MCS Plant Hire, as we truly believe young fans are the future of British speedway and essential to the sport’s long-term survival.”
The 2026 admission prices are: Adults (aged 18 and over) £20; Students (aged 16-18) £15; Child (aged 0-15) free when accompanied by a paying adult.
The only increase the Comets have made is to parking, which will now be £2.
The club has also had to address an important subject as over the last few seasons, it has turned something of a blind eye to supporters bringing their own drinks into the arena.
This contravenes the Comets’ drinks licence and goes against the agreement to abolish cans and bottles within the arena — something that aligns the club with virtually all sporting venues across the UK.
The club said: “We kindly ask that no alcoholic beverages are brought into the arena on race days. This is not a decision taken lightly, but it is necessary to ensure we protect our licence and safeguard the future of the club.”
