restored to its former glory

“RESTORED TO ITS FORMER GLORY”
ESTABLISHED 1891
“ My love of cycling started at the Herne
Hill Velodrome; it gives young people the
opportunity to experience a whole new
sport and activity. What’s more it’s part of
England’s racing history and it generates our
country’s future winners. ”
Sir Bradley Wiggins
CONTENTS
3Introduction
4
A British obsession with TWO wheels and a chain
6
Herne Hill Velodrome: the UK’s cycling heritage
8
Herne Hill Velodrome today
9
The future of Herne Hill Velodrome
11
Sponsorship Opportunities
12
Professional Events Programme
13
Herne Hill Revival Festival
14
London Cycle Sportive
15
International Ladies Day
2
INTRODUCTION
Herne Hill Velodrome, an iconic open-air cycle track in South East London,
is the UK’s most historic cycling venue.
2016 will see Herne Hill Velodrome celebrate its 125th birthday and it is the only
remaining venue still in operation from the 1948 Olympic Games.
During its rich and long history Herne Hill Velodrome has regularly attracted many of
the world’s best cyclists; where Sir Bradley Wiggins cut his teeth on the bike and other
famous cyclists to have ridden the track have included Victoria Pendleton, Sir Chris Hoy,
Chris Boardman, Alex Dowsett and Alberto Contador.
Herne Hill Velodrome is run by cyclists, for cyclists of all ages and abilities, competitive
and non-competitive. The growing popularity of cycling has seen visits to the velodrome
more than treble in the past three years, from 13,000 in 2012 to more than 42,000 during
the last 12 months.
Whilst the track itself was resurfaced in 2013 the next 18 months will see the biggest
transformation at the site in many years. A new pavilion, a new grandstand and other
new facilities will ensure that Herne Hill Velodrome remains at the heart of British
Cycling for the foreseeable future.
3
A BRITISH OBSESSION
WITH TWO WHEELS AND A CHAIN
In 2017 the bicycle will be 200 years old and yet in the last five years cycling has
experienced massive growth in participation and profile in the UK.
There is no sign of this recent British obsession with two wheels and a chain slowing as
participation, spend on bikes and related equipment, attendances at events and media
coverage all continue to grow at a rapid rate. Now more than a third of UK adults are
classed as “current riders” by Mintel, rising to more than 50% of 18 to 34-year-olds.
4
At the beginning of 2012, British Cycling had 42,500 members; by the end of January
2015 it had surged past 100,000. Cycling events across the board, including road races,
mountain bike events and BMX contests are on the rise, up by more than 50 per cent
since 2008.
Sir Bradley Wiggins, Victoria Pendleton, Chris Froome, Laura Trott and other successful
cyclists combined with the popularity of events such as the London 2012 Olympics and the
British stages of the Tour de France have spurred thousands to clamber on to two wheels.
12
CYCLING MEDALS
WON BY TEAM GB
AT LONDON
2012
3
5
400,000
BRITISH WINNERS
MILLION
OF THE
TOUR DE FRANCE
IN THE LAST
ROADSIDE FOR
ROADSIDE
4
UK TOUR DE FRANCE
2014
YEARS
5
FOR
AVIVA WOMEN'S TOUR
2015
HERNE HILL VELODROME: THE UK’S CYCLING HERITAGE
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
w
EARLY DAYS
w
1948
OLYMPICS
There were a number of tracks
built in the early 1890s, and Herne
Hill was built as a state of the
art Victorian facility in order to
provide a safe, banked cycle track
for the south London counties.
The track was a brainchild of
celebrated amateur racing cyclist,
George Lacey Hillier, who with
the support of local cycling
clubs - one of which still exists
today - Dulwich Paragon, floated
a company called the London
County Athletics Ground Limited
to construct the first track in 1891.
1950
At the beginning of 1948, having
been used as a wartime barrage
balloon site, the Velodrome was
cracked and covered with weeds.
However, funded by a private
donation, a new bitumen surfaced
track was constructed to enable it
to become an Olympic venue.
w
20s j30s
Throughout the 20s and 30s, when
track cycle racing was probably at
the peak of its popularity in this
country, the Velodrome frequently
attracted massive crowds.
Attendances at the annual Good
Friday event, for example, often
exceeded 10,000 people, attracted
by the opportunity of seeing
World Champions racing around
the track in record times.
6
At these games, all hopes were
pinned on Britain’s four times
world sprint champion Reg
Harris but the Italian rider Mario
Ghella’s gold relegated him to
second place. The Velodrome is
now the only venue from the 1948
Olympics still in everyday use.
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
AFTER
w
WAR
w
NEW
BEGINNINGS
By the end of the 1980’s the old
Olympic track had reached the
end of its life and Sport England
financed a £1.5m rebuild. The new
track with much steeper banking
than before and with the white
synthetic epoxy screed surface was
much faster than before...
Herne Hill Velodrome was officially
re-opened on 5 August 2005 and
since then VCL have managed the
track taking it from strength to
strength, catering and developing
for the significantly growing
demand for cycling from around
the country.
w
NEW CENTURY
..but in the early 2000s, after years
of neglect by the operator, the
grandstand was closed and the
track’s fortunes took a turn for the
worse in 2005 when the venue was
closed following the expiry of the
lease and unsuccessful attempts to
take over the running of it.
Tom Simpson and Condor’s Dave Bonner
racing at Herne Hill in the 1960s
However, following discussions
between the Dulwich Estate, British
Cycling and VC Londres Cycling
Club, the cycling club formally
agreed to work in partnership
with British Cycling and the
surrounding cycling community to
take responsibility for the day to
day management of the venue.
7
HERNE HILL VELODROME TODAY
In August 2012 British Cycling were able to secure a 15-year lease for the track, and
it was resurfaced in a near-all weather, grippier, faster tarmac. This latest phase of
development, which was completed in 2013, saw a hard surface sports facility and
junior track constructed in the centre of the banked track, with trackside lighting also
added around the perimeter of the velodrome.
The 450-metre long track, with the steepest part of the banking being 30 degrees, was
designed to make the riding and racing both a pleasure and a thrill. The banking isn’t
as steep as the indoor wooden tracks, making this an ideal place to introduce beginners
and youth riders to track cycling, however it is steeper than most outdoor tracks,
making for fast and exhilarating racing - the ideal compromise.
Herne Hill Velodrome is one of the most exciting race venues in the country and
plays host to more open race meetings than any other track in the country. Herne
Hill Velodrome attracts elite riders but also offers plenty of training and racing
opportunities for novices, youngsters, juniors, women, seniors and veterans and thus
hold more than 20 public sessions every week.
8
THE FUTURE OF HERNE HILL VELODROME
13,000
VISITORS IN
2013
2016 will see the completion of a new-state-of-the-art pavilion.
This new pavilion, featuring a club room, meeting room, changing
rooms and multisport rooms, and adjoining new grandstand will
sit alongside the home straight of the 450-metre track.
These developments will restore Herne Hill Velodrome to its
former glory and ensure that it retains its historic and iconic
position within cycling in the UK.
It will enable Herne Hill to deliver a significantly enhanced
experience and new services to all user groups.
VISITORS IN
2015
Artists impression of the new pavillion
42,000
Visits to Herne Hill have grown massively over the last few years
(13,000 in 2013 to 42,000 in the last year) and these new facilities
will continue to grow these numbers significantly. From 2017 two
new events, in addition to the London Cycle Sportive, will both
help substantially animate the site and drive additional footfall
(100,000 visitors expected from 2017).
100,000
ANTICIPATED
VISITORS IN
2017
9
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
RIGHTS OF ASSOCIATION
WITH AN OLYMPIC
Legacy Site
TITLE RIGHTS TO
NAMES ON SEATS
Drinks Rights
POURING / VENDING
IN
w
New
Grandstand
Kit Partnerships
FOR ALL
STAFF / MERCHANDISE
BRANDING
AROUND
Track
10
w
New Pavilion
& Club Room
BRANDING
ON
ECLUSIVE TRACK HIRE
CSR INCLUSION:
INCLUDING COACHING
FROM
Community
British Cycling
Coaches
Centre Field
INVOLVEMENT
Schools
BRANDING
British Cycling
ON
PARTNERSHIPS
w
Lights
Health & Wellbeing
11
PROFESSIONAL EVENTS PROGRAMME
HERNE HILL REVIVAL FESTIVAL
LONDON CYCLE SPORTIVE
INTERNATIONAL LADIES DAY
12
HERNE HILL REVIVAL FESTIVAL
The summer of 2017 will bring a significant moment in cycling history – it will be 200 years
since Baron Karl von Drais unveiled his ‘dandy horse’ in Mannheim, Germany – the forerunner
of every kind of modern bicycle. The inaugural Herne Hill Revival Festival will launch in the
summer of 2017, celebrating the bicycle’s 200th birthday at the historic Herne Hill Velodrome in
south London.
This unique three-day festival will draw on cycling’s rich and varied history – incorporating
the bikes, equipment, famous names and most fascinating stories - including the history of
velodrome itself, the only 1948 Olympics venue still in use today. Herne Hill Revival Festival will
become the number one event on the cycling social calendar
The past, present and future of cycling will be celebrated at a venue where some of the sport’s
true greats - Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Tom Simpson, Beryl Burton and Sir Bradley Wiggins
among them - have all competed.
Thousands of fans will be encouraged to don vintage costumes and will enjoy a programme
of racing, entertainment and demonstrations on the track and around the newly redeveloped
venue. Tandems, unicycles, quadricycles and Penny Farthings will all play a part. On top of the
race programme there will be displays, a retail area and vintage themed attractions which will
all help to create a carnival atmosphere at this unique and memorable heritage celebration.
For further info contact:
Fraser Houlder, Female Sports Group
fraser@femalesportsgroup.com 020 3542 1494
13
LONDON CYCLE SPORTIVE
Now in its Fourth year, The London Cycle Sportive returns on the
26th of June 2016.
This sportive for amateur riders, which offers routes of 104 and
166km, is one of the best and most unique mass participation
cycling events in the UK. Over 3,000 riders take part every year and
it attracts a further 1,500 spectators.
The ride starts in the picturesque Dulwich Park, just a stone’s
throw away from Herne Hill, before heading out to the stunning
Surrey Hills. A famous feature of the event is a King of the
Mountains contest; a timed climb of Box Hill.
The route also takes in much of the same roads as cycled on by Sir
Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Lizzie Armitstead in the
2012 Olympics. Heading back into London the sportive finishes
with one final challenge; a timed lap of Herne Hill Velodrome.
For further info contact:
Sandy Case, Human Race
sandy.case@humanrace.co.uk
14
020 8391 3913
INTERNATIONAL LADIES DAY
In 2017 Herne Hill Velodrome will host a one-day celebration of women’s cycling and
the successes of female cyclists, both on and off the track. The event will have a full
programme of women only racing involving some of the UK’s and World’s best cyclists,
recently retired cycling stars, up & coming talent and celebrity cycling fans.
From talks with female cyclists, cycling demonstrations away from the track and a
female mass participation sportive through to music, entertainment and high quality
food and drink, all running alongside the racing on the track, International Ladies Day
will be a very memorable festival of women’s cycling.
For further info contact:
Fraser Houlder, Female Sports Group
fraser@femalesportsgroup.com 020 3542 1494
15
WWW.FEMALESPORTSGROUP.COM
CHESTER HOUSE, 81-83 FULHAM HIGH STREET, FULHAM GREEN, FULHAM, SW6 3JA