Hammers fixtures are released

The Lakeside Hammers will start their home Elite League campaign at the Arena-Essex Raceway with a tough opener on Friday 1st April against track specialists Wolverhampton as this season’s Fixture List shows on its release today.

Other highlights include the return of the British Under 21 Final on 15th April, the Good Friday visit of Eastbourne (as part of a double header with the newly reformed Hackney Hawks) and a second Bank Holiday fixture the following Friday, 29th April, against League new boys, the Birmingham Brummies, on the evening of the Royal Wedding. The Brummies will visit again later in the season in the Elite League Knockout Cup with the winners facing either Kings Lynn or Belle Vue in the Semi Final of the competition.

Other highlights are a full summer holiday season of events and two Saturday night meetings at the Raceway both against the other new boys, Kings Lynn.

Admission prices for the season have been announced and will stay at the 2010 levels, although the Club will review them mid season should the economic situation require. The Good Friday Bank Holiday (22nd April) double header will see a minimal rise of £1.50 on Adults prices and £1 on Concessions with Kids admission remaining the same at £3. In addition those fans of the Hawks and their NL opposition on the night will be able to pay for that meeting only with admission after Heat 15 of the Elite League meeting set at £5 for adults, £4 for concessions and Kids for free.

The Hammers Co promoter Jon Cook commented: “We are pleased with this year’s fixtures as we have delivered as many Friday home meetings as the international list allows and, thanks to the support of our Raceway landlords, we have the advantage of being able to run two Saturday night meetings and on both Friday Bank Holidays. We have lost two home League matches due to the Sport’s winter of discontent and as regrettable as that is we have replaced them with at least five Hawks meetings and have applied for another major senior event, details of which we hope to announce soon.”

On admission prices Cook explained: “We have adopted the same strategy as we did in 2009 when the recession was first on the horizon in that we will start with admission prices at the same level as in the previous season but that will leave us the opportunity of an increase rather than placing the Club’s future in doubt. It wasn’t necessary in 2009 and we believe with the support of the Hammers fans and sponsors it won’t be in 2011.

“We will be meeting the VAT rise from Season Ticket and sponsor income and we will announce our partners for the year ahead in due course. I would like to thank our Season Ticket holders again for their incredible support, providing the backbone for the Club in these hard and uncertain times and although our sales figures have dropped off since January, which is more than understandable, we sold our 175th Ticket over the weekend and are hopeful we will get close to last years total of 260.”

Season Ticket will still be available up until 1st April and are ring fenced against any price increase. Season Tickets will provide admission for all events except the British Under 21 Final and will cover all extra meetings including Knockout Cup rounds, Play Off qualification and Play Off final and holders will also enjoy half price entrance to all of the Hawks meetings staged at the Arena-Essex Raceway only. As in previous years a programme, special entry gate and parking inside the main Raceway are all included in the price of the Season Tickets.

Please see fixture list on this website. Note all fixtures are subject to possible amendments.