Sheffield Tigers to 'race on' in 2026 as Bates family retain ownership of speedway team
Tigers were facing an uncertain future after the Bates family previously announced they'd sell up
Last updated 19th Dec 2025
Sheffield Tigers speedway has confirmed that it will compete in the 2026 Speedway Premiership, after the owners of the team decided not to sell up.
Concerns about the club’s future arose after it was put on the market in September 2023, but the Bates family has now decided to remain as owners, with new investors set to join early next year.
Promoter Damien Bates admitted the past few months have been challenging, saying: “It’s not been an easy few months for anyone and we do sympathise with the supporters and how worried they must’ve been".
“But honestly, things have been so up and down, literally changing on a week-by-week basis, and we didn’t want to say anything until we knew which way things were going.”
The club says it received interest from several parties but no firm offers were presented.
“There was one phone call which stood out more than all the others though – that is the one we’ve followed up and it’s one that has convinced us we’re bringing the right people into the club,” Bates said.
With new investors focusing on the commercial and marketing aspects of the team, the Bates family will stay on as owners alongside Peter Mole retaining part-ownership.
Mole is, however, stepping down as co-promoter.
Bates added: “There’ll be lots to announce in the new year once we’ve had chance to finalise everything. In the meantime, we’ve resumed conversations with riders and we’ll unveil those in due course also.”