Central Park Greyhound Stadium has strengthened its senior leadership team by appointing a new general manager with plans to make the venue a go-to destination on Saturday nights.
Dovile Skapciute wants to fulfil the Sittingbourne venue’s untapped potential by establishing it as a one stop shop for events, celebrations, training days, charitable activities and nights out for friends and family.
She joins with 15 years’ experience as a regional manager in the gaming industry and now wishes to make a tangible impact on her doorstep to Kent’s remaining greyhound racing track.
The 6,000 capacity venue hosts greyhound racing five times each week – including Saturday nights – with a panoramic restaurant, two spacious function rooms plus a bar and lounge area among its facilities.
Dovile will be supported in her role by Regan James, who joined Central Park in 2019 and is now the track’s Operations Manager.
“The potential at Central Park is extraordinary,” said Dovile.
“We’ve inherited a goldmine, with limitless space to extend our hospitality provisions to private celebrations, functions, hen parties and stag dos in addition to our weekly racing schedule.
“On a personal note, this is an exciting opportunity for me to make an impact to a venue on my doorstep which can be at the heart of its community.
“Central Park Stadium will become a one stop shop for everything labelled under events. We’re open 52 weeks each year and have the foundations required to bring the good times back.”
The venue was acquired by Arena Racing Company – the UK’s largest racecourse operator - in 2021, with a long-term media rights agreement to broadcast its greyhound fixtures globally starting in January last year.
The track was subject to a major £500,000 investment in 2023 when a new racing surface, base and drainage system was installed in partnership with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) and the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI).
Last month, the track welcomed its biggest crowd this year when Romeo Tomcat won the £20,000 Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby with footfall up by 69 per cent year-on-year.
Dovile added: “Greyhound racing is at the heart of our operation, and that will continue to be the case.
“We’ve had a blockbuster year of racing, and anticipate more strong turnouts to our Saturday fixtures particularly as we build up to Christmas.
“It’s an exciting, family friendly, sport where the dogs really are the stars of the show both before, during and after their racing careers. We’ll be upscaling our work with local homing partners to showcase how fantastic greyhounds are as pets in retirement and bringing racegoers closer to the action by having retired greyhounds onsite each week.”
Tickets and further information about Central Park Greyhound Stadium is available online via www.centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk.
