Industry News

Coventry City plots move away from Ricoh Arena

Tim Fisher, chairman of Coventry City, has said the English League One football club is hoping to move from its current Ricoh Arena home and share Butts Park Arena with Coventry Rugby.

The club is contracted to play at the Ricoh until 2018, but, according to the BBC, Fisher told a Sky Blue Trust supporters’ meeting this week that Coventry RFC chairman Jon Sharp has agreed in principle to the relocation plans.

Butts Park has a capacity of just 3,000, significantly lower than the 32,609 seats available at its current home, which City shares with English Premiership rugby union club Wasps. However, Fisher said there is capacity to expand Butts Park by “anything from 12,000 up to 25,000”.

Fisher added that the move to Butts Park is the “preferred option” for City, after plans to build a new stadium for the football club were cancelled by owner Sisu.

“We weren’t able to close a land deal on our own stadium – full stop,” Fisher said at the meeting. “But we have spent a lot of time working with the Football League and Coventry RFC to develop a stadium which would be more than ample in terms of capacity.

“It’s the preferred option because it keeps us in the city. We are committed to staying in Coventry.

“Jon Sharp has made a statement over the last day or so which shows his commitment, as long as we have some form of mediation. If he can accommodate the football club, and all the infrastructure challenges, then that’s what they will do.

“As long as there is a breakout of peace, I believe the Butts Park Arena is an option for a Coventry RFC and Coventry City ground-share.”