Stadium Coventry City F.C.

1 stadium

1.1 grounds
1.2 106 years @ highfield road
1.3 relocating ricoh arena
1.4 2013 rent row , ground relocation
1.5 ricoh return

stadium

grounds

ricoh arena, coventry s stadium between 2005 , 2013, , since 2014



dowells field: 1883–1887
stoke road: 1887–1899
highfield road: 1899–2005
ricoh arena: 2005–2013
sixfields stadium: 2013–2014 (ground-share northampton town)
ricoh arena: 2014–present

106 years @ highfield road

coventry city played @ highfield road between 1899 , 2005

coventry city began playing @ highfield road stadium in 1899 within hillfields district of city, although club did not buy freehold site until 1937. ground had interesting history. in 1940 main stand backed onto terraced houses in mowbray street bombed luftwaffe, heavy turnstiles ground , gas meters houses in mowbray street discovered in gosford park, 500 metres away.

the record crowd @ ground on 29 april 1967 when 51,455 watched second division title decider against wolverhampton wanderers. more 6,000 more previous record set against aston villa in 1938. many people @ game suggest attendance lot higher, possibly on 60,000. supporters climbed onto roofs of stands , floodlights.

in 1968, main stand burnt down , replacement built within 4 months.

in 1981, highfield road converted england s first ever all-seater stadium capacity of around 24,500, many criticised killing atmosphere of ground. seats removed few years later. had been gradually upgraded since then, final phase of work being completed in mid-1990s, including 2 enclosed corners, providing much-needed modernity. on 30 april 2005, final game played @ stadium against midlands rivals derby county; coventry won scintillating 6–2 scoreline. stadium subsequently demolished , replaced housing development.

relocating ricoh arena

for 2005–06 season, coventry city moved new 32,609-capacity ricoh arena after 106 years @ highfield road. in 1998, club had decided time relocate new stadium in rowleys green area of city, three-and-a-half miles north of city centre , close junction 3 of m6 motorway. original plan state-of-the-art, 45,000-seater multipurpose stadium removable pitch , retractable roof. due ready 2001–02 season , touted 1 of finest , advanced stadiums in europe. however, club s subsequent relegation, financial problems, financier/contractor withdrawals , england s failure secure 2006 world cup competition led radical redesign. resulting stadium built standard bowl design steep stands, in line several other new stadia built during period, though has excellent acoustics , has been used host several major rock concerts.

despite initiating project , being principal attraction there, coventry city s financial situation means no longer own stadium , must pay rent use it; appear raise concerns on managing of club s finances previous club officials, in 2001 club fourth-longest serving club in top flight of english football. stadium naming rights sold jaguar cars, has strong links coventry. jaguar pulled out of project on 16 december 2004 , new major sponsor needed. £10 million deal, included naming rights, signed , electronics manufacturer ricoh became new chief sponsor stadium. project funded largely coventry city council , (alan edward) higgs charity (of former ccfc , acl director late sir derek higgs trustee), , includes shopping facilities, casino, exhibition halls , concert venue.

at beginning of 2005–06 season, construction delays @ ground forced coventry city play first 3 games of season away , postpone home games. on saturday 20 august 2005, city hosted queens park rangers in first-ever game @ ricoh arena; coventry won game 3–0. on 28 july 2011, statue of jimmy hill installed @ main entrance ricoh arena, hill appearing in person unveil it.

2013 rent row , ground relocation

rent disputes caused coventry city play 2013–14 season @ sixfields stadium in northampton

on 3 may 2013, coventry city put contingency plan in place play elsewhere 2013–14 season. argued club due acl (arena coventry limited), manage stadium, being unwilling negotiate club agree new lease. however, led local newspaper, coventry telegraph, starting petition in order try stopping coventry city playing outside of coventry. sent 72 clubs in football league , football league chairman. in may 2013, managing director tim fisher set plan of building new stadium within city on next 3 years , ground-sharing whilst new ground being built. in june 2013, acl made offer coventry city f.c. play @ ricoh arena rent free while club in administration.

it believed coventry city might ground-share walsall @ bescot stadium or attempt stay @ ricoh arena, following appointment of new owners. however, july 2013, walsall rumours denied , club groundshared @ northampton town s sixfields stadium – ground has less 1 quarter capacity of ricoh arena , round-trip of 70 miles. due continue until @ least 2016. plans club play home matches outside of city met strong opposition , protests coventry fans. member of parliament coventry south, jim cunningham, described move disgrace .

ricoh return

on 21 august 2014 announced agreement had been reached allowing club return ricoh arena next 2 years option of 2 years. coventry city s first home game @ ricoh arena played against gillingham on 5 september 2014. steve waggott, led negotiations club said delighted deal done , sure every supporter of coventry city thrilled news . city won first match @ ricoh arena 1–0 frank nouble scoring goal of match in front of 27,306 supporters.

the return followed social media campaign entitled #bringcityhome coventry telegraph , protest march sky blue trust supporters group. campaign drew praise national media , figures within football world. shortlisted @ press gazette british journalism awards 2014 in campaign of year category.

it has been reported there relocation site within city, tenancy ricoh arena expires in august 2018.

in may 2016, coventry telegraph broke news club had drawn plans coventry rugby club ground share arrangement @ redeveloped butts park arena. has since been denied rugby club chairman jon sharp, said there no deal football club while still owned sisu. [1]