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| Coventry City
Ground Name: Ricoh Arena |
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| Contents | |
| What's The Ground Like? The Ricoh Arena (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? The Tesco East & Jewson South Stands (photo) Where To Drink? Telent West Stand (photo) How To Get There And Where To Park By Train Looking Towards The Evening Telegraph North Stand (photo) Local Rivals Admission Prices Fixtures 2009-2010 Programme & Fanzines Ground Layout Disabled Facilities Stadium Tours Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu |
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| What's The Ground Like? | |
| Like many grounds built in this country in the last ten
years, the new Coventry stadium is functional and fairly
conservative in its design. Three sides of the stadium, which are
large single tiered stands are fairly bland affairs. Happily, the
complex has an exhibition centre attached to its West side,
resulting in a unique looking stand that gives more of a continental
feel. Known as the Telent West Stand, it has a small tier of seats
overhanging the larger lower tier, with a row of corporate
hospitality boxes, running along the back of the lower section.
Along the top of the stand is a large area of white panelling
(adorned with the logo of the stadium sponsors) that runs along the
length of the stand and around the corners of either side of it. In
one of these corners is located a Police Control box. Below the
white panelling is a large windowed corporate hospitality area.
The stadium is fully enclosed with all corners of the stadium being filled with spectator seating and all the stands are of the same height, giving it a symmetrical look. There a number of clear perspex panels located in the roof at the South end of the stadium, plus a large strip of perspex that runs around the stadium just below the roof at the back of three sides. These measures allow more natural light to enter the stadium, which helps the growth of the grass pitch. There is also a large video screen type scoreboard located in one corner of the stadium between the Jewson South and Tesco East Stands. Outside the stadium on the back of the East Stand, fans can admire the 'Sky Blues Wall Of Fame'. This consists of six large panels, each dedicated to former a Coventry City great such as John Sillett, Jimmy Hill etc... The panels contain bricks that have been purchased by fans, which have their choice of inscriptions on. These type of schemes are popular around the country at a number of other grounds. I did send my cheque off to the Club with my choice of inscription which was; 'Coventry Are Rubbish' but for some reason I'm still waiting for my brick to appear! Also outside the corner of the North and East Stand is a small open memorial area for fans to place wreaths etc.. of fans who have passed away. The stadium was built by Laing O'Rourke, the same company who built the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. It is owned by Coventry City Council, with the Football Club having a lease agreement to use the stadium. The stadium was opened in August 2005. Coventry City previously played at Highfield Road, their home since 1899. | |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
| Away supporters are mostly accommodated to one side
of the Jewson South Stand (Blocks 6 & 7) towards the corner with
the Telent West Stand. Around 3,000 supporters can be seated in this
area. The angle of the stand is quite steep, meaning a fair bit of
effort to climb to the top. Normally a steep stand means that fans
are close to the playing action, but not here. Not only is there a
sizeable red coloured track surrounding the playing area, but this
in turn is a considerable distance from the pitch itself. This does
lead to some viewing problems, especially when the action is taking
place at the other end. The leg room is adequate for most and the
stadium does have good acoustics, which should help boost the
atmosphere. Also in first gaining entry to the stand, the Club operate automatic turnstiles, where you have to put your ticket (which has a bar code on it) into a slot reader, which then allows the turnstiles admit you. Behind the stands there are spacious concourses and a number of food and drink outlets serving amongst other things Chicken Balti, Steak & Kidney & Cheese & Onions pies (all at £2.70), as well as large sausage rolls (also £2.70). There is also a Wimpy outlet. The concourses also have a number of televisions which show the game being played inside. Matt Walters a visiting Reading fan adds; 'The Ricoh, as the tannoy announcer puts it, is one of the more interesting looking new grounds when compared to others such as the Walkers Stadium. The acoustics are superb which creates a great atmosphere. However I found the seats to quite uncomfortable, which is disappointing bearing in mind that this is a brand new stadium'. I have also received reports of supporters being regularly ejected from the stadium for persistent standing, and stewards being somewhat heavy handed, so be on your best behaviour. Again just when you think on your travels that you have seen it all.... I couldn't quite believe seeing near to the stadium 'Bubbles Car Wash' which advertised topless car washes for £15! Considering it was a cold November night, I thought that they should be charging more than £15 for that! | |
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| Where To Drink? | |
| Robert Nunn a
visiting Reading fan informs me; 'Myself and a friend parked in
Longford, about a ten minute walk away from the stadium, and found a
host of pubs situated along Longford Road. Whilst most looked quite
partisan and only had Sky Blue shirts in, the "JK English Pub" was
most welcoming. This Indian/Pub had a pub feel (pool table, jukebox,
etc) but was also an Indian restaurant. On Saturday's it also does a
£5 all you can eat lunchtime buffet'. To find this pub, coming away
from the North Stand at the Ricoh, follow the towpath over the canal
for about 400 yards passing the Tesco Extra on your right (which
also has a cafe). When you come on to Longford Road, head right,
towards Coventry City Centre and the pub is around 200 yards on your
right hand side. Phil Cull a visiting Watford fan adds; 'You can
also park your car in the JK English pub car park for a cost of £4.
It is then around a 15 minute walk to the stadium. After the game
there was no problem in driving back to the M6'.
Jamie Greenway adds; 'The Black Horse Pub, in-between Longford and Exhall has been attracting a fair amount of away supporters for most games. If you go to the top of Longford Road and around the roundabout towards Exhall, its on the right and normally has a burger van outside'. It is also only five minutes walk from the Leisure Island Parking area (see below) and also offers some limited free car parking at the pub itself. Also in this area is a Novotel that also has a bar. Alternatively alcohol is also available inside the stadium in the form of bottles of 500ml Carling Lager at £3.10 each. Although on my last visit I wasn't too impressed to be served a warm bottle from an open tray, rather than a chilled one. | |
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| How To Get There And Where To Park | |
| Leave the M6 at
Junction 3. Take the A444 towards the city centre
and after one mile you will reach the stadium on your left.
Parking at the stadium is for permit holders only and fans are being encouraged to use the Park & Ride facilities plus a number of satellite car parks in operation on matchdays. There is a good sized retail park located next to the stadium, but I guess restrictions will be put in place on matchdays. In addition a 'residents only' parking scheme has been put in place for all residential streets within a mile of the ground. The Club are utilising a number of car parks within walking distance of the stadium, in such places as factory units and local schools. The cost per car for these official car parks is £5. Blue badge holders can park at the stadium itself at a cost of £7. The nearby Tesco car park is well 'policed' on matchdays. Free parking is restricted to two hours only unless you spend £25 or more in one of the shops on the Retail Park (you then attach the receipt to your windscreen), which include Next, Boots and Marks & Spencers. There is also a private car park run by Leisure Ireland, located a few minutes drive away from Junction 3 of the M6. It has 200 spaces and is then a 15 minute walk away from the stadium. It advertises as secure parking and apparently getting back to the motorway after the match is very easy. The cost to park there is £5 per car and to find the car park, follow the 'pink arrrow' signs from Junction 3 of the M6. Fans are encouraged to pre-book their places online. However please note to then get to the stadium you have to cross a rather busy dual carriageway, so please bear this in mind if you have young children or older person in your party. Nearby is a similar set-up called Ricoh Arena Parking and again you book online. From Junction 3 of the M6 take the B4113 towards Bedworth at the first roundabout take the 3rd exit and the car park is down on the right, almost opposite the Novotel. Also note that both car parks close one hour after the final whistle. For a map showing the location of the
ground click here
(to take you to the Street Map
website). | |
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| By Train | |
| Coventry train station is about three
and half miles away from the stadium and really is too far to walk.
There is a shuttle bus that operates from the bus station to the
Tesco/Arena stadium complex. It departs every 10 minutes and costs
£3 return (for adults), otherwise jump in a taxi. Lori Kilpatrick adds; 'there is a bus stop directly outside the train station, from which most passing buses go to the Pool Meadow Bus Station. On checking that the bus indeed goes to the Bus Station ask for a "match day ticket" which will cost you £3.50 and will cover all journeys on that day in Coventry (note no change is given on Coventry buses so have the exact cash ready). Get off at Pool Meadow and look for the stand from which the Football Special Service operates from (there will be probably be a number of other fans in the vicinity). The service number is 101 and runs every 10 minutes from two hours prior to kick off and then returns every five minutes, for one hour after the game has ended. Buses depart after the match from outside the Jewson South Stand'. Tim Sansom a visiting Ipswich Town fan adds; 'After the match there was a massive queue for the six football special buses going back to the city centre. We decided not to wait and walked up to the to the roundabout (signposted Holbrooks) by the stadium and caught the number 13 service back into the city'. | |
| Local Rivals | |
| Aston Villa, Leicester City, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers. | |
| Admission Prices | |
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Home Fans*: * The prices quoted
are for tickets purchased prior to matchday. Tickets bought on the
day of the match can cost up to £2 more. | |
| Fixtures 2009-2010 | |
| For the Coventry fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website). | |
| Programme & Fanzines | |
| Official Programme
- £3. Twist & Shout Fanzine - £1. The West Terrace Fanzine - £1 | |
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| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. | |
| Stadium Tours | |
| The club offers tours of the stadium on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. The cost of the tour is; Adults £5, Concessions £4.25, Under 16's £3.50. Tours must be booked by calling the club on 0844 873 6397. | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| At The Ricoh Arena: 31,407 v Chelsea FA Cup 6th Round, March 7 th 2009 . At Highfield Road: 51,455 v Wolverhampton Wanderers Division 2, April 29th, 1967. Average Attendance: 2008-2009: 17,408 (Championship League) 2007-2008: 19,123 (Championship League) 2006-2007: 20,342 (Championship League) | |
| Fans Reviews Of The Ricoh Arena | |
| Kev Laidler (Newcastle
United) 9/12/09 David Chadwick (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 16/08/08 Susan Bowen (Leicester City) 17/04/06 Joseph Henry (Celtic) 11/04/06 Carl Broome (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 2/1/06 James Castleton (Norwich City) 26/11/05 Rob Foyster (Norwich City) 26/11/05 Chris Swanson (Crystal Palace) 15/10/05 | |
| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services in that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Coventry page click here. | |
| Feedback | |
| If anything is
incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail
me and I'll update the guide. | |
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