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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 2007-2008 Programme & Fanzines Ground Layout Disabled Facilities Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu |
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| What's The Ground Like? | |
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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! 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? | |
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The location of Away fans for
the 2007/08 season is to be changed. Instead of being behind the goal in the in the Jewson South Stand,
away supporters will be 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.
Behind the stands there are spacious concourses and a number of food and
drink outlets serving amongst other things the
Shire Foods
larger Chicken Balti Pie,
as well as Steak & Ale Pie, hot dogs and burgers (all £3).
Alcohol is also available in the form of Carling Lager & Worthington Bitter
(both £2.60 a pint). 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, 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. 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'. Whilst Paul Hunt a visiting Norwich City supporter recommends; 'the Coach and Horses on the Longford Road. Not the greatest looking pub from the outside, but a very friendly welcome, with SKY sports television and tasty rolls on offer. The only drawback was the lone real ale pump, that alas was not on. We also parked there while we went to the match'. | |
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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. Colin Peel informs me; 'When you park up at one of the official 'park & walk' car parks, then you don't actually pay the £5 charge at the car park itself, but instead you are given a form by one of the car park attendants, which you have to get stamped at the stadium after you have paid. When I said that this seemed a bit cumbersome, the attendant pointed out the potential risk to them, at these car parks if they were handling hundreds of pounds in cash, so the arrangement was for their protection. However, the "parking paypoint" at the stadium was makeshift in the extreme - not a kiosk but an ordinary window which opened just far enough for you to slide your fiver under'. Park & Ride Scheme The Cub has a Park & Ride scheme available on matchdays, which cost £7 per car (including return bus travel to the stadium for all the cars occupants). This is located at the Jaguar Research & Development in Whitley Coventry and is located primarily for supporters coming up from the South and going to the stadium via the M1 junction 17 and then the A45 to Coventry. Continue on the A45 towards Coventry and at the large roundabout that is the junction with the A46 continue on the A45. At the next roundabout follow the signs for the 'Jaguar/Racquet Centre' to take you to the parking facility. The Club are asking fans to pre-book their Park & Ride space by calling 0247-623-6986. Dominic Byrne a visiting QPR supporter adds; 'I took the A444 from Junction 3 of the M6. Shortly before the roundabout that is right next to the stadium, there is a slip road on the left. There was parking in the slip road and in the light industrial estate by Makro. I chose the latter and parked easily on the street. This resulted in a quick getaway after the game'. 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. Click here to visit their website. 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 | |
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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 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'. |
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| Local Rivals | |
| Aston Villa, Leicester City, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers. | |
| Admission Prices | |
| Home Fans: Telent West Stand (Centre): Adults £23, Concessions £11.50, Under 18's £11.50, Under 16's £10.50*, Under 12's £9.50*, Under 7's £8.50* Tesco East Stand (Centre): Adults £23, Concessions £11.50, Under 18's £11.50, Under 16's £10.50*, Under 12's £9.50*, Under 7's £8.50* Telent West Stand (South Wing): Adults £22, Concessions £11, Under 18's £11, Under 16's £10*, Under 12's £9*, Under 7's £8* Tesco East Stand (Wings): Adults £22, Concessions £11, Under 18's £11, Under 16's £10*, Under 12's £9*, Under 7's £8* Jewson South Stand (Wings): Adults £22, Concessions £11, Under 18's £11, Under 16's £10*, Under 12's £9*, Under 7's £8* Coventry Evening Telegraph North Stand: Adults £22, Concessions £11, Under 18's £11, Under 16's £10*, Under 12's £9*, Under 7's £8* North East Corner: Adults £21, Concessions £10, Under 18's £10, Under 16's £9*, Under 12's £8*, Under 7's £7* North West Corner: Adults £20, Concessions £10, Under 18's £10, Under 16's £9*, Under 12's £8*, Under 7's £7* Away Fans: Jewson South Stand: Adults: £22 Senior Citizen: £11, Junior £10. * A further discount on this ticket price is available for Junior Sky Blue Members. In some areas of the stadium Under 7's who are Junior Sky Blue Members and accompanied by an adult are admitted free. |
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| Fixtures 2007-2008 | |
| 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. | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| At Highfield Road: 51,455 v Wolverhampton Wanderers Division 2, April 29th, 1967. At The Ricoh Arena: 28,163 v West Bromwich Albion FA Cup 5th Round, February 16th 2008. Average Attendance (At The Ricoh Arena): 2006-2007: 20,342 (Championship League) 2005-2006: 21,180 (Championship League) Average Attendance (At Highfield Road): 2004-2005: 16,048 (Championship League) |
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| Fans Reviews Of The Ricoh Arena | |
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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 |
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| 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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