Coventry City

Directions

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.

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'.

Pubs

There are a few pubs within walking distance of the stadium, but with the stadium being new it is unclear yet as to which will become the favourite amongst away fans. Kevin Newey advises me of the following local pubs in the area within walking distance of the stadium; 'If you walk up Winding House Lane (left off the main traffic island by the stadium) and turn left at the traffic lights into Wheelwright Lane, there is a pub called The Hub around 50 yards down on the left. If you walk up Burbages Lane (a right turn off Winding House Lane) and turn right when you get to the T-Junction, there is a pub call ‘The Bull & Anchor’ which is a Hungry Horse pub, up on the left. If you are looking for food then the Simply Scrumptious sandwich bar is worth a mention as it does a wide range of freshly filled sandwiches and baguettes and also hot Shire Pies & Pasties (including Chicken Balti Pie) at very reasonable prices. To find it again go up to the roundabout and turn left into Winding House Lane and then left again into Hen Lane. The sandwich bar is down by the junction with Holbrook Lane'.

Robert Nunn a visiting Reading fan adds; 'Myself and a friend parked in Longford, about a five 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. 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 informs me; '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'.

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 which departs every 15 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 Coventry Evening Telegraph North Stand'.