Coventry Building Society Arena, known as Ricoh Arena until 2021, became the home of Coventry City in 2005 after having played the previous 106 years of their existence at Highfield Road.
Plans for the move were announced as early as 1997, but due to several delays the stadium opened four years later than initially planned. This also meant that the proposed capacity of 45,000 was later scaled back to just over 30,000.
The first match at the Ricoh Arena, a league match between Coventry and QPR, was played on 20 August 2005. The stadium officially opened six months later in February 2006.
During the 2012 Olympics, the Ricoh Arena was one of the six playing venues, hosting a number of first round group games.
Over the years, Coventry City has had a rocky relationship with the Coventry Building Society Arena, which isn’t club-owned, revolving around the level of rent payments. The dispute led Coventry to play their home games of the 2013-14 season at Northampton’s Sixfields Stadium, which lies over 25 miles away from Coventry, but they returned for the next season.
In 2014, the ground was bought by the London Wasps rugby club, who subsequently relocated to Coventry from their previous home in High Wycombe. Another rent dispute in 2019 made Coventry City move out again in 2019. Following two seasons at Birmingham City’s St. Andrew’s Stadium, the club came to an agreement with the Wasps and in 20221 moved back to the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Coventry Building Society Arena also regularly hosts large concerts.
Coventry Building Society Arena is located on the northern edge of the city of Coventry, about 3 miles from the city centre and one mile more from the main rail station.
The stadium is easily reached by car due to its close proximity to the M6 motorway. Exit the M6 at junction 3 Coventry/Nuneaton, and follow the A444 toward Coventry until the Romley’s Green roundabout, where signs will guide you to the car parks (the stadium will be visible right in front of you).
If using public transport, the stadium can be reached by train or bus. Rail station Coventry Arena is right next to the stadium. The station is on the Coventry – Nuneaton line, with trains running once an hour for the 7-minute journey from Coventry.
Alternatively, catch bus 4 or 5 from Pool Meadow Bus Station near the Coventry Transport Museum, which is located on the northern edge of the city centre. The journey takes a little over 20 minutes.
Address: Phoenix Way, Coventry, CV6 6GE
Coventry Building Society Arena is located on a retail park on the edge of the city. The area is mainly residential and while you may find the odd place to eat or drink on Longford Road, the options are rather limited.
The DoubleTree By Hilton at the Ricoh Arena is located right inside the stadium and even has some rooms with view on the pitch. The Novotel Coventry is located on the M6 and may be convenient if you arrive by car, but otherwise you will have to find a hotel in Coventry’s city centre.
Click here to browse hotels near the Coventry Building Society Arena, and here to explore the options in the city centre.
Tickets for Coventry City matches can be bought online, or at the Ticket Office at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Tickets can also be bought on the gate (cash) or at the ticket office (cashless) on the day of the match. Coventry don’t normally sell out.
Tickets cost either a flat £20.00, £25.00, or £30.00 for all stands depending on the match.
Ccfc.co.uk – Official website of Coventry City FC.
Cbsarena.co.uk– Official website of the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Visitcoventryandwarwickshire.co.uk – Tourist information for the Coventry and Warwickshire area.
Nxbus.co.uk – Coventry public transport information.
They should never have left Highfield Road (which disappointingly, you don’t have in your past grounds section. If you want to include it, just say and I can help with any images and info. Just ask) The Ricoh, like many new stadiums is just a plastic bowl with no soul. One good thing is that the pitch is below ground level. So supporters enter the stadium one third of the way up the stand. The reason this is good is it means fans using wheelchairs have easy access and a decent view of the pitch. Although having a good view of the pitch might not be an advantage in some people’s opinion lololz
Its also easier to evacuate should there be a fire. I write this in February 2020. Coventry are homeless and playing their home matches at St. Andrews in Birmingham (the home of Birmingham City Football Club) Just saying.
