Inside Coventry City’s dramatic plans for new ‘eco-park’ stadium with SMALLER capacity than current ground
Plans have stalled in recent years with concerns over whether the stadium will be scrapped altogether
COVENTRY CITY unveiled plans to move into a new stadium with a SMALLER capacity than their current home.
The Sky Blues previously announced plans to construct a 23,000-seat “eco-park” stadium.
That 23,000-fan capacity is some 10,609 less than their current home, the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Coventry have partnered with Warwick University for the plans which would see the stadium built close to the university’s campus.
The plans, originally announced back in 2013, were presented as part of a 118-acre scheme with the university which included much more than just a new ground for the Championship outfit.
The proposal also detailed transport infrastructure, a rail link, cycling paths, and an eco park.
The eco park is supposed to help support and develop a more sustainable future for the university and the club.
Renderings from the original announcement showed a sleek exterior to the ground which would be located just outside the city.
However, some 11 years on from the initial proposal and there has been no movement on construction of the ground.
And club owner Doug King explained last year that a new stadium is “a long way off”, adding that Coventry are likely to be staying at the CBS Arena for the time being.
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Speaking to the BBC, he said: “I believe the club should be at the stadium for the foreseeable future. In today’s world, a new stadium is a long way off.
“There’s a lot of work that’s been done on that project. It’s not top of my radar right now.
“The reality is that it’s something for the future, and the priority is the discussions we have with the Frasers Group.”
Coventry currently lease their stadium from the Frasers Group, who have owned the ground since October 2022.
The company, owned by former Newcastle boss Mike Ashley, agreed a five-year license deal with Coventry last year which will see the Sky Blues stay put until at least 2028.
However, doubt has already been cast over whether a move to a new ground will ever come after King previously stated that he wanted Coventry to own the CBS Arena outright.
While local councillor Peter Jones hinted that the plans have been ditched altogether when discussing the university eco-park in a town council meeting earlier this year.
He said: “They didn’t mention the new football stadium they were talking about a few years ago, which appears to have been dropped.”
