Coventry City Football Club purchases CBS Arena

Posted by Alice Cullinane | 5 hours ago | Sport | Views: 7


Alice Cullinane

BBC News, West Midlands

Simon Gilbert

BBC Political Reporter, Coventry and Warwickshire

PA Media Coventry City owner Doug King pictured with manager Frank Lampard at the Coventry Building Society Arena celebrating with fans. They are both smiling and Frank Lampard has his left first raised in celebration.PA Media

Coventry City owner Doug King (left), pictured with manager Frank Lampard, said the purchase was a pivotal moment for the club

Coventry City has completed the purchase of its home stadium, the Coventry Building Society Arena, the club has revealed.

The Sky Blues bought it from Frasers Group and said it marked a “pivotal moment” in the club’s history.

Doug King, chairman and owner of Coventry City, said owning the CBS Arena meant the club could be safeguarded “not only [for] the present but for future generations”.

“This is more than a transaction. It is a statement of ambition and belief in Coventry,” he said.

The announcement comes in the week of the 20th anniversary since the arena opened. The club said the move would provide “long-term stability”.

King thanked supporters for their “unwavering” loyalty through years of uncertainty and said the ownership came with “immense pride and great joy”.

“As owners we can invest in facilities, fan experience, and wider opportunities for our community. We are proud to finally call this stadium our own.”

PA Media A general view of the stadium with blue tiered seating and a green football pitchPA Media

Owner of the club Doug King said it marked a “pivotal moment” in the club’s history

It emerged last month that King had been exploring the possibility of building a new 40,000-seater stadium at the site of Butts Park Arena, although the chairman of Coventry Rugby Club described the plans as “unfeasible”.

The Sky Blues’ agreement to play at the CBS Arena had been due to expire at the end of the 2027-28 season.

It has been a torturous time for supporters since they left Highfield Road in 2005. In that time they have had four stadium owners, four home grounds, three football club owners and countless protests.

But now, finally, the stadium, which was built for Coventry City, belongs to the club.



BBC Sport

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