Coventry City have confirmed that they have agreed a deal to return to the Ricoh Arena after two years away.
The Sky Blues have been playing their matches at the home of Birmingham City since the beginning of the 2019/20 season, but have now sealed a ten-year deal with current tenants Wasps Group to return to their former home.
Coventry City: Sky Blues to Return to the Ricoh Arena Next Season
End of Ground Sharing?
Coventry have endured numerous moves to different grounds over the past eight years due to disputes over the Ricoh Arena.
The 2013/14 season saw them play their games at the home of Northampton Town, a round-trip that totalled 70 miles. The Sky Blues were in the midst of financial difficulties at this point and could not agree a new lease.
They returned to Coventry and the Ricoh Arena after just one season away. However, history ended up repeating itself, as talks between the owners and Wasps, who were playing in Rugby Union’s top-flight in England, had again broken down. Wasps had owned the stadium outright since 2014, allowing Coventry to play their home matches there.
As a result, it meant that the Sky Blues were on the lookout for a new home once again. They settled on St Andrew’s, the home of Birmingham City, and have been playing their home games there since the beginning of last season.
What Was Said?
Following the announcement, Coventry’s Chief Executive, Dave Boddy, said to the club website: “We are thrilled to announce that the agreement for Coventry City to return to the city of Coventry and to the Ricoh Arena was signed in the last 24 hours.
“This is fantastic news for the club, our community and most importantly the supporters.
“I would like to pay tribute to the hard work of our owners, Joy Seppala and the club’s senior management and to the owners of Wasps Group, Derek Richardson and Wasps senior management to agree this deal.”
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