Land near Warwick University is among sites being considered by Coventry City for a new stadium, it has been claimed. It is the case that the University owns extensive areas of land on the Warwickshire side of the campus, much of which is tenanted out for farming.
However, this land is largely earmarked for long-term expansion as the University continues to prosper. Some of it is undulating and other areas are subject to flooding in severe weather. Warwick District Council would be reluctant to give planning permission for a football stadium.
Land near Warwick University is among sites being considered by Coventry City for a new stadium, it has been claimed. It is the case that the University owns extensive areas of land on the Warwickshire side of the campus, much of which is tenanted out for farming.
However, this land is largely earmarked for long-term expansion as the University continues to prosper. Some of it is undulating and other areas are subject to flooding in severe weather. Warwick District Council would be reluctant to give planning permission for a football stadium.
The club’s academy already uses the University’s facilities. It is claimed the club is potentially interested in developing an ‘education partnership’ with links to university sports science courses and related fields. (This is a bit of a puzzle as I was not aware that the University had sports science programmes, but there may be a confusion with Coventry University). The university said it was unaware of any approach for any of its land outside the Coventry border (which runs through the middle of the campus).
The club and its real estate consultants CBRE are now considering three sites – up from two – for a stadium to return to the Coventry area within five years. It would appear that there have been hold-ups in any deal to buy the Brandon speedway stadium site and it may be that these other sites are being flagged up to put pressure on these negotiations. Apparently a heads of terms agreement has still not been signed on any potential final sale of the 26-acre Brandon speedway stadium site – nearly a fortnight after some insiders expected heads of terms to be finalised.
It has been reported that the club had formally applied to buy Brandon for use as an ‘academy and sports hub.’ Property agent GVA’s Andrew Moss had stated a ‘sale subject to contract’ had been agreed and heads of terms were being drawn up.
Coventry chief executive Tim Fisher has stated that heads of terms have now been completed on one site – but said the club was bound by commercial confidentiality not to reveal any of the prospective sites, as doing so might unhelpfully push up the potential price.
The club has not ruled out a return to the council-owned Ricoh Arena – but hinted it could only be after renewed discussions about ownership. This has always been a sticking point for Coventry City Council.
However, the attendance of just over 2,000 at the opening match at Northampton may have concentrated minds at the club. Tim Fisher was at one time projecting an attendance of 6,000 – 7,000 for the games at Sixfields. As it was, over three times as many turned up at a match at the Ricoh involving Sky Blues veterans, while other fans protested outside Sixfields.