Rugby club reveals plans for 12,000-seat stadium
Coventry Rugby has revealed plans to create a 12,000-capacity stadium by redeveloping Butts Park Arena.
The recently-promoted club is hoping to add an artificial pitch with new floodlights, stands, new bars, hospitality areas and changing facilities at the stadium.
Coventry chairman Jon Sharp revealed phase one of the project would cost £1.5m, Coventry Live reported.
The club is currently in talks with property developers, with support from Coventry City Council.
“We have to be a fully commercial operation,” said Sharp, speaking on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire’s Rugby Show.
“We have to offer a first-class offering to all of our supporters, all of our fans and all those potential sponsors as well.”
Sharp also said that a hotel could also be located on the Butts Park Arena site to help meet the city’s shortfall in places to stay ahead of City of Culture title in 2021.
He said: “The city does not have enough hotels. We would all like to have another city centre hotel. So maybe we can do something there, providing they build us a stand at the back.
Coventry Rugby achieved promotion back to the second tier of English rugby after a record-breaking National League One campaign.
Supporters at Saturday’s match, which saw Coventry Rugby promoted to the second tier of English rugby, were shown computer generated images of the new stadium from Coventry-based IDP Architects.
