Multi-million pound proposals submitted for Ricoh Arena
Wasps Group has submitted a planning application to Coventry City Council to develop a new pavilion entrance at the south side of the venue, along with a state-of-the-art Commonwealth Convention Centre in the venue’s existing lower halls.
Multi-million-pound proposals to transform a major part of Ricoh Arena ahead of the Common-wealth Games are gathering pace.
The new south pavilion - complete with reception pods and digital signage - would provide seam-less access between Ricoh Arena’s Commonwealth Convention Centre and the rest of the venue, which, between them, boast more than 8,000 square metres of indoor conference and exhibition event space.
The creation of a 1,847 square metre Commonwealth Convention Centre for conferences and ex-hibitions would see the venue’s existing lower halls undergo a major transformation to deliver cutting-edge digital and audio visual technology, as well as the opening of a dedicated art and gallery space to bring the community together for gatherings and to showcase local projects.
The existing 6,000 square metre indoor arena will also undergo state-of-the-art cosmetic refur-bishments in preparations for hosting judo and wrestling at the Commonwealth Games, while ad-ditional food and beverage offerings are also being introduced in the venue atrium.
If the plans are approved, it is hoped that the new south pavilion and Commonwealth Convention Centre will open early next year.
Around £3.8 million has been made available to the venue via the Coventry and Warwickshire Lo-cal Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), which successfully secured the investment from £66 million worth of Government funding that was provided to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as part of the Government’s Getting Building Fund.
An additional £1.4 million has also been made available to Ricoh Arena via CWLEP from the Local Growth Fund and Growing Places Fund.
Stephen Vaughan, Wasps Group Chief Executive, said: “Ricoh Arena has forged an enviable repu-tation as a leading international venue for a variety of events over the past 15 years - attracting more than one and a half million visitors a year on average - and these changes to the venue will enable us to lay solid foundations and grow even further in the years to come, whilst developing the look and feel of the whole venue.
“We have an exciting 18 months ahead of us, starting with the opening of a state-of-the-art sports bar and the return of Coventry City, followed by hosting a Rugby League World Cup match this October before the Commonwealth Games next summer - all while supporting Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture.
“The eyes of the world will be on us next summer - both from international visitors and those watching on TV - and we are looking forward to showing them why Ricoh Arena is one of the lead-ing multipurpose venues in the UK.”