REACTION - Mayor and MP give their views on Coventry City returning to the Ricoh Arena - The Coventry Observer

REACTION - Mayor and MP give their views on Coventry City returning to the Ricoh Arena

Coventry Editorial 10th Mar, 2021 Updated: 10th Mar, 2021   0

POLITICIANS have been reacting to the news that Coventry City will return to the Ricoh Arena next season after signing a ten-year deal with Wasps Group.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, who was credited with helping get the agreement over the line, said he was ‘beyond thrilled’ the Sky Blues were coming home.

“It was never right for a city of Coventry’s stature to have its football club playing its home games in another city, and I know what a sore spot it was for the fans who take such pride in both their team and their city.

“This is what drove me throughout the negotiations and I am so delighted that persistence has paid off and we’ve got the positive outcome the city and its football fans so badly deserved.”




He described the past year as a ‘rollercoaster’ trying to get the deal done and paid tribute to the owners, the CEOs and the teams at both Coventry City FC and Wasps for coming back to the table for discussions, even when the homecoming ‘looked dead in the water’.

“Today is a monumental day for Coventry and I am pleased as Mayor to have been able to play my part in making it happen.”


Labour MP for Coventry South Zarah Sultana, who has raised the topic in Parliament, met with representatives from the club, supporters’ groups and wasps, described the news as ‘fantastic’.

She said: “I am absolutely thrilled the Sky Blues will be playing football in Coventry once again next season.

“This is fantastic news for the fans and the whole of Coventry.

“The club should always have been playing their home matches in the city.

“Since I was elected in 2019, I have been determined to see the situation resolved.

“I can’t wait for fans to return to stadiums and it will be even more special for us in Coventry with the Sky Blues returning to the city.”

Click here to read our story about how the deal was struck.

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