WORK to lay a new pitch at the Coventry Building Society Arena ahead of the 2023/24 campaign is now underway.
Coventry City had to postpone their first three home matches last season after the old CBS Arena pitch became unplayable following the Birmingham 20022 Commonwealth Games.
City’s owner and executive chairman, Doug King, was keen to begin work on a new pitch as quickly as possible.
King said: “We are delighted that has work begun on laying the new pitch at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
“After the difficulties surrounding the pitch last season and not being able to play at home during the opening weeks of the season, it was important that we started working at the Arena as soon as possible.
“It is important to have the best surface possible for the team to play on and that is why the club is undertaking this significant capital expenditure at the arena after the signing of the long term lease agreement.
“The surface at the Coventry Building Society Arena will be identical to the brand-new training pitches being installed at the Sky Blue Lodge, which are beginning to look in great condition, ahead of the start of pre-season.”
And the club has taken 150mm off of last season’s pitch, including the artificial fibres which went into the turf last summer.
The Sky Blues are engaging with Hewitts Sportsturf, one of the leaders in the grounds industry, who are already reconstructing the pitches at City’s Ryton Training Ground.
Additionally, the removal of the old HERO turf system has allowed the process of relaying the new pitch to begin.
The installation of a new irrigation system and the topping up of sand levels, by 150mm of fresh sand has also taken place.
New stitching will be inserted, as well as 4G carpet around the outskirts of the pitch, where the concrete track previously was.
This pitch replicates the work done at the Sky Blue Lodge in Ryton-on-Dunsmore.
Hewitt Sportsturf count Wembley Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, Arsenal, West Ham, London Stadium, Principality Stadium Cardiff, Exeter Chiefs, and numerous other high level clubs including France’s Paris Saint Germain, amongst their clients.
