Feelings Towards Ricoh Arena Now (9 Viewers)

[Cigarfingers]

Just thinking back to when the Ricoh Arena was built. I remember going up to the visitor centre and looking at the models and early build stages and then upon completion taking family members who are not from Cov a drive past so they could see our new stadium.
I remember that I was full of pride that we, Coventry city had this new stadium. My question is that now it’s not even our stadium, that sense of pride that I once had has diminished and I just wondered if it was the same for everyone else.

I’ve added the telegraph pictures from the build as it was this that made me think I wonder if it’s just me that feels it’s now soured.

From soil to stadium: How the Ricoh Arena was built

 

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[Otis]

I still love it. Always have.

 

[Deleted member 2477]

For someone lucky ehough to have had highfield rd as our home for a number of years it will always be the home of ccfc however playing at the ricoh has always helped with memories of where we were and hope of a return to being a club in the prem or even championship being a quality stadium.

Moving to a non league ground share like rugby or nuneaton is an embarrasement to the club , its fans our history and whatever the reasons for doing it its a nail in the coffin for the club.

MR has said himself we need to play at the ricoh, it helps with recruitment of quality players and moving to a shit hole thats not even our ground again shows the priorities of our owners.

 

[clint van damme]

Can't stand the place, but hope we're still playing there next season.

 

[shmmeee]

Much prefer it to HR. Both are silent 90% of the time and I’m not much one for nostalgia. Care more about being able to fit in my seat, not having a pole blocking my view of the game, being able to get in and out in a reasonable time and being able to buy a drink. I think most people like HR because that’s where we were when we were “successful” and that’s where most of the memories are.

That said, we can’t afford the Ricoh unless we’re a top Championship side IMO.

I just want the club to be viable and it seems that requires a smaller stadium they can afford to run. So be it.

 

[Terry_dactyl]

For someone lucky ehough to have had highfield rd as our home for a number of years it will always be the home of ccfc however playing at the ricoh has always helped with memories of where we were and hope of a return to being a club in the prem or even championship being a quality stadium.

Moving to a non league ground share like rugby or nuneaton is an embarrasement to the club , its fans our history and whatever the reasons for doing it its a nail in the coffin for the club.

MR has said himself we need to play at the ricoh, it helps with recruitment of quality players and moving to a shit hole thats not even our ground again shows the priorities of our owners.

The Ricoh isn’t “our ground”. I think that’s what this whole business is about.
If players were genuinely attracted to the ground they play at/facilities available to them, Bournemouth would be in league 1 and Pompey would never have been able to field a team that included lassana diarra, sol Campbell etc etc.
If Rugby does happen, it’s only down the road and is possibly easier to get to for many fans.
Its not ideal but then moving to the Ricoh has hardly proven to be a roaring success.

 

[CV22SBA]

I still love it. Always have.

I hate it. Always have. I don’t even go to home games anymore after being an ST holder for 36 years.

 

[Otis]

You don't go to games because you don't like the stadium? Seriously?

 

[Elvis Pressley]

If cov ain't at the Ricoh next year then I'm taking my brick back! I hate rugger and don't want my brick at a rugger stadium! I promise my hammer and chisel will be coming out! Who's with me?

 

[CV22SBA]

You don't go to games because you don't like the stadium? Seriously?

Yep. No match day experience just a big empty stadium with no atmosphere. HR days used to meet up with mates at 12 and have a great day out. I can’t think of anything nice to say about the Ricoh.

 

[CV22SBA]

If cov ain't at the Ricoh next year then I'm taking my brick back! I hate rugger and don't want my brick at a rugger stadium! I promise my hammer and chisel will be coming out! Who's with me?

I would be if I could fine mine! Paid extra for gold writing and last time I looked the gold ones were all faded.

 

[Magwitch]

If cov ain't at the Ricoh next year then I'm taking my brick back! I hate rugger and don't want my brick at a rugger stadium! I promise my hammer and chisel will be coming out! Who's with me?

Another point where does Jimmy Hill go ?

 

[Ricketts]

I think the Ricoh is great. Very impressive stadium, one of the best.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Can't stand the place, but hope we're still playing there next season.

About my feelings.

 

[christonabike]

I was looking at the Ricoh today and saw the huge wasps signs next to our small CCFC sign and the beer stalls all set up for “rugby” fans and it made me think we don’t have any real affinity anymore. An opportunity lost when we left and we are now just tennants. A real shame.

 

[Elvis Pressley]

It's a complete shambles

 

[Magwitch]

I was looking at the Ricoh today and saw the huge wasps signs next to our small CCFC sign and the beer stalls all set up for “rugby” fans and it made me think we don’t have any real affinity anymore. An opportunity lost when we left and we are now just tennants. A real shame.

It is a shame but with the right ownership we could make a proper go of the Ricoh atleast looking part of ours, the rest of the football world see the Ricoh as the home of ccfc, we have to develop harmony with our landlord perhaps through gritted teeth admittedly.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

It’s too big and has never really become our proper home, when it was built for us I was very excited about the move as hr was very dated but I have grown to hate it there even the opening was a shambles with a half empty stadium. My view now is let it rot with a little egg chasing team from London playing to a half empty stadium, the stadium was rushed and is starting to look tired already it will be a money pit and will hopefully kill its current owners.

 

[eastwoodsdustman]

Hate it and always have. Soulless and never really felt like it was our home and is now the root of our problems. McGinnity Robinson snd Richardson have so much to answer for.

 

[Otis]

Another point where does Jimmy Hill go ?

Outside the Stadium of Light?

 

[clint van damme]

I think the Ricoh is great. Very impressive stadium, one of the best.

its a generic bowl.

 

[Otis]

I was looking at the Ricoh today and saw the huge wasps signs next to our small CCFC sign and the beer stalls all set up for “rugby” fans and it made me think we don’t have any real affinity anymore. An opportunity lost when we left and we are now just tennants. A real shame.

They have Tennant's at the Ricoh?

 

[CV22SBA]

Just had a look at Wasps total attendance and didn’t realise how much it had dropped.

2016/17: 234K
2017/18: 192K
2018/19: 129K

Over 100K drop in just 2 seasons.

 

[Magwitch]

I’d love there to be a plot of land somewhere where a replica of HR could be built, ideally in a central location, but there isnt

 

[Elvis Pressley]

Just had a look at Wasps total attendance and didn’t realise how much it had dropped.

2016/17: 234K
2017/18: 192K
2018/19: 129K

Over 100K drop in just 2 seasons.

Hopefully this trend will continue

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

Just had a look at Wasps total attendance and didn’t realise how much it had dropped.

2016/17: 234K
2017/18: 192K
2018/19: 129K

Over 100K drop in just 2 seasons.

They have had the initial burst of newly interested people who liked the idea of instant success, now the teams losing they are back off doing the knitting or whatever they did before. It is a failing business that will need to be propped up by its owner, not long now until the bonds need repaying (as if that’s going to happen it’s just an everlasting loan until they go bust)

 

[Ashdown]

I looked round it again yesterday and dreamt of a day that we were getting 28-30,000 in there and how good the place could be.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

I looked round it again yesterday and dreamt of a day that we were getting 28-30,000 in there and how good the place could be.

You’ll be lucky with the amount of segregation space required between the fans

 

[higgs]

It's not the same with wasps crest plastered all over it. If the seats ever get changed it will be worse

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[covcity4life]

Souless stuff is bullshit

We hsve only bern there during bad times

If ever make it prem whilst st ricoh it eill be packed every week with excitememt of plsying liverpool and manchester uniteds not forest green rovers or rochdale

I hope we find a way to stay and achieve that

Even return to chsmpionship would see avg atredence rise to about 18k and increased atmosphere

 

[clint van damme]

Souless stuff is bullshit

We hsve only bern there during bad times

If ever make it prem whilst st ricoh it eill be packed every week with excitememt of plsying liverpool and manchester uniteds not forest green rovers or rochdale

I hope we find a way to stay and achieve that

Even return to chsmpionship would see avg atredence rise to about 18k and increased atmosphere

no it's not. Especially if you'd been going to HR since the 70s.
You may not feel it's soulless but plenty do and I'm one of them.
It's not just the ground, I used to meet up with lads I know from all over Cov in the pubs before and after games at HR. Now I stay in local before the game, maybe have a pint in or around the Ricoh and nearly always return straight back to Earlsdon afterwards so the match day experience has lost that dimension for me.
Of course it would be better if we were in the top flight but personally I don't think it will ever feel like home to me and I don't think I'll ever warm to the place.

 

[covcity4life]

no it's not. Especially if you'd been going to HR since the 70s.
You may not feel it's soulless but plenty do and I'm one of them.
It's not just the ground, I used to meet up with lads I know from all over Cov in the pubs before and after games at HR. Now I stay in local before the game, maybe have a pint in or around the Ricoh and nearly always return straight back to Earlsdon afterwards so the match day experience has lost that dimension for me.
Of course it would be better if we were in the top flight but personally I don't think it will ever feel like home to me and I don't think I'll ever warm to the place.

You no longer having friends does not make the actual ground less soulful though

You should be intoxicated by love of watching ccfc not alcohol

Fix up

 

[Sick Boy]

It is a shame but with the right ownership we could make a proper go of the Ricoh atleast looking part of ours, the rest of the football world see the Ricoh as the home of ccfc, we have to develop harmony with our landlord perhaps through gritted teeth admittedly.

Yeah, and it still wouldn’t be ours and we would always be playing second fiddle to them. The last thing they’d want is for it to be seen as the home of CCFC.

A successful football club is a direct competitor to them for future fans, the fact some are oblivious to this is shocking.

 

[Grendel]

It’s poorly constructed and looks a lot older and in decay than most other grounds of a similar age

 

[clint van damme]

You no longer having friends does not make the actual ground less soulful though

You should be intoxicated by love of watching ccfc not alcohol

Fix up

It diminishes the whole match day experience though which I then associate with the ground. At HR it was possible to have a good day out even if we lost, now the result is pretty much the be all and end all.
Now I appreciate that HR was very convenient for me so they may add to my dislike of it but even people I've spoken to who live more local to it don't seem to get on with the place.

If you like the place then great, but I don't think the majority have a connection with it.