Can Ricoh Ever Truly Be A Football Ground (10 Viewers)

[torchomatic]

What are your thoughts on this, folks?

Coventry City will finally return to the Ricoh Arena on Friday after a season spent playing home games 35 miles away in Northampton.

It's brilliant that the club have been reunited with their community. What has happened over the last year or so has been utterly, utterly diabolical.

But it's also important to remember that this is just the start. The overall problem hasn't gone away. Which is that somehow, when Coventry left Highfield Road in 2005, they lost control of their own bricks and mortar.

I say somehow because only the people responsible truly know what happened. But the results have been catastrophic.

The club lost control of its own revenue streams. They had no income from the 24/7 spend, from the hotel and the casino, the seemingly endless concerts, even food and drink from the kiosks. The maximum they could ever make was a proportion of the gate receipts.

It's the recipe that led to last year's administration and it's the recipe that'll lead to ongoing struggle unless - fingers crossed - they can find a place to call their own and control in its entirety. A four-year target has been set to achieve that and I hope it bears fruit.

In the meantime - having patched up their differences with the owner of the Ricoh - I hope the organisers will do something to turn the place into a football stadium.

It's far too corporate. You walk in there and you see posters for gigs, hotel customers, the casino. It's by far the most soulless venue of the 72.

I could be inside a five or ten year out-of-date hotel or shopping centre. It's got bells and whistles, facilities all over the place. But it's got no heart.

Where are the pictures of Cyrille Regis? Where are the pictures of Willie Carr and Gordon Milne? Even if you go down the tunnel, it's plastered with pictures of Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner. Terrible. I just don't feel like I'm at a football match.

If the club were doing it to raise money, I'd cut them some slack. But it isn't them. It's the Ricoh owners. Even if it's just for a few years, they have to turn it into something that feels like a football ground.

Mark Clemmit (Clem). The Football League Paper, 31 August 2014

 

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[shmmeee]

One the one hand: Nothing there that I (and lots and lots of others) haven't posted before about making it out home.

On the other hand: If we're only renting the bowl, stand by stand, for 23 days a year, how much say can we really have over the permanent fixtures?

Also:

Which is that somehow, when Coventry left Highfield Road in 2005, they lost control of their own bricks and mortar.

I say somehow because only the people responsible truly know what happened. But the results have been catastrophic

It's not some great mystery Clem, Mike McGinnity sold off all the control we had for peanuts, the current owners refuse to buy it back.

 

[bigfatronssba]

Has he actually been in the concourses with the CCFC related themed kiosks?

 

[Deleted member 5849]

It's not some great mystery Clem, Mike McGinnity sold off all the control we had for peanuts, the current owners refuse to buy it back.

tbf some of the ins and outs we'll never know; the motivation of Robinson to go there full-stop, the rumours of money spent by the 'club' on land contamination that was never done, the conbfidentiality agreements...

Hope Richardson leaves his diaries to an archive whenever he shuffles off this mortal coil:thinking about:

 

[bigfatronssba]

Also what does he mean by this?


"If the club were doing it to raise money, I'd cut them some slack. But it isn't them. It's the Ricoh owners. Even if it's just for a few years, they have to turn it into something that feels like a football ground."

So he would understand and except CCFC doing it to raise money, but not ACL?

If this is the sort of logic we have at the FL then no wonder football is in the state its in.

 

[bigfatronssba]

tbf some of the ins and outs we'll never know; the motivation of Robinson to go there full-stop, the rumours of money spent by the 'club' on land contamination that was never done, the conbfidentiality agreements...

Hope Richardson leaves his diaries to an archive whenever he shuffles off this mortal coil:thinking about:

If it wasn't for libellous laws I would happily give you my full opinion of what went on in the late 90's early 00's.

 

[shmmeee]

tbf some of the ins and outs we'll never know; the motivation of Robinson to go there full-stop, the rumours of money spent by the 'club' on land contamination that was never done, the conbfidentiality agreements...

Hope Richardson leaves his diaries to an archive whenever he shuffles off this mortal coil:thinking about:

That's the long and the short of it though. The club sold it, they had the chance to buy it back, they chose not to. Excuse me if I don't buy the "woe is me" line from the club.

(ooh it's just like the old days. Go on, ask me who's to blame for the 10 point deduction)

 

[WillieStanley]

Has he actually been in the concourses with the CCFC related themed kiosks?

I see his point though. There are sprinkles of CCFC all around, but considering we're the main tenant, the anchor tenant, there's not much, really.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Well... they had the chance to buy HR back it's true...

 

[shmmeee]

I see his point though. There are sprinkles of CCFC all around, but considering we're the main tenant, the anchor tenant, there's not much, really.

Are we still the anchor tenant? Genuine question. I doubt we're paying the most rent (any more) and depending on what the crowds turn out like this season I doubt we bring the most footfall over a year.

But I agree, would love to see something like the outside of the Emirates with players through the ages, and some more character on the inside.

 

[bigfatronssba]

I see his point though. There are sprinkles of CCFC all around, but considering we're the main tenant, the anchor tenant, there's not much, really.

Highfield Road wasn't exactly a cauldron of Sky Blue memorabilia.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Highfield Road wasn't exactly a cauldron of Sky Blue memorabilia.

No, and again there are a few we can 'thank' for that.

 

[torchomatic]

In the mid 90s me and me Dad won a compo where we sat in the Directors' box and we had a tour of the place. There certainly were City photos and memorabilia. Photos on the wall from all eras by the looks of it. Certainly no pictures of Springsteen or Tina Turner!

EDIT. It was ours though.

Highfield Road wasn't exactly a cauldron of Sky Blue memorabilia.

 

[shmmeee]

In the mid 90s me and me Dad won a compo where we sat in the Directors' box and we had a tour of the place. There were City photos and memorabliia everywhere. Photos on the wall from all eras by the looks of it. Certainly no pictures of Springsteen or Tina Turner!

There's loads of City memorabilia inside the Ricoh too, at least there was in our last season there when I got taken on a tour. It's just the concourses and outside there's not.

 

[torchomatic]

Never been in the back of the Ricoh so wouldn't know. If it's true regarding pictures of SPringsteen in the tunnel, then that's a bit shit, but that's the way it is, I guess. After all, it's ACLs baby. The two badges on the outside and those in the arena inside is all that signifies we play there though. Still, just glad to be back.

There's loads of City memorabilia inside the Ricoh too, at last there was in our last season when I got taken on a tour. It's just the concourses and outside there's not.

 

[bigfatronssba]

Are we still the anchor tenant? Genuine question. I doubt we're paying the most rent (any more) and depending on what the crowds turn out like this season I doubt we bring the most footfall over a year.

But I agree, would love to see something like the outside of the Emirates with players through the ages, and some more character on the inside.

I would too on the outside, but inside the bowl there is very little else you can do (before it starts to look tacky).

His comment of "the most soulless of the 72" is absolute shite to be perfectly honest. Stadium MK didn't even have an MK Dons badge on it when I was there last year.

 

[shmmeee]

Never been in the back of the Ricoh so wouldn't know. If it's true regarding pictures of SPringsteen in the tunnel, then that's a bit shit, but that's the way it is, I guess. After all, it's ACLs baby. The two badges on the outside and those in the arena inside is all that signifies we play there though. Still, just glad to be back.

There's photos on the walls of CCFC throughout history, there's stuff in the board room. I can't remember the tunnel (I can't remember any pictures at all) other than we were told that coming out to it from the away dressing room the ceiling gets slowly lower to make the away team feel like the walls are closing in (I quite like that).

 

[bigfatronssba]

Never been in the back of the Ricoh so wouldn't know. If it's true regarding pictures of SPringsteen in the tunnel, then that's a bit shit, but that's the way it is, I guess. After all, it's ACLs baby. The two badges on the outside and those in the arena inside is all that signifies we play there though. Still, just glad to be back.

What colour first comes into your head when you look at this picture (excluding green obviously!)

 

[Ashdown]

Time, History, big matches, family get togethers, friends, some success. All of those things will make the Ricoh a proper home. In 20 years time most people will stop reminiscing about HR and the younger generations hopefully will have some good old memories in CV6 !

 

[letsallsingtogether]

Why did Springsteaen play there too?

I never saw any pictures at Highfield road and went to nearly every game for 30 years?
And we owned it for most of that time?

In the mid 90s me and me Dad won a compo where we sat in the Directors' box and we had a tour of the place. There certainly were City photos and memorabilia. Photos on the wall from all eras by the looks of it. Certainly no pictures of Springsteen or Tina Turner!

EDIT. It was ours though.

 

[italiahorse]

Have you ever been to an away match ?
Theres little difference.

We need to have free reign, as main bowl customer, of making it our own football stadium.

 

[Grendel]

Why did Springsteaen play there too?

I never saw any pictures at Highfield road and went to nearly every game for 30 years?
And we owned it for most of that time?

There was loads of pictures in the corporate and main stand areas.

Interesting what people with no bias think isn't it?

 

[letsallsingtogether]

Only us old ones will remember HR.

No matter how much we loved it and I did, we will never see the likes again, so whether it is a soulless ground in Holbrooks(not my words) of a shed in Beduff (my words) we have what we have.
Lets fill the Ricoh every week and win something to make us more at home.And anyway I am proud of our home, PUSB

Time, History, big matches, family get togethers, friends, some success. All of those things will make the Ricoh a proper home. In 20 years time most people will stop reminiscing about HR and the younger generations hopefully will have some good old memories in CV6 !

 

[Leamington Pete]

To be fair there was quite a bit of memorabilia around when we were last there (seem to remember some of the lounges looking quite impressive) and I'm sure a lot of stuff will appear over coming weeks. Think the staff have probably been quite busy lately.

 

[Rusty Trombone]

I'm sure there was a TV game that showed inside the players tunnel (stop it) and there were loads of pictures on the wall. Also been in a couple of the conference rooms, again plenty of CCFC items.

 

[westcountry_skyblue]

I had a fathers day lunch in singers bar a couple of years ago.
A very nice carvery i must say.
And also a free tour of the inside bars,Exhibition halls and dressing rooms.
Lots of pics of stars and the history of our club.

 

[JWC]

I see his point though. There are sprinkles of CCFC all around, but considering we're the main tenant, the anchor tenant, there's not much, really.

Apart from the massive Coventry City badges on the outside of the stadium, sky blue seats, with CCFC and Sky Blues written out in darker blue?

Maybe we should do that thing that Arsenal and other teams do where we proudly display the years that we have won major trophies in order around the stadium......

oh

 

[Broken Hearted Sky Blue]

I think the people who say the Ricoh never felt like home are right,what the new ground should have is a whole stands wall with ex players etc nanes on it and fans can have bricks or something with their names on underneath,or how about a statue of our most successfull manager ,and for fans who have sadly passed away a rememberance garden,or even a shop right by the main enterance how about all yje seats being sky blue? No forget it stupid ideas sorry!

 

[Broken Hearted Sky Blue]

There was loads of pictures in the corporate and main stand areas.

Interesting what people with no bias think isn't it?

So it was home for the corporates then?

 

[letsallsingtogether]

Well funny you should say that if you go to the main entrance of the Arena there used to be some pictures in there,

We tried to start a CCFC museum in the ground but our owners didn't want it?

Should have known then what was to come.

Oh and I never used the corporate or Main stand we re not all as privileged as you, most of are just working class you know!!!

There was loads of pictures in the corporate and main stand areas.

Interesting what people with no bias think isn't it?

 

[mark82]

I'm sure in the days the stadium was being built there was talk of projecting player images onto the walls. He's right, it is soulless. I wish we could stay there but make it more like our home.

We need to be packing the place too to prove we need more than a 15k stadium.

 

[Grendel]

So it was home for the corporates then?

To be fair the corporate hospitality at the Ricoh in my experience has always been excellent. A lot of effort is made by ex players who I think volunteer their services but the food quality is five star as is the attention by the staff. A lot better than many premier teams and was the one thing that really for better under ranson

 

[bigfatronssba]

I seem to recall the legends lounge having a lot of CCFC memorabilia in there. A lot of history of the club.

 

[Ashdown]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Ricoh Arena or whatever it will be called in the future....................apart from one thing, the club doesn't own it and doesn't benefit from all the footfall it brings to the complex................Oh and I mean the club, not some out of town money sharks trying to muscle in on the fanbase either.

 

[letsallsingtogether]

So by owning it will it then becomes our home overnight?

If it is soulless now why will that change if we own it?

Serious question.


I am a local landlord, some of my tenants do nothing live there for a year move on clearly not their home.

Others I have had for years, decorate it to their choice and class it as their home.

It is what you want it to be IMO.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Ricoh Arena or whatever it will be called in the future....................apart from one thing, the club doesn't own it and doesn't benefit from all the footfall it brings to the complex................Oh and I mean the club, not some out of town money sharks trying to muscle in on the fanbase either.