Coventry Building Society Arena

The Coventry Building Society Arena stands on the site of the old Foleshill gasworks in the northern part of Coventry. It is a large sports and entertainment complex that includes a 32,609-seat stadium, a 6,000 square metre exhibition hall, a hotel and a casino. The shopping centre next to the arena contains one of the United Kingdom’s biggest Tesco Extra stores. The stadium replaced Coventry City’s former ground, Highfield Road, after the club decided a larger venue with better transport links was needed. Planning began in 1997 under chairman Bryan Richardson, though the project took far longer than first expected.

The arena has hosted major sporting events, including football matches during the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. It was also the home of Wasps rugby union club for several years before they entered administration in 2022. The stadium became the first cashless venue in the UK, using a smartcard system in all bars and shops. Coventry City have played there since 2005, though the club left briefly during disputes over rent and ownership. The arena’s name has changed several times, from Ricoh to Coventry Building Society in 2021.

Inside, the stadium offers wide concourses and modern facilities for spectators. The pitch has hosted competitive matches since August 2005, with the first goal scored by Claus Bech Jørgensen. The highest attendance for a Coventry City game was 31,452 in 2025 against Middlesbrough. The arena’s exhibition hall has seen major events, while the shopping centre provides extra attractions for visitors. The complex remains a key part of Coventry’s leisure and sports scene.