Frank Lampard’s Coventry City consider building 40,000-seater new stadium as EFL rule is introduced

COVENTRY are weighing up the possibility of building a potential new 40,000-seater stadium in the city.

The Championship side, managed by Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, have reportedly made contact with the local council for advice on a potential move.

General view of Coventry City's Ricoh Arena.

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Coventry City’s lease on current home the Coventry Building Society Arena (formerly the Ricoh Arena) ends at the end of the 2027-28 seasonCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Frank Lampard, manager of Coventry City, applauding.

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Chelsea legend Frank Lampard took over in Coventry last November, and led them to a playoff semi-finalCredit: Getty

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According to reports from the BBC, Coventry owner Doug King wrote to the council’s chief executive Julie Nugent to enquire about building a new stadium on the site of nearby Butts Park Arena.

The arena is currently in use by local rugby side Coventry Rugby Club, whose chairman shut down the idea of the expansion and a potential stadium share as “not feasible.”

It was reported that the council also responded negatively to the approach regarding a move to the site.

With the club’s lease on their current stadium, the Coventry Building Society Arena, running out at the end of the 2027-28 season, the Sky Blues are looking at multiple options to secure their future.

The near-33,000 capacity stadium is owned by the Frasers Group and its majority shareholder, ex-Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley.

The pressure to find a solution is on for the club, who will be fined £10,000 under new EFL stadium rules if they have not secured access to a stadium for the next 10 years.

That fine would double annually for each season started without those provisions, and further measures could include expulsion from the league should a club’s stadium agreement not cover a full season.

Similar rules saw National League side Gateshead denied a shot at promotion to the EFL through the play-offs in 2024 after they failed to meet their ten-year stadium tenancy requirements.

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General view of the Ricoh Arena.

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The proposal to move stadium has not been well received by the current tenants of the new site Coventry Rugby ClubCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Coventry would rather not have that uncertainty over their heads as they pursue promotion to the Premier League under Lampard this season.

They came close last year after a strong second half of the season, but were ultimately knocked out of the Championship play-off semi-finals by a 122nd minute header from Sunderland‘s Dan Ballard.

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