GROUND NAME: Ricoh Arena
CAPACITY: 32,500 (all seated)
ADDRESS: Phoenix Way, Foleshill, Coventry, CV6 6GE
MAIN TELEPHONE NO: 0844 873 1883
TICKET OFFICE NO: 0844 873 1883 (Option 1)
CLUB NICKNAME: The Sky Blues
OFFICIAL WEB SITE: www.ccfc.co.uk
COACH TRAVEL INFORMATION:
Departure time 11.30am
Adults £14.50
Concessions £13
DIRECTIONS:
Take the M8 south. Leave at junction 3. Take the A444 towards the city centre and after one mile you will reach the stadium on the left.
WHERE TO PARK:
Mostly parking is for permit holders, with some spaces in Car Park C at £10 per car, It is advisable to book a space in advance. Other car parks within walking distance of the stadium, in such places as factory units and local schools are available.. The cost of these official car parks vary but are around £2.50-£5 per vehicle. See the Ricoh Arena Parking website for more details. In addition an extensive 'residents only' parking scheme has been put in place for all residential streets within a least a mile of the ground.
THE STADIUM:
Three sides of the stadium are large single tiered stands The West Stand. has a small tier of seats over the larger lower tier, with a row of corporate hospitality boxes, along the back of the lower section. An exhibition centre is behind this stand. In one of the corners is located a Police Control box. The stadium is completely enclosed, all corners having seating. All the stands are of the same height, giving it a symmetrical look. More natural light enters the stadium by the Perspex panels, built into the roof of the South Stand,, which helps the growth of the grass pitch. There is a large video screen type scoreboard located in one corner of the stadium between the South and Tesco East Stands. The stadium was opened in August 2005.
WHERE THE VALIANTS WILL BE SEATED
Away supporters are mostly allocated one side of the South Stand (Blocks 6 & 7) Around 3,000 supporters can be seated in this area. The rake of the stand is quite steep so it is quite a climb to the back! The stadium does have good acoustics, which helps boost the atmosphere.
Entrance to the stadium is through automatic turnstiles, where you have to put your ticket (which has a bar code on it) into a slot reader, which then allows the turnstiles admit you
FOOD:
The usual fare is on offer in the spacious concourse with hot dogs, meat and potato, chicken and mushroom and cheese and onion pies, all about £3.50. As well as large sausage rolls. Outside the arena food is available in the café in the Tesco Extra. Coming from the arena by the North Stand follow the tow path over the canal for about 400 yards. If you continue when you come to Longford Road head straight towards the City Centre and 200 yards along is the JK English pub/ Indian restaurant which does an all you can eat buffet on a Saturday lunchtime.
DRINK:
As well as the JK English pub in Longford Road other pubs include the Longford Engine and Coach and Horses both which welcome away fans. To reach these cross the canal and take the path through the small park until you come to Longford Road turn left away from the City Centre. They are about 15 minutes walk from the ground. In one corner of the stadium, near the Club Shop is the Grovesnor Casino which is open to both home and away fans and Vale fans were full of praise for this when we visited last season.