Coventry City & The Ricoh Arena- another twist

[The Red Baron]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2780669/London-Wasps-proposed-Coventry-says-Phil-Vickery.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Looks like the stadium is going to be taken over by Wasps RUFC.

[LongbridgeMGRover]

Interesting. I wonder if this 'Franchise' move , Wimbledon style is in any way connected to the public school toffs who run Rugby Union being alarmed at the prospect of Coventry Bears joining Rugby League next season????

[GM-MarkB]

Coventry RU already have a ground at the Butts Arena near the city centre...Played there a couple of times. So unless I read it wrong, are they proposing a take over of Cov RU or will there be 2 teams in town ?

[The Red Baron]

Coventry RU already have a ground at the Butts Arena near the city centre...Played there a couple of times. So unless I read it wrong, are they proposing a take over of Cov RU or will there be 2 teams in town ?

As far as I'm aware there would be two teams. I don't think Coventry RU are happy about it at all. Neither are most of the Wasps fans who live in the Greater London area.

It has exposed SISU for what they are, though. Here's someone prepared to offer somewhere near the market price for the stadium and SISU are nowhere to be seen. They wanted to pick it up for a knock-down price after the company running it had gone bust. That's been their agenda all along.

[coventryrover]

Coventry RU already have a ground at the Butts Arena near the city centre...Played there a couple of times. So unless I read it wrong, are they proposing a take over of Cov RU or will there be 2 teams in town ?

As far as I'm aware there would be two teams. I don't think Coventry RU are happy about it at all. Neither are most of the Wasps fans who live in the Greater London area.

It has exposed SISU for what they are, though. Here's someone prepared to offer somewhere near the market price for the stadium and SISU are nowhere to be seen. They wanted to pick it up for a knock-down price after the company running it had gone bust. That's been their agenda all along.

Got to agrre with that about SISU.

Wasps have played at the Ricoh before, against Munster.  I went, and the stadium was packed with Munstermen.  Great atmosphere.

CRU are unhappy about it but Ithink it would be a good thing for the West Midlands.  I'd go watch it.

[bobjimwilly]

Am I missing something or isn't this another "wimbledon"? They did good to increase their average gate when moving slightly further north to High Wycombe, but Coventry is another 80 miles further north! I can't see many fans travelling an extra 160 miles on a match day?

And what about Coventry RFC? Been going 140 years this year and they're sure to lose current and potential fans.

[coventryrover]

It is another Wimbledon Rob. Coventrys council (who own some of the Ricoh) have today agreed to sell their share to Wasps.  Looks like a goer.  Not sure how they will fill 32K.  Some think it's a trojan horse issue to eventually take over CCFC

 I am not too sure how many Wasps fans will go but you have to feel for them.  Completely disregarded, but so were the local fans when they up sticks and moved to Wycombe.

Then you have Cov RFC.  In a funny way I dont think it will effect them.  They have a core 1K support (carried over from their heyday).  Guess there could be some duel registration agreements between them and Wasps.

Worcester, Leicester and Northampton may moan that it it's into their catchment area but they were eating into Cov RFUs, aiding in the stagnation of Cov RFU.

It's a mess, for sure but I hope it somehow sees the end of Sisu

[Sheepskin Stu]

I've heard they are building a railway station at the stadium.

[coventryrover]

well it's happened
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/watch-wasps-ricoh-arena-takeover-7904601

Very mixed feelings, particularly the effect on CRFU and the Wasps supporters.  Get to see top class rugby though and it has put SISUs nose out of joint

[wilts rover]

Be careful what you wish for coventryrover, any club that places so little regard on its heritage or supporters is certainly not doing it in the best interests of sport.

[coventryrover]

I sm filly aware ofvthat wilts, thats what makes it so uncomfortable.

Though without the move wasps may be no more

[The Red Baron]

I sm filly aware ofvthat wilts, thats what makes it so uncomfortable.

Though without the move wasps may be no more

That was the argument that Pete Winkleman and co put up to justify the move of Wimbledon to Milton Keynes- that without the move they'd go out of business.

Had they done so then a Phoenix club would have been formed and would have looked to climb up the divisions. In fact, that's exactly what DID happen.

It's about the soul of the club. I'm sure a lot of Wasps fans would rather that they reverted to amateurism and kept the club close to its roots, even if it meant playing at a much lower level.