The chairman of Coventry Rugby Club has revealed plans have been drawn to expand the stadium and clear the way for Coventry City to move to Butts Park Arena.

Jon Sharp, chairman of Coventry RFC, said architects had produced stadium designs which could see the existing ground expanded to between 15,000 and 25,000 seats.

Mr Sharp said discussions had taken place since the start of the year and insisted the plans to unite the two clubs at The Butts were being considered seriously.

However, he underlined that they were far from a certainty at this stage.

The rugby chief said issues with the tightness of the site’s boundaries could be countered by sinking the pitch lower into the ground and constructing two-tier stands.

Funding for the project would be provided by forming a joint property company with the football club and ongoing revenue would be secured by the two organisations forming an events company to handle the day to day running of the stadium.

"We have had discussions with the football club and we have had discussions with architects who have drawn up some outline plans."

A student accommodation development would be used to provide a big chunk of the required finance, but there could also be the possibility for a retail outlet.

Mr Sharp also said contributions would be provided by the rugby club, the football club and any other partners which could come on board along the way.

Mr Sharp said: “We have had discussions with the football club and we have had discussions with architects who have drawn up some outline plans.”

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He added: “The idea of a ground share is in the process of being considered feasibility wise. It hasn’t got past the feasibility stage yet, neither club has got a resolution from its board of directors saying ‘this is what we should be doing’.

“Can we fit in the required number of seats? The answer is yes, subject to planning regulations, crowd flow and traffic flow requirements. It is pretty early days.

“It is certainly a big enough site to meet the football club’s requirements, but it wouldn’t be anything as big as the Ricoh Arena.

Aerial view of Butts Park Arena

“We think 25,000 is the biggest we could fit there, but we would be looking at something significantly smaller to than that to allow space for further development of the ground.

“I would like to see a community room, a gym and maybe some retail there to make the site work. Student accommodation was always in the plans, but the original permissions have now lapsed.

“We would be looking at 15,000 seats or above looking at the football club gates and what they would get if they went up a league.

“But I don’t want the rugby club to be rattling around in too large a stadium.”

Asked about the constraints of the site and potential issues with parking, Mr Sharp said he believed these challenges could be overcome.

He said: “There’s a fair chunk of land by the railway line.

“Parking would be an issue, but it is for any sports ground if everyone came by car.

“The fact is it’s a city centre location, on major bus routes and only two minutes walk from the train station. There’s also a park and ride service.”

There are long-running issues between the owners of Coventry City FC and Coventry City Council following several legal clashes over the Ricoh Arena where the club currently plays its home matches.

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But asked if a change of leadership at the council might increase political will to assist making the ground share a reality, Mr Sharp said: “I hope so.

“We have talked to the council about this in pretty general terms. Our concern first and foremost is that the rugby club is protected.

“There’s clearly a sensitivity between the council and the football club’s owners - but they are not the football club.

“There should be a softening. This will be for the greater benefit of Coventry.

“It would secure the future of the rugby club through improved revenue streams and give the football club a central location.

“It would also help regenerate the area around the Butts which has some pretty dilapidated buildings. And it would all be through private money and at no cost to the tax payer at all.”

Coventry City has long complained it does not have access to the revenue streams needed in order for it to be competitive at the Ricoh Arena. The the club reportedly pays £100,000-a-year rent at the stadium and recently signed a two-year extension to its lease.

"For the city of Coventry it makes sense. Economically for the football club and the rugby club it makes a huge amount of sense."

The current arrangement sees the Sky Blues keep all gate receipts, retain 15 per cent of food and drink sales and take a share of car parking income on matchdays. But it misses out on major stadium income from non-matchday events and major sponsorship income.

Asked how a deal a partnership at The Butts, under the potential banner ‘Coventry Sporting Club, would work in the interests of CCFC, Mr Sharp said: “There would be things such as naming rights for the stadium.

“The property company would be a joint venture with the football club and would be owned by the rugby club and football club.

“The joint events company would deal with matchday revenue and non-matchday stuff. It would be responsible for franchises, food and beverages and a share of that income would go to the football club’s finances.”

Mr Sharp said the rugby club had also been talking to Coventry United about playing some matches there and would also like to see other sports such as hockey at the stadium.

He added that it would need a 5G pitch and that discussions had been held with CCFC about a potential financial contribution from them with a view to possibly sharing facilities and the football club using the ground for training purposes.

Architects' image for new Coventry City stadium
A previous architects' image for new Coventry City stadium

Mr Sharp said: “Butts Park is not a cheap place to run as it is. The plan is to expand the scope and use of the stadium. It’s a perfect city centre location for all sports.

“We could be working the facilities around the clock. All of that requires a pitch that’s suitable for all those other sports.

“Those pitches aren’t cheap and we have had discussions with the club and other people who can bring stuff to the party.”

Mr Sharp also said he would like the clubs to work together on community projects.

He said: "For the city of Coventry it makes sense. Economically for the football club and the rugby club it makes a huge amount of sense.

“We are still looking at structures to ensure we can protect the rugby club.

“But we are a long way from finalising any plans."

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