Delay in Coventry City Ricoh Arena

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The Football League club was due to move into their £113m Ricoh Arena before the new season gets under way, but the project is now days behind schedule. The revised opening date of August 20 for the stadium raises questions about when the club will play their first home game. The season usually starts in the first week of August.

In a joint statement with Coventry City Council and Arena Coventry Ltd, which run the facility, the club said: "CCFC is unable to comment on the implications of the Ricoh Arena opening on August 20 until it has held discussions with the Football Association.” The club is now liaising with the FA to clarify the situation."

The delay is the latest potential setback to hit the stadium. Last month, Japanese IT giants Ricoh stepped in to replace luxury car maker Jaguar as the arena's main sponsor. The car manufacturer pulled out in December last year because of the "rapid deterioration" in its business situation.