The Ricoh Arena will be a venue for some of the UK’s most high profile sports and entertainment events. It is the new home of Coventry City football club and will be attracting big names of the calibre of Kylie Minogue, U2 and David Bowie.The £113 million multi-purpose development expands over 72 acres and is less than two hours’ drive time for 75% of the mainland UK population.
The 32,000 seat arena will feature
6,000sq metre exhibition and events hall holding 8000 people,
a 1,000 seater banqueting suite,
65 hotel rooms
a health and fitness suite.
For Ricoh, this venue will provide a headquarters from which several new strategic services will be directed, allowing the company to achieve 30 per cent growth over the next three years and creating at least 100 jobs.
Ricoh is already the 7th largest IT company in the world, with number one copier market share in Europe and has existing experience in sponsoring stadiums such as the hugely successful ‘Ricoh Coliseum’ in Toronto, Canada.
The Ricoh Arena will be highly visible - passed by 52 million vehicles and with a footfall of 2.5 million people a year, on the flight path for two international airports and rooftop signage purported to be visible from the moon!
“The Ricoh Arena will be a landmark building that will create a new gateway into the city and provide one of the most unique facilities in the country. We have been working closely with the company in the run-up to today’s signing and are developing very exciting plans for the arena" commented Mr Terry Ogiwara, Associate Director Corporate Planning.
The Lord Mayor, Councillor Ram Lakha, welcomed the President and CEO of Ricoh Co. Ltd. to Coventry at the civic ceremony held in the brand new Ricoh Arena to recognise the company’s investment in the city and to welcome some of the senior management currently visiting from Japan.