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Coventry Bid For National Stadium
by Bob Walker |
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As the sun rises over the Foleshill Gasworks near Coventry, civic leaders are hoping they're about to witness a new sporting dawn in the West Midlands.
Later this week ministers are expected to receive a new report on the future of a national stadium....and both Birmingham and Coventry are confident it'll give their campaign a boost.
Coventry already has planning permission for a 45,000 seat stadium on the gasworks site which would be the new home for Coventry City FC. But the club has agreed to find a new location if the Government approves a national stadium in Coventry. The stadium's capacity would be increased to 90,000.
The Birmingham project envisages an 80,000 seat arena on a greenfield site next to the National Exhibition Centre.
The Government decided to review the project after the Football Association's 拢700 million re-development of Wembley Stadium collapsed.
Advisor Patrick Carter has been looking at all three bids and his report is due to be presented by the end of this month.
An opinion poll among football supporters revealed that more than 60 per cent wanted the stadium built in Birmingham. But Coventry's backers say their scheme meets all the Government targets on brownfield regeneration and public transport links.
They've even paid for billboard posters in Central London pointing out the merits of their bid.
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Proposed site for the ground |
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Wembley Stadium |
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