CRFC chairman reveals Butts Park Arena development plans...
By Simon Gilbert, Coventry Telegraph.
December 22 2015
...as land deal draws closer.
Coventry RFC chairman Jon Sharp has said he wants to develop the Butts Park Arena to benefit the rugby club, and poured cold water on rumours of a groundshare with Coventry City FC.
The Telegraph recently revealed Mr Sharp was in talks with Butts Park Arena leasehold owner Chris Millerchip about taking over the lease for the stadium land as he aims to progress plans for the club.
Mr Millerchip, a former Coventry Rugby Club player, donated thousands of pounds to the club when the outfit was struggling financially. He currently owns Coventry Rugby Properties LLP, which owns the 125-year lease from Coventry City Council for the Butts Park Arena site. That lease contains restrictions which mean the site can only currently be used by a rugby club.
Mr Millerchip currently lives in New York, and has struggled to remain involved with the club.
Now, Mr Sharp has now revealed the paperwork to take over the land lease is “ready to go” and is due to be signed in the near future.
Plans for the site focus on off-field activity and Mr Sharp recently told the Telegraph discussions had been held with events organisations.
He said the aim was to increase revenue by developing non-rugby activities at Butts Park, building on its growing conference and events business.
Speaking on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, Mr Sharp said: “The most important thing is that I’m committed to the development of Coventry Rugby and to see the club consolidate it’s success, both in terms of the commercial success, business success and in terms of playing success.
“What we have there is a brilliant city centre location, and I see it as being an under-used location. How can we make a business out of it when we only use it 15 times a year to play rugby on?
“I wish to improve the facilities. I believe there’s not enough corporate hospitality capacity there and I wish to improve that.”
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Quote:telly1
All sounds hunky dory, however,from the enquiries I have made,it appears the restrictions on use relate to the pitch and stand only,which is on a sub lease to the head lease held by JS.KEY words are , PROPERTY DEVELOPERS. which is worrying as they are in hard nosed business . Would JS be good enough to give us more detail. Will the Council get 106 monies for instance, as fans we want to see a rich club be derived from this CITY asset. not make a individual rich. lets face it, JS has only invested peanuts into CRFC, unlike Cecil Duckworth and the like who put in millions each year to get their clubs promoted.
Quote:telly1Quote:telly1
All sounds hunky dory, however,from the enquiries I have made,it appears the restrictions on use relate to the pitch and stand only,which is on a sub lease to the head lease held by JS.KEY words are , PROPERTY DEVELOPERS. which is worrying as they are in hard nosed business . Would JS be good enough to give us more detail. Will the Council get 106 monies for instance, as fans we want to see a rich club be derived from this CITY asset. not make a individual rich. lets face it, JS has only invested peanuts into CRFC, unlike Cecil Duckworth and the like who put in millions each year to get their clubs promoted.
There you go. I'll quote you again. For free. So you don't have to.