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West Midlands Mayor Andy Street Welcomes Deal That Will Keep Sky Blues At Their Coventry Home

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has welcomed news that Coventry City Football Club have reached an agreement to play at the CBS arena for another five years.

Mr Street, who leads the West Midlands Combined Authority, played a role in seeing the Sky Blues return to the stadium in 2021, when he acted as a mediator between the club and the owners of what was then called the Ricoh Arena.

Now Coventry City have agreed a fresh deal with Mike Ashley's Frasers Group, who now own the renamed CBS Arena.

Mr Street said, “It is fantastic that Coventry City FC and Frasers Group have agreed for the club to continue at the CBS for the next 5 years – Sky Blues fans will be delighted.

“It was never right for a city of Coventry's stature to have its football club playing its home games in another city, and I know what a sore point it was for the fans who take such pride in both their team and their city.

"That’s what drove me throughout the negotiations, and I am so delighted that, having seen the Sky Blues return home in 2021, they’re now going to be staying put.

“Right now, the Sky Blues are pushing for a play-off place, and I’m sure this news will come as a real boost.”

Before returning to Coventry, Mark Robins' side played their home games under a groundshare agreement with Birmingham City at St Andrew's.

In a statement, Michael Murray, chief executive of Frasers Group, said, "Following our recent acquisition of Coventry Building Society Arena, we are committed to investing into the Arena and the local community, and therefore supporting its future growth."

Doug King, owner of Coventry City FC, added, "We are delighted to sign this agreement, which we know will be welcomed by Sky Blues fans.

"This agreement will help to provide a period of further stability whilst we continue to build a positive future for Coventry City Football Club.

"The licence will enable us to play at our home, the Coventry Building Society Arena, for a minimum of five years and we will continue to positively engage with Frasers Group with regard to the longer term at the Arena."