The CBS Arena has an all seated capacity of 32,500 as well as a 6,000 square-metre exhibition hall, a hotel, a leisure club and a casino. The site is also home to Arena Park Shopping Centre containing one of the UK's largest Tesco Extra hypermarkets. Unfortunately, the club have yet to sell out the capacity for any home league game although the feat was managed in a cup tie against Chelsea. A fact that will probably only change with promotion to the Premier League.
Visiting supporters are situated to one end of the Jewson south stand where upto 3,000 supporters can be accomodated for. There isn't a single pillar throughout the ground meaning you're view of the playing area is unrestricted from all positions. The size of the ground compared to the general home gate make it quite difficult for home and away fans to generate a good atmosphere.
CBS Arena seating plan:
For a detailed look into the best and worst places to sit at Coventry City's CBS Arena, check out their team page on 'Where To Sit?' which features plenty of information and photos submitted by fans with views from their seats - Best Places To Sit at the CBS Arena
Pubs admitting away supporters are few and far between and anyone fancying a drink is advised to either stop short on their journey to Coventry or to drink in the City centre. Avoid wearing club colours, baseball caps and burberry-style clothing and you should get a decent pre-game drink.
The nearest shopping area is Arena Park at the back of the ground. There is a large Tesco's, a Boots, Burger King, a Library and lots of market stalls. There is a Pizza Hut across the car park.
Parking is very strict in surrounding streets with a residents only format in play leaving no real choice but to either, take up one of the park and ride options around the CBS at a cost of between £5 and £7; or spend over £25 in the Arena shopping centre and park there free of charge. Alternatively, you can book in advance to park at the ground in one of the clubs designated parking spaces at a cost of £10. Jonny Shuttleworth informas me: There are many many pubs situated on Foleshill Road behind the CBS that offer parking for as little as £3 on match days.
Secure a parking space near to the CBS Arena and save £££. Simply book a nearby space or driveway with JustPark
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The nearest / closest train station to Coventry City's CBS Arena is Coventry Arena, which is right outside the stadium. Coventry station is some four miles away and is on the Virgin Cross Country Line and is also served by Central Trains.
There is a taxi rank outside Coventry Station and it will cost around £10 or so for a single journey to the ground. Similarly in the city centre, there are a number of taxi ranks. Alternatively try one of the local firms: Central 02476 333333 are usually the most reliable.
Rivals - Aston Villa, Leicester, Birmingham, West Brom, Wolves
Visiting supporters are located in the South Stand, commonly using blocks 6 to 9 depending on the away allocation.
Yes. Safe-standing areas are provided in blocks 6 and 7 of the South Stand, covering designated rows within those blocks.
Coventry Arena railway station is the nearest station and is located next to the stadium complex.
Yes. Matchday parking is available at the Arena but advance booking is recommended. Parking charges apply and availability can be limited.
Turnstiles normally open 90 minutes before kick-off unless Coventry City announces different arrangements for a particular fixture.
Yes. Stadium turnstiles are ticket-only and barcode scanners are used for entry.
Yes. The Arena provides accessible seating and facilities for disabled supporters. Supporters with specific requirements should arrange assistance before travelling.
No. The turnstiles are ticket-only. Away supporters with ticket queries should follow the match-specific instructions issued by Coventry City and their own club.
Travel: I travelled by train from Portsmouth Harbour, changing at London Waterloo and Coventry. From Coventry station, I caught the Arena Shuttle bus directly to the CBS Arena. The service was frequent, easy to use and full of both home and away supporters, making the final part of the journey completely hassle-free.
Refreshments: Before kick-off, I stopped at The Longford Engine. I had both food and drink, choosing a steak pie, chips and a pint. The pub serves food throughout the day and had a lively atmosphere, with supporters discussing Coventry’s push for the Championship title.
Impressions: The CBS Arena looks impressive from outside thanks to its size and modern design. Inside, the stadium feels spacious with excellent sightlines from every stand. The concourses were wide and easy to navigate, making it one of the more comfortable away grounds I have visited.
Atmosphere: The atmosphere was excellent as Coventry closed in on the Championship title. Home supporters generated constant noise, particularly after the early goal. Despite Portsmouth’s vocal travelling support, Coventry’s dominant 5-1 victory ensured the home crowd celebrated throughout a memorable evening.
Exit: The shuttle buses back to Coventry station were busy but well organised. Stewards managed supporters efficiently, and I was back at the railway station in good time for my return journey. Despite the large crowd, everything moved surprisingly smoothly.
Enjoy: Although the scoreline was disappointing, I enjoyed visiting the CBS Arena. It offers excellent facilities, good transport links and comfortable viewing. Coventry’s supporters created a fantastic atmosphere, making it an enjoyable away-day experience despite the heavy defeat.
Travel: We left North West London at 10am and got there before 12 noon. I drove and took the M1 then M6 and the A444. I parked in the stadium car park.
Refreshments: We walked around the ground, talking to other Rovers fans. Had a drink in the Grosvenor Casino. I did not speak to any home fans.
Impressions: I have been here before; see my review from two years ago. It looks very concrete from the outside.
Atmosphere: There were 2,000+ away fans in attendance. Coventry needed to win to keep up their play off hopes. Our fans silenced their drum within the first 20 minutes as well as their fans. There was a large police presence but no real trouble. No issues. I did not buy anything inside the ground. Coventry much better than us; we were terrible in the first half so 0-0 was a good result for us.
Exit: Waited around for 20 minutes to get out of the car park and was back home by 19:00. There is Free WiFi at the ground but need to give your details - see CBS Arena WiFi. Fans were allowed to go outside the stadium to smoke at half time if they wished.
Enjoy: A great result for us considering how we played. Still in relegation trouble. Generally, a nice sunny day, no traffic and one point so quite a good day.
Ground Name: CBS Arena
Capacity: 32,500 (all seated)
Address: Phoenix Way, Foleshill, Coventry, CV6 6GE
Main Tel No.: 0844 873 1883
Team Nickname: The Sky Blues
Year Ground Opened: 2005
Site: www.ccfc.co.uk
