RICOH begins £3 million pound expansion

Work on a £3 million expansion of the Ricoh Arena started this week and is set to be completed by June 2010.

Arena chiefs plan to build on the Ricoh's success of hosting major concerts, conferences and exhibitions by expanding the capacity of the Jaguar Exhibition Hall and creating three new halls for conferences and exhibitions.

Expansion

The expansion of the Jaguar Exhibition Hall means the hall will be able to cater for 10,000 music fans - an increase of 2,000 - while one of the new halls features a 650-seat auditorium, complete with a stairway and balcony leading to the Ricoh's main atrium to create a new entrance.

Daniel Gidney, chief executive of the Ricoh Arena, said plans were in the pipeline for another, £500,000 expansion later this year which aims to build a new entrance for the Ricoh's hotel and a bridge linking the hotel to the Arena's casino's former restaurant.

Mr Gidney added the work was the largest building project at the Ricoh since it opened in 2005.

"We've always intended to expand the Ricoh Arena," he said. "In the past we've had to turn down bookings for weddings, conferences and exhibitions because the E.ON Lounge was being used for corporate hospitality on Coventry City match days and we couldn’t always confirm bookings due to the potential changes to the club’s fixture list.

"The success of the Ricoh has meant we have been able to re-invest in the venue and we hope this development will play a part in leading Coventry out of the recession."

Work on the £3 million expansion looks set to be completed by June.

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