SeaSeeEffCee
Sky Blue Hero
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2017
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As we enter the final game before the lengthy international break, I wanted to share some club updates/information and observations with you.
Firstly, the Arena, as previously communicated, has been undergoing a substantial capital expenditure program on several fronts.
Some of these were mandatory to ensure that the club meets the high standards of the Premier League, including a further upgrade of our floodlights over this upcoming break. Most of this phase will then be completed.
Other external enhancements such as the painting of the Arena and overall long-term critical maintenance on the Perspex and (rusting) Steel Struts will continue over the next few months. This is the first real attention given to key infrastructure since the building of the Arena in 2005 and just part and parcel of owning a major facility.
My mantra is do it properly, do it once and then maintain the quality thereafter. There is no doubt that this work is often neglected when organisations are under financial pressure, so I am happy we are addressing these issues as they are extremely important for us business wise.
Our recent announcement outlining the joint venture with Legends Global is just in its infancy and comes with a significant capital investment as our hospitality areas are upgraded/revamped to enhance the football experience as well as being available for broader Arena use. There is a lot more to come in the concourse and our indoor arena in the coming months/years. This tie up will be very exciting as it unfolds and if we can get our act together, will transform our usage of the site and hopefully place us as one of the key venues in this country.
Onto Ryton, a further multi-million-pound investment phase of renovation continues apace with a new Modulek infrastructure covering a new dressing room, media and seminar room as well as recovery suite, with the necessary internal rejig that comes with that. We hope to conclude the majority of this work by the end of October and restore some more calm and balance to the environment…
Being promoted for the first time in 25 years alongside finally owning our own stadium for the first time ever has brought unprecedented change and investment. Our team has been working extremely hard to pull it off on time and within budget and I thank all of them for their huge efforts. It has not been easy.
I am of course aware of some teething, snagging and technology issues over our first two home games in the Premier League. We have responded in kind but with new hospitality, new digital ticketing and new procedures on how to manage your season ticket (forwarding etc), we will be taking the next few weeks to really get ahead of it with additional focus and resource from our commercial team. We need to up our game on customer service and feedback over this transition period as we all get used to the different set up. I have fed this message loud and clear to our team and so I hope this will be felt by all in the coming weeks, and we all get to grips with the changes.
Now onto the most important part. Football!
Some will recall the heavy turnover of personnel in the summer of 2023, and the summer of 2026 has been similar. Ten new players joining us, with two of our mainstays of the 25/26 season also making a permanent move here. Managing that change is always a challenge, but I feel we have done a good job despite many of our new players coming in relatively late due to the World Cup. The spirit around Ryton remains positive and upbeat despite the difficult start.
Acclimatising to the Premier League was always going to take some time but our goal remains to retain our status and build from there. I have already seen enough to believe that to be achievable, and I know our players and wider team are up for that challenge. In difficult times, it is always about focus, clarity and continuing with the processes and methods that have brought one success. There are no magic beans, and it is important that our organisation continues on this path unswervingly.
You, the fans, have truly been fantastic. Away at Manchester City was probably the best away support I have experienced. The reaction to the Brighton defeat, was one of defiance and support to our players and demonstrated the bond that exists after all these years as we dragged ourselves back to the top table. These matter hugely to the psychology of keeping the faith, continuing to play and take risk and to take on this challenge that is in front of us.
This year then is a challenge to us all, can we, Coventry City show once more our resilience and fight to be successful as we have done many times previously? Of course we can!
So, let’s fill that stadium each game and if you cannot make it, forward your ticket and if you aren’t able to forward it then place it on the ticket exchange. Keep the energy and make our opponents know we are, and will always be, 100% behind our team. I am feeling you are all up for this, we get knocked down we get up again. We have seen much worse and things that are difficult to achieve are always the most worthwhile.
Best to all,
Doug
Firstly, the Arena, as previously communicated, has been undergoing a substantial capital expenditure program on several fronts.
Some of these were mandatory to ensure that the club meets the high standards of the Premier League, including a further upgrade of our floodlights over this upcoming break. Most of this phase will then be completed.
Other external enhancements such as the painting of the Arena and overall long-term critical maintenance on the Perspex and (rusting) Steel Struts will continue over the next few months. This is the first real attention given to key infrastructure since the building of the Arena in 2005 and just part and parcel of owning a major facility.
My mantra is do it properly, do it once and then maintain the quality thereafter. There is no doubt that this work is often neglected when organisations are under financial pressure, so I am happy we are addressing these issues as they are extremely important for us business wise.
Our recent announcement outlining the joint venture with Legends Global is just in its infancy and comes with a significant capital investment as our hospitality areas are upgraded/revamped to enhance the football experience as well as being available for broader Arena use. There is a lot more to come in the concourse and our indoor arena in the coming months/years. This tie up will be very exciting as it unfolds and if we can get our act together, will transform our usage of the site and hopefully place us as one of the key venues in this country.
Onto Ryton, a further multi-million-pound investment phase of renovation continues apace with a new Modulek infrastructure covering a new dressing room, media and seminar room as well as recovery suite, with the necessary internal rejig that comes with that. We hope to conclude the majority of this work by the end of October and restore some more calm and balance to the environment…
Being promoted for the first time in 25 years alongside finally owning our own stadium for the first time ever has brought unprecedented change and investment. Our team has been working extremely hard to pull it off on time and within budget and I thank all of them for their huge efforts. It has not been easy.
I am of course aware of some teething, snagging and technology issues over our first two home games in the Premier League. We have responded in kind but with new hospitality, new digital ticketing and new procedures on how to manage your season ticket (forwarding etc), we will be taking the next few weeks to really get ahead of it with additional focus and resource from our commercial team. We need to up our game on customer service and feedback over this transition period as we all get used to the different set up. I have fed this message loud and clear to our team and so I hope this will be felt by all in the coming weeks, and we all get to grips with the changes.
Now onto the most important part. Football!
Some will recall the heavy turnover of personnel in the summer of 2023, and the summer of 2026 has been similar. Ten new players joining us, with two of our mainstays of the 25/26 season also making a permanent move here. Managing that change is always a challenge, but I feel we have done a good job despite many of our new players coming in relatively late due to the World Cup. The spirit around Ryton remains positive and upbeat despite the difficult start.
Acclimatising to the Premier League was always going to take some time but our goal remains to retain our status and build from there. I have already seen enough to believe that to be achievable, and I know our players and wider team are up for that challenge. In difficult times, it is always about focus, clarity and continuing with the processes and methods that have brought one success. There are no magic beans, and it is important that our organisation continues on this path unswervingly.
You, the fans, have truly been fantastic. Away at Manchester City was probably the best away support I have experienced. The reaction to the Brighton defeat, was one of defiance and support to our players and demonstrated the bond that exists after all these years as we dragged ourselves back to the top table. These matter hugely to the psychology of keeping the faith, continuing to play and take risk and to take on this challenge that is in front of us.
This year then is a challenge to us all, can we, Coventry City show once more our resilience and fight to be successful as we have done many times previously? Of course we can!
So, let’s fill that stadium each game and if you cannot make it, forward your ticket and if you aren’t able to forward it then place it on the ticket exchange. Keep the energy and make our opponents know we are, and will always be, 100% behind our team. I am feeling you are all up for this, we get knocked down we get up again. We have seen much worse and things that are difficult to achieve are always the most worthwhile.
Best to all,
Doug
