Butts Park Arena

Butts Park Arena
The Main Stand
Map
LocationCoventry, England
Coordinates52°24′22″N 1°31′33″W / 52.40611°N 1.52583°W / 52.40611; -1.52583
OwnerCoventry R.F.C.
Capacity5,200 (3,000 seats) (4,000 seats up until 2005–06 season)
SurfaceArtificial
Opened2004
Tenants
Coventry R.F.C.
Coventry Bears R.L.F.C (2004–2021)
Coventry United F.C.
Coventry United L.F.C. (2015–2023)
Coventry Jets (2005–2010)

Butts Park Arena is a multi-use sports stadium in Spon End, Coventry, England. Its main use is as a rugby stadium (both union and league). It is the home ground for Coventry R.F.C. (since its opening) and was the home of Midlands Hurricanes (who moved there for the start of the 2004–05 season as Coventry Bears). It was also formerly the home ground of the Coventry Jets, an American football team. From the 2017–18 season, the stadium is also the home of Coventry United, a non league football club and their Ladies team who play in the second tier FA Women's Championship.

The stadium has also hosted the local varsity day matches between Coventry University and the University of Warwick.

The stadium

View of the main stand from the road.

The stadium was built in 2004 and currently has one stand, known for sponsorship reasons as the XL Motors stand, which has a capacity of 3,000 and includes a number of conference and banqueting facilities. The West Stand which was a temporary structure holding 1,000 was removed at the end of the 2005–06 season on grounds of health and safety. There is also standing space for up to 1,000 supporters around the pitch. It is on the site of the Butts cycling track

In June 2019 the pitch was replaced with an artificial playing surface.[1]

On 17 September 2023 the 35th annual Britbowl, the championship game of the BAFA National League tournament, happened at the park between the Manchester Titans and the London Warriors. The Manchester Titans won the game 44–27.[2][3]

Records

The highest recorded attendance for a league match at Butts Park Arena is 5,047, achieved during an RFU Championship game between Coventry R.F.C. and Nottingham R.F.C. on 26 December 2023.[4] The overall record attendance at the venue is 5,202, set during a Premiership Rugby Cup match between Coventry R.F.C. and Northampton Saints on 23 November 2024.[5]

Previously the club had achieved a National League 1 league record attendance of 3,758 between Coventry R.F.C. and Hull Ionians, on 28 April 2018.

References

  1. ^ Bridge, Bobby (18 June 2019). "Coventry Rugby's new artificial pitch will rival Cardiff Blues' Cardiff Arms Park surface". Coventry Live. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  2. ^ Media, BAFA. "BAFA Finals dates and venues announced – British American Football". Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  3. ^ "LIVESTREAM Britbowl XXXV: London Warriors vs Manchester Titans, Sept. 17, 18:00 CET (6 pm, 12 noon EDT)". American Football International. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Match Report: Coventry Rugby 37–21 Nottingham". Coventry Rugby. 26 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Match Report: Coventry Rugby 10–19 Northampton". Coventry Rugby. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.


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