[29
MAR 00] COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL NEWS
Sir Bobby Backs New Sky Blue Arena
BY ANTONY HOPKER
Football
legend Sir Bobby Charlton has given his support for the Sky Blues’
new arena at an international exhibition.
The
Manchester United and England hero visited the City Council’s stand
at MIPIM in Cannes in France – the largest property show in Europe.
The
Coventry stand featured the new 45,000-seater Arena 2001 and Prologis
Park, which are designed to breathe life into the north of the city.
It
is estimated that nearly 13,000 developers, investors and property
agents visited the Coventry display, including Sir Bobby, who was in
Cannes to support the Manchester stand.
He
pledged support for the new Sky Blues stadium from both himself and
the Football Association team bidding to win the right to host the
2006 World Cup.
The
show attracted exhibitors from 44 countries including Germany and the
United States and allowed councillors and officers to compete with
some of the world’s leading cities in attracting attention from
investors.
Cllr
Bob Waugh (Labour, Westwood), chair of the Economic Affairs Policy Co-ordinating
Committee said Sir Bobby smiled in agreement when he suggested that in
the 1960s they had played in different leagues, but were now on the
same side promoting English cities.
Cllr
Waugh said:
“Coventry
is on the verge of great things and to receive the endorsement and
support of Sir Bobby Charlton really did round off a great show.
“We
were up there with the big players showcasing Coventry alongside
some of the most prestigious cities and developments in the world
and there was a lot of interest in Arena 2001 and Keresley Park.
“It
is not unusual for businesses to have bases in several countries
across the globe so we have to sell Coventry at world-wide events
like this so we can continue to attract top-notch companies and
create new jobs.
“Coventry
has always been an inspirational city and we are leading the way
when it comes to moving with the times to create new jobs for local
people.”
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