Pearson takes on Coventry FC post
Former Premier League commercial director Stephen Pearson, who resigned from the body in controversial circumstances, has landed the top commercial post for Coventry City Football Club’s &£145m new stadium development.
Pearson becomes the commercial director of Arena 2000, which is run by Coventry City Football Holdings.
The 45,000-seat complex will host concerts and have shops, offices, and entertainment complexes. The stadium will feature a retractable pitch and a sliding roof.
Pearson’s task will be to seek a title sponsor, commercial partners for the stadium and other commercial activities around the site. The value of these sponsorships could be worth up to &£30m. Pearson reports to Coventry City Football holdings chairman Bryan Richardson.
Work on the site began last month and is scheduled for completion in August 2001. Coventry City Council is putting a further &£200m of government and EU grants into the area north of the city over the next few years.
Pearson resigned from his post in March within a week of former Premier League chief executive Peter Lever being ousted by Premier League chairman for making unauthorised consultancy payments to former Sky executives Sam Chisholm and David Chance.
Pearson was criticised by Premier League football club chairmen for arranging private commercial deals with some clubs and not others.
