Leicester Riders’ fans, players and officials are celebrating the end of the team’s 16-year wait for a permanent home with the completion of the city’s new basketball arena.

The 2,400-capacity Leicester Community Sports Arena, in Charter Street, opposite Abbey Park, was launched this evening.

The £4.8 million indoor stadium will host the home games for Leicester Riders and Leicester Cobras wheelchair basketball team.

It is the culmination of a project involving the Riders, Leicester City Council and Leicester College, with supporters set to get their first glimpse at a sell-out BBL Trophy quarter-final against Surrey Scorchers on Saturday.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, who led yesterday’s grand opening ceremony, said: “This is a fantastic facility and everyone involved should be very proud of it.

“Not only does it provide an excellent new home for the Leicester Riders, it will also be well-used by students and members of the community.

“It’s the result of a partnership between Leicester Riders, the city council and Leicester College, and is an excellent example of what can be achieved by organisations working well together.”

Sir Peter was joined by representatives from the club, college and organisations which funded the project.

Project director Kevin Routledge called it a “momentous” day in the club’s history.

He said: “We are delighted to be completing this arena project a little ahead of the contract schedule.

“It is testament to the hard work of our contractors and key staff in the partners and funders that the project has proceeded extremely efficiently.

“This arena is undoubtedly going to be a major new asset to the sporting infrastructure of the city and county, as well as a fabulous new home for the Leicester Riders.”

The Riders, who are the oldest professional basketball club in Britain, have led a nomadic existence since they left Granby Halls in 2000 ahead of demolition.

Building work started on the former gas works site behind Leicester College last January, with the finishing touches being applied this week.

Investment in the arena came from Sport England, with National Lottery funding, the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) and other commercial partners of the Riders.

The site is owned by the council, which has provided a 125-year lease to a new company – Leicester Community Sports Arena Ltd (LCSAL) – which is owned by the club’s charity, the Leicester Riders Foundation.

As well as being the home to the Riders and Cobras Wheelchair Basketball Club, the arena will be a regional basketball centre of excellence.

It will also serve as Leicester College’s sport teaching and learning facility.

Principal Verity Hancock said: “By creating partnerships with organisations around the city, we have been able to share our resources and expertise, enabling us to grow our sport provision and provide fantastic learning facilities which will have a wider benefit to people across the area.”

Profits will be re-invested in the arena and in sports outreach activities such as those already delivered by the Riders through their Foundation.

Students at Leicester College will use the arena during term time and will be offered further access through a membership scheme.

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