HOPES that Worcester Wolves will play in the new Worcester Arena before the end of the season are fading following another delay to building work.

The University of Worcester were set to collect the keys to the £15million Hylton Road venue by the end of this month but that has now been put back until sometime during the first couple of weeks of April.

It would leave Wolves with a race against the clock to stage British Basketball League action as part of the venue’s grand opening.

Wolves are due to finish their league season on April 6 ahead of the play-off quarter-finals on the weekend of Friday, April 12 to Sunday 14.

The two legged semi-finals are the weekend after before the final at Wembley Arena on Sunday, April 28.

Mick Donovan, head of the university’s institute of sports and exercise science, said: “It’s looking less likely given the delay but we will be doing an open event for fans when they can see the arena.”

Event bookings are already being taken for the 2,000-seater arena and are expected to go ahead as planned.

Donovan added: “We are hopeful of getting the keys in the early part of April.”