For a country with decent support for all forms of cricket why do England cricket grounds only hold around 20k with noticeable exception of Lords, 30,000 ish. I understand cricket grounds with real character etc but then i would argue SCG and grounds in South Africa also have character to satisfy the cricketing purist.
A number of grounds have recently had expensive ground improvements. but not really to increase capacity. Lords latest approved planning development is pretty much to keep capacity as is. Surely 40, 000 would be more suitable.
I understand in Oz that they ground share with OZ rules teams etc so they can afford bigger grounds, but surely cricketing grounds can/are doubling up to be concert venues in the off season to bring in more revenue.
What's peoples thoughts?
Cricket Grounds
posted on 7/9/13
Melbourne folk do like their sport. Once saw a bloke aged about 90 painfully hobble to the swimming pool edge. I thought oh lord hope the life guards are watching. He then proceeded to front crawl 30 lengths with an immaculate textbook style. I was gobsmacked!
posted on 7/9/13
I thought the new capacity at Lords will be 40, 000?
posted on 7/9/13
i stand to be corrected, but new plan has now been submitted and the 40k is now 30k ish. Funny enough at the cost of millions...Think new proposal is to add an additional 2.5k which includes updating opposite end to the commentating box and surrounding areas..Such hotels and fancy cafes and bars near the ground.
Have a google i was a little perplexed....
Oh and it will take time and a safety first financial approach.
posted on 7/9/13
My two penneth worth..I think England could easily have say...3 grounds 30k plus at Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham and one 40k or 50k in the South.
posted on 8/9/13
What about the olympic stadium?can easily accomodate 50k people and it has decent ground size ie 70+ m radius.
Why not use it for odd T20 international? Would be carnival of an atmosphere.
posted on 8/9/13
West Ham would never allow it
posted on 8/9/13
Olympic stadium is a good shout for a one off. Even if they test out ticket sales against demand. However, Oval and Lords may provide stern opposition for such plans.
posted on 9/9/13
West Ham wont allow it.mmmm May be the only time 50,000 tickets get sold for a sporting event because West Ham wont fill it.
posted on 22/9/13
edgbaston holds 25,000 - what is ludicrous is that the bidding system for tests means edgbaston missed out on the ashes this year and doesn't have a test next year either so our second biggest stadium is not being used.
when edgbaston is not selected and we go for a ground that holds 6,000 fewer fans, that is potentially 30,000 people that don't get to attend a day's cricket. at the silly prices currently charged that could be between £1m and £1.5m revenue from tickets.
the ECB needs to sort out a better way of arranging test matches. for me, if we have 7 each year then i'd keep 6 in the traditional cricket heartlands:
london (2), leeds, nottingham, birmingham, manchester
with one test rotating around newer grounds so long as they can sell the seats and offer decent facilities.
encouraging more clubs to spend money they can't afford on grounds which will be 3/4 empty for most of the year is just increasing the financial problems at county level. the access to the traditional grounds is also far better making travelling to tests an easier experience.
posted on 23/9/13
Edgbaston is a happy hunting ground for England winning test matches. Noisy, boisterous ground.
Seems ludicrous not to have test matches.