Lancashire County Cricket Club will be hoping the re-development of their ground and the surrounding area of Trafford will turn them in to one of the country’s premier sporting destinations.
With plans finalised and an application pending, the hope is to start work early next year and the club’s vision for the future is to be up there with the best in the country when it comes to entertainment and facilities.
Lancashire Chief Executive Jim Cumbes said: "The Old Trafford brand has a massive standing in world cricket. The club has been on the same site since 1857.
“Our membership and cricket lovers everywhere recognise the contribution that the club makes locally to the economy through visitor attraction, image, marketing and employment in the Borough.
“I am delighted that Trafford Council have, in principle, welcomed our vision for this international sporting initiative to become a reality. It will deliver huge economic benefits both for Trafford and for the north-west region.” [Lancs website, 2008]
The project, as well as re-generating Old Trafford, will include a hotel, and retail and residential space and early estimations suggest a potential end value of £200 million, with the possibility of creating 2,000 new jobs for local people.
The proposals have been put together over the last few months between the club and a handful of local land owners and funding partners. These include Trafford Council, Ask Developments and Tesco.
Michael Kissman, spokesman for Tesco, said: "Tesco are very pleased to be part of this innovative partnership. It is a great example of the imaginative thinking required to drive forward such a major sports project and regeneration initiative. We are confident that together we will deliver a whole range of benefits for the people of Trafford, Greater Manchester and the North West as a whole.” [Lancs website, 2008]
Ken Knott, Chief Executive of Ask Developments, said: “Ask Developments is delighted to be appointed as Old Trafford’s development partner for such an outstanding mixed-use scheme, which will contribute greatly to the borough and see Old Trafford rightfully regain its reputation as a world-class venue.” [Lancs website, 2008]
Part of the problem for Lancashire over recent years has been the demise of the hosting of international matches at Old Trafford, which along with recognition brings fantastic financial rewards.
With the new highly ambitious proposals in place, Lancashire will be destined to reinstate their position as one of the biggest county teams on the scene, and with that, attract the attention of the England Cricket Board, with regards to hosting their share of international matches once again.
Lancs website: http://www.lccc.co.uk/
Monday 8 December 2008
Old Trafford Upgrade
Lancashire County Cricket Club have announced that major re-development work on Old Trafford could start as early as 2009.
The plans for the ground itself include two new grandstands, new player and media facilities and a hotel, as well as the enhancement of the existing pavilion.
The ground development is part of a regeneration plan for the Borough of Trafford which is to include new business, residential, retail and leisure space for the area.
The proposals for the whole regeneration plan have been put together by Lancashire County Cricket Club and its partners Trafford Council, Ask Developments, Tesco and the neighbouring Stretford High School.
Derek Davies, Headmaster of Stretford High School said: “The club is in detailed discussions with the school and its governors, as well as the local authority, to identify how the proposals can deliver maximum benefits for the local community. This is an exciting opportunity to get Trafford’s young people a great result.” [Lancs website, 2008]
Lancashire have long been one of the biggest cricket clubs on the county scene and have often staged international matches involving England, but in recent years have seen that international status start to decline, largely because of development at other grounds.
Once the two new grandstands are complete, the capacity at the ground will be 15,000 with the potential to rise to 25,000 with temporary seating installed. This would result in ample capacity for international games, which Lancs hope to install as a more permanent fixture at the club.
Susan Williams, leader of Trafford Council said: “We warmly welcome the proposals as a basis for wider consultation. We fully support the club’s ambitions to secure the future of international cricket in the north-west and we look forward to it gaining a richly deserved international profile. The new Old Trafford will bring an awareness and interest to the borough which will further boost our famous sport, leisure and visitor offer.” [Lancs website, 2008]
As part of the development a new playing outfield will also be laid, with a much faster state of the art drainage system similar to the one used at Lords, which is great news for a club that notoriously suffers problems with heavy rain and a soggy outfield.
Having lodged a planning application after the Chief Executive of Trafford Council unanimously approved the proposals, the club are now waiting for the green light to start the first phase of the development early in the new year, with the plan of having the whole project complete by 2012.
Lancs website: http://www.lccc.co.uk/
The plans for the ground itself include two new grandstands, new player and media facilities and a hotel, as well as the enhancement of the existing pavilion.
The ground development is part of a regeneration plan for the Borough of Trafford which is to include new business, residential, retail and leisure space for the area.
The proposals for the whole regeneration plan have been put together by Lancashire County Cricket Club and its partners Trafford Council, Ask Developments, Tesco and the neighbouring Stretford High School.
Derek Davies, Headmaster of Stretford High School said: “The club is in detailed discussions with the school and its governors, as well as the local authority, to identify how the proposals can deliver maximum benefits for the local community. This is an exciting opportunity to get Trafford’s young people a great result.” [Lancs website, 2008]
Lancashire have long been one of the biggest cricket clubs on the county scene and have often staged international matches involving England, but in recent years have seen that international status start to decline, largely because of development at other grounds.
Once the two new grandstands are complete, the capacity at the ground will be 15,000 with the potential to rise to 25,000 with temporary seating installed. This would result in ample capacity for international games, which Lancs hope to install as a more permanent fixture at the club.
Susan Williams, leader of Trafford Council said: “We warmly welcome the proposals as a basis for wider consultation. We fully support the club’s ambitions to secure the future of international cricket in the north-west and we look forward to it gaining a richly deserved international profile. The new Old Trafford will bring an awareness and interest to the borough which will further boost our famous sport, leisure and visitor offer.” [Lancs website, 2008]
As part of the development a new playing outfield will also be laid, with a much faster state of the art drainage system similar to the one used at Lords, which is great news for a club that notoriously suffers problems with heavy rain and a soggy outfield.
Having lodged a planning application after the Chief Executive of Trafford Council unanimously approved the proposals, the club are now waiting for the green light to start the first phase of the development early in the new year, with the plan of having the whole project complete by 2012.
Lancs website: http://www.lccc.co.uk/
Laxman's Back
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
The big story surrounding Lancashire cricket at the moment is Indian overseas star VVS Laxman' s arrival at the club, and rightly so.
Though virtually all the posts I've read from Lancashire fans give me the impression that all will be great at Lancs due to the signing of one man. Blind optomism is being used to paper over the cracks of a troubled county and no one man can fix this problem, at least not one batsman.
Three or four maybe but Lancs are traditionally a producing club and only in recent years have they chased other counties' star players, and Cork aside none of them have really shined.
Because of the lack of money in county cricket, even at the big clubs like Lancs, sides have to produce their own talent to be successful.
If smaller counties like Sussex and Durham are producing their own players, players who can win them titles, then why aren't Lancs?Signing a quality overseas player is always a step in the right direction, but thinking that one signing is the answer to all your problems is crazy.
Lancs need to look a little bit deeper within their own county before they can consider themselves serious title challengers, with or without Laxman.
posted by RF Rutter
The big story surrounding Lancashire cricket at the moment is Indian overseas star VVS Laxman' s arrival at the club, and rightly so.
Though virtually all the posts I've read from Lancashire fans give me the impression that all will be great at Lancs due to the signing of one man. Blind optomism is being used to paper over the cracks of a troubled county and no one man can fix this problem, at least not one batsman.
Three or four maybe but Lancs are traditionally a producing club and only in recent years have they chased other counties' star players, and Cork aside none of them have really shined.
Because of the lack of money in county cricket, even at the big clubs like Lancs, sides have to produce their own talent to be successful.
If smaller counties like Sussex and Durham are producing their own players, players who can win them titles, then why aren't Lancs?Signing a quality overseas player is always a step in the right direction, but thinking that one signing is the answer to all your problems is crazy.
Lancs need to look a little bit deeper within their own county before they can consider themselves serious title challengers, with or without Laxman.
posted by RF Rutter
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