Lancashire Cricket Club has received Trafford Council approval for a new refurbishment project at Emirates Old Trafford.
The new project includes plans for a 1,025 seat booth, heritage center, guest services hub and a new retail store right on Brian Statham Way. The new grandstand, replacing the Red Rose Suite, will include enhanced pitch viewing facilities for Lancashire members, including a two-aspect suite located on the spectator terrace.
Also included in the plans is a major expansion of the Hilton Garden Inn hotel with a new extension within the existing stadium. This includes the provision of an additional 100 rooms, bringing the total capacity of the hotel to 250 and increasing the event capacity of the venue by up to 200 additional guests for conferences and events.
With the hotel expansion, the club has been able to expand its success since it opened in 2017 and offers new opportunities for even more major events. This gives us another opportunity to connect Lancashire cricket with the local community and become a hub for events in Manchester and the North West.
The latest proposal replaces a proposal previously approved by Trafford Council in 2019, but remains in line with the council’s ambitious plans to convert the area around the town hall and surrounding buildings into a new “civic district”.
The council’s plans for the new area include opportunities for new homes and offices, as well as improved walking and cycling routes. They also include the possible development of a new public piazza and “processional route” linking the Lancashire Cricket Club to Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium.
Daniel Gidney, Chief Executive of Lancashire Cricket, said: “This is fantastic news for Lancashire Cricket and everyone involved with the club. The new booth and hotel extension complete the renovation of Emirates Old Trafford and will further strengthen our reputation as a world-class location for business, sport and leisure. The £ 60 million worth of decade-long redevelopment of the site has been carried out to allow the club to continue hosting major competitions, games and events as it has done in its entire history.
“This new development will play a key role in the club’s long-term financial strategy. The revised plans offer greater revenue generation opportunities in the short and long term and, most importantly, allow us to modernize Emirates Old Trafford facilities, increase our overall capacity and improve the day of the event experience for all visitors to the venue.
“We look forward to the successful completion of the project, which will help us achieve our vision of establishing Lancashire Cricket as the best cricket club in the world. It is an exciting chapter for the club and the venue as well as for the region. “
Cllr Andrew Western, Chairman of Trafford Council, said: “This is a fantastic development that will make Emirates Old Trafford a truly spectacular sports arena and one of the largest in the country. The program will also bring tremendous benefits to the region in terms of employment and improved local amenities, and will keep Trafford firmly on the world map of sport.
“The Emirates Old Trafford Stadium is right in the heart of our Civic Quarter master plan, which spans 120 acres that includes City Hall, the University Academy 92 (UA 92) campus and extends to the A56 / Chester Road and White Retail Park the city. Trafford Council has invested heavily in the district’s town centers and communities and we are very proud of what we have achieved. Creating successful and prosperous places and taking pride in our areas are important priorities for Trafford Council. “
Lancashire Cricket plans to start work on development in early 2022, with the project expected to be completed for the 2023 cricket season, which includes a highly anticipated Ashes test match at Emirates Old Trafford.
