Surrey CCC are making a £50m redevelopment plan which will extend its capacity to 40,000. The project is likely to take place after the 2019 World Cup making it the biggest cricket ground outside India and Australia. Currently, the Oval is hosting the ICC Champions Trophy. The Surrey Chairman, Richard Thompson quoted saying,
“English cricket needs a ground that can hold 40,000-plus supporters. “We have shown the demand is there and we would not contemplate this project unless we were confident we can fill this ground. We want to do something that is big, bold and ambitious and we know we can deliver it and we know we can fill it.”
The club aims to complete the project by 2023 making it available for Ashes Test. The focus stays on rebuilding the Bedser Stand and Laker-Lock stand to increase its capacity level from the current number. The Bedser stand has been in existence since 1980s and will be replaced with a 8000 seat facility.
According to the Surrey Chairman, Richard Thompson, money will be spent on the cricket facility. They will lose to cricket school at Bedser stand so there is a chance of upgrading it.
ICYMI: The club has revealed plans to increase the capacity of the Kia Oval to 40,000 by 2023.
Read more: https://t.co/uBDHzD9bnY pic.twitter.com/Hw6wkgXXz1
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 10, 2017
The kia Oval, with the planned project will stand to compete against some of the greatest cricketing grounds in the world. Surrey’s 20 year staging agreement states to have at least 1 test match per year.
However, the agreement runs out in 2022. The surrey has to face a lot of competition as the Olympic stadium is a potential cricket venue and it will likely to be hosting a few games of 2019 World Cup. The MCC wants to retain its hold on 2 tests per year. However, the surrey Chairman believes that London is the Test Capital of the world and it is essential to conduct test matches there. With the surrey redevelopment plan, the future of the Test cricket is guaranteed.
We've unveiled plans to increase the capacity of the ground to 40,000 by 2023.
Take a look at the details here ⬇ https://t.co/ahoCHNBLEu pic.twitter.com/BYeYJIEobm
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 8, 2017
The surrey strongly believes that the project will help the English game by putting more money into it. Their large fan following across the south of England will help them to gain the benefits. The business of the English cricket has increased to a great extent since the last 5 years.
According to Richard Gould, Surrey CCC chief Executive
“We are proud we are able to put money into the centre and by increasing capacity that will give us even more opportunity to provide money for the whole game. That makes us different from all other venues.”
– by Shraddha Kejriwal