[Cricket] Should Sussex CCC emulate Gloucestershire?

[Brovion]

Article in the Guardian suggests that Gloucestershire are thinking of selling their traditional home in Bristol and moving to a new purpose-built 20,000-seat ground. This will be multi-purpose, eco-friendly - and a home for a possible Hundred franchise.

It's only at the 'idea' stage at the moment apparently, but if one of our fellow 'outsider' counties are thinking of doing this, should Sussex consider it as well, or risk getting left even further behind? And yes I'm well aware the big question is 'Where?', but what do people think as a concept?

Cricket green: Gloucestershire plan to leave Bristol for sustainable home

Club want to sell their home since the days of WG Grace and replace it with an eco-friendly 20,000-seat stadium

www.theguardian.com

 

[Me and my Monkey]

Ooh, the County Ground would be a great spot for our Women's team!

 

[studio150]

Not sure the 'if they build it they will come' applies to cricket.

When would 20,000 attend.

There are already enough international grounds for test matches and one day games. So possibly an international T20 match once in a blue moon


Do the multi purpose aspect becomes key but what would make financial sense.

A nice idea but can't see it happening.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

No.

 

[Titanic]

No.

This.

 

[jakarta]

Only if we relocate to Horsham.

In seriousness, NO...

 

[bhafc99]

No. They’d never fill it unless it was a test match, and the established grounds for those are pretty much set in stone. Even if they did get a Hundred franchise, no way would 20k rock up.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Personally speaking:

I love the County Ground

I don’t acknowledge “The Hundred”

Test matches are stupidly overpriced so I’ve got no desire for us to stage one.

 

[dazzer6666]

The way we’re going we need a smaller ground, not a bigger one…..

 

[sparkie]

No.

 

[loz]

Personally speaking:

I love the County Ground

I don’t acknowledge “The Hundred”

Test matches are stupidly overpriced so I’ve got no desire for us to stage one.

Yup love the county ground.

What’s the Hundred ( rubbish that’s what it is)

I love to treat myself to the first day of a test match at the Oval. ( I feel I deserve it , as in front of me is a long season watching palace )

 

[timbha]

The way we’re going we need a smaller ground, not a bigger one…..

Or very sadly, no ground at all

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

I don't even see how this works for Gloucestershire other than a short term plan to raise some money.
If you can't get a crowd in at Nevill Road there's no way you're ever going to persuade more people to go to some site out near Parkway or wherever exactly they have in mind.
It's the same issue Durham have, lovely ground but in the middle of nowhere and they get fobbed off with crap international fixtures and then the ECB act surprised that they haven't been able to sell out. And then it rains.

 

[jcdenton08]

The least of our problems…

 

[Eeyore]

Yup love the county ground.

What’s the Hundred ( rubbish that’s what it is)

I love to treat myself to the first day of a test match at the Oval. ( I feel I deserve it , as in front of me is a long season watching palace )

I do love the Loathing of The Humbug. The only downside is it means there is little cricket in August for those who love cricket.

I've only ever seen one day's play at a Test match in England. The final day of The Ashes series at The Oval in 2009. Cherished memory.

 

[Pevenseagull]

So the suggestion is they sell the ground to developers, pocket wads of money, then build a new site out in the sticks in the hope of attracting a 'hundred franchise'?


I thought Rob Andrew was going to the ECB, not Gloucestershire.

 

[PeterT]

Or very sadly, no ground at all

There’ll be a thread in a few years asking for anyone who was in the ‘More than 50 overs’ book about the demise of the County Ground …..

 

[Moshe Gariani]

So the suggestion is they sell the ground to developers, pocket wads of money, then build a new site out in the sticks in the hope of attracting a 'hundred franchise'?


I thought Rob Andrew was going to the ECB, not Gloucestershire.

It is a good measure of how desperately tough things are for the smaller counties that Gloucestershire are considering this abomination.

We were very fortunate that Sussex received the Spen Cama money and were able to use some of it for development of the Eaton Road site. The next phase of this development will hopefully be funded too (ideally by the rich ECB who should support a national network of centres of cricketing activity to produce their players...).

More than anything it highlights the level of challenge in assuring that we fans, and our children and grandchildren, will continue to watch Sussex players wearing the martlets at Hove.

 

[Simster]

I wouldn't be so quick to write off the idea. A lack of vision, coupled by incompetence at ECB and SCCC level have left the club on their knees. Plus it really hasn't done Hampshire any harm. Sussex CCC look like an absolute village outfit these days. Someone needs to find an answer.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

I wouldn't be so quick to write off the idea. A lack of vision, coupled by incompetence at ECB and SCCC level have left the club on their knees. Plus it really hasn't done Hampshire any harm. Sussex CCC look like an absolute village outfit these days. Someone needs to find an answer.

Have you been to the Toilet Bowl for county cricket...?