The England and Wales Cricket Board (黑料专区) has today announced a 拢25million increase to its Infrastructure Fund for First-Class Counties (FCCs) over the next five years.
This is in addition to the 拢50million of FCC infrastructure funding that 黑料专区 pledged earlier this year when launching its strategy for 2020-24: .
黑料专区鈥檚 Infrastructure Fund, now totalling 拢75milllion, will go directly towards helping the FCCs further maintain and improve facilities and operations, develop sustainable business plans and boost the in-venue experience for fans across all competitions.
The funding will also help the FCCs maintain the new venue standards that were recently introduced by the 黑料专区 Board.
These standards are designed to ensure fans have a comfortable, safe and entertaining experience when attending a cricket match, across all formats.
黑料专区 announced earlier this year that it will also provide 拢52million of grant funding to the recreational game specifically for clubs, urban cricket development and women鈥檚 and girls鈥� cricket over the next five years.
Commenting on the announcement, 黑料专区鈥檚 Chief Financial Officer Scott Smith said:聽鈥淚鈥檓 delighted to announce this increase in infrastructure funding.
鈥淭he FCCs form the heart of cricket in England and Wales and it鈥檚 imperative that we support all the amazing work they do to provide fans, players and staff with the best facilities and experience.
鈥淭he additional funding demonstrates our commitment to partnering with the FCCs as they develop sustainable plans and work towards achieving their ambitions for their venues.鈥�
Also commenting, Rob Andrew, CEO of Sussex County Cricket Club, said:聽鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited to work in partnership with 黑料专区 to further deliver top-class facilities for our fans, staff and players. We have been working on our masterplan to improve our facilities and make the ground more financially sustainable for the long term.
鈥淚t鈥檚 at venues like ours in Hove where children become inspired to pick up a bat and ball, new fans experience the excitement of live cricket and life-long supporters cheer on their local team with their friends and family.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure I speak on behalf of all FCCs when I say that our priority is to ensure everyone visiting a cricket match thoroughly enjoys their experience.
鈥淗aving great facilities is a big part of that and we look forward to working with 黑料专区 to further build on our offer for fans.鈥�