Work to start on Lancashire’s Old Trafford revamp
Eric Wright Construction will demolish the Red Rose Suite, replacing it with a six-storey block containing a hotel extension and new seating.
The project, which was given final sign-off by Trafford Council this week, will increase the capacity of Lancashire County Cricket Club’s Emirates Old Trafford by around 500 and add 100 rooms to the existing Hilton Garden Hotel, which has 150 rooms as it stands.
In addition, the new-build structure will feature a museum, members lounge, retail space and a ticket office.
An earlier iteration of the project proposed an additional 5,000 seats, but these plans were scaled back after a pandemic-prompted rethink.
As well as main contractor Eric Wright, the project team includes BDP as architect, Paul Butler Associates as planner, Cundall, Hannan Associates, Axis Transportation Planning, Tyrer Ecological, Marston & Grundy, Applied Geology and Exterior Architecture.
Late last year, LCCC announced plans to create a second venue in Leyland.
The county cricket club has teamed up with Lancashire County Council on plans for a new year-round facility on the A582 Farington Road.
The proposed development is intended to bring together elite and community cricket at the site, which is subject to public consultation and planning approval.
Usually like to be positive but these are rubbish compared to the original plans (which were fantastic), can only think LCCC will come to regret the missed capacity in a few years time when other stadiums have expanded and they are competing for Ashes tests. Covid is over in terms of limits on venue capacity.
By Bob
I’m very disappointed that this and not the original plan is progressing. I’m still not sold on the red boxes but at least they are coherent. Further, the orientation of this to the square would provide poor viewing of a match and definitely not something you’d be happy with as a corporate sponsor, it is orientated very well for the stage/temporary stand area. Club’s have got to make money but this is a change of the fabric of the stadium to suit gigs and not cricket. Sad to see and a step in the wrong direction considering the fundamental problem with revenue in cricket is born out of not having enough fans. More space in stadiums for people who might not go otherwise is the way to fix that if you cant get it on terrestrial television. The rationale behind this shows LCCC treating the symptom not the cause of revenue problems. Ah well.
By HW
Such a disappointing design compared to the previous plans.
By Monty
If Leyland ever gets built i suspect most Lancs games will be played there and Old Trafford will be used for international games and a concert venue
By Last man standing
Such a run down ground nowadays
By Dan
Disappointing that a real opportunity to boost the capacity of the ground has been shunned in favour of chasing money from hotel guests
By Disgruntled Goat
What happened to the lovely two tier stand they were meant to be building? Instead they’ve built a socialist high rise block for rich people.
By Andy Bob