Headingley costs set for £4m boost

A £4m grant towards the total cost of the proposed redevelopment of the North-South Stand at Headingley Stadium looks set to be approved by Leeds councillors.The council’s executive will next week (27 July 2016) consider a request by Yorkshire County Cricket Club to contribute the money to the redevelopment of the iconic ground which is needed to secure continued international cricket at the venue.The redevelopment, which will cost £28.5m in total, is needed to improve facilities at the ground to ensure it can host four matches in the 2019 Cricket World Cup and also for it to be considered to continue hosting international matches from 2020 and beyond.The proposed redevelopment would see the existing North-South Stand demolished and replaced with a new three-tier stand with a capacity for 5,060 spectators, an increase of more than 1,400 seats on the current stand. Corporate and hospitality facilities would also be upgraded along with improved connections to the rest of the ground.The work on the new stand would be expected to realise economic benefits of £5.75m for Leeds and £5.3m of additional visitor spend in Yorkshire per year, as well as securing the benefits of hosting the 2019 Cricket World Cup which are estimated to be £20.5m. It would also create 30 new full time equivalent jobs and eight new apprenticeships.Headingley is one of the most iconic cricket grounds and sporting venues in the world, having hosted Test matches since 1899. It is the scene of many of the most memorable moments in cricket history, including Ian Botham’s legendary performance in England’s incredible comeback victory over Australia in The Ashes in 1981.The potential loss of international cricket being played at the venue would negatively impact on the profile of Leeds and Yorkshire on a national and world level, and reputationally would be a blow to the city’s bid to become 2023 European Capital of Culture.Cricket is a major sport in the county, with Yorkshire alone having more cricket clubs (778) than there are in the whole of Australia, with the game being played in Yorkshire by approximately 130,000 players.