£500 million indoor cricket stadium planned for England

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is exploring plans for a £500 million indoor cricket stadium in the UK. This facility would be the first of its kind in the country and would represent the largest infrastructure project in the history of English cricket. The ECB hopes this stadium will allow for year-round cricket matches, regardless of the weather. One possible location is Manchester, as part of the regeneration plans for Old Trafford. Current designs are inspired by a new indoor stadium being built in Hobart, Australia, which will open in 2029. The proposed stadium would have a capacity of 23,000 and include features such as a roof designed to help grass grow and suitable for all kinds of events. This venue could also host concerts, with closer seating arrangements than traditional cricket grounds. Macquarie Point in Hobart, which the ECB is looking at for inspiration, will primarily be home to the new Tasmania Football Club, set to start playing in the Australian Football League (AFL) once the stadium is completed. Funding for the ECB project comes from the recent shares sales in The Hundred cricket competition. Six teams raised around £525 million from these auctions. Previously, the ECB's first-class counties faced a debt of £200 million. The fifth edition of The Hundred is scheduled for August 5 to 31 this year. The Manchester Originals, currently based at Old Trafford, could potentially move to the new indoor stadium if it is built.