Ashes offer another £30m boost
THE influx of visitors to Birmingham for the first Ashes Test last weekend could net the local economy £30 million, Edgbaston boss Neil Snowball claimed.
Edgbaston was sold out across the first four days of the clash that saw age-old rivals Australia beat England.
The total number of supporters that passed through the famous ground was estimated at 125,000.
Mr Snowball said the increase in visitors from the UK and overseas would boost coffers and reinforce Birmingham’s reputation as a global sporting city.
“Hosting five matches at the ICC World Cup had a massive impact, with around £32 million brought into the West Midlands economy,” he told the Post.
“And we’re estimating an impact of around £30 million for the Ashes. It’s really important we keep hosting these major sporting events.
“It’s great for the city, for the traders and hoteliers, and it’s great for the fans.
“It’s huge and helps to showcase Birmingham’s ability to stage huge occasions in sport. I know we had the excitement and hysteria about the
World Cup, but you can’t beat Ashes Test cricket. It’s one of the biggest rivalries in all sport.”
Around a quarter of a million fans will have flocked to Edgbaston, one of the most iconic stadiums in world cricket, for the Ashes and World Cup fixtures.
Warwickshire’s first two T20 Blast home fixtures attracted huge gates, while a sell-out is guaranteed in September for T20 Blast Finals Day, which will be held at Edgbaston for the seventh year running.
That is not to mention the many thousands of spectators that have been to, and will continue to attend, Warwickshire’s other domestic season.
Mr Snowball says cricket’s popularity has soared in the UK since Eoin Morgan’s England lifted the World Cup at Lord’s last month.
“We sold out the first four days of the Ashes Test and had a boost in T20 sales, with nearly 20,000 fans in the first two games, which is fantastic,” Snowball added.
“We’ve also seen a boost in the schools programme we run through the summer. Around 600 kids came to a session on the outfield at Edgbaston.
“We’ve seen a real boost in cricket on the back of England winning the World Cup and long may it continue.”
matches
this