Lord's gets ready for big Test

Date released: 6 May 2008

The close season is far from a quiet time at 'The Home of Cricket'. Everyone at Lord's has spent many hours getting everything ready for the first big matches of 2008.

The last official fixture of 2007 was the Cockspur Cup Final between Bromley and Kibworth in mid-September.

Since then the focus at Lord's switched to the 2008 season and how we could make the spectator, player and Member experience at Lord's even better.

New...

There are many new things to look out for at Lord's in 2008. The most noticable being the new, digital scoreboards.

The new scoreboards can show full-colour replays Three new permanent, state-of-the-art colour LED replay screens are now situated in the Compton, Edrich and Allen Stands.

The new screens are also more environmentally friendly, using less energy to power them. Around one third of the power is required for all three new LED screens compared to the energy used by the pair of old bulb-based scoreboards.

The MCC Museum also has a new entrance. The new entrance area (facing the Coronation Garden) will improve access to the Museum making it easier for visitors to find out more about the great game - and visit the Ashes Urn of course.

...and improved

Places in the MCC Debenture areas are selling quickly - the Gold and Silver standard areas are already sold-out, with only a few Bronze Debentures left.

The view from the Grand Stand Debenture area Extensive work has been carried out in the Mound Stand and Grand Stand Debenture areas. New seats and new kitchens have been installed and the bar and restaurant areas have been refurbished.

The bar and press bar in the Warner Stand have also had a refit and there's a new kitchen in the Indoor School too.

Environmental impact

MCC and Lord's are always striving to reduce their environmental impact too. During a Test match well over 100,000 people visit the Ground and thousands of thirsty and hungry cricket fans can equal a lot of rubbish to tidy up.

The new BioWare cups are hard-wearing yet fully compostable From 2008 the spectator bars at Lord's will be using a new compostable cup to serve those much-needed drinks.

To give you an idea of how much waste this will save, approximately 389,400 pint cups were used at Lord's in 2007. These plastic cups were shipped in from China.

The new BioWare cups are produced in England, made of renewable plant materials and are totally compostable. Their origin, manufacturing and disposal have all been developed to have a lower impact on the environment.

Fear not, you won't be wearing your pint instead of drinking it - the new cups are hard-wearing too.

Big test, the Test

That's just the start. Almost every part of the Ground has had some work done from a fresh lick of paint to a complete refit - all to make sure 'The Home of Cricket' looks its best for the first Test match of the summer: England v New Zealand, just days away.

There are still a few tickets available so make sure you're here to see it - perhaps between overs you can take a look around at your surroundings and appreciate some of the work that goes on off the field too.