MCC: Keeping Lord's World Class

MCC is determined to ensure that Lord's remains world-class, as well as world-famous. Accordingly, it has invested more than £50 million, over the last twenty five years, in various ground modernisation projects.

This investment programme has resulted in the construction of four new stands (including the award-winning Mound Stand), MCC's Cricket Academy and the futuristic J.P. Morgan Media Centre.

Far from resting on its laurels, MCC has recently been investing even more money to ensure that Lord's has both a unique historic appeal and truly state-of-the-art sporting facilities.

Over the 2011/2012 winter, MCC redeveloped its Cricket Academy and undertook a two month outside refurbishment of the J.P. Morgan Media Centre for the first time since it was opened in 1999. The process is part of £2million worth of redevelopments in 2012.

The magnificent retracting floodlights were switched on in May 2009 after installation at a cost of £2.7million. The floodlights, among the best at any cricketing venue in the world, have allowed MCC to host day/night international cricket for the first time, as well as domestic 20-over and 40-over matches. They have also helped play continue in gloomy conditions during Test matches.

These improvement projects have included the development of portable pitches (see left) on the Nursery Ground, the re-laying of pitches on the main Ground (see right) and an £8 million programme to restore the Pavilion - a Grade II* listed building - to pristine condition.

In addition, the 2003 season saw teams playing on a new surface for the first time. This followed MCC's decision to replace its old clay-based, slow-draining outfield with a new sand-based, fast-draining surface at a cost of £1.25 million. Although expensive, MCC believes that this project has already proved well worthwhile. It has reduced the number of rain-induced breaks in play at Lord's and also cut their length - to the relief of players, spectators and cricket-loving viewers and listeners alike. (To see a short film on MCC's outfield project, please see right.)

The Club has also invested approaching £1 million in two important projects - first, the refurbishment of its Cricket Academy, which now has a ‘Supergrasse’ playing surface, and, secondly, the renewal of the Mound Stand’s distinctive and trend-setting ‘tented’ roof.