Members ballot

[Oldhasbeen]

To infuriate me even further, Richard Gould CEO at Surrey has announced 25% sell outs (6500) at all days of the Middlesex games and 25% sell outs at all of the pre 21st June 20/20 fixtures.
They are also in talks with the IPL about staging a fixture this season and next?
Yesterday there were 200k infections in India and over 1000 deaths in one day, yet Surrey are preparing to bring a franchise over here to play a game and will probably make it work, we are allowing 200 members in per day and why is it safe to bring 400 more in for the 20/20?
Can someone explain the counties business plan apart from cost savings?

Because they have an incredible test match ground with mountains of space in and around it. We have a sh**hole of a non test match ground with no space in and around it. Fairly simple really. If you want to blame someone, then blame the various people who have been in charge at Essex CCC for failing to redevelop Chelmsford despite vowing to do so for the last 15 years.

I recall this saga going back a lot more than 15 years. Certainly there was quite a lot of talk of the club moving about 30 years ago, and in the 1990s David East had Great Plans which never materialised.
Much as I love to visit the County Ground, it looks pretty shabby in comparison with, say, Taunton.

[Andy]

A recorded message on the ticket line contact number advises that they will holding the ballot for the CC games today and advising the successful applications via email. Once the CC ballot is completed they will then move onto the T20 ballot.

The way they're currently playing...
...
those unlucky in the ballot will get two tickets.

But might be in line for a call up if they can hold a bat the right way around.

[Slogger]

To infuriate me even further, Richard Gould CEO at Surrey has announced 25% sell outs (6500) at all days of the Middlesex games and 25% sell outs at all of the pre 21st June 20/20 fixtures.
They are also in talks with the IPL about staging a fixture this season and next?
Yesterday there were 200k infections in India and over 1000 deaths in one day, yet Surrey are preparing to bring a franchise over here to play a game and will probably make it work, we are allowing 200 members in per day and why is it safe to bring 400 more in for the 20/20?
Can someone explain the counties business plan apart from cost savings?

Because they have an incredible test match ground with mountains of space in and around it. We have a sh**hole of a non test match ground with no space in and around it. Fairly simple really. If you want to blame someone, then blame the various people who have been in charge at Essex CCC for failing to redevelop Chelmsford despite vowing to do so for the last 15 years.

I recall this saga going back a lot more than 15 years. Certainly there was quite a lot of talk of the club moving about 30 years ago, and in the 1990s David East had Great Plans which never materialised.
Much as I love to visit the County Ground, it looks pretty shabby in comparison with, say, Taunton.

Well a conman disappeared with a load of cash at one point by "selling" the Chelmsford City football ground to the club. Wasn't there a move to Springfield mooted with a stadium that could host ODIs and a station, but it all fell through? Mind you, look at the muddle Durham and Glamorgan got into with grounds too big for their needs. I also recall Southend council offering to help us re-develop Garon Park if the Chelmsford council refused planning permission for the ground re-development. I agree with the people currently running the club not to get into debt over ground improvements. The really important thing must be the cricket school and seeking local talent. Having said all of that 600 people should be let into championship matches.

[Oldhasbeen]

To infuriate me even further, Richard Gould CEO at Surrey has announced 25% sell outs (6500) at all days of the Middlesex games and 25% sell outs at all of the pre 21st June 20/20 fixtures.
They are also in talks with the IPL about staging a fixture this season and next?
Yesterday there were 200k infections in India and over 1000 deaths in one day, yet Surrey are preparing to bring a franchise over here to play a game and will probably make it work, we are allowing 200 members in per day and why is it safe to bring 400 more in for the 20/20?
Can someone explain the counties business plan apart from cost savings?

Because they have an incredible test match ground with mountains of space in and around it. We have a sh**hole of a non test match ground with no space in and around it. Fairly simple really. If you want to blame someone, then blame the various people who have been in charge at Essex CCC for failing to redevelop Chelmsford despite vowing to do so for the last 15 years.

I recall this saga going back a lot more than 15 years. Certainly there was quite a lot of talk of the club moving about 30 years ago, and in the 1990s David East had Great Plans which never materialised.
Much as I love to visit the County Ground, it looks pretty shabby in comparison with, say, Taunton.

Well a conman disappeared with a load of cash at one point by "selling" the Chelmsford City football ground to the club. Wasn't there a move to Springfield mooted with a stadium that could host ODIs and a station, but it all fell through? Mind you, look at the muddle Durham and Glamorgan got into with grounds too big for their needs. I also recall Southend council offering to help us re-develop Garon Park if the Chelmsford council refused planning permission for the ground re-development. I agree with the people currently running the club not to get into debt over ground improvements. The really important thing must be the cricket school and seeking local talent. Having said all of that 600 people should be let into championship matches.

Thanks Slogger. I vaguely recall most of this except the bit about Southend.
Bottom line: for a move or big ground improvements now, we need a Sugar Daddy. Anyone offering?

[SirChef26]

Said many times before, we've got some very rich Essex Cricket fans within the sporting world. One of them runs Darts/Snooker/Boxing, the other runs a Premier League football team. Why someone doesn't give them a call I don't know. These billionaire franchise owners from India and Pakistan are always at pains to tell us that they want to invest in cricket across the world. Well come and invest in county cricket, I've got no problem with us ditching "Eagles" for "Knight Riders" in exchange for a wad of cash!

The ground is in a ideal location, centre of town and perfect for both Essex based fans and supporters coming in from London/East Anglia on public transport. We just need to completely redevelop what we already have and based on previous plans drawn up that got shelved, there is enough room for a full expansion if we basically tear one half of the ground down (the pavilion side) and build it all up again, which let's be honest is exactly what needs to be done. Somerset realised what needs to be done and did it. Sussex are doing it and we will be left behind.

I have a genuine question to all posters here as many are members. If a hugely rich benefactor in say the Bransgrove mould whether they be from Essex, England, Asia or anywhere in the world, came along and offered to buy a majority stake in the club in exchange for spending the multi millions needed to completely redevelop Chelmsford, turning it into a ground of say Taunton's standard with state of the art facilities, 10k capacity for T20s and the ability to host international cricket, would you go for it knowing it would be the end of Essex as a members club, but at the same time would likely keep our status as a first class county alive long term? Because let's be brutally honest here, unless Chelmsford is expanded/redeveloped or the club was to move, we won't be playing first class cricket for much longer if the ECB/Sky/BBC get their way. With the money it would cost, it feels to me like we can't have one without the other.

[golden duck]

For me, one of the recent additions to life membership, no never sell to an individual or group.
Just my opinion, I believe the current model gives the best chance of long term health and first class cricket.
Short term, sure investment is great. However, you only have to look at football to see the outcome is a soulless business where supporters become customers or even worse a total abuse and possible destruction of your club... Bury, Coventry, Wigan as evidence.
For me there is more to supporting your club than a craving for trophies and success; although that dream must always be there and we are / were* living that dream in the last 5 years. There is so much more when everyone remembers the common word in virtually every sports teams title, that word is 'club'. Something you belong to, support and invest energy in.
Then you just have to hope the combined energy outweighs the ££££ elsewhere.. and there you have it Essex v Hants.
* Time will tell.

[nat]

Agree, it should always be a members club. Ground re-development can still be achieved with a bit of creative thinking.

[Valentines Park]

I've got no problem with us ditching "Eagles" for "Knight Riders" in exchange for a wad of cash!

Ironically Hants who went down that IPL route have just gone back to being Hawks.

[Captain Slaphead]

Anyone had a 'yes' or 'no' to their ballot application yet??

[essexfan548]

E-mail re ballot says we'll know on Monday 17th ... a bit tight for arranging accommodation ...

It aloso says "Please note that the Club has no plans to request proof of vaccine or negative lateral flow test result at this point, however, all entry arrangements will be constantly reviewed"

[Postman]

It's the AGM on Tuesday so why don't we all have a moan re the ridiculous 200 limit?

[Perov]

E-mail re ballot says we'll know on Monday 17th ... a bit tight for arranging accommodation ...

It aloso says "Please note that the Club has no plans to request proof of vaccine or negative lateral flow test result at this point, however, all entry arrangements will be constantly reviewed"

Are masks still required?

[Suffolk Richard]

If the franchise / city format in the hundred is successful. Unfortunately for me in the long term, I think these teams will also play first class cricket and England players will be picked from them.  The counties which survive will effectively play a county championship but as a second tier competition.

[nat]

If the franchise / city format in the hundred is successful. Unfortunately for me in the long term, I think these teams will also play first class cricket and England players will be picked from them.  The counties which survive will effectively play a county championship but as a second tier competition.

We have long known that. That is why every supporter of county cricket needs to oppose the '100' competition. Don't watch it, support it, write about it.

[essexfan548]

It's the AGM on Tuesday so why don't we all have a moan re the ridiculous 200 limit?

I've had no paperwork about that ...