Womens World Cup Not coming to Chelmsford

[mawallace]

Given that we had hosted the Women's T20 matches I had thought we would be in a shout to have at least one World Cup game - but it seems that is not the case!

Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Lord's have been named as venues for the ICC Women's World Cup in 2017. All 2nd division venues -

As an aside, it takes place between June 26 and July 23rd.

If this is happening, plus the men's tournament, what is the effect going to be on the domestic games calender?

[Valentines Park]

I thought the Fortress was Lotte's favourite ground?

Essex fans always turn out in good numbers.

[JasonP]

Maybe we didn't want any games.  The England games would sell well but how many people would turn up to watch Sri Lanka women v West Indies women for example?  Barely any I would think.

[Valentines Park]

how many people would turn up to watch Sri Lanka women v West Indies women for example?

Chris Gayle strikes me as the type to have a large entourage? 

[jimmy]

Possibly the ground isn't up to standard for an ICC event, that or they wondered if there would BE a ground by then.

[LeedsExile]

Somerset are still a first division team and a few years ago Taunton was branded as the home of women's cricket. The choices of Derby and Leicester seem plain daft as they get feeble crowds for men's cricket. I suppose they will flood the local schools with free tickets and hope they turn up. Chelmsford was an ideal venue in my opinion.

[essexfan548]

Derby was pretty full last time I went -

I wonder if it was parking - Chelmsford is poorly served these days. All the named grounds have huge car parks adjacent to the ground.

[Andy]

Agree with the comments here - apart from the Derbys/Leics. I reckon there's always a little bit of regional sympathy (or targeting of specific communities, which makes Leics a likely candidate) whilst the points about the uncertainty (read shambles) over the County Ground's future is perhaps really starting to have an effect. Frankly sell the county ground and move elsewhere - even Garons park would be better. 

The club should go into partnership with wider community - plenty of crappy comprehensives are reinventing themselves as academies (some even have playing field still) whilst there are some sharp operators in the 3rd sector who seem to be able to make leisure facilities pay (particularly the guys who've started moving in up here who started out in Greenwich and have some of the ex-2012 Olympic facilities).

[Daren Mootoo]

Agree with the comments here - apart from the Derbys/Leics. I reckon there's always a little bit of regional sympathy (or targeting of specific communities, which makes Leics a likely candidate) whilst the points about the uncertainty (read shambles) over the County Ground's future is perhaps really starting to have an effect. Frankly sell the county ground and move elsewhere - even Garons park would be better. 

The club should go into partnership with wider community - plenty of crappy comprehensives are reinventing themselves as academies (some even have playing field still) whilst there are some sharp operators in the 3rd sector who seem to be able to make leisure facilities pay (particularly the guys who've started moving in up here who started out in Greenwich and have some of the ex-2012 Olympic facilities).

Some really interesting points here, Andy. The club would bank a fortune by selling the ground to developers and I think this was suggested a few years back, with Billericay being a possible detsination, ahead of the go ahead for the current much-troubled redevelopmnet. Depsite the many pros of a relocation elsewhere in the county, I think the "Chelmsford & District CC" stranglehold on the club and the committee would mean this idea would always be strangled at birth. For my part, the traditionalist in me would like to see us stay at the ECG, but we really do need to do much more work on including all parts of the county ,encouraging everyone in Essex to play/support our cricket.   

[silasgreenback]

I think the club needs to decide what it wants to achieve before considering a ground move.
Hampshire had aspirations to be a Test ground and that drove their move, Sussex considered a move but decided to stay as there is no real point in moving to a similar sized ground, which was out of town and difficult for people to travel. I think Essex fall into the Sussex category.
The current ground is in a prime location for pubs, the train and bus station and the city center for lunch breaks, so has other attractions apart from the Cricket for fans. I'm not sure that Garons park or Billericay offers the same.

[Valentines Park]

I'm not sure that Garons park or Billericay offers the same.

Barren Park offers the opportunity for a round of golf or a swim in the leisure centre during lunch.

Not forgetting the hike to & from the ground.

[jimmy]

If the ground redevelopment had been more realistic and not overseen by the keystone cops then we might have a decent venue fit for purpose right now. How they get out of this mess I don't know but all ECCC really ever needed was a new pavilion with increased viewing areas, hospitality and player facilities and a ground capacity of 8,000 approx. Similar development has occurred elsewhere without interminable delays, re-designs and failure. One can only surmise that in a prosperous location with a high degree of cooperation from the local council the reason for this mess lies with those in charge and with people of the calibre of East, Hilliard, Brown et al no project, no matter how modest would ever have come to fruition.

[Valentines Park]

with people of the calibre of East, Hilliard, Brown et al no project, no matter how modest would ever have come to fruition.

Can you imagine if East had been on the Burj Khalifa job.

The tallest building in the world would still be a sand dune. 

[Slogger]

"all ECCC really ever needed was a new pavilion with increased viewing areas, hospitality and player facilities and a ground capacity of 8,000 approx." - spot on.

[Daren Mootoo]

"all ECCC really ever needed was a new pavilion with increased viewing areas, hospitality and player facilities and a ground capacity of 8,000 approx." - spot on.

Agree and hopefully, that should be the strategy going forward...