Sports news


Trust invests £52m in grassroots cricket


The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has revealed that the England and Wales Cricket Trust invested more than £52m in capital grassroots projects during the last fi nancial year. The trust, in conjunction with Sport


England, directly invested more than £11.6m during the period, with more than £40m of partnership funding helping to benefi t nearly 700 projects located across the country.


Participation falls in major sports


Latest participation fi gures from Sport England have uncovered a decrease in the number of 16- to 19-year olds who are taking part in “major sports” such as football, ten- nis and swimming. Concerns have also been


raised over a decline in par- ticipation among women, although there has been an overall increase in the num- ber of adults playing sport at least once a week. The research is based on


telephone interviews with 166,000 adults aged 16 and over living in England between October 2010 and October 2011, which were carried out by TNS-BRMB. For those who were not playing sport as


oſt en as they were, nearly a third said it was due to a lack of time through work commit- ments or economic factors such as cost.


Two clubs challenged the OPLC’s bidding process


OPLC’s stadium legal costs revealed


The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has spent £1.05m defending legal claims from two football clubs over the future of London’s Olympic Stadium. T e Telegraph reported the cost of solic-


itors fees and barristers in relation to the judicial review claims by both Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient football clubs was more than those from the initial bid process. T e paper said the fi gure had been released aſt er a Freedom of Information request, which was confi rmed to Leisure Opportunities by a spokesperson.


MCC approves revised Lord’s proposals


Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced that it has decided to puruse a “stand-by-stand” redevelopment of the iconic Lord’s cricket ground in London. Earlier this year, discussions began with


property group Almacantar with a view to a £400m redevelopment to include a res- idential element at the Nursery End of the ground. However, the MCC has now agreed to “focus on” a phased overhaul of the venue, which it said is likely to start with the rebuilding of the Tavern and Allen stands at the Pavilion End.


10 Football was among the sports to experience a fall in participation Speaking to Leisure Management, Sport


England chief executive Jennie Price said: “T e results show that we need to work harder with young people, given the fall in participation.” Price also defended the approach to give


NGB’s contol of funding to raise participa- tion in their given sport.


Chelsea eyeing Battersea stadium move


Chelsea Football Club (CFC) is looking into the possibility of developing a new stadium at the Battersea Power Station site, which has laid derelict since the early 1980s. It follows the recent news


that CFC had failed in a bid to acquire the freehold land on which its existing Stamford Bridge venue is located from Chelsea Pitch Owners. T e Premier League club


has made no decision on whether to leave its current ground, but is aiming to take advantage of the Battersea site if it is seen as a viable option. According to reports, Almacantar chief


executive Mike Hussey has been appointed as development partner, while Kohn Pedersen Fox will draw up plans for the site. A CFC


T e club hasn’t yet decided to leave its current Stamford Bridge ground


spokesperson said there had been talks in the past, adding that “in light of current develop- ments we now think it prudent to look again at the feasibility and potential for the site to be developed for a football stadium.”


RFU reports ‘record’ group revenues


T e Rugby Football Union (RFU) has posted “record” group revenues of £136.3m for the year ending 30 June 2011, following an increase of £24.3m on the previous 12 months. According to the national governing body for rugby union, the growth was “largely


Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital


driven” by the match programme in addition to increases in “most other” income streams. Marriott Hotel Twickenham and the Virgin


Active Classic Health Club, which are both sited at London’s Twickenham Stadium, saw revenues grow by £2.3m to £.8.7m in 2010-11.


ISSUE 1 2012 © cybertrek 2011


IMAGE: LARIO TUS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM


IMAGE: DAVID POULTNEY/LOCOG


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