Worcestershire may leave New Road to secure future
Worcestershire could move away from New Road, their home since 1896, because of persistent flooding from the River Severn.
The iconic ground with its famous view of the cathedral has been flooded eight times since the 2023 season, forcing the club to move their first two County Championship home games to Kidderminster, starting with the fixture against Durham this week.
The latest flood has led Worcestershire to worry they may have to shift their home Blast matches in May, causing a potentially damaging financial loss. The Worcestershire board issued a statement conceding that it faced “very real issues regarding the sustainability of the club”.
It added: “As a board, we will make it our key priority to explore every option, including a move from New Road, over the next few months so we can provide the membership and key stakeholders with a plan. This is to ensure the long-term future of Worcestershire CCC.”
There is a financial cost when Worcestershire shift matches at the last minute to Kidderminster, as well as complications in planning and selling tickets. Funding any move away from New Road is problematic. The land’s value is compromised as it is on a flood plain.
Gloucestershire are also exploring moving away from their home in Bristol but play on land worth around £25million, attracting more potential buyers.
Worcestershire recorded a small profit, £13,340, in 2023, a recovery from a loss of £203,287 the previous year, but a sign of how precarious life is for non-test grounds that do not host Hundred teams.
Ashley Giles, the Worcestershire chief executive, told Talksport this week that private investment in the Hundred could be a game-changer. “Currently, there is a danger that the 18 counties aren’t sustainable,” he said. “It’s about protecting the whole game and the extra investment will help us do that.”