MCC won't entertain Lord's naming rights

Published on Wednesday 18 November 2009 22:11

THE MCC will never consider "selling their soul" by leasing naming rights to Lord's, chief executive Keith Bradshaw has promised.

A report yesterday quoted Bradshaw suggesting that sponsorship of the ground was "an option" to raise funding for a reported 400million redevelopment programme but he has quickly distanced himself from the idea.

The Brit Oval and Headingley Carnegie are two prominent grounds to have been rebranded but the MCC accept that for Lord's, the traditional home of cricket, something similar would be a step too far.

Bradshaw said: "I just want to reassure people that there's no way we would rename Lord's. It's the home of cricket, the hallowed turf. It's not an option at all.

"It's something that we wouldn't consider, and in fact I even have a real problem even considering renaming the stands within the ground that are now dedicated to famous cricketers. The stands are named after Compton and Edrich and Warner. They're very famous names and I couldn't see the day, certainly in my time, when we'd want to be naming them after a sponsor. I do feel to a degree that would be selling our soul."

Plans have been drawn up to give Lord's a major facelift, which would include new stands, an underground academy and new indoor sports facilities.

It will be partly funded by the building of flats around the periphery of the stadium but other sources of income will be needed, although the MCC says the quoted figure is too high.

"I think 400m is a bit of an over-estimation," said head of cricket John Stephenson. "The media centre has been the Investec media centre for a while and we are looking for a new sponsor. We are open-minded about that but as for Lord's that will remain the same."

Also among the new facilities at the iconic St John's Wood venue will be a sports injury clinic, a gym, pool, spa, squash courts and food and drink outlets.