Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is a multi-use, world class ultra-modern stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda currently under construction. When completed by 2007, it will be used mostly for cricket matches and will host Super 8(eight) matches during the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Ground was broken on the stadium in 2005. It will hold 10,000 people and temporary seating will double its capacity for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. Its construction is being financed by the People's Republic of China. The stadium was strategically built on a site approximately half-way between the capital St. John's and the country's international airport (VC Bird International Airport). It is about 10-20 minutes drive from the capital city depending on traffic. The venue cost an estimated US$60 million to build of which majority of the funds comes from a Chinese government grant. Currently, the superstructure has been completed while the deadline for completing the interior as well as road work leading to the stadium is set for December 31st 2006. The stadium constitutes two main stands, the North stand and the South stand as well as other minor stands which may be permanent or temporary. Other facilities include a practice pitch for the various cricket teams, a new beach(possibly a combination of unexploited coastal sand cove supported by artificial work) dubbed 'Beach 366'(the island has a total of 365 natural beaches some of which were damaged during several passages of severe hurricanes in 1995, 1998 and 2000), training infrastructure and a media centre. Also, the Sir Viv Richards stadium is one of the few state-of-the art versions that encompass underground passage ways for the cricket teams to move about. When completed, the stadium could become one of the top four cricket stadiums in the world. Fast Facts - Sir Vivian Richards Stadium Seating Capacity: 10,000 (20,000 for the ICC World Cup 2007).
Playing Pitches: 7 (4 will be used during the World Cup 2007)
Matches: Super-8
Location: North Sound, midway between St John's and the airport. Labels: 2007, cricket, ICC World Cup 2007, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, west indies, world cup |
