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| Sir Vivian Richards Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sir Vivian Richards Stadium |
| Nickname | SVRS |
| Location | North Sound, Saint George Parish, Antigua and Barbuda |
| Opened | 2006 |
| Capacity | 10,000–20,000 |
| Owner | Government of Antigua and Barbuda |
| Operator | Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | US$60 million (approx.) |
| Tenants | Leeward Islands cricket team, West Indies cricket team |
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is an international cricket venue located at North Sound in Saint George Parish, Antigua and Barbuda. Named after Sir Vivian Richards, the stadium was constructed to host matches during the 2007 Cricket World Cup and has since hosted fixtures for the West Indies cricket team, Caribbean Premier League, and regional tournaments. The ground is administered by the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association and has been a focal point for sporting, cultural, and diplomatic events in Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean Community.
Construction of the stadium began during the early 2000s under the administration of the government of Antigua and Barbuda to prepare for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. The facility was part of a series of infrastructure projects contemporaneous with stadium builds in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, aiming to bolster the West Indies bid to host global sports events. The venue was officially inaugurated shortly before the 2007 Cricket World Cup, attracting dignitaries from across the region including representatives of the International Cricket Council, members of the West Indies Cricket Board, and former international cricketers. Since opening, the stadium has hosted international One Day Internationals, Twenty20 Internationals, and domestic tournaments, and has been used for state occasions involving leaders from CARICOM and visiting heads of state.
The stadium's design reflects a modernist approach to spectator sightlines, player facilities, and broadcast requirements, with seating tiers and corporate boxes similar to those found at stadia in Kensington Oval and Queen's Park Oval. Facilities include dressing rooms used by touring squads including the Australia national cricket team, India national cricket team, the England cricket team, and the South Africa national cricket team. Media centers have supported coverage by broadcasters such as Sky Sports, ESPNcricinfo commentators, and the BBC. Practice nets and training amenities have been used by franchises in the Caribbean Premier League and by development squads like the Leeward Islands cricket team and youth teams from the West Indies cricket academy. The venue also contains corporate hospitality suites, a players' pavilion, floodlighting suitable for day-night fixtures, and facilities accommodating international match officials appointed through the International Cricket Council.
The stadium hosted several fixtures during the 2007 Cricket World Cup, including matches featuring Australia national cricket team, South Africa national cricket team, and England cricket team tour sides. It has been a regular venue for West Indies cricket team home matches, Caribbean Premier League games involving franchises such as the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and St Lucia Kings, and regional first-class fixtures for the Leeward Islands cricket team. Beyond cricket, the stadium has accommodated concerts featuring artists from the Caribbean music scene and visiting international performers, diplomatic receptions connected to visits by representatives of Canada, United Kingdom, and United States. It has also been used for community events organized by institutions like the University of the West Indies regional campuses and sports development programs associated with the West Indies Cricket Board.
International records at the venue include notable performances by batsmen from teams such as the India national cricket team and Australia national cricket team, and bowling achievements by players from the West Indies cricket team and South Africa national cricket team. The stadium has witnessed several high team totals in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals, individual centuries registered by international stars including those from England cricket team lineups, and five-wicket hauls achieved by visiting pacers from New Zealand national cricket team. Domestic and franchise records have been set during Caribbean Premier League contests involving leading performers from Trinidad and Tobago franchises and regional all-rounders associated with the Leeward Islands cricket team. Match officials from the International Cricket Council have overseen milestone fixtures at the venue, contributing to statistical archives maintained by organizations such as ESPNcricinfo and the ICC.
The stadium is situated near V.C. Bird International Airport, enabling teams and supporters to reach the ground via short road transfers from the airport terminal used by LIAT and international carriers. Access by road connects to the capital St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda and to nearby resorts on Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, with local transport provided by minibuses operated by regional companies and private hire services frequented by visitors from Barbuda and neighbouring islands serviced by inter-island ferries to St. John's Harbour. Parking facilities accommodate team buses and spectator vehicles, while shuttle services are often arranged during tournaments in coordination with the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and event organizers from the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association.
Category:Cricket grounds in Antigua and Barbuda Category:Sports venues completed in 2006 Category:2007 Cricket World Cup venues