Birmingham set for £32.1 million boost from Cricket World Cup

Birmingham is set to benefit from a £32.1 million economic boost by hosting five matches of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (30 May-14 July).

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup takes place in England and Wales for the fifth time this summer, with the hosts joined by nine other nations, including Australia and Pakistan.

The figure comes from analysis by global accountancy firm EY. The report – conducted on behalf of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) – considered a number of factors.

These included ticket sales; match day spending on food, drink and merchandise; wider spending from international visitors in the hospitality, retail and transport sectors; and the tourism and business legacy from the tournament’s global exposure.

The global sporting spotlight will be at Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium on 30 June, as it hosts the eagerly-awaited clash between cricket’s current top two One Day International sides, England and India.

The fixture will also feature a day of celebration for UNICEF’s #OneDay4Children, helping children to learn, play and be healthy.

Nicola Hewitt, Commercial Director for the West Midlands Growth Company, which operates Visit Birmingham, said: “Sport plays a hugely significant role in drawing record numbers of domestic and international visitors to the West Midlands, boosting the region’s economy.

“It also brings us firmly to the attention of worldwide investors and our global target markets, helping new and existing businesses across our patch to grow. 

Neil Snowball, Chief Executive of Edgbaston Stadium, added: “With five games in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and the opening Test of the Specsavers Ashes Series both coming to Edgbaston, 2019 will be the biggest summer of cricket that we have experienced in Birmingham. 

“Edgbaston undertook a substantial stadium redevelopment project in recent years to ensure that we continue to bring the biggest matches in the global game to Birmingham.