MCC: Keeping Lord's World Class

MCC is determined to ensure that Lord's remains world-class, as well as world-famous. Accordingly, it has invested more than £50 million, over the last 20 years, in various ground modernisation projects.

This investment programme has resulted in the construction of four new stands (including the award-winning Mound Stand), MCC's Indoor Cricket School and the futuristic Investec Media Centre.

Far from resting on its laurels, MCC has recently been investing even more money to ensure that Lord's has both a unique historic appeal and truly state-of-the-art sporting facilities.

These improvement projects have included the development of portable pitches (see left) on the Nursery Ground, the re-laying of pitches on the main Ground (see right) and an £8 million programme to restore the Pavilion - a Grade II* listed building - to pristine condition.

In addition, the 2003 season saw teams playing on a new surface for the first time. This followed MCC's decision to replace its old clay-based, slow-draining outfield with a new sand-based, fast-draining surface at a cost of £1.25 million. Although expensive, MCC believes that this project has already proved well worthwhile. It has reduced the number of rain-induced breaks in play at Lord's and also cut their length - to the relief of players, spectators and cricket-loving viewers and listeners alike. (To see a short film on MCC's outfield project, please see right.)

More recently, the Club has invested approaching £1 million in two important projects - first, the refurbishment of its Indoor Cricket School, which now has a ‘Supergrasse’ playing surface, and, secondly, the renewal of the Mound Stand’s distinctive and trend-setting ‘tented’ roof.

The then MCC Secretary, Roger Knight, said: "These projects reflect MCC determination to continue investing in Lord’s, to ensure that our world-famous ground retains its world-class status. We want the ground to look at its best both for the coming cricket seasons and, looking further ahead, for the archery competition in the London Olympics of 2012."

MCC's next ground improvement initiative will involve the installation of three new state-of-the-art combined scoreboards and replay screens, at a likely cost of around £2.7 million. Subject to planning consent being granted, these new screens will be installed in 2007-08 and operative from the start of 2008's cricket season.