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Zimbabwe plan cricket arena at Victoria Falls
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 7:21 am
by zimfan1
Zimbabwe plan cricket arena at Victoria Falls
(AFP) – 15 hours ago
HARARE — Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is set to be the location of the country's third Test cricket ground. If local authority approval is obtained, which Zimbabwe Cricket expects, it will be within sight of the mile long Falls with its 100 metres deep chasm straddling the Zambezi River.
Some 4,000 players and spectators would feel the spray. Matches will also be played under floodlights at the venue, which could take three years to complete.
Construction work is expected to begin early next year. At present the area is raw African bush.
Zimbabwe has two Test grounds. The main one is at Harare Sports Club in the capital. The other is in the second city Bulawayo -- Queens Sports Club -- which was established more than 100 years ago.
The move to build another ground right up against one of the great tourist destinations of the world follows close upon the International Cricket Council (ICC) approval last April for a return by Zimbabwe to Test cricket after a six years absence from the top level.
The Zimbabweans have been scheduled to host Bangladesh in August for one Test and a series of five ODI's, followed almost immediately by Pakistan, whose playing programme is not yet arranged. Then they will travel to New Zealand for a Christmas period series.
Victoria Falls, considered one of the natural wonders of the world, is a growing tourist destination, not least by cricket mad South Africans and visitors from England.
Alistair Campbell, a former Zimbabwe Test captain, now a senior official with Zimbabwe Cricket, said the ground arena and clubhouse grandstand could be completed in three years.
He said: "Zimbabwe is progressing now in every way and tourism is on the up. Victoria Falls could be an alternative venue to Dubai. There is also easy accessibility from Zambia across the river. We recently had 9000 people at a 20-20 tournament in Harare and we never saw anywhere near that when I was playing Tests, so it is an indication of cricket progress here."
Zimbabwe Cricket chief executive Ossias Bvute said: "Following the soccer World Cup in South Africa the eyes of the world are on Africa as a sports destination. Victoria Falls is a wonderful location. It has a year round sunny climate and the potential for big crowds.
Zimbabwe was forced to withdraw from Test cricket in 1995 when captain Heath Streak was sacked for complaining about selection policy and the entire professional squad went on strike in his support.
A second team was put up against New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India, resulting in huge defeats, forcing chairman Peter Chingoka to withdraw from Test cricket, though Zimbabwe's status as full ICC member was retained.
A return to Tests was agreed after a meeting with the ICC in Harare last April that followed a triangular tournament between India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Architects in Harare are working on design details and these will go to the Victoria Falls council in a few weeks.
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Re: Zimbabwe plan cricket arena at Victoria Falls
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 9:53 am
by brmtaylor.com admin
It's good to see this project hasn't fallen by the wayside. It would be nice to see it become a neutral venue that other teams want to use; imagine if South Africa agreed to play a season opener there every year! There's so much potential for this ground.
Re: Zimbabwe plan cricket arena at Victoria Falls
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 10:32 am
by Flower power
Vic Falls is going to be a tourist venue . If ZC is to least expect locals from attending unless , Zim start springing up some magic on the pitch .I cant imagine traveling 800 km across the country to watch Zimbabwe put a pathetic show .
As a neutral venue , I guess this would be the ideal spot .
Re: Zimbabwe plan cricket arena at Victoria Falls
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 4:34 pm
by ZIMDOGGY
I hate to be a downer but is this ground really the top priority of Zc?
Why?
Zc aren't swimming in money - yet they decide to throw what funds they do hav to build a stadium in a tourist town?
Why not just upgrade queens or HSC?
Or develop juniors? Or market the sport?
am I alone in thinking this? I am happy for someone to challenge this as I am not an expert on this admittedly.
Re: Zimbabwe plan cricket arena at Victoria Falls
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 5:10 pm
by brmtaylor.com admin
It's a valid point ZIMDOGGY, but I do think this can be seen as an investment for the sport in Zimbabwe. Admittedly, until the thing is actually built it's nothing more than bravado.
Assuming it is completed though, it is a good sign for the future of cricket in the country. ZC seem to be doing all the right things to push cricket in the right direction... another Test venue means they are expecting a reasonable number of Test matches for a start. There is huge potential for positive PR from the exercise as well should it become a desirable neutral venue. It may also be ZC's way of offering an olive branch to certain countries (ie. "We understand you don't want to play cricket in Zimbabwe, but would Victoria Falls be a suitable compromise?").
I would imagine the venue would run at a loss for quite a while... I have no idea how much it costs to build a modest stadium, but ZC has to be viewing this as a long term investment. But ultimately, I think this has the ability to bring more cricket to Zimbabwe and with proper marketing bring tourism to the region. The "creation" of a marquee event is the way to do this I think, although it is easier said than done. For instance, think of how the Boxing Day Test has become an event. Or even a Test at Lords... these are big, hyped up occasions. The challenge for ZC is making their own event with the odds stacked against them (politics, economy, etc). As I alluded to earlier, I think if ZC could somehow persuade, convince, pay CSA to hold their season opener at Victoria Falls that would provide a suitable "event atmosphere". Not necessarily South Africa vs Zimbabwe, but South Africa vs whoever is touring SA at the time. This opens up the possibility of massive showdowns like South Africa vs India or South Africa vs Australia - and I reckon people would pay to see this; a few days at Victoria Falls and a day at the cricket. Again, this could potentially run at a loss for a while but perhaps ZC could partner with the local tourism board to recoup losses until such time as the event becomes profitable.
I'm merely thinking out loud though, for all I know this could be a logistical nightmare. But the number one rule of marketing is to have a desirable product, and in a cricket sense (in the region) it doesn't get any bigger than South Africa.
Re: Zimbabwe plan cricket arena at Victoria Falls
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:36 pm
by eugene
As great as this idea could be, it is hard for me to envisage this becoming another damp squib like most things run by ZC.
Re: Zimbabwe plan cricket arena at Victoria Falls
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:40 pm
by bayhaus
There were 6000
tourists for the falls fest over Xmas with some peeps hiring a bus. The Parlotones were the main attraction. I think thats as gud as it gets for VF. If we cnt even pak HSC? Until we are rocking like the Parlotones VF will b tite.
But as a nuetral venue and that idea of boxing day type cult it could work get the asians cming to join us in a T20 tourney.
Re: Zimbabwe plan cricket arena at Victoria Falls
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 5:37 pm
by cock
The stadium in the falls is another brainwave idea from one of the many overpaid, sitting behind a desk, members of Z.C. They propose a stadium that will sit 9000 spectators but the falls including hotels, lodges and B & B can only accomodate 2500 beds. Where are the rest going to stay unless they are planning to fly about 40 large aircrafts to and from Harare on the day.