This summer thousands of new and existing cricket fans will have the opportunity to get up close to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup action in Birmingham as the city hosts an Official Fanzone in Victoria Square.
Staged over the final weekend of June to coincide with England’s all-important game against India at the city’s Edgbaston Stadium on Sunday 30 June, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will take over Victoria Square to give fans an opportunity to enjoy an authentic tournament experience, watch the live broadcast of matches and celebrate cricket’s biggest event in a live setting together with thousands of passionate fans from across the globe.
With such high demand for tickets across the tournament, it’s important that we bring fans together to ensure that the tournament is celebrated outside of the stadiums across the country.
Neil Snowball
Neil Snowball, Chief Executive of Edgbaston Stadium, said: “We’re thrilled to see a cricket Fanzone return to Birmingham for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, following the success of a similar takeover of Victoria Square for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017.
“With such high demand for tickets across the tournament, it’s important that we bring fans together to ensure that the tournament is celebrated outside of the stadiums across the country.
“Birmingham has a stellar record in accommodating visitors from around the world for the biggest tournaments and events and we’re looking forward to working with our city partners to provide a memorable experience for the biggest competition in men’s cricket.”
The ‘City Celebrations’ will consist of eight city centre fan zones (Nottingham, Taunton, Southampton, Manchester, Leeds, Durham and London joining Birmingham) and two city activations (Cardiff and Bristol). The official public activations of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Birmingham is a city that loves sport, it’s something we’re extremely passionate about – so it’s fantastic to be able to welcome the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup to our city. This is a great opportunity for fans coming to watch the five Edgbaston matches, including a semi-final, to enjoy the atmosphere in the city’s Fanzone located in Victoria Square from 28-30 June.”
All Host Cities have played an integral part in the promotion of the tournament, which has contributed to record-breaking ticket sales and mass participation during the Trophy Tour. The ‘City Celebrations’ will offer another opportunity to connect with communities across the country and develop more excitement as the tournament unfolds.
Managing Director of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, Steve Elworthy, said: “We’ve seen from our ticket applications just how big the demand for this summer’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is and we are delighted to make the tournament more accessible than ever through the City Celebrations.
“The British public always get behind global events and our City Celebrations allow fans up and down the country, as well as visiting fans, to come together to celebrate the Cricket World Cup, regardless of whether they’re attending a fixture or not.
“The support from our Host Cities has been phenomenal, and we’re delighted to be able to continue the strong partnerships with the ground-breaking fan engagement plan throughout the tournament.”
Director of City & Spectator Experience at the ICC Cricket World Cup, Paul Smith, added: “The City Celebrations will deliver a real party atmosphere, bringing the cultural melting pot of the UK to a mix of people from all over the world who are there to celebrate their love for cricket in a very relaxed and friendly way.
“The City Celebrations will be the perfect opportunity for each of our Host Cities to show the world their unique culture and friendly hospitality. These venues will serve as informal and joyful meeting points, from where I am sure fans will take some of their best memories from the amazing event we will host this summer.”
