Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium has made the shortlist for one of the sports industry’s most prestigious accolades for its hosting of NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day 2017.

Finals Day, which was hosted by Edgbaston for the ninth time in 2017 and returns in September, is one of six events shortlisted for Entertainment Experience of the Year at The BT Sport Industry Awards, which takes place at Battersea Evolution in London in April.

We’ve worked hard to make it one of the biggest events in the British sporting calendar and our partnership with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Sky Sports took last year’s event to a new level.

Gareth Roberts

Gareth Roberts, Commercial Director at Warwickshire CCC, said: “Finals Day 2017 has been widely recognised as the best in the 15-year history of the tournament, with the day breaking records for the number of runs scored, the spectator attendance, match day experience scores, and commercial revenues.

“We’ve worked hard to make it one of the biggest events in the British sporting calendar and our partnership with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Sky Sports took last year’s event to a new level. Not only did it boast arguably the best matches that we’ve seen, but the mascot race, bungee blast and legendary sing off between Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd’ will live long in the memory of those who attended.”

Edgbaston has made the shortlist for Entertainment Experience of the Year alongside submissions from the NFL for its London games and events, Formula 1 for its F1 Live event in London and Mastercard’s UEFA Champions League Final 2017 event amongst others. This is also the second time that Edgbaston has been shortlisted, following an entry for the same award for its hosting of the Third Investec Ashes Test match in 2015.

As a result of last year’s success, we have seen sales for Finals Day 2018 increase by 170 per cent, with the potential of a sell-out before the tournament begins in July.

Gareth Roberts

“The BT Sport Industry Awards is recognised as the leading event of its kind,” added Roberts. “For Edgbaston to be nominated alongside the many great sporting tournaments and events of 2017 is a huge honour and pays testament to the great efforts from our staff and partners.

“As a result of last year’s success, we have seen sales for Finals Day 2018 increase by 170 per cent, with the potential of a sell-out before the tournament begins in July.”

Bringing together sports stars, celebrities, senior decision makers, influencers and global media, the BT Sport Industry Awards celebrates the very best work from across the sector. The famous trophies are awarded on-stage in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,700 guests at the star-studded event, held annually in London.

The winners will be announced at the BT Sport Industry Awards 2018, on 26 April, with categories recognising the very best activations, agencies, brands, campaigns, content, digital communities, events, governing bodies, rights holders, sponsorships, technologies, use of data and more.