Edgbaston Stadium to boost capacity ahead of Ashes Test

Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium is increasing its capacity by an extra 840 seats for next year’s programme of match cricket, which includes the ICC Cricket World Cup, Vitality Blast Finals Day and the first Test of England’s Specsavers Ashes series against Australia.

With ticket sales for next summer’s Specsavers Ashes Test match up 35% in the pre-sale window in comparison to Edgbaston’s last Test meeting between England and Australia in 2015, the Birmingham venue is working with Arena Seating to install a temporary stand for use across all days.

Gareth Roberts, commercial director at Edgbaston Stadium, said: “There’s never been a bigger programme of cricket in Birmingham than what’s coming in 2019, with the Ashes, ICC Cricket World Cup and Finals Day all coming to Edgbaston.

“We’re very proud to bring the biggest fixtures in the game to Birmingham and, in response to the initial demand that we’ve seen, we wanted to give more spectators an opportunity to secure tickets for these games.”

Edgbaston is introducing a public ballot for the first time for its Specsavers Ashes Test match, which opens on Thursday 20 September and is live until midday on Friday 12 October.

Roberts added: “We’ve spent time this summer examining ticketing operations for other major sporting events to ensure that we provide the fairest possible process, whilst also recognising loyalty and giving priority to our Warwickshire CCC Members.

“Having sold out our first allocation of Ashes tickets via a priority window for our Members and regular visitors, a second allocation of tickets for the first four days will be available in the ballot, with tickets subsequently being randomly assigned to ballot entrants once the three-week period has ended.

“Should the number of requests for tickets exceed availability on set days, we hope to give fans an opportunity to purchase on other days.”