Keith Prowse hits competition for six with landmark Edgbaston launches

Fan favourite ground becomes hospitality hub with cricket’s opening of the decade

Press information for release 16 December 2010

Keith Prowse and Warwickshire County Cricket Club will raise the profile of business in the Midlands with the launch of new hospitality developments at England’s favourite cricket ground; Edgbaston.

The UK’s hospitality leader will install a full range of upscale facilities at Edgbaston as part of a £32 million redevelopment due to be completed ready for the 2011 English cricket season. The upgrade marks the most significant stadium revamp in English cricket this decade and underlines the growing importance of corporate support for the sport.

The Midlands’ sole international cricket ground will provide the region’s corporate community with a raft of new entertaining options, widening the appeal of Birmingham as a place to do business.

Keith Prowse will bring the Jaguar Club, The 1882 Club, Superboxes and The Edgbaston Suite to the new Pavilion Stand, helping to increase the overall capacity at Edgbaston to 25,000. These will join the existing areas of the Aylesford Private Boxes, Marston’s Suite, Executive Club and Lower Wyatt Suite across the ground in the Raglan / Priory Stand and RES Wyatt Stand.

Edgbaston has proved to be England’s most successful home venue – the team have lost there only 8 times in 45 Test matches - and is known for its uninhibited carnival atmosphere. Keith Prowse will ensure a memorable dining experience for guests and the same unparalleled levels of service it offers as official hospitality provider to Lord’s and the Brit Insurance Oval, as well as iconic fixtures such as Cartier International Polo and The Championships, Wimbledon.

Guests in the state-of-the-art facilities will enjoy their first taste of international cricket when Edgbaston hosts the 3rd npower Test match between England and India this summer (Wednesday 10th August – Sunday 14th August). Edgbaston is also this year’s venue for the Friends Provident t20 Finals Day (Saturday 27th August) and will host the Warwickshire Bears’ Twenty20 matches throughout mid-summer. In 2010 Keith Prowse saw Twenty20 emerge as a popular evening entertaining option, allowing companies to foster closer relationships with clients without losing precious office hours.

Andrew Hodgkins, Keith Prowse’s Managing Director said: “We are thrilled at this opportunity to position Edgbaston, which is renowned in cricket for its feel-good factor, as an entertaining hub for the Midlands. Companies can use sport to bring people together to discuss business in an exhilarating but unrushed environment, and cricket in particular offers a great opportunity to enjoy valuable face to face time.”

James McLaughlin, WCCC Commercial Director continues: “The redevelopment will keep Edgbaston on a par with the world’s greatest cricket grounds, and by partnering with Keith Prowse we can ensure the venue continues to be attractive for corporate involvement. Offering this new range of entertaining options will ultimately help us to reinvest in cricket, so the value of corporate support should not be underestimated.”

For further information please contact Triggerfish Communications on 020 7233 9700.