Yorkshire boosted by rise in attendances

Yorkshire’s attendances in 2015 have seen significant year-on-year growth for domestic and international cricket after the club revealed its overall crowd figures from this year’s summer of cricket at Headlingley and North Marine Road.
Crowds rose at Headingley and North Marine Road in 2015. Picture: SWpix.comCrowds rose at Headingley and North Marine Road in 2015. Picture: SWpix.com
Crowds rose at Headingley and North Marine Road in 2015. Picture: SWpix.com

The Investec Test Match in May, when England hosted New Zealand in one of the most competitive series over the past few years, saw an aggregate total at 44,522 an increase of 8,223 on the previous year when England entertained Sri Lanka.

In September’s Royal London One-Day International, when an inspired David Willey won the game for England against Australia, Headingley witnessed a full-house of 16,500 replicating the capacity crowd generated 12 months earlier when England defeated India.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Domestic cricket attendances, across all three formats, showed a year-on-year increase of 38,064 – a 39% increase on 2014.

The biggest growth area was in the LV= County Championship where 59,000 supporters enjoyed Yorkshire’s back-to-back Championship success, an increase of 19,099 compared to 2014.

With the advent of floodlights and later start times for the NatWest T20 Blast competition, the aggregate tournament total increased to an all-time high of 55,655, a 19% increase on the previous year.

The Vikings match against local rivals Lancashire Lightning in June was the first of the Major Match venues to sell out a domestic T20 fixture in 2015.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For the seven home matches staged at Headingley, the average attendance increased from 6,664 in 2014 to 8,417.

“This provides a very positive health check in the appetite for cricket in Yorkshire and would like to thank everyone who has made the trip to Headingley this year,” said Yorkshire’s commercial director Andy Dawson.

“We continually strive to deliver an exceptional experience in a safe and welcoming environment.

“We will be working hard in the winter to further enhance the matchday experience and to encourage new and return visitors to Headingley.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There is room for continued growth, in particular our T20 Blast offering where Friday nights at Headingley have proved to be popular. It is an exciting time to be part of a progressive Club, both on and off the field.”