Basin Goings On
The “Finance Company Implosion” has seen several name changes for our beloved Basin Reserve over the past few months. It is now known officially as the Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve and the ground improvements continue at good pace. Between the end of the the rugby season and Labour Weekend the wicket block and practice areas were re-laid and improved drainage technology installed. The R. A. Vance Stand is having a new viewing platform built at the back for the media and, I'm guessing, to also improve television camera angles from the Northern (Or J. R. Reid Gate) end of the ground.
Meanwhile, a new edifice is being erected beside the venerable old (actually crap) scoreboard at the Southern End. Any ideas what this will be? It looks like a new replacement or additional scoreboard or a big screen (or some combination).
I walk through the Basin every day and it is looking a picture – the relocation last year of the war memorial to the top of the bank was a splendid move. This summer we have a visit from Bangladesh (recommendation: don't buy a five-day-pass) for a Test Match from January 12 and England (hence all the media improvements) from March 13.
it is looking nice. one of the most pleasant sections of my run home.
I thought the thing next to the scoreboard was a stage or lighting rig for the MoreFM Carols By Candlelight. This is not to be confused with the Kaleidoscope of European Carols, brought to you by the European Forum.
I've been told it's a new scoreboard, that was where the majority of the sponsorship money went.
Its a new big replay screen. I assume its not going to act as a score board as well, since the old one is still there.
Personally Id like to see a new stand go in where the Brierley Pavilion is and take the capacity up to 20k so One Dayers and 20/20 internationals can return there.
It'll probably do double duty then like the big screen at the Stadium. It's an extraordinary expense to go to for two international matches a year, though.
And the positioning is personally horrible for me as my preferred viewing position is behind first or second slip when the bowler is coming in from the Cambridge Tce end. I've never been able to read the existing scoreboard from there.
i'll be honest high up in the members stand is my kind of space, far away enough from the toffs that you can comfortably spread over 4 chairs
And those are precisely the seats that have been replaced for the expanded media centre.
Too high for me, and never any sun.
I'll take the bank thanks very much :) The Basin is part of my trip to work as well in fact its the highlight. Much nicer than dodging random buses on my bike in Newtown.
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