Applause regularly rings out around Old Trafford Cricket Ground. It accompanies a batter scoring a century as well as a raucous crowd demanding an encore from the band on stage. Located in the south of Manchester, this is England’s second oldest cricket ground. It’s hosted international tests since 1884 and been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since 1864. It’s also one of the largest open-air concert venues in the north of England and has seen dozens of famous names perform. With a 65,000 capacity, the ground has hosted the likes of Bon Jovi, Kings of Leon, David Bowie, Rihanna and Beyonce.
International matches have an unusually raucous atmosphere at Old Trafford Cricket Ground. It isn’t the typical test venue, where spectators wear shirt and tie, then clap politely while sipping on wine. It’s usually where half the fans are wearing fancy dress, and huge quantities of beer are being drunk. There are only a couple of international matches a year, making it hard to get tickets, although cricket fans can also watch domestic Lancashire fixtures. Open-air concerts are even more vibrant than the cricket. Each summer features a series of gigs and spectators can choose from tiered seating and open standing. The ground is a favourite performance space for Manchester’s own, Oasis and Morrissey.
Regular Manchester tram services run from the city centre to Old Trafford tram stop. On event days there is also dedicated bus services from nearby Talbot Road to the city centre. Note that Old Trafford Cricket Ground is a different venue to Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United Football Club. Both stadiums are named after the Old Trafford neighbourhood they grace. There is very limited parking availability at the cricket ground, and visitors are advised to use parking facilities at the football field.
The carnival atmosphere during cricket matches is complimented by the ground’s rich history. Old Trafford has been the scene of some of cricket’s most famous moments, including Shane Warne’s “Ball of the Century” in 1994, and Jim Laker taking 19 wickets in an Ashes test in 1954.