10 July 2012

Plans unveiled for new Hadlee Stand

While the Hadlee Stand is in its final death knell at AMI Stadium, plans were today revealed to celebrate the famous cricketing family with a new pavilion at the Hagley Oval development being mooted by Canterbury Cricket.

The Hadlee Pavilion, designed by Athfield Architects, would be a two-storey building of a similar scale to the adjacent Horticultural Hall.

Sir Richard Hadlee said his family was honoured by the proposal and was keen to see the Hagley Oval plans progress.

“We’ve already seen Christchurch miss out on an international match against England in the upcoming season because we don’t have adequate facilities. Cricket needs a new – and central – home in Christchurch. If we don’t get behind the proposal for Hagley Oval, we could well run the risk of losing future international matches and being left out in the cold at the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

"I was delighted and thrilled to see the quick development of a specificrugby ground in Christchurch that has allowed us to host international rugbymatches. It is now time that we have a specifically built cricket ground,"Sir Richard said.

Canterbury Cricket CEO Lee Germon said the Hadlee Pavilion had been designed to meet the requirements of the International Cricket Council and New Zealand Cricket.

“The architects have worked hard to ensure the design fits sensitively into the Hagley Oval environment and to enhance the Village Green atmosphere. While the pavilion is two storey, the lower portion would be built into the embankment, which gives the impression of a single level building from the Oval.”

Germon said the lightweight tensile membrane roof is modeled on similar recently built cricket pavilions at Adelaide Oval, the Rosebowl in Hampshire and the Lords Cricket Ground.

“We’re also keen to widen its use out to other than the cricket fraternity so that it’s available to wide ranging community groups.”

The pavilion would be the only permanent building proposed by Canterbury Cricket for the Hagley Oval enhancement that also includes the removal of the current Old Boys Collegians clubrooms and a storage building that is on the site.

ENDS

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