Derby to get state-of-the-art cricket dome thanks to funding boost

Derby is to receive government funding to improve cricket facilities across the city and make the sport more accessible than ever before.

The city has been chosen as one of five locations to benefit from a further £3 million injection to open up access to year-round cricket in even more communities.

This figure will be matched by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The investment will see a cricket dome built in Derby, in collaboration between Derbyshire County Cricket Club and the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation, providing high-class all-weather facilities year-round.

Ryan Duckett, chief executive of Derbyshire County Cricket Club, said: “We welcome this news and are pleased our local community will have increased access to top-class facilities in our county.

“Participation numbers continue to increase across all aspects of the game with the women and girls’ game in particular seeing huge growth over the last few years, which is a testament to the work of the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation.”

Derbyshire Cricket Foundation Managing Director, Richard Wood, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to see this investment coming into Derby. This new facility will be a game-changer for our community, allowing people of all ages and backgrounds to play and enjoy cricket all year round.”

As well as Derby, domes will also be constructed in Nottingham, Birmingham, Newcastle and Bolton.

They will allow better year-round access to cricket for local communities and will place an emphasis on continuing the surge in female participation, which has seen Derbyshire become one of the fastest growing counties in the women and girls’ game, through the continued work of the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation.

Richard added: “This investment strongly supports our mission to make cricket a game for everyone, removing barriers to participation and creating more inclusive opportunities across the city.

“It will be particularly important in building on the fantastic growth we’ve seen in the women and girls’ game, helping us to inspire the next generation of players.”

Derbyshire County Cricket Club said that further updates will be issued in due course.

Ryan added: “We are in the early stages of planning, in collaboration with the Foundation and we are proud to be working closely with them on this project.”

According to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the new domes are expected to open throughout the 2027 cricket season.

They are part of a wider £400 million package to build and upgrade grassroots facilities across the UK.

It said that while the domes will be cricket-led, they will also support a range of sports and activities, helping more local people get active year-round.

Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said:  “Cricket has such a brilliant ability to bring people from different backgrounds together.

“We want people all over the country to be able to enjoy our great summer sport – and not just when the sun is shining.”