4 minute read
Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua - the home of Cricket West Indies
by Nelecia Yeates, General Manager of Coolidge Cricket Ground
Cricket isn’t just a game in Antigua & Barbuda – it’s almost a way of life. Situated in the North of Antigua, the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) is more than just a cricket venue; it’s a vibrant hub poised to boost the local economy and provide new facilities and services for the community. As the national sport, it unites the people and region, ignites passions and fosters a deep sense of national and regional pride.
CCG is conveniently located near the V.C. Bird International Airport and acts as a welcoming gateway for visitors to Antigua. With its world-class cricket facilities and captivating entertainment offerings, the ground is set to attract people from around the globe and locals from across the island, stimulating demand for soon-to-be improved facilities and services.
At the core of CCG’s ambitious redevelopment plan is a new airport business hotel featuring nearly 150 rooms with unparalleled views of the picturesque cricket ground. Guests will be able to enjoy sweeping views of the ocean from the rooftop pool and terrace and delve into the rich history of West Indies cricket at a new interactive cricket experience situated within the lower levels of the hotel.
Further enhancing the venue, CCG plans to introduce a new business park that will include a mixed-use centre, including restaurants, stores, banks, office space and an array of other businesses. Behind the main grandstand, there are plans to create a Caribbean food courtyard. This area will provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for visitors, featuring comfortable seating, tasteful decor, and an outdoor stage for live performances.
The redevelopment of CCG into a state-of-the-art cricket and business centre is set to provide a dynamic commercial ecosystem filled with opportunities for local entrepreneurs, from hospitality to retail and transport services.
CCG is more than a destination; it’s a symbol of regional pride synonymous with the West Indies brand. Central to this is the new flagship High Performance Centre for the region, dedicated to developing the next generation of West Indian cricketers and advancing the sport into a new era. A world-class facility with all the high performance amenities that modern athletes expect will be established, including an indoor cricket school, onsite accommodation, physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre and expanded floodlit outdoor practice area for the best cricketers from across the region to train and enhance their skills, supported by full-time elite coaches and medical practitioners. CCG will also look to host training camps for professional athletes in other fields and sports from across the region, North America and around the world.
The final aspect of the re-development is a new state-of-the-art remote broadcasting hub and studio equipped to produce live content for all West Indies cricket and various other sporting events across the Caribbean and the globe. Connected by dark fibre that directly leads into the sub-sea network, live feeds from cameras, graphics, and audio commentary will be sent from the venues across the West Indies into this new hub where the director and editors will produce the live show that will be beamed into TVs and devices across the world instantaneously.
As CCG continues to evolve, it will become a symbol of regional pride and act as a catalyst for economic activity and social progress throughout Antigua & Barbuda and the wider Caribbean region. Combining sports, entertainment, and West Indian culture, CCG is set to have a lasting impact on the region and all who embrace the West Indies spirit.
By Nelecia Yeates, General Manager of Coolidge Cricket Ground
