Leicestershire have been granted a £1million loan from Leicester City Council to improve the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road.
The club will use the loan, which the council will charge five per cent interest on and is due to be repaid in full in 2018, to enhance the facilities at the ground ahead of the Women’s World Cup in 2017.
Leicestershire chief executive Wasim Khan said: “We have a robust business plan and want to improve the experience of coming to the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road as quickly as we can.
“Our plans include improving public wi-fi, increasing the number of quality food and drink outlets to reduce queuing, and developing our existing stands all around the ground. We also want to restore the Maurice Burrows Balcony to give supporters a great view of the action.
“It’s imperative that we drive forward these plans as quickly as possible, as we are hosting major match days in the next two years, including our popular NatWest T20 Blast games and the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017.
“That event will help inspire a generation of young cricket supporters and will encourage more female cricketers to take up sport in the city of Leicester.
“With that in mind, we are delighted that the city council is lending us the funds we need to accelerate our plans. The loan will be paid back in full in 2018, and we’d like to thank Leicester City Council for supporting our ambitions.”
Leicestershire were granted planning permission to install six floodlights at Grace Road in January.
Source: ECB