GL events UK support the summer cricket season

At GL events UK, we deliver adaptable, safe, and high-quality temporary seating solutions that help venues enhance capacity and improve the spectator experience. Over the past few years, our work with cricket clubs across the UK has grown substantially – from long-standing relationships with clubs like Lancashire and Sussex to new ventures at York Cricket Club.

In this article we take a closer look at some of our recent installations and how our temporary seating continues to play a vital role in the English cricketing summer.

This year marked our first collaboration with York Cricket Club. We installed 2,500 seats to support matches played there by Yorkshire, whose main base is Headingly. The stand remains in place until August, helping York accommodate larger crowds for top-tier county matches. As a new client, we worked closely with them to maximise the available space and tailor a solution that suits the venue and its visitors.

Now in our second year working with Essex Cricket Club, we’ve expanded their temporary seating capacity from 500 to 800 seats to accommodate growing demand. Installed each March and removed in September, these seats are in place for the full cricket season. Essex opts for temporary rather than permanent seating to maintain flexibility while still offering an improved matchday experience for spectators.

The temporary seating we provide for Sussex Cricket Club is specifically tailored for the Vitality Blast tournament, one of the biggest events in the county cricket calendar. Due to local planning restrictions, permanent seating isn’t feasible at the ground, making our temporary solutions the perfect fit. We install up to 1,700 seats across two to three different stands, with the work commencing in May and removal scheduled for late July.

This project presents unique challenges as the area is surrounded by offices, requiring careful coordination. Despite this, our team has successfully delivered temporary seating for the tournament at Sussex for the last six years.

Our work at Somerset Cricket Club follows a similar model to Sussex, with temporary seating installed in May for the Vitality Blast and removed in July. This year however due to a successful T20 tournament the grandstand will remain in place until September where a quarter final fixture will be played. These short-term installations help boost the available seating at both grounds providing an incredible spectator experience and allowing clubs to generate the most revenue possible during the tournament, without requiring permanent infrastructure!

Our partnership with Lancashire County Cricket Club is one of our longest-running and most ambitious. Now in its 16th year, the 2025 installation includes installing the iconic D Stand which provides an additional 6,500 seats for the club. The installation this year provided an extra 1,000 more seats than last year – ensuring the club is ready to host ready the India Test in mid-July. The stand will remain in place until September, allowing it to be used for The Hundred tournament in August and other late-season events.

At GL events UK we are always looking to provide new and exciting innovations that help our clients events run smoothly. With event organisers finding it challenging to support their cameras, we’ve introduced a new independent camera tower platform, originally used at The Open, into the middle of the D Stand.

With Lancashire County Cricket Club playing host to concerts and events throughout the year, temporary seating is the ideal solution as stands can be dismantled to make room for staging and production equipment. This allows the club to make additional revenue outside of the cricket season.

Cricket grounds often face space limitations and planning restrictions which can be challenging when you’re looking to provide the best possible guest experience at a variety of events. Temporary seating is a practical, flexible solution that many of our clients are benefitting from, here’s why:

Customisation: Seating colour can be adapted to match club branding, enhancing the visual impact on the pitch.

Sponsorship Opportunities: Stands are prominent features – ideal for advertising and partner branding.

Close Risers: All of our seats are designed with closed risers; meaning there are no gaps beneath our seats. This is great for preventing items such as phones or wallets falling through the cracks, improving safety and comfort for your guests.

Boosting capacity: Additional seats generate more revenue from ticket sales, particularly for high-demand matches.

Once we are approached by a club, we begin to discuss requirements and offer an initial site visit. We provide a tailored quote and work closely with the client to maximise their capacity within the constraints of the site.

Each cricket ground comes with its own challenges – whether it’s limited space, tight deadlines, or complex logistics. But thanks to our years of experience, flexible designs, and highly skilled team, we’ve been able to deliver successfully time and again.

From expanding crowd capacity and enhancing fan experience to helping clubs meet planning constraints, GL events UK is proud to be playing a behind-the-scenes role in delivering successful cricket tournaments across the country.