Light up the Oval - that's the simple message behind Otago Cricket's campaign to bring lights to Dunedin's University Oval.
The project is in association with the Dunedin City Council and Otago Cricket has set the goal of raising a one million dollar contribution. Find out more, and get behind it at www.otagocricket.co.nz/pledge.
Otago's Brendon McCullum, Suzie Bates and Mike Hesson, along with NZC Chairman Stuart Heal and President Stephen Boock have got behind the campaign to bring lights, day / night cricket and more international and domestic cricket opportunities for the SBS Bank Otago Volts and Otago Sparks to cricket's southern-most international venue.
"As an Otago boy, I obviously have immense pride and satisfaction for our ground down at University Oval. For us to be able to keep up around the world it’s vitally important that we are able to secure some lights, so hopefully it would be great to achieve it and it would be great to know that we can continue our winning record down there," said Brendon McCullum.
University Oval hosted the BLACKCAPS v Scotland match during ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
University Oval hosted one of the most memorable partnerships in recent times when Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott both made centuries and put on a world-record 267 sixth wicket stand against Sri Lanka in January in front of packed stands.
BLACKCAPS coach Mike Hesson said: "Obviously being a born and bread Otago man I love having international cricket in the region, I know how important it is for youngsters growing up in the region and with the changing times the value of lights and international cricket is critical to the city and hopefully Otago Cricket is able to secure that and secure its future, it’s a great venue for the BLACKCAPS to play at."
This year's Women's T20 final was played at University Oval, and even though the Otago Sparks were runners up that day, it was a great occasion and Sparks and White Ferns captain Suzie Bates is right behind the campaign: "To be able to have games at nighttime and international cricket at Uni Oval would be a massive boost for cricket in the region – being able to watch games after work would bring a lot more spectators along."
