The club was forced to move its county championship parade game against Lancashire (July 11-14) to its Headingley headquarters after it was announced the ongoing Covid restrictions only view 1,200 viewers each day of the North Sea Strait game.
It follows last year’s failed attempt to play the first Championship Roses match at Scarborough since 1991.
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However, Yorkshire chairman Mark Arthur said he is not giving up on the dream of bringing arch-rivals back to the North Yorkshire coast.
Yorkshire chief Mark Arthur.
Yorkshire chief Mark Arthur.“It was heartbreaking for me to have to make this decision with Scarborough Cricket Club,” said Arthur after a risk assessment of the site on behalf of the England and Wales Cricket Board showed it was unable to meet all of the safety criteria, that would have allowed a crowd of at least 25 percent in a venue of about 9,000 people, criteria that include the ability to demonstrate social distancing at entrances and exits, toilets, and minimizing traffic jams.
“We’re going to do our best to get this Roses game for Scarborough next year and we’re going to apply to the ECB for it.
“We’ve been exploring every way to start this game after the government extended restrictions earlier this month and people are understandably going to be upset that they like going to Scarborough and booking their accommodation and so on.
“We are very sorry, but we wanted to make sure that as many members as possible could take part in the game and we have to do what the law says, which is obviously what the government decided to do.”
Scarborough CC originally expected a crowd of around 6,000 a day and estimated that the game would have cost £ 70,000 to £ 100,000 to run based on the outcome of the risk assessment carried out by AFL Architects of Manchester on behalf of the ECB, due to the increased infrastructure costs, food and drink points, and stewarding fees.
The club believed it could accommodate up to 3,700 viewers a day, only to learn that that number would actually be 1,200-1,600 – well below its current capacity limit of 25 percent.
Such was interest in the Roses game that Scarborough’s economy could be hit by £ 3 million in lost accommodation, dining and travel expenses.
Yorkshire cricket in Scarborough is believed to benefit that economy by around £ 5 million annually, and cricket officials are now hoping the other Yorkshire games slated there for later this summer will be one-day and championship cricket until all restrictions are expected to be lifted on July 19th.
Bill Mustoe, director and vice president of Scarborough CC, told The Yorkshire Post: “Losing the Roses game is devastating. It’s a blow to the city, a blow to the club, and we’re all feeling a little sick right now.
“Lots of people will have their accommodations, restaurants, and trips booked, and it’s very unfortunate with the game’s proximity to the new date the government has specified for the restrictions to be lifted.
“We just got caught doing it and there is nothing we can do; Mark (Arthur) said that we will try to get you on board between Yorkshire and Lancashire in 2022 and we are very grateful for your support. “
Mustoe estimates it will still cost Scarborough £ 15,000-30,000 if the game is postponed while much has been planned and prepared.
He explained how AFL Architects carried out the risk assessment after the government announced on June 14 that it was delaying the lifting of restrictions due to concerns about what is known as the Delta variant.
“AFL has visited many prime grounds and conducted various Covid assessments on behalf of the ECB,” Mustoe said.
“They came and measured the gangways, looked at the seating, all that stuff and the basic configuration in the floor.
“Unfortunately, the exits and entrances are probably smaller than they would like to allow people to get in and out of, the aisles are few in the sense that with all the wooden benches you have very long seating paths, and you can’t have that People crossing in the same row and such.
“I understand the logic, I’m just hopelessly disappointed for everyone involved.”
Up to 4,250 spectators can attend the re-arranged game at Headingley each day, with Yorkshire allowing Scarborough CC members to participate free of charge pending the current application process.
Further details can be found on the respective club websites.
