A futuristic, environmentally sustainable cricket stadium being built in Spain wants to host a Test match one day. Australian entrepreneur Daniel Weston is overseeing construction of the venue in Playa Flamenca on the Costa Blanca, a 45-minute drive from Alicante. The ground, to be known as Campo Maximo, aims to be one of the world's most eco-friendly cricket venues, harnessing solar energy and harvesting rainwater. Weston wants it to become the "home of European cricket" and has ambitions to stage more high-profile fixtures.
"I'd love a Test match to be held there," he told the Stumped podcast. "If I can build a place which ends up attracting Test cricket and lovers of Test cricket, that would be special." He also believes the Indian Premier League will start touring like the NFL, and that one day it might want to play a game in Spain.
The ground's most innovative feature will be its outfield, which will use a new type of artificial grass being developed for the venue. The synthetic turf is still in testing but has been engineered to replicate the playing characteristics of natural grass. Weston believes the artificial outfield will be "better" than natural grass for cricket, and floodlights will allow play "365 days and nights a year." The surface is intended to significantly reduce maintenance and will not require fertiliser.
Weston, best known as the driving force behind the European Cricket Network, played T20 international cricket for Germany after relocating to Munich in 2007. Campo Maximo will initially have a capacity of 1,000 spectators, with scope to expand through temporary or semi-permanent stands. The first ball is expected to be bowled in 2028, with the ground fully operational the following year. Weston says he is passionate about sustainability, pointing to around 4,600 square metres of solar panels and 100,000 cubic metre water tanks under the field.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing