Sussex set early-season rain losses at 100k

By Bruce Talbot

Sussex are the latest county club to count the cost of the wretchedly wet summer. Chief executive Dave Brooks estimates the club has now lost around £100,000 in revenue foir the first half of the season after heavy rain claimed their opening Friends Life t20 game against Hampshire Royals at Hove.

Earlier in the season, less than 50 overs were possible during Sussex’s prestigious three-day Bank Holiday friendly against West Indies and the first three days of the subsequent County Championship game against Lancashire were also washed out.

Crowds were also down for last week’s Horsham Festival when play was badly affected by rain on the first two days, and just 24 overs were possible during Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank 40 game against Derbyshire.

Brooks said: “The poor weather has probably cost us close to £100,000 but the bit you don’t know about is the negative sentiment that it’s breeding.

“Leading up to Thursday night the phones were incredibly quiet which you don’t expect before a t20 game. If it’s raining, people aren’t thinking about cricket. We need sunshine and the good people of Sussex and the local businesses to really get behind the county.”

 

Date: 15/06/2012 09:38:33 by Bruce Talbot
In: Today | Sussex |