Old Trafford Cricket Ground: Capacity, Access, Events Guide

Old Trafford Cricket Ground gets far less attention than its famous football neighbour, yet its own story is just as compelling. Opened in 1857, it has hosted Test cricket since 1884, and a £200m overhaul completed in 2024 has left it with more than 25,000 seats.

Opened: 1857 · Location: Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England · Home Team: Lancashire County Cricket Club · Tests Hosted Since: 1884 · Facilities: Free parking, Caffè Nero, pitch-view restaurant

Which county cricket team plays at Old Trafford?

Lancashire County Cricket Club has called Old Trafford home since the ground opened in 1857 as Manchester Cricket Club. The club, founded in 1812, moved to its current Talbot Road address and has built one of English cricket’s great traditions there over more than a century and a half.

The ground carries real weight in Lancashire’s identity—it is where the county team plays its home fixtures across the County Championship, the Vitality Blast, and the Metro Bank One Day Cup. International cricket arrived in 1884 and the venue has since hosted more than 100 Test matches, cementing its place alongside Lord’s and The Oval as one of England’s premier cricketing venues.

Two ends of the ground carry famous names: the James Anderson End and the Brian Statham End, both Lancashire legends. These named ends appear on the official stadium plan published by Lancashire Cricket Club, giving the ground a sense of continuity with the county’s fast-bowling heritage.

History of the ground

The ground’s history is one of measured growth rather than sudden reinvention. Redevelopments since 2009 have added a modern glass pavilion and a double-storied cantilevered grandstand, but the £200m overhaul completed in 2024 represents the most significant transformation. The project, designed by architecture firm BDP and funded by Ask Property Developments alongside the club, covered 18,500 square metres across the site.

The award-winning heritage conservation work ensured that older sections of the ground were refurbished thoughtfully rather than swept away wholesale. An engineering perspective from Ridge and Partners LLP notes that two replacement double-tiered seating terraces alone added 7,000 spectator capacity, making a material difference to matchday experience.

Lancashire County Cricket Club details

• Founded 1812; home venue since 1857
• Competitions: County Championship, Vitality Blast, Metro Bank One Day Cup
• Named ends: James Anderson End, Brian Statham End

What is the closest train station to Old Trafford cricket?

The nearest train station is simply called Old Trafford, served by Northern Rail and connected directly to the Metrolink tram network. The station sits a short walk from the cricket ground along Warwick Road, making it the most straightforward option for most visitors arriving by rail.

For those travelling from Manchester city centre, Metrolink’s tram service offers the most reliable option. Trams run from Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria, and Deansgate-Castlefield directly to the Old Trafford Metrolink stop, which sits immediately outside the ground. The journey from Piccadilly takes roughly 15 minutes.

Train options

• Old Trafford station (Northern Rail) — 5-minute walk to ground
• Old Trafford Metrolink stop — direct from Piccadilly, Victoria, Deansgate; 15 minutes from city centre
• Trafford Bar Metrolink — interchange with Altrincham line; slightly longer walk

Walking distance

The walk from Old Trafford station to the main entrance takes around five minutes along Talbot Road. From the Metrolink stop, it is closer to two minutes. Both routes are clearly signposted on match days, with stewarded crossings helping manage the crowds that build up before major fixtures.

The pattern: most visitors arrive by tram rather than train, and the Metrolink stop’s proximity to the ground makes it worth the slight detour to Piccadilly or Victoria if your route requires it.

How do I get from Piccadilly to Old Trafford Cricket Ground?

The most direct route from Manchester Piccadilly Station involves catching a Metrolink tram to Old Trafford. Board any yellow or purple line tram heading toward Altrincham or Cornbrook, and stay on until the Old Trafford stop. Total journey time is approximately 15 minutes, with trams running throughout the day at 10-15 minute intervals.

Public transport routes

• Metrolink: Piccadilly → Old Trafford (approx. 15 min); disembark at Old Trafford Metrolink stop
• Northern Rail: Piccadilly → Manchester Victoria, then one stop to Old Trafford; longer total journey
• Walking: Approximately 35 minutes from Piccadilly via Chester Road/A56

Travel time

Trams operate from early morning until late evening, with frequency increasing on match days. For an England fixture like the England v Sri Lanka IT20 on 15 September 2024, additional trams are typically laid on. The venue opens two to three hours before the main act for concerts, per SeatPick guidance, so an early tram ride beats fighting traffic.

What this means: budget 20 minutes door-to-gate from Piccadilly if you take the tram, and factor in another 10 minutes to reach your seat block from the turnstile.

Which airport is near to Old Trafford Cricket Ground?

Manchester Airport is the nearest major hub, situated roughly eight miles south of Old Trafford Cricket Ground. Visitors arriving there can connect to the venue via Manchester Piccadilly Station: take a connecting train or the Northern Rail service into the city, then transfer to the Metrolink yellow line toward Old Trafford.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (around 35 miles) and Leeds Bradford Airport (roughly 45 miles) are alternatives for those with more flexible routing, though neither offers a direct link to the cricket ground. Leeds Bradford requires a train into Leeds, a connection to Manchester, and then the city-centre-to-ground tram leg.

Nearest airport details

• Manchester Airport (MAN) — 8 miles; train via Piccadilly to Old Trafford Metrolink (approx. 45 min total)
• Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) — 35 miles; rail connection via Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester
• Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) — 45 miles; longer routing, not recommended without a car

Transfer options

The most practical transfer from Manchester Airport is the Northern Rail service to Manchester Piccadilly (around 20 minutes), followed by the Metrolink tram to Old Trafford. Hire cars work fine if you are comfortable navigating the M60 orbital, but match-day parking near the ground fills early—the free parking on site is a genuine asset for ticket holders who drive.

The catch: Manchester Airport’s railway station is a separate terminal from the main airport building, requiring a shuttle transfer of around five minutes. Factor this in when calculating total journey time.

What is Old Trafford Cricket Ground capacity?

Following the 2024 redevelopment, Emirates Old Trafford now offers more than 25,000 seats, including 15,000 permanent ones. The architecture firm BDP, which led the £200m redesign, confirmed these figures as part of its official project documentation. The ground ranks as the third-largest cricket venue in England, behind only Lord’s and The Oval.

Two replacement double-tiered seating terraces contributed 7,000 of those seats. The redevelopment also introduced The Point events venue, a purpose-built facility with panoramic pitch views that serves both cricket and non-cricket functions.

For concerts, the venue’s flexible west-side space can host over 250,000 people—a figure that reflects the open-ground capacity rather than seated seats. This positions Old Trafford as one of the largest outdoor concert venues in the UK.

Seating capacity

The official seating plan for 2024 internationals, published by Lancashire Cricket Club, shows blocks labeled Pavilion, Terrace, and numbered sections 8 through 12. The Service to Seat ticket option, covering sections E3 through E6, offers a hospitality-style experience with allocated seats and catering.

For wheelchair users, dedicated positions are available and clearly marked on the stadium plan. Wheelchair tickets can be arranged by emailing ticketoffice@lancashirecricket.co.uk or calling 0161 282 4000 between 10am and 4pm on weekdays, per The Hundred’s accessibility guidance. For those interested in cricket personalities, you can read the Hardik Pandya biography at $Hardik Pandya biography.

Gig capacity

When the cricket ground sheds its sporting function and becomes a concert venue, its capacity calculus changes entirely. The flat grass areas and flexible west-side configuration allow for crowds far exceeding the seated cricket total. Third-party ticketing platforms list pricing starting at $53 per ticket for general events, though international fixture prices vary significantly based on match significance.

Dimensions and pitch report

Official ground dimensions follow the ICC standard for international venues. The pitch itself measures the standard 22 yards, with the square boundaries set according to the specific fixture format—Test, ODI, or T20. The named ends at each wicket pay tribute to Lancashire’s fast-bowling lineage, with Anderson and Statham both having played significant roles in the ground’s most memorable Test moments.

“With more than 25,000 seats now available, including 15,000 permanent ones, the ground offers a first-class experience for all spectators.”

— BDP (Architecture firm responsible for 2024 redevelopment)

“The ground can now host more than 250,000 people for summer concerts, highlighting its versatility beyond cricket.”

— SeatPick (Ticketing platform)

How to get Old Trafford Cricket Ground tickets

Tickets for Lancashire fixtures, England internationals, and The Hundred matches are available directly through the Lancashire Cricket Club website. The box office number is 0161 282 4000, operating Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. Third-party platforms including SeatPick, Vivid Seats, and StubHub also list tickets, though direct booking through the club guarantees seat allocation from the official plan.

For wheelchair users and their companions, accessible tickets are arranged via email or phone through the dedicated access team. The 2024 seating plan designates specific blocks with step-free access, clearly marked on the stadium layout.

Step-by-step ticket process

• Visit cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk/tickets/ or call 0161 282 4000
• Select your match (County Championship, Vitality Blast, England fixture)
• Choose seat block — Pavilion, Terrace, or numbered sections 8–12
• Check 3D seat views at the official stadium seat-view page before selecting
• Add to basket and complete payment
• Collect tickets or show digital pass at turnstile

The implication: buying directly from the club gives you the most accurate seat allocation and avoids the price premiums common on secondary markets for high-demand England fixtures.

What events are held at Old Trafford Cricket Ground?

Beyond cricket, Emirates Old Trafford has positioned itself as a multi-event venue. The Vitality Blast remains the centrepiece of the domestic summer, drawing crowds with its fast-paced T20 format. England fixtures rotate through the ground on a regular schedule, with the 2024 England v Sri Lanka IT20 on 15 September and England v South Africa IT20 on 12 September both hosted there.

Concerts form a growing part of the venue’s calendar. The flexible west-side space, described by BDP as capable of hosting over 250,000 people, has attracted major touring acts. The 2026 calendar already shows ICC Women’s T20 World Cup hosting and Vitality Blast fixtures confirmed on the official Emirates Old Trafford events page.

Corporate functions and private events run throughout the year in The Point venue, which offers panoramic views over the pitch from its dedicated glass-walled space. The Players’ and Media Centre adds further functionality for broadcast partners and hospitality guests.

Related reading: India vs Sri Lanka Cricket Scorecard

Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Lancashire’s home since 1857, pairs capacity and access details with its history, facts and visitor guide for deeper visitor insights.

Frequently asked questions

For anyone planning a visit, the choice is straightforward: book directly through Lancashire Cricket Club to secure your seat at face value, take the Metrolink tram to Old Trafford stop to avoid match-day traffic, and check the 3D seat view tool before committing to a specific block. Visitors who follow this approach arrive stress-free and close to the gate, while those who drive or rely on shuttle services often face delays on busy match days.