Emirates Old Trafford events drive £22.5 million boost to Greater Manchester economy

Major events held at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground have brought in economic benefits of £22.5 million to the wider Greater Manchester, according to research by Marketing Manchester.

The organisation, which promotes the city-region at a national and international level, has conducted the research on behalf of the venue to evaluate how major sporting and entertainment events add to the local economy.

Figures have been estimated using attendance figures of some of the largest events hosted at Old Trafford in 2023 (including two sold-out Arctic Monkeys concerts, the Vitality Blast and The Hundred fixtures, plus an International T20 versus New Zealand and the Men’s Ashes Test match), as well as industry benchmarks for spending such as accommodation, food and drink and other costs.

Lancashire Cricket Chief Executive, Daniel Gidney, said: 

“2023 has been another momentous year for Lancashire Cricket and Emirates Old Trafford. The venue delivered another incredible run of events that continue to make a major impact beyond the stadium in supporting the local economy.” 

Commenting on the figures, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, added:

“I was lucky enough to be one of the hundreds of thousands of attendees at Emirates Old Trafford this summer for the Men’s Ashes Test Match and I was hugely honoured to be asked to ring the iconic five-minute bell before play started.

“The latest redevelopments that have been undertaken this year are a testament that. Greater Manchester is very proud of the world-class reputation of the venue and for the broader impact that its hosting of major events continues to have across the whole region.”

Victoria Braddock, Managing Director at Marketing Manchester, part of The Growth Company, said:

“It is great to see destinations like Emirates Old Trafford bringing events that boost visitor numbers to the city-region. Major international events are key to driving Greater Manchester’s local economy and growing the reputation of the region as a world-class destination for sports, live music, and culture.

“2023 has been another incredible year for Emirates Old Trafford and, with the major infrastructure projects now complete, even more local residents and fans from around the world can enjoy the world-class facilities.”