Also or formerly known as West End
Established 2001
Capacity 6,500 (20,000 with temporary seating)
Floodlights Yes
End names Pavilion End, Northern End
Home team(s) Hampshire, Hampshire 2nd XI
Current local time 18:53, Sat Jul 19, 2008 (UTC +0100)
External links Weather
The Rose Bowl, Hampshire's fourth home and its most state-of-the-art, was designed by award-winning architects Michael Hopkins & Partners and hosted its inaugural first-team match in 2001. The ground, shaped like a circular amphitheatre, and its highlight - the three-storey pavilion with canopied roof - is a splendid feat of architecture, but not, as yet, backed up by easy access. One of the venues for the Champions Trophy in 2004, The Rose Bowl received widespread criticism when access to the ground for England's key fixture against Sri Lanka proved extremely difficult, as 16,000 spectators descended. Nevertheless, Hampshire's ambitions continue unchecked: floodlights are set to be installed in 2006, paving the way for their hopes of becoming the premier venue for day-night internationals in England.
The ground's development - costing a whopping £24million - ran into financial difficulties in 2000, before a Hampshire businessman and cricket enthusiast Rob Bransgrove stepped in to secure its future. In 2006 the venue lost out to Cardiff in the race for Test status, but Bransgrove reacted by investing another £35 million, largely aimed at improving the pitch and the dreadful traffic problems which had blighted major matches.
Travel Train - Hedge End station and Southampton Airport/Parkway are 10 minutes' taxi ride from the ground. Car - The Rose Bowl is in West End, a short distance from Junction 7 of the M27.
