Explore Kensington Oval: A Premier Cricket Destination in Bridgetown, Barbados
Information about Kensington Oval
| Known As | Pickwick Cricket Club |
| Address | Pickwick, Bridgetown, St. Michael |
| Opening Hours | Open All Years from 9-0 15-30 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat) |
| Location | St. Michael |
| Website | http://kensingtonoval.org/ |
| Distance from Airport | 14.5 Km (9.01 Miles) |
| Distance from Bridgetown | 1 Km (0.62 Miles) |
| Established | 1871 |
| Capacity | 28000 |
| End Names | Malcolm Marshall End, Joel Garner End |
| Flood Lights | Yes, 2009 |
Another place to take a walk on hallowed ground is the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados. This sanctuary has a long and lasting historic footprint in the legacy of cricket, dating back to its inception in 1882. Evidently, this sacred land is not just a cricket stadium but rather the game’s spirit’s territory. Surely, this is a space with years of unmatched glory one can visit to relish the effervescent ambience.
It’s where cricket history was made, and legends went to war and will be cherished forevermore. Known as “The Mecca” for cricket fans everywhere, Kensington Oval was transformed to host the prestigious 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup and the thrilling 2010 ICC World T20 Final. Mecca is a place for Muslims where Muslims from all over the world come for Hajj and Umrah. Kensington Oval transformed style seats 28,000 people, state-of-the-art conveniences such as floodlights and lit turf, and an energizing experience that will undoubtedly remain with you forever! Whether you’re a cricket enthusiast or want to experience the Barbadian sports culture, the Kensington Oval is the ideal location. No matter who you are, enjoy or dislike cricket, once you visit Kensington Oval in Bridgetown Barbados, you’ll become a fan forever. This historic cricket ground will host nine matches of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, three of which are in the Super Eight stage and the final match will also be played at the same ground. It will be hosted by West Indies and the USA.
ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Schedule, Fixtures, Time, Venue, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
| Time & Date | Countries | Venue |
| 2 June 2024 20:30 | Oman vs Namibia | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
| 4 June 2024 10:30 | England vs Scotland | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
| 5 June 2024 20:30 | Oman vs Australia | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
| 6 June 2024 15:00 | Namibia vs Scotland | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
| 8 June 2024 13:00 | Australia vs England | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
Super 8 Stage Matches
| Time & Date | Countries | Venue |
| 20 June 2024 10:30 | C1 vs A1 | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
| 21 June 2024 20:30 | A2 vs C2 | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
| 23 June 2024 10:30 | A2 vs B1 | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Final, Schedule, Time, Venue, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
| Time & Date | Countries | Venue |
| 29 June 2024 10:30 | India vs South Africa | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
India Vs South Africa Final
History Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Kensington Oval is a renowned cricket ground-based in Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, and is over a century old, being a crucial site in the cricketing world. Officially opened in 1882 when Pickwick Cricket Club was first leased the land from Kensington Plantation, the ground quickly developed into the soul of cricket in Barbados. The Oval which saw its first international match in 1895 has been at the centre of many developments in the history of the game.
In a poignant event, this ground hosted the first Test match in which the West Indies competed in January 1930 marking the region’s entry into a global competition formally. Over the years, Kensington Oval has been home to many cricketing legends from around the world, establishing it as a mecca for cricket fanatics. Its importance was further demonstrated when it hosted the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup forcing a US$45 million redevelopment that retained its stunning features while improving its seating capacity to over 11,000 in the new grandstand. Highly important is the ground on issues of community and cultural significance, which cements its position in Barbadian life.
Apart from cricket, Kensington Oval has hosted football matches, and athletic events, and helped other concerts, including Rihanna, who performed here. Its continued modernization has seen the addition of amenities like a giant TV screen and has also seen the installation of a jacuzzi viewing area slightly above its roofs that overlook the fridges that ring the Oval, bringing life to both the modern and the historic. For any visitor to Barbados, Kensington Oval is more than a visit to a museum; it is the heartbeat of the cricket in the Caribbean. Its continued history and ongoing role in sports and culture make it an exceptional place to visit for tourists and loveable to cricket.
Structure
The structure of Kensington Oval has had several significant changes since the establishment of the first pavilion in 1882. The more radical transformation took place before the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup when the ground was redeveloped for a total of $45 million. Old stands were demolished, and new pavilions were constructed to improve the overall experience of watching games. The existing visual layout features a few named stands. For instance, the George Challenor Stand and the Three Ws Stand are named after the cricket legends. The overall goal of the design is to create an unobstructed view for the spectators while preserving the identity of the old venue.
Facilities
Kensington Oval’s sophisticated facilities are adequately designed to cater to the diverse requirements to ensure the comfort of all visitors. The Kensington Oval sports a specialized media centre known as the Peter Short Media Centre that provides all international broadcasting service requirements. Additionally, the stadium has modern catering conferencing faculties, a restaurant, numerous hectares of parking space near the christ-church, merchandising outlets, service facilities, and numerous modern comfortable stands. Specifically, the stands are easily accessible to the disabled and those in wheelchairs. Furthermore, the Kensington Oval has a jumbo TV screen offering live-action replays and a jacuzzi viewing zone similar to America’s various contemporary stadiums.
Outfield
In conclusion, the outfield at Kensington Oval is an excellent piece of sports engineering, made to endure the tropical environment of Barbados and provide a prestigious playing surface. Its redeveloping was done by the crew who also did the work at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. The layers used aim at maximizing the drainage potential and the health of the grass on the surface layers. The combination of amended root zone and sand created the top layer where grass, Tifway 419 Bermuda, was used due to its durability and ability to recover quickly. The other layers are made up of gravel to ensure proper water management. The lush green surface at the Oval enhances playability. In general, the Kensington Oval is a modern architectural masterpiece in the cricket world and is a must-visit destination for sports in the country.
FAQs
Conclusion
Kensington Oval is both a monument to sport and an instance of architectural engineering. Opened in 1882, it has seen various iterations, the latest of which was the complete overhaul of the stadium in 2007 for the ICC Cricket World Cup. The renovation managed to preserve the old structure while creating a state-of-the-art sporting facility, thereby achieving the middle ground between a modern stadium and a museum.
The project was much more than a modernizing structure, with its buildability and attention to detail being a showcase that garnered an award from the Institution of Structural Engineers in 2008. Currently, Kensington Oval continues to develop, and it remains the premier site for major cricket fixtures and other cultural events. The Oval is a symbol of Barbados’ commitment to being a part of big sporting events and ensuring that the country offers some of the best facilities in the world. All the major events and amenities that the site provides show that the stadium is a major landmark, not only in cricket but also in global sports engineering. Therefore, Kensington Oval will continue to be referenced now and in the future.
