Hampshire look to ‘break the mould’ and become the world’s greenest cricket ground after signing a naming rights deal with Utilita Energy

Hampshire plans to make their home the greenest cricket ground in the world after signing a naming rights deal with Utilita Energy.

The Utilita Bowl, as it is now known, has 1,000 solar panels installed, which can generate a quarter of the electricity used in the stadium each year.

Over the course of the eight-year agreement with Utilita – locally based and Britain’s ninth largest energy company – Hampshire aims to significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

The solar installation alone will save up to 80 tons of CO2 and save six figures on electricity bills annually. The next steps include planting dozens of trees on what is already a green space and returning to using stored tap water for energy supply. maintenance of land.

“We wanted to do something that was truly transformative and tangible, that would really break the mold and hopefully inspire others to do the same,” said Hampshire CEO David Mann.

The club’s finances are in focus as Hampshire’s majority shareholder and former chairman Rod Bransgrove is in talks to sell his stake to foreign investors – believed to be Indian Premier League team Delhi Capitals.

If an agreement is reached, it would be the first case of foreign ownership in the county game.

Non-disclosure agreements prevent club officials from discussing details, but of the potential milestone moment, Mann said: ‘It’s not a question of nationality. I think it’s about finding the right investor at the right time to replace Rod. That is the most important.

“We’ve been a private company for about 20 years now, and no one could really argue against the fact that this is a positive for the venue and for the game more broadly.”