Friday, May 30th, 2014

Graham Aiming For Rapids Matchday Experience To Remember

Graham Aiming For Rapids Matchday Experience To Remember

Business Director Jon Graham is determined that the whole match day experience when watching the newly branded Worcestershire Rapids at New Road will be a memorable affair.

Graham, a lifelong fan of the county, recognises the importance and significance of T20 cricket with the Rapids opening their home programme this evening against current holders Northamptonshire Steelbacks.

But he wants the entire evening, from the minute sponsors, members and supporters, walk through the gates onto the ground to be enjoyed and treasured by everyone.

Graham said: "We are going to treat it as an entertainment, a venue, a place to be on five Friday nights, a Saturday and a Sunday. We want to try and bring a little life to the city.

"Ultimately it's about the build-up to the game on the actual day.

"We will have a few volunteers lining the route so people in the city coming over the river bridge know what is going on, showing them the way into the ground with the new facilities.

"Music is going to be key and we are going to have live music both in and outside the ground.

"Our traditional business and corporate business will be housed in the new 'The View' facilities but we want something relative to our main target audience, probably 18s to 35s so the marquee is rebranded as the Watershed Bar for T20 games.

"It will be a vibrant area where people will have a really good package with a complimentary drink on arrival, food, a private viewing area and a tie in with one of our partners in the city so they can do something after the cricket – and all that for just £35.

"A lot of people who come to T20 drift in and out of the game so we want to make sure if they are not watching the cricket, there is something they can enjoy.

"The hot tubs (provided once again by the county's main sponsors Arctic Spas) will have a presence on the ground and they are always popular."

Graham knows the importance of the county rebranding themselves as the Rapids this summer.

He said: "It is a fantastic identiy to make sure Worcestershire is up there with everyone else in terms of marketing strategy and, having a brand like the Rapids, people can associate with it.

"Hopefully people will be saying 'we're going to watch the Rapids on Friday night.'

"We will be pushing the brand out everywhere and hopefully over the summer you will see the Rapids name all over the city, be it a replica shirt, T-shirt, hat, whatever."

Don't forget to visit the new club shop situated in the concourse near to the turnstiles underneath the Premier Inn restaurant which will be selling Rapids goods.