When Ireland step out at Malahide this afternoon for the first of three T20 internationals against England, the cricket will rightly take centre stage.
But beyond the boundary, the series is also important for Cricket Ireland’s commercial ambitions, with sold-out crowds for the three days, a sold-out hospitality programme, and a growing stable of partners eager to share in the sport’s momentum.
This is the first full T20I series on home soil against their nearest and biggest neighbour. The appetite has been enormous.
Two of the three games are already sold out, and the first is expected to follow with walk-up sales later today.
Malahide’s famous village ground will be packed, not just in the stands but also in the hospitality pavilions, where around 400 guests will be welcomed over each of the three match days.
Those guests will be guided through the cricket and the conversation by Rob Hartnett of Sport for Business, serving as Master of Ceremonies, who will be chatting to cricket personalities and others over the course of the series..
A Platform for Partners
Cricket Ireland has spent the past five years building a resilient commercial base, and this series provides the perfect showcase.
Title sponsor Fáilte Solar will be front and centre on the men’s shirts and digital graphics, their brand aligned with the most high-profile opposition Ireland can host.
Toyota, the governing body’s automotive partner, is set to make its presence felt around the ground and in the premium hospitality spaces, linking its brand to the sense of occasion.
Meanwhile, the series offers more subtle but valuable exposure for other commercial allies, including Corpay as a foreign exchange partner, Macron through kits and fan merchandise, NV Play and Ludimos in the analytics space, and Kitman Labs in athlete monitoring.
DMG Media, via its EVOKE platform, will help tell the story beyond Malahide’s boundary, extending reach into mainstream Irish media.
Certa has enjoyed the spotlight over the summer through its support of the Cricket Ireland Women’s team.
Hospitality at the Heart
While the action on the field will be fierce, it is the off-field atmosphere that hints at Irish cricket’s growing commercial clout. With 400 corporate and invited guests expected across the series, Malahide’s hospitality offering is already one of the largest ever seen in Irish cricket.
Companies will wine and dine clients against the backdrop of full houses and international opposition, blending business networking with live sport in the way that international cricket does really well.
England bring star power and guaranteed media attention, including coverage of all three matches on the Sky Sports platform.
If the cricket matches the scale of the event around it, this England series will be remembered all the way to next year’s T20 Cricket World Cup, and Ireland’s partial hosting of the same in 2030 at the new National Cricket Stadium on the Sport Ireland Campus.
Image Credit Cricket Ireland
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