I have been watching cricket for a long time and have noticed that most of the cricket grounds in the UK do not have floodlights. Since Lord's is called the Mecca of cricket, are there any special reasons that the famous ground does not have floodlights?

looney_tunes

According to their official website, "Lord's has long been seen as the 'Home of Cricket' and the game's spiritual 'headquarters'. But its importance is not merely historical. In practice it remains, to this day, perhaps the most important single place in world cricket. Its owner, Marylebone Cricket Club, remains the guardian of both the Laws and the Spirit of Cricket, and MCC sides (which play around 500 games a year) perform a key role in promoting cricket - in Britain and elsewhere." As their self-description suggests, they are a pretty conservative bunch, and highly traditional. The introduction of floodlights removes, or at least reduces the impact of, one of the traditional factors to be taken into account in developing team strategy - the light. More pragmatically, there are also probably zoning issues - the floodlights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground light up an entire suburb when they're on, and Lord's is in an area that is mostly residential. http://www.lords.org/findus.html Oct 19 08, 1:21 PM

ceetee

The length of the twilight in the English summer is a major factor. I am told you can comfortably play as late as nine o'clock by natural light in mid summer. This makes putting in lights to cater for the final hour or two of a game a very expensive proposition Oct 20 08, 3:48 AM

zbeckabee

RESIDENTS are thrilled a controversial planning application to install temporary floodlights at Lord's for five years has been rejected. More than 70 letters of protest on behalf of 300 residents were sent to the council claiming the lights would cause a massive disruption to their lives and are not suitable in a conservation area. The historic cricket ground will not be allowed to put up temporary floodlights for five years but they were offered an olive branch by the council - they can install the lights for a limited time next year during the Twenty20 world cup. http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/camden/hamhigh/news/story.aspx?brand=northlondon24&category=newshamhigh&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshamhigh&itemid=WeED08%20Aug%202008%2013%3A30%3A21%3A867 Oct 20 08, 5:55 AM