Labcashire County Cricket Club Case Study

In addition to professional cricket matches, Emirates Old Trafford hosts a diverse range of events including concerts, conferences, exhibitions and corporate functions. The stadium features extensive hospitality facilities, conference suites and event spaces, making it a busy venue throughout the year. As a result, the club relies on effective planning, security and operational management to ensure every event runs smoothly and safely.

With large numbers of visitors, contractors, security personnel and event staff on site during major events, clear and reliable communication is essential. Lancashire County Cricket Club required a communication partner capable of supporting its operational teams during busy periods, ensuring staff could remain connected and coordinated across the entire venue regardless of the size or complexity of the event being hosted.

The Challenge

The Requirement

During major match days and special events, Lancashire County Cricket Club required additional communication resources to support the increased number of staff working across the venue. Security teams, stewards, event staff and contractors needed to remain in constant contact throughout the stadium to ensure visitors could be managed safely and efficiently.

The club's existing communications equipment was sufficient for normal day-to-day operations, however larger events generated significantly higher levels of radio traffic and required additional users to be brought onto the system. This created a need for extra radio equipment that could be deployed quickly whenever required, without the cost and maintenance commitments associated with purchasing a large number of radios that would only be used occasionally.

The Solution

Our Recommendation

After discussing the club's requirements and understanding the operational demands of large-scale events, DCS 2 Way Radio supplied a fleet of Motorola digital two-way radios on a flexible hire basis. This allowed Lancashire County Cricket Club to increase its communication capacity whenever required, ensuring sufficient radios were available for security personnel, stewards, event managers and other key staff members working throughout the venue.

The radios were pre-programmed, fully charged and delivered ready for immediate use, allowing the club to deploy them quickly ahead of match days and special events. Motorola's digital radio technology was selected due to its exceptional audio clarity, reliability and ease of use, enabling users to communicate effectively even in busy and noisy environments where clear communication is essential.

By providing additional radios on a temporary hire basis, DCS 2 Way Radio delivered a cost-effective solution that could be scaled to suit the size and complexity of each event. This gave Lancashire County Cricket Club the flexibility to increase communications resources during peak periods without the need to invest in a large inventory of equipment that would only be required on selected occasions throughout the year.

The Implementation

Following discussions with Lancashire County Cricket Club and the event management team, DCS 2 Way Radio supplied a fleet of Motorola digital two-way radios on a flexible hire basis to support major sporting fixtures and large-scale events. The radios were configured, tested and delivered ready for immediate deployment, allowing event staff to quickly distribute equipment to key personnel before each event.

The radio hire fleet was allocated across multiple departments including security teams, stewards, event management staff, car park personnel and entrance staff. By ensuring that all operational teams had access to reliable communications, the club was able to maintain constant contact between key areas of the venue, including spectator entrances, hospitality facilities, grandstands, car parks and event control locations. This allowed information to be shared instantly and ensured staff could respond quickly to changing situations throughout the day.

To maximise efficiency, dedicated communication groups were programmed into the radios, allowing different departments to communicate independently while still maintaining contact with event control when required. The Motorola digital radios provided clear audio quality throughout the venue, even during busy match days when thousands of spectators were present. The flexible hire solution enabled Lancashire County Cricket Club to scale its communications resources to suit each event, ensuring reliable communications were always available when additional operational support was required.

The Results

Deployment

The additional Motorola digital radios provided Lancashire County Cricket Club with the communication capacity required to successfully manage major sporting fixtures and large-scale events. Security teams, stewards and event management personnel were able to communicate instantly across the venue, ensuring information could be shared quickly and accurately between departments. This improved coordination helped staff respond more effectively to incidents, visitor enquiries and operational requirements throughout the event.

The enhanced communications network also improved the overall efficiency of event operations. Staff were able to manage crowd movements, monitor access points and coordinate activities across the stadium without delays or misunderstandings. Event control teams benefited from improved visibility of on-site operations, allowing them to make informed decisions and communicate instructions to the relevant teams in real time.

By utilising a flexible radio hire solution, Lancashire County Cricket Club gained access to additional communication resources whenever required, without the cost of purchasing and maintaining equipment that would only be used during selected events. The solution has provided a reliable and cost-effective way of supporting major fixtures and events, helping to maintain high standards of safety, security and operational efficiency across the venue.

After Care

At DCS 2 Way Radio, our commitment to our clients extends far beyond the initial supply of equipment. Following each event, we work closely with Lancashire County Cricket Club to gather feedback from event management teams, security personnel and operational staff, ensuring the communication solution continues to meet the venue's evolving requirements. This collaborative approach allows us to identify opportunities for improvement and ensure the radio system remains aligned with the demands of future events.

As part of our ongoing support service, all hire radios are thoroughly inspected, tested and maintained between events. Batteries are checked and replaced where necessary, equipment is cleaned and serviced, and each radio undergoes comprehensive functionality testing before being returned to service. This proactive maintenance programme ensures that every radio delivered to the venue is fully operational and ready for use, minimising the risk of equipment failures during critical events.

By combining responsive customer support with a rigorous maintenance schedule, DCS 2 Way Radio provides Lancashire County Cricket Club with complete peace of mind. The club can be confident that whenever additional communications are required, reliable and professionally maintained equipment will be available, helping to support the safe and efficient running of every match day and event throughout the year.