Ahead of a world-class 2025 cricket schedule kicking off in April, Barclays has been unveiled as the new principal partner of MCC, owners of Lord’s Cricket Ground.
From creating unmissable experiences for fans to supporting young people in the community, the bank continues to create unparalleled opportunities through the UK’s most loved sports – football, tennis and now, cricket.
The iconic Media Centre at Lord’s will now be known as the Barclays Media Centre. Since opening in 1999, the unique design has won eight architectural awards and offers the best panoramic views of the Ground.
As with its partnerships in football and tennis, Barclays will support the MCC Foundation, the official charity of MCC, with one of the biggest annual donations made to the charity. These sporting partnerships demonstrate the bank’s long-standing commitment to the communities where it operates, helping people to develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Part of this investment will support the Foundation’s Hub Programme, a network of cricket hubs that provide free-to-access coaching and match play to state-educated children from across the UK, who might not otherwise experience the sport. Through Barclays’ contribution, the Hub Programme will expand from 124 sites to 200 sites in 2026, benefiting more than 10,000 young people by 2028.
Barclays will also be supporting the MCC Foundation’s Coaching Programmes, expanding opportunities and removing barriers for young people, while levelling the playing field for women and girls across the sport. This work sees the bank build on the transformational work they already do in this area through football.
Across their sport partnerships, Barclays’ record-breaking sponsorship of the Women’s Super League has seen the biggest investment ever made by a brand into women’s sport in the UK. Since 2019, women’s football has seen exponential growth to the most followed women’s domestic league and the average attendance at matches has increased 283% since the 21/22 season.
As part of an ongoing commitment to equal access to football for girls, Barclays and The FA have extended their partnership through the Barclays Girl’s Football School Partnerships, which has seen the number of participating schools rise from 3,000 in 2019 to 20,000 in 2024.
C.S. Venkatakrishnan, Group chief executive of Barclays, said: “It is a privilege to partner with Lord’s, the Home of Cricket. Barclays and Lord’s, two great British institutions, will work together to build the next generation of budding cricketers. Barclays is invested in world-class sports partnerships. We are eager to work with the MCC Foundation on their grassroots cricket programmes, strengthening communities by providing access and facilities for all players.”
Rob Lynch, Interim Chief Executive & Secretary of MCC, said: “This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for MCC, Lord’s and cricket as a whole. Barclays shares our passion for working for the good of the game and ensuring that as many young people throughout the UK can pick up a bat and ball and take part in our wonderful game. Their incredible support for the MCC Foundation will help us make cricket more accessible to thousands of young people, fostering the next generation of talent and fans to Lord’s.”
In 2025, Lord’s will host four international fixtures: England and India’s men’s and women’s teams will face each other in a Test match and an ODI respectively; England take on South Africa in a men’s ODI in September; and the ICC World Test Championship Final will come to the Home of Cricket for the very first time. 2026 will see Lord’s host its first ever women’s test match, exactly 50 years since Rachael Heyhoe-Flint first led out an England women’s team on the ground.
Highlights
*New multi-year partnership with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) kicks off in 2025, as Lord’s prepares to host more international cricket than any other UK ground this year, plus its first ever women’s Test Match in 2026
*As title sponsor of Barclays’ Women’s Super League, Banking partner of the Premier League and Banking partner of Wimbledon, this new partnership with *Lord’s celebrates Barclays’ third play in iconic British sporting leagues and institutions
*With one of the largest ever donations made to the MCC Foundation, Barclays will help Lord’s with their shared ambition of creating accessible and inclusive cricket for 10,000 young people by 2028.
