Durham Cricket

About

Durham County Cricket Club was established in 1882 and celebrated its 21st anniversary as a First Class County in 2013. Now known as Banks Homes Riverside Stadium , it hosted its first ever Ashes Test match in the same year.

Banks Homes Riverside Stadium is a world class sporting and music venue which regularly attracts visitors from all over the world.  The complex, which in addition to being, the home of Durham County Cricket Club, includes Austins Bar which is open on match days only, and a Learning Centre which is located on the ground floor of the Media and Education Centre.

In 2010 the Club signed a ground breaking sponsorship agreement with Emirates Airlines, with the company committing to be Main Club Sponsor, including stadium naming rights, for six years.  A ceremony unveiling the new ground name, after a nationwide competition open to the public for their suggestions, was held on Friday 4 June where it was revealed that Durham CCC's ground would be re-named Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground (Emirates Durham ICG or Emirates Durham).

In 2016 the Club and Emirates extended their contract for another seven years and on the Tuesday 23rd February it was revlealed the ground would be re-named Emirates Riverside. 

In 2022 Seat Unique was announced as the Club’s new Ground Naming Rights partner on a 3-year deal.  

In 2025 Durham Cricket are thrilled to announce Banks Group will become the club’s new principal partner acquiring the naming rights to its Riverside ground, as part of a multi-year sponsorship deal that forms part of Banks’ celebrations of its 50th anniversary in 2026. 

The agreement will also see Banks’ branding featuring on the Durham Cricket men’s, women’s and junior Pathway teams’ kits, as well as around the stadium.

Founded in Tow Law in 1976, the Banks Group is already a longstanding supporter of Durham Cricket, having worked alongside the Club for over 30 years, and has also made a significant long-term investment in grassroots cricket right across the North East through the sponsorship of a number of local league and cup competitions and dozens of grants being awarded to individual clubs.

Banks’ partnership with Durham Cricket began before Durham became a First-Class county, with its sponsorship enabling the Club to set up and run the County under 19 team in 1989, and helping the senior club to become the first county to be granted first class status for 70 years three years later.

Banks has also supported Durham Cricket’s junior player pathway courses since 2006, contributed to the development of the nursery ground at the Banks Homes Riverside and sponsored the County’s boys’ and girls’ age group sides for many years. The Banks Group is succeeding Seat Unique as Durham Cricket’s principal partner, with Seat Unique remaining as its official premium ticketing & hospitality partner.

Banks Homes Riverside Stadium also has fabulous Meeting and Events facilities, which can cater for up to 300 guests and is the perfect venue for any business meetings or any of life’s special occasions.