New look on cards for grand ol' Lord's; may host tennis as well

London, May 19 (UNI) Added seats, tennis courts, a hotel and an ice rink are some of the proposals in a redevelopment plan that would give 183-year-old mecca of cricket, Lord's, brand new look, according to The Times.

While the entire makeover could take 10 years, from next year one might be able to spot top women tennis players playing pre-Wimbledon tournament at Lord's.

Keith Bradshaw, the chief executive of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) which own Lord's, said while the focus would remain on cricket, the club was open to host tennis as well and planned a meeting with Roger Draper, the chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), for the same next week.

Bradshaw also said the capacity of the ground would be increased to 35,000 to 40,000 from current 28,500 to accomodate more people.

''We've been shown plans that could increase the ground capacity to 35,000 or 40,000,'' he was quoted as saying by 'The Times'.

Flats would also be constructed and sold to help fund the redevelopment and also start a cricket academy.

Meanwhile, leading restaurateurs in London have expressed interest in investing in either the restaurant that is proposed at the Nursery End, or the hotel that could replace the Thomas Lord Suite inside the Grace Gates, or both.

UNI