Hilton Extends Long‑term Partnership and Increases Investment to Support Thunder Cricket

Hilton and Lancashire Cricket are delighted to announce that the Official Hotel Partner has further increased its support for the Club. The long-term, award-winning, commercial partnership has been extended for a further year with Hilton also increasing their investment to support Thunder Cricket for the next three years. 

A major part of the agreement will see Hilton provide investment to increase Thunder’s squad of professional players to 16 - by funding four additional full-time contracts. The recipients of the contracts are set to be announced by the Club in the coming days and will see Thunder lead the way with the most full-time professionals in England’s domestic women’s structure.

The No Boundaries campaign - a collaboration between Hilton and Thunder Cricket launched in 2023 that won the Sponsorship, Sales & Marketing Award at last year’s Stadium Business Awards – will also continue under the renewed partnership. The campaign will continue to focus on breaking down barriers and offering the best possible support to the Thunder playing squad and pathway system, so they can stay at the top of their game. So far, the No Boundaries campaign has created bespoke education and support packages, in addition to increased access to a Sports Doctor and Nutritionist – who specialise in the health of female athletes.

Work was recently completed to extend the on-site Hilton Garden Inn Manchester Emirates Old Trafford, which has been open since 2017 at Emirates Old Trafford, by a further 100 bedrooms – taking the occupancy to 250 bedrooms and concluding the venue's redevelopment over the last decade.

For the third year running, Hilton was the headline sponsor of Lancashire Cricket and Thunder’s joint pre-season tour to Dubai and Bangalore which took place in March. The global hospitality company are also the new front of shirt sponsors on the Thunder playing shirt, which was launched last month and worn for the first time during pre-season.

Stijn Bastiaens, vice president, Marketing and Loyalty, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton said, “We are so proud to continue our partnership with Lancashire Cricket and to be able to increase our support to the Lancashire Thunder team. We are thrilled to see the progress the team has made over the last few years. At Hilton, we are committed to building a more inclusive society for our guests, team members, partners and the communities in which we operate in, which is why we have enhanced our sponsorship.”

Daniel Gidney, chief executive, Lancashire Cricket, said, “We are delighted to have extended our flagship partnership with Hilton and are incredibly excited by the increased funding they are providing to support our ever-growing Thunder Cricket programme - as we look to continue to lead the way in the women’s domestic game and grow women’s cricket across the North West.

“After completing the extension of Hilton Garden Inn Manchester at Emirates Old Trafford’s, which was officially opened in November, we are really pleased that we will be working together with Hilton for the next three years - as they continue to support our Men’s and Women’s squads on the field.

“The four additional contracts being funded by Hilton will increase Thunder’s squad to 16 professional players – currently the largest amongst the eight regions – and the benefit that this will have to the players themselves, and to new Head Coach Chris Read, can’t be understated; as four more members of the squad are able to train and dedicate their time to cricket knowing they are secure financially.”