Cricket’s newest and most exciting format, The Hundred, is back for the third year running and whether you hear this phrase all the time or not, it really is going to be bigger and better than ever.
The fast-paced and increasingly popular cricket series starts this month and our home team Manchester Originals get underway on Wednesday, 2 August, with the aim of going one better than last year and winning the whole thing.
Consisting of eight teams across seven of the UK’s biggest cities, The Hundred attracts the top women’s and men’s talent from across the world and it’s already becoming a sporting phenomenon.
With that being said, The Hundred 2023 is about much more than just cricket, so here’s everything you need to know to prepare for this year’s tournament.
Manchester Originals kick off their campaign on Tuesday, 2 August against Welsh Fire in Cardiff and, in case you weren’t aware already, one of the best parts about The Hundred is that every round is a double-header of men’s and women’s games, meaning you get twice the action.
Your first double dose of the Originals at their home comes on Saturday, 5 August, when the Manc team take on London Spirit at the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground — one of Manchester’s favourite and most iconic sporting arenas.
The full Originals squad at The Hundred 2023 launch eventThe women’s team get underway at 11am on 2 AugustCredit: Manchester Originals
Live music and entertainment
In between the 100-ball games, the action doesn’t stop though; The Hundred is known for hosting top-notch live music and entertainment all day long and this year’s lineup is as good as any.
As well as highly impressive light shows and pyrotechnics before and after the games, you’ve got DJ sets from our resident DJ Roesh and live performances from artists at each matchday through The Hundred’s partnership with BBC Music Introducing.
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In terms of who’ll be playing in Manchester, you’ll be treated to local chart-toppers, The Lottery Winners, who are returning for the third year on the trot to serenade their city, as well as the likes of Manc-born R&B star, Akemi Fox, rising hip-hop and spoken word artist, Antony Szmierek, just to name a few.
You can see the full lineup for the four rounds of fixtures being played at the Emirates Old Trafford down below and make sure to check out our Kendal Calling interview with the Leigh legends while you’re at it too.
Sky Zero’s Summer
Working with Sky Sports’Summer of Sustainability campaign and Transport for Greater Manchester, Manchester Originals are encouraging fans to travel green to their home fixtures this season. Emirates Old Trafford is even allowing fans to recreate the ‘Walk of Fame’ to the wicket at Lord’s Cricket Ground, which will be filmed so they can share with their friends and family whilst inspiring them to travel green and play their part in protecting the sports they love.
Along withother green measures for 2023, they’ll be benchmarking on four of the matchdays to assess the impact of their sustainable efforts.
The Hundred remains an affordable day out with adult tickets starting from £15, under 16s just £5 and any kids under 6 are absolutely free. Ace, right?
This also means you have all the more pennies to spend on food and drink on the day, as well as copping your 2023/24 Manchester Originals kit in time for their first game at the Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday, 5 August, where we’re sure we’ll be treated to them smashing non-stop sixes.
It’s Manchester’s year, the men’s and the women’s, we can feel it. They certainly made a quick and easy job of it when we had a go at playing them…
Manchester City are hosting special Christmas-themed tours of the Etihad Stadium
Danny Jones
Manchester City FC’s critically acclaimed stadium tour is about to get super festive, as the Etihad Stadium are now hosting special Christmas-themed walks around the ground.
You’ve watched the tales of the ‘Centurions’, ‘Treble winners, the ‘Fourmidables’, and plenty of other ‘Cityzen’ stories play out in front of you, but have you visited the hallowed halls while their decked doughs of holly for yourself?
Well, now’s your chance.
Hosting a series of exclusive festive tours around the Etihad this month, Man City fans, club-obsessed kids, and football fanatic tourists in general can take a walk around the impressive sporting arena for the perfect early Christmas present.
In addition to being able to walk around the famous home of the Blues, sit in the home team dressing room and see the trophy cabinet, fans of all ages can now field questions with virtual Pep and Haaland in their very own press conference, before walking down the tunnel, into the dugout and sitting pitchside.
Once you’ve finished warming up the gaffer’s very own seat (they’re actually already heated), supporters can look forward to a brand-new dancing light display, plus more heartwarming entertainment in the form of Christmas carol audio recorded by Manchester’s very own Hallé Youth Choir.
As if that wasn’t enough, ‘Beyond the Blue Moon’ VR experiences and special ‘Etihad After Dark’ tours will be available, too, giving people from all over and of all ages an extra opportunity to turn up and make the most of this truly global club.
You can even grab a warming mulled wine or hot Vimto during the evening slots to keep your hands nice and toasty as you go around – be rude not to.
Rumour has it Santa may have left a gift lying around each day, too. Safe to say that puts our Advent calendar this year to shame…
Credit: Man City (supplied)
Here’s hoping he doesn’t get a telling off for wearing red…
Evening tours at the Eithad will be held from 5:30 and 6pm on 7, 12, 14, 18, 22 and December, and the main slot will be running all the way up until Christmas Eve (24 Dec).
You can even grab a warming mulled wine or hot Vimto to keep your hands nice and toasty as you go around – be rude not to.
Tickets start from only £26 per person and family passes are priced at just £60.
Better still, you can even spring for the VIP package if you fancy: a two-hour experience that is one of the most interactive and immersive you’ll find anywhere.
The Etihad Stadium is currently in the middle of a huge redevelopment, both in terms of size and things to do around the wider Campus, with the expanded North Stand not only seeing matchday fan capacity increased to over 60k, but a new club shop, sky bar, hotel, and a rooftop walk being added.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder that the already award-winning City stadium tours are simultaneously seeing an upgrade over the holiday period.
Being given the Tripadvisor seal of approval once again last year, as the club were once again recognised in the Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Best’ – putting them not just in the top three stadium tours in the UK but in the top 1% of the most highly rated in the world – things are only getting bigger.
You can find out full availability, timings and where to get tickets right HERE.
Manchester’s iconic Rylands building is being reborn – and the developers want to hear from you
Daisy Jackson
Manchester’s iconic Rylands building, formerly home to the Debenhams department store, is being reborn.
And now the developers working on its new chapter want Mancunians to weigh in on which businesses we want to see in the landmark building.
The transformation of Rylands Manchester will honour the heritage character of the building, which dates back to 1932, but will introduce contemporary design and a list of residents that’s bang up to date for our modern city centre.
The plans include building a four-storey extension with panoramic city views and a bright, central atrium. When it completes, this Grade II-listed art deco building will bring together workspace, retail, and leisure, right at the beating heart of town between the Northern Quarter, Piccadilly, Manchester Arndale, and the central business district.
Standing proudly at the top of Market Street, this next era for Rylands will establish it as an exciting new destination in the heart of town when its phased completion begins from late 2026.
Already confirmed to be moving in is Market Place Food Hall with its first northern location, which has signed on for a 15 year lease to occupy the ground floor of Rylands.
Market Place Food Hall is already confirmed to be moving into RylandsRylands is entering a new era
But now Rylands are putting it back to locals to ask what shops, restaurants, or cafes we’d love to see moving in.
It could be a high street hero you’ve loved for years, an independent business you’ve fallen for, or a foodie spot you return to time and time again.
Your ideas could help to shape the future of this landmark building and make it a destination us Mancs can be proud of.
And if you submit your suggestions in the comments of THIS Instagram post, you could be in with a chance of winning a £100 Love2Shop voucher (make sure you’re following @Rylands_manchester for a chance to win).
Danny Jones -
2nd August 2023 
