Lancashire make £763,000 profit despite no Test match

Lancashire have announced an operating profit of £763,000 for 2015 despite Old Trafford not hosting a Test match in that year.

One-day and T20 internationals involving Australia and New Zealand saw attendances of more than 50,000 but they did not prevent a year-on-year fall in associated revenues that eventually amounted to more than £1.3m.

The club said in a statement that they have "proactively mitigated by careful variable cost management to significantly dilute the impact on the bottom line".

On the field, Lancashire were promoted to the first division of the County Championship and won the Natwest T20 Blast at Edgbaston, their first limited-overs trophy for 16 years.

The Old Trafford Lodge recorded revenues of in excess of £1m, while work commenced on the new 150-bed Hilton Garden Inn in February 2016 after the final tranches of funding were secured and the building contract signed.

Cricket Classics

The year also saw the return of major concerts with 50,000 attending the Foo Fighters performance, the success of which has led to promoters bringing both Rihanna and Beyoncé to the venue in 2016.

Finance director Lee Morgan said: "A successful year out on the pitch has been supported with a solid set of financial results, with a year-on-year reduction in operating profits fully anticipated based on the allocation of major matches during 2015.

"After a year's absence, 2016 will see the return of Test match cricket to Emirates Old Trafford with Pakistan providing the opposition for England this forthcoming July."