With the help of 10 imaginative children, The Hundred, cricket’s revolutionary competition which fuses blockbuster entertainment with world-class cricket, has unveiled an immersive stadium built in the world’s biggest sandbox video game, Minecraft.
With over six million children in the UK playing Minecraft weekly*, the creation of this virtual stadium will engage a wide audience of young fans and take cricket into their world to excite them about this summer’s competition. Released a month before The Hundred kicks off in real life on 3 August, the virtual stadium world is now open for everyone to explore and interact with.
To get inspiration to design this stadium, Minecraft-loving kids across the country were invited to take part in The Hundred’s ‘Every Block Counts’ competition, tasked with drawing, painting, sketching or building their ultimate cricket stadium experience, with no limits on what it could contain.
The aspiring young Minecrafters’ entries were imaginative, and the top 10 designs included everything required for the virtual stadium. Built in Minecraft space, the world features a see-through wicket with changing rooms views, a rollercoaster, a rainbow arch, a sea creature moat flowing around the pitch’s boundary and a rooftop nature garden. This is the first ever sports stadium built in the world-famous gaming platform through a kids competition.
The shortlisted winners impressed a judging panel, including Birmingham Phoenix women’s team superstar and gaming aficionado Issy Wong, Minecraft wiz and Founder of BlockWorks, James Delaney.
Commenting on the launch of the world, Issy Wong said: “It’s been fantastic to see the levels of creativity from this competition. We’ve seen submissions beyond our wildest expectations and the final build truly is a blockbuster cricket stadium. It’s been incredible to be part of this initiative; another first for The Hundred as it continues to push the limits in sport and entertainment.”
“As soon as I read the brief, I knew that I had to do something colourful. The arch over the stadium is a rainbow to celebrate diversity” said 12-year winner old Thea Burgess, talking about her epic cricket ball-shaped build with a rainbow canopy. 8-year-old Rosie Dwyer, whose design also made it into the final stadium experience build, said “In Minecraft your imagination can run wild and free, and I wanted this stadium to have everything! I’ve gone for sea creatures swimming around the pitch as you watch the games.”
“Our boys both love playing Minecraft and, living close to Headingley Stadium, The Hundred massively caught their imaginations last year” said Peter Dray, parent of 11-year-old winner Samuel. “Both children loved the challenge of designing Minecraft-inspired cricket stadiums, and we’re thrilled that Samuel’s design was chosen as one of the winners.”
The Hundred is back and ready for its second year after smashing records in 2021. With family-friendly blockbuster entertainment and fast-paced cricket action in equal measure, fans are set for another memorable summer. Ticket holders can expect sensational live music performances, nail-biting games and even more to explore off the pitch. Men’s and women’s games kick off on the 3 and 11 August respectively, with the final on 3 September 2022.
