Middlesex in talks with investors to build Uxbridge hub while largely staying at Lord’s

The county is negotiating with two international groups over a funding package to create a permanent playing and training base in Uxbridge, preserving roughly 70% of men’s fixtures at Lord’s while expanding women’s and community facilities in west London.

Middlesex County Cricket Club is in advanced talks with two international investment groups over a funding package that would allow the county to develop a permanent playing and training base away from Lord’s, while continuing to stage the majority of men’s matches at the historic ground. According to The Guardian, Uxbridge has emerged as the preferred site and those involved in discussions say a final decision could be reached by the end of the year.

The proposals under consideration are not presented as mutually exclusive, with the club understood to envisage a model that preserves its long-standing tenancy at Lord’s for around 70% of men’s fixtures while establishing a complementary home and training hub in west London. Middlesex have been pursuing external investment for roughly 18 months and, in February, appointed Oakvale Capital to conduct a review of ownership and strategic options.

That review appears to have shaped the club’s preferred path: rather than pursue outright demutualisation or a sale that would transfer control to private owners, Middlesex have been seeking a partnership structure that keeps member ownership intact while bringing in capital and sporting expertise. Sky News has reported that Oakvale was engaged specifically to explore strategic alternatives, and that the move sits in the wider context of counties seeking long‑term financial sustainability after recent franchise-level sales in the Hundred.

Interest in Middlesex has reportedly come from a variety of global groups already active in sport, including organisations linked to the NFL and representatives of the Indian Premier League. The club has been explicit about favouring investors with an established track record in sport over traditional private equity, and some US-based funds are understood to have been rebuffed as a result.

Any plan to increase the volume of matches outside Lord’s is being negotiated against the backdrop of a changing fixture landscape at the ground itself. Middlesex are in active discussions with Marylebone Cricket Club to extend a 12‑month lease that expires this summer, although the financial terms remain to be agreed. The MCC has made clear it intends to maintain a landlord‑tenant relationship with Middlesex that stretches back to 1877, but the availability of Lord’s is under greater pressure as the venue expands its international and domestic commitments—most notably a historic women’s Test in 2026 and the MCC’s new role running professional sides in the Hundred.

The commercial dynamics around the Hundred are a key part of that pressure. Media reporting has described a Silicon Valley‑led consortium—the so‑called Tech Titans—agreeing a very large minority purchase in the London Spirit franchise, with published figures varying between sources. Sky News reported the consortium paid around £145m for 49% of London Spirit, valuing the franchise at about £295m, while other accounts have cited a broadly similar six‑figure headline sum. The consortium’s backers are reported to expect greater access to Lord’s in return for their investment, a demand that would compete for dates with county fixtures.

Those commercial shifts help explain why Middlesex have increasingly relied on outgrounds this season. The club has staged fixtures at Radlett, Merchant Taylors’ School and, on occasion, at Chelmsford for T20 matches—moves that, while sometimes commercially prudent, have provoked frustration among some members when traditional home dates could not be accommodated at Lord’s. Middlesex’s published fixtures for 2025 confirm continued reliance on Lord’s for the bulk of Championship matches alongside scheduled games at outgrounds.

Parallel to the search for a men’s home, Middlesex have already begun a major investment in women’s and girls’ infrastructure. The club is developing a new hub in Brentford, at the Swyncombe Avenue sports ground acquired from GSK, with work funded in part by the ECB’s Strategic Urban Fund and Grass Pitch Improvement Fund. The facility is being equipped with a fine turf square, irrigation and drainage and is scheduled to be ready in 2026 to coincide with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup; the club has emphasised community access and pathways to elite performance.

The choices before Middlesex are therefore both financial and constitutional. Industry reporting has flagged the possibility that the club’s governance model could be re‑examined as part of a longer strategic plan, but any move away from mutual ownership would likely face close scrutiny from members. Those negotiating the investment say the aim is to secure long‑term stability and improved facilities while preserving the club’s historic identity. Middlesex declined to comment on the negotiations when approached.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
9

Notes:
The narrative is recent, published on 12 August 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 25 February 2025, when Sky News reported on Middlesex’s exploration of ending mutual ownership. ([news.sky.com](https://news.sky.com/story/lords-tenant-middlesex-county-cricket-club-eyes-end-to-mutual-ownership-13316623?utm_source=openai)) The Guardian’s report introduces new developments, including advanced negotiations with international investment groups and a preferred site in Uxbridge, indicating freshness. No evidence of recycled content or clickbait republishing was found. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The update justifies a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
No direct quotes were identified in the provided text. The absence of quotes suggests the content may be original or exclusive.

Source reliability

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian, a reputable organisation known for its journalistic standards. This enhances the credibility of the information presented.

Plausability check

Score:
9

Notes:
The claims about Middlesex’s advanced negotiations with international investment groups and the preferred site in Uxbridge are plausible and align with previous reports. The club’s exploration of ending mutual ownership and seeking external investment has been documented. ([news.sky.com](https://news.sky.com/story/lords-tenant-middlesex-county-cricket-club-eyes-end-to-mutual-ownership-13316623?utm_source=openai)) The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The absence of specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, reduces the score. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. The structure is focused and relevant, without excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and appropriate for corporate or official language.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is recent and introduces new developments, indicating freshness. The absence of direct quotes suggests originality. The Guardian’s involvement adds credibility. While the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets and specific factual anchors is a concern, the overall assessment is positive.