What happens during Vitality Blast at Seat Unique Riverside?
What happens on a Durham Cricket Vitality Blast matchday?
From the Everyone Active Family Zone opening two hours before to the post match signing session, there are hours of entertainment in between!
We run you through what to expect on a typical Vitality Blast match at Seat Unique Riverside, the home of Durham Cricket.
Family Zone opens!
Our Everyone Active Family Zone opens a whole two hours before the start of the game, meaning 120 minutes’ more fun at no extra cost!
For our weekend matches, this means the ground opens at 12:30pm ahead of a 2:30pm start, while we open at 4:30pm ahead of a 6:30pm start during the midweek.
The batting cage, bowling speed cage & fielding cage will be joined by our all-new fielding game, with all-inclusive activities for all – both young & old!
There’s always loads going on – other activities around each game will be confirmed closer to the time!
The build-up begins...
The music & activities begin when the Everyone Active Family Zone opens, but the big countdown to the game kicks off around 30 minutes prior when the coin toss is completed & team line-ups confirmed. Remember, it’s unreserved seating for Blast fixtures, so sit wherever you like.
Our host will relay all of the information, reveal the teams for the match & prepare us for ‘Blast Off’ with a series of interactive games & activities from pitchside, while Chester the Lion & River will be out & about between the pitch & Family Zone pre-game!
As we edge closer to the start, we’ll build the anticipation with a series of videos on the big screen before the teams prepare to make their entrance…
Blast off!
The teams head for the pitch a few minutes before the scheduled start to a grand firework entrance & welcome from the Riverside crowd!
Our visitors will be welcomed to the pitch before the Ds take to the stage, flanked by a row of fireworks & welcomed to the pitch by our special guest Guard of Honour for the evening.
The first innings is slated to take around 75 minutes. If the on-field Vitality Blast action isn’t enough, our Family Zone & other concourse activities remain open throughout the whole game. Kids are also welcome to bring their own bats & balls to start up their own games in other safe areas around the ground!
If you stay in your seat, watch out for the flying giveaways in our scatterblasts…
Half time competitions
When half-time comes, the on-field action comes to a pause for 15 minutes – but that doesn’t mean the off-field action follows suit!
Our host for the day will re-enter the field & kick off the popular 188Bet catching competition with volunteers from the crowd. Would you be able to hold your nerve under a high ball launched skywards from one of the Durham players? We had some golden moments from attempted catches during last season!
The music continues after the competition concludes & we’ll begin to get you build up to the second half of the match, which is again scheduled for 75 minutes.
We’d also recommend using the half time interval to refuel for the second innings at one of the numerous catering & beverage operators on sight.
Post match signings!
The Everyone Active Family Zone & other concourse activities will remain open throughout the second innings until the end of the game… but the fun doesn’t end there!
Shortly after the players leave the field, we invite all of the fans on to the pitch to meet the Durham players for autographs & selfies!
Autograph bats are available free of charge by members of the Durham staff at pitchside or you’re welcome to bring any shirts, caps & other memorabilia to be signed.
Chester the Lion & friend will also be around for last chance selfies & autographs if you haven’t seen them before or during the match!