2024 ANNUAL REPORT

CHAIR’S REPORT 9 tournament’s new era with a strong track record for hosting winning teams and enthralled audiences. That process is one of our game’s key focuses this winter, but we have another major project of our own to conduct at the same time – the redevelopment of our historic Pavilion. I wrote of this development’s importance in my last report a year ago – and while on the surface you may not have seen much progress in the intervening months, the trans- formation is now ready to begin in earnest. The process of gaining planning approval, choosing contractors and securing the required funding has not been without its challenges – nor should it be, for a project of this magnitude. But that behind-the-scenes work is now completed – and on your next visit to our venue, I’m sure you will notice that the change is well and truly underway. It will seem strange to be without our most historic building for the upcoming season, but we will be creative with the use of our venue – from moving our members’ area into the Hound Road Stand to con- verting parts of the Radcliffe Road Stand for use by players and match officials. We hope that this short-term incon- venience will leave us with a Pavilion fit for the future, blending tradition with thoroughly modern facilities. We are fully focused on using this development to improve the ex- perience for players, support staff, officials and members. Our four self-contained pitch-facing dressing rooms will deliver a significant upgrade to our provision, particu- larly for the men’s and women’s double-headers which have become increasingly commonplace and popular in recent years.We will also be able to remodel the building from an accessibility perspective, with facilities such as a permanent Changing Places toilet for those with mobility issues or disabilities. While we will be taking on a level of commercial debt to fund what is the most expensive project in our history, our financial position remains relatively healthy. We posted a better-than-expected profit in 2024 – with strong interna- tional sales and a diverse portfolio “IT WILL SEEM STRANGE TO BE WITHOUT OUR MOST HISTORIC BUILDING FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON, BUT WE HOPE THAT THIS SHORT-TERM INCONVENIENCE WILL LEAVE US WITH A PAVILION FIT FOR THE FUTURE, BLENDING TRADITIONWITH THOROUGHLY MODERN FACILITIES.” Andy Hunt