Sir Vivian Richards Stadium

The basics

The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, which replaced the Antigua Recreation Ground as the island’s main cricket venue, is a modern structure and continues to host Caribbean Premier League cricket matches every year. The Antigua and Barbuda national cricket team also plays matches here. There are north and south stands, a practice pitch, a training facility, and a media center. During the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the 10,000-seat stadium was temporarily expanded to hold 20,000 people specifically for the event. Tickets to matches are available for purchase online.

Things to know before you go

• As cricket is the most popular sport in Antigua, you’ll likely come across a neighborhood match in a village or on the beach.
• The West Indies cricket team—which is nicknamed the Windies—is made up of players from 15 countries in the Caribbean.
• A one-day match is split into the first set of innings (3.5-hours of play), a meal break, and the second set of innings (another 3.5 hours) for a total of about 8 hours.
• Grab local grub such as jerk chicken at the food stalls on the stadium grounds.

How to get there

The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is located halfway between the VC Bird International Airport and the city of St. John’s. It is accessible via the Sir Sidney Wailing Highway; the stadium is about a 20-minute drive from St. John’s, as well as from the cruise ship port at Heritage Quay. Since public transportation to the stadium is limited, it’s best to travel here via rental car or taxi.

When to get there

If you want to catch a cricket match, keep in mind that official matches tend to be held on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and the cricket season lasts from January to July. Overall, expect the biggest crowds on the island from December to February, which is peak tourist season in Antigua.

Betty's Hope Historic Sugar Plantation

Located about 10 minutes away from the stadium, Betty's Hope Historic Sugar Plantation is a former plantation-turned-museum with exhibits illustrating sugar production, as well as the conditions under which the plantation’s slaves lived and worked. Since some of the roads to the site are not paved, all-terrain vehicles are recommended.