Netball moves to Birmingham’s NEC for 2022 Commonwealth Games
Netball’s increase in popularity has seen the organizers of the 2022 Commonwealth Games move its venue from Coventry to the NEC. On September 3, the change in location was announced by Birmingham 2022 after they made a routine review of venues almost two years on from their bid. The continued upswing in netball’s profile was the driving force behind the shift. The way in which the Netball World Cup was received at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool will have further highlighted the sport’s ability to draw fans in. England will be taking to the court in 2022 as the defending champions after their triumph on the Gold Coast last year and back on home soil, expectations for success will be high. “We are delighted by Birmingham 2022’s decision to relocate netball for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and fully support this decision,” said Liz Nicholl CBE, president of the International Netball Federation. “While the Coventry Arena is an excellent venue, this move to the NEC will increase the capacity significantly,” “This [increased capacity] will be welcomed by the netball family and the significant fan base that our sport now attracts, as seen at the…