Hampshire CCC, chairman Brian Ford announced during the opening ceremony of the first buildings to be completed at Hampshire's new ground at West End, Southampton, that in future the 150 acre site, on which the club is building a new First-class Oval and additional sporting facilities, will be called 'The Hampshire Rose Bowl'.

The name has been chosen by the Club in recognition of the Club's rose and crown logo and the bowl-shaped design of the new Oval.

The first cricket matches to be played at The Rose Bowl will take place next month when the Club's 2nd XI challenge Sussex on the 6th June (The Nursery Ground) and Glamorgan on the 20th June (The first-class oval).

HCCC chairman Brian Ford said "It is just three years since we cut the first turf on this site and today's ceremony is yet another milestone on the way to achieving our ultimate goal of The Rose Bowl becoming the finest cricket ground and associated sporting facilities in Southern England".