Edgbaston Stadium hosted one of the biggest Eid al-Fitr celebrations in the country yesterday as it welcomed around 2,000 visitors for prayers through a partnership with Birmingham’s Green Lane Masjid & Community Centre (GLMCC).
Staged on Edgbaston’s Colts (training) Ground, families from across the country came to Edgbaston to celebrate the end of Ramadan with prayers. Softball cricket sessions were subsequently delivered by Warwickshire Cricket Board coaches to children on the stadium’s outfield and a lunch event was hosted in the Banqueting Suite.
Stuart Cain, Chief Executive of Edgbaston, said: “GLMCC have been a key supporter of our work in the local community over the last 12 months. Despite the impact of covid, we were able to work together at short-notice last year to stage prayers for 500 friends of GLMCC. However, we’ve proven today that without the restrictions and with more planning time that we can quadruple the number of people that we have accommodated.
“We both share ambitions to further develop the annual prayer event, but we want the relationships with our community partners to be constant and to make Edgbaston a hub for the local community that consistently hosts cultural events and celebrations for all to enjoy.”
GLMCC and Edgbaston hosted 500 visitors for Eid al-Adha prayers in July 2021, which was followed by a conference in December in the Edgbaston Banqueting Suite on Islamophobia and Racism. GLMCC was also one of eight religious institutions in the West Midlands that helped develop Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s Multifaith Charter, which launched in February.
Sajjad Akram of GLMCC said: “A brilliant event organised through collaboration between two great Birmingham organisations – GLMCC and Edgbaston Stadium. Superbly organised, with all attendees having an enjoyable experience. We’re hoping the event can be even bigger in future.”
