Northampton County Cricket Club case study

Our customer

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club (NCCC) is a cornerstone of the region’s sporting identity. Founded in 1878, the club plays in England’s County Championship and is home to the iconic County Ground in Northampton. As well as being a centre for cricket, the stadium hosts a year-round calendar of concerts, corporate events, and community activities, welcoming thousands of visitors annually.

Background

With a strong sense of heritage and a vision for modern, digital-first operations, NCCC had outgrown its legacy communications infrastructure. Their internet was unreliable, their phone system outdated, and managing mobile devices across multiple networks had become complex and costly. These issues were starting to impact operations—from streaming live matches to enabling smooth transactions at vendor stands.

Challenge

Despite its historic standing and forward-looking goals, NCCC’s communications setup was falling short. Their internet connection—reliant on multiple FTTC lines—was slow and inconsistent, disrupting everything from staff productivity to live event broadcasting. The phone system, still running on traditional PSTN lines, offered little flexibility for a busy site with constantly moving parts. At the same time, the club was juggling 25 mobile devices across several networks, creating unnecessary admin, confusion, and cost. These challenges were making it harder to manage match days, serve fans, and operate efficiently.

Solution

We worked closely with the team at NCCC to deliver a complete overhaul of their communications. We replaced the three FTTC lines with a dedicated leased line, delivering the speed and reliability they needed for match days and major events. The club’s phone system was upgraded to a cloud solution, giving staff the ability to stay connected whether on-site or off. We also brought all 25 business mobiles under one contract and introduced ZOEY, our platform for real-time data usage tracking and cost control. Everything was brought together under a single point of contact, with full support from our in-house team.

Key benefits

• Over 40% reduction in operational costs
• Reliable, high-speed internet across the ground
• Seamless cloud phone system for better internal and external communication
• Simpler mobile management with one contract and real-time data tracking
• A smoother, cashless experience for fans and vendors
• Improved digital capabilities, including uninterrupted live-streaming
• One point of contact for all comms, backed by responsive support

Results

The transformation had a clear impact. The club achieved over 40% in operational cost savings through streamlined systems and smarter contracts. The new leased line provided a solid foundation for live-streaming and cashless transactions—enhancing the match day experience for fans and vendors alike. Internal communications improved significantly with the introduction of a flexible cloud phone system. And with all mobiles in one place, billing became simpler and data usage more transparent.

“dbfb have streamlined our communications, hugely improving the operation of the Club.”

Daniel Vernon, Commercial Director, NCCC

The club now has a communications setup that supports their ambitions, not one that gets in the way.

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