Molyneux Park is back in vogue and the Otago Volts hope to host a first-class game there as early as November. Alexandra has not hosted a four-day game since 2004 but has staged limited-overs fixtures.
The Queenstown Events Centre is getting a $640,000 upgrade to improve its drainage. Work is expected to be complete this month, so it will offer the Volts another picturesque home venue.
Invercargill's Queens Park is another solid option and Dunedin's University Oval was upgraded during the winter and is now well-established as an international venue.
North Otago Cricket Association [NOCA] chairman Peter Cameron has aspirations of attracting elite cricket back to Oamaru, as well, and the NOCA has made significant progress establishing a new contender.
A clash with rugby resulted in the association shifting focus from the oval at Centennial Park to the back field two years ago.
Considerable money was spent levelling the ground and more cash was needed for sight screens and scoreboards.
And the Otago Community Trust recently made a grant of $56,000 which means the NOCA is able to move forward with its plans to build a pavilion this year.
''We've got to the stage were we've got some funding ... and we've committed half our reserves [$30,000].
''It is expected to cost between $260,000 and $280,000. We made some minor changes ... and are waiting for the final documentation. When we receive that we expect to go ahead and make an application for building consent.''
Cameron said ideally, the pavilion would be completed in time for North Otago's first Hawke Cup game before Christmas.
The proposed two-storey building and the nearby Excelsior sports club building will provide all the facilities needed to host top-tier provincial cricket.But cricket is not played in pavilions and the all-important strip of grass out in the middle would need a third season to bed in, Cameron said.
''I think we have to see the wicket block play for another year to see that it is up to standard.
''We weren't completely happy with the outcome from the first season with the wicket block.
''This year we used it for the Hawke Cup and we had the Volts play the Kings in a [warm-up] T20 fixture in December. And the Volts came up for training in September and they were more than happy with it.''
The Volts last played a competitive match in Oamaru in January 2011 and have not played first-class cricket at Centennial Park since 1999.
