Antigua Recreation Ground
The stands at the Antigua Recreation Ground were built in the late 1970s, just as the ARC was cementing its place in cricketing folklore as the pitch where many a record was broken by West Indian cricketers.
It started as a single stand in what was then called Victoria Park, across East Street (now Independence Avenue) from Government House. The photo below, from the 1940s, shows the first stand. The Catholic Church can be seen on the far left with Government House in the background.
The ARG first hosted international cricket in February 1978. It became a Test match venue in 1981. It was where Brian Lara made his first record-breaking score on April 18, 1994, surpassing the 36-year-old record made by Sir Garfield Sobers. Throughout its prime as a cricket venue, the ARG was renowned for its electric atmosphere, fueled by the famous “Double Decker” stand, a lively sound system, and entertainers like the colorful local character "Gravy." Furthermore, the ground's maintenance staff famously featured inmates from the nearby prison, which was managed by the father of Antiguan cricketing legend Sir Vivian Richards.
This was the doubledecker in 1986 when England came to play a test match.
The ARC was no longer used for cricket once the Stadium was built out on Factory Road to host the 2007 Cricket World Cup, but Carnival shows and other events still take place here.