Rugby and cricket grounds are switching to reusable cups because the format fits how their crowds actually drink: long sessions, high per-head spend, and a social atmosphere where the cup is in hand for hours. A reusable polypropylene pint cup keeps the bar moving on a busy match day, carries club and sponsor branding, and, run on a small deposit, cuts the litter that a five-hour Test match or an afternoon of rugby leaves behind. This guide covers what makes these grounds different and how to specify a cup that earns its keep.
Why Rugby and Cricket Are a Different Drinking Environment
Football gives the bar two short, intense windows either side of half time. Rugby and especially cricket are far longer. A county championship day or a T20 evening runs for hours, and drinks spend per head is among the highest in UK sport. That changes the maths. The cup is not just serving a quick half time rush, it is in circulation all day, which makes durability and stackability even more important, and makes a strong reusable scheme genuinely profitable.
It also raises the branding value. A sponsor logo held for an entire afternoon in the sun, photographed and shared across social media, is high-value exposure the broadcast cameras never cut away from. Many grounds now treat the cup as a discrete sponsorship line rather than a catering afterthought.
Deposit-Return and the Litter Problem
Single-use service at a long cricket or rugby fixture leaves the terraces and hospitality lawns buried in flattened plastic. A deposit-return model fixes this at source. Fans pay a small refundable deposit per cup, return it for the next round, and the same cups circulate all day. Unreturned deposits become revenue, waste drops sharply, and clean-up costs fall. We set out how to run one in our guide to the stadium deposit-return scheme for 2026.
Legal Service on the Pint Line
Grounds selling draught beer or cider by the pint or half pint need a certified measure. Our cups carry a UKCA marked line so bar staff pour a legal, consistent fill, protecting both margin and compliance across a long serving day.
Specifying a Cup That Survives the Season
The right cup for a rugby or cricket ground is moulded from BPA-free polypropylene, dishwasher safe across hundreds of cycles, and shaped to stack quickly behind the bar. Reinforced rims stop cracking in the wash and in the crowd, and a multi-carry option lets one fan bring four pints back to a group in a single trip, which matters when the walk from bar to boundary or terrace is long. Full details are on our stadium and arena cups page.
Branding can be screen printed for a bold single-colour crest or applied by full wrap In Mould Labelling for photographic, multi-colour artwork that will not peel or fade. Because we mould and print in the UK, the sustainability story stacks up too, with a lower carbon footprint per cup than imported alternatives. You can review the detail on our sustainability page.
Pricing, Minimums and Lead Times
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | 50 cups |
| Price range | From £0.22 per cup at volume |
| Standard lead time | 10 working days from proof approval |
| Express production | As fast as 48 hours |
| Certification | UKCA marked line measures |
| Material | BPA-free polypropylene, made in the UK |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are reusable cups worth it for a cricket ground with long match days?
Yes, and arguably more so than for shorter fixtures. Long days mean high drinks spend per head and cups in circulation for hours, so a deposit-return scheme recovers its cost quickly and the same durable cups serve fixture after fixture.
Do the cups meet legal measure requirements for draught beer?
Yes. Our pint cups carry a UKCA marked line measure, so bar staff serve a legal, consistent fill of draught beer or cider throughout the day and stay right with Trading Standards.
How many cups should a rugby or cricket ground order?
The minimum order is 50 cups, and pricing scales to £0.22 per cup at higher volumes. Grounds ordering a full season run get the strongest unit economics, but smaller clubs can start with a modest batch.
Will the branding survive a full season of washing?
Yes. Cups are BPA-free polypropylene and dishwasher safe across hundreds of cycles, and full wrap In Mould Labelling bonds artwork into the cup wall so it will not peel or fade.
How quickly can branded cups be produced?
Standard lead time is 10 working days from proof approval. Express production can turn an urgent order around in as little as 48 hours if a fixture or sponsor date is close.
