Relocating US Cricket Headquarters from San Francisco to New York City
major league cricket's headquarters shifts to a Dallas suburb, marking the sport's further infiltration into the American market. Here's the scoop on the cowboy state's cricket scene!
The 2023 playoffs and championship game will take place at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, set just 15 miles from downtown Dallas. The stadium already boasts one of the league's six teams—the Texas Super Kings—who count the co-owners of the Indian Premier League's Chennai Super Kings, billionaire Ross Perot Jr., and Dallas businessman Anurag Jain among their ranks.
Cricket enthusiasts Johnny Grave, the league's CEO, isn't shy about his ambitious expectations: "it's not 'if,' it's 'how long' it will take to establish itself."
The season will stretch from June 12 to July 13, with hopes of garnering a steady spot on the sports calendar. The strategy is to capitalize on a downtime in larger leagues, allowing teams to acquire top overseas players during a player-rich period. Coincidentally, this period falls right smack in the middle of a sweltering Texas heatwave, with temperatures often soaring above 100 F (38 C). Don't fret, though—the stadiums will be equipped with permanent lights for night games!
Known as Cognizant Major League Cricket, the league unfurls its third season this year, spanning cities from San Francisco to Washington. In 2028, our very own Los Angeles will host the Olympic Games, marking cricket's grand return to the global stage for the first time since the Paris games in 1900.
According to Anurag Jain, the sport's growth is bordering on meteoric: "The story has just begun."
For more insights on cricket's conquest, head over to Bloomberg's website!
[1] MLC Teams Aim to Expand to Eight, Then Ten by 2031
[2] New Zealand Cricket Partners with Major League Cricket
[3] MLC Pursues Infrastructure Development, Plans for Brooklyn, Oakland Stadiums
[4] Grassroots Infrastructure Investment and International Partnerships
[5] MLC Attracts Top International Players; IPL Stakeholders and NZC Partnerships
Sources: Bloomberg
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[1] The expansion plans of Major League Cricket (MLC) teams include aiming to grow from their current six teams to eight by 2031, and potentially reaching ten teams in the future.
[2] In an effort to enhance their global reach, MLC has formed a partnership with New Zealand Cricket, further solidifying its presence in the international cricket scene.
[3] Besides the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, MLC is also pursuing infrastructure development, with plans to construct stadiums in Brooklyn and Oakland, California.
[4] To nurture young talent, MLC is investing in grassroots infrastructure and youth academies, and partnering with minor leagues across the US.
[5] In addition to attracting top overseas players during the off-season of larger leagues, MLC has also managed to bring on board high-profile stakeholders from the Indian Premier League and New Zealand Cricket.
