The USA’s favourite bat and ball sport might be baseball, but the popularity of cricket in the United States is on the rise. Backed by an estimated 30-million-and-counting cricket-craving fans on US shores, the sounds of tumbling wickets and sweetly-hit sixes are beginning to reverberate around cities from San Francisco to New York.
One of the most highly-anticipated elements of US cricket's exciting future will begin in 2023, when the nation launches a brand-new, franchise-style, domestic T20 league called Major League Cricket (MLC). Boosted by funding from the likes of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, MLC games will take place in first-class, purpose-built facilities designed to attract the best players, maximize fan experience, and accelerate cricket’s growth across the nation.
Then, in 2024, the USA, in collaboration with the West Indies, will host its first ICC T20 World Cup. Bringing cricket’s most thrilling tournament to new venues and new audiences, the 2024 T20 World Cup will be a landmark event for a generation of young North American cricket fans, and a potentially transformative moment for US cricket as a whole.
Before all this though, US-based cricket fans have the small matter of a visit from the West Indies and India to enjoy. On the weekend of 6–7 August, the 2 sides, ranked #7 and #1 respectively, will face off in 2 IT20 matches at Florida’s Broward County Stadium – the USA’s first purpose-built cricket venue. Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Jason Holder, and Alzarri Joseph are just some of the star names likely to make the trip, meaning it’s a rare opportunity for North American fans to see some of the game’s modern greats at the height of their powers on the international stage.
Standard tickets for the games on Saturday 6 August and Sunday 7 August begin at around $150, while VIP hospitality experiences can be secured for $695.50. With 20,000 joyous cricket fans likely to bring a party atmosphere to the Fort Lauderdale venue for both contests, Broward County Stadium will be a sea of blue and maroon all weekend long. For cricket in the USA however, the party is just getting started.
For more information, or to purchase tickets for the West Indies v India, click here.