New York City is buzzing with anticipation as it prepares to host the high-stakes India-Pakistan match during the 2024 T20 World Cup, set to take place in the West Indies and the USA.
Cricbuzz reports that a brand-new stadium is in the works at Eisenhower Park, located 30 miles east of New York, sprawling over a vast 930 acres in East Meadow. Initially, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had eyed Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx for a similar facility. However, due to opposition from local residents and a cricket league operating from the park, the plan was shelved.
Swiftly pivoting, the ICC entered negotiations with Nassau County, the overseers of Eisenhower Park, and an agreement was soon reached. This development will bolster the USA's international standard cricketing facilities, adding to the existing 15k-seater stadium in Dallas, inaugurated for the Major League Cricket's first season, and the Central Broward Park in Miami.
The successful execution of the 20 matches allocated to the USA for the 2024 T20 World Cup is a top priority for the ICC. With Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Olympics, a successful T20 World Cup could bolster cricket's chances of inclusion in the Olympics.
Despite the USA's nascent international team and a relatively new league system, the country's media rights for ICC tournaments are reportedly among the top four in value, underscoring the USA's position as a global sporting market.
Last month, Jenifer Rajkumar, the first Indian-American woman in New York's State Assembly, penned a letter to ICC chairman Greg Barclay, advocating for New York City to host some 2024 T20 World Cup matches. She stated, "On behalf of tens of thousands of New York cricket fans, I write to implore you (Barclay) to select New York City as the host for the ICC World Cup." Rajkumar highlighted the city's cultural diversity and its significant communities from cricket-loving nations, suggesting that hosting the tournament would fulfil many fans' dreams.
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