Grand Prairie Stadium has been named as one of the three hosts in the United States for the upcoming T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup matches.
The matches held in Grand Prairie begin on June 1 and continue until June 7, 2024. The U.S. and West Indies are hosts of the event this year. The matches held at Grand Prairie Stadium kick off the competition. Florida and New York will also host matches.
“We’re delighted to announce the three USA venues that will host part of the biggest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup ever staged, with 20 teams competing for the trophy,” Geoff Allardice, ICC chief executive, said, reported Mint. “The USA is a strategically important market and these venues give us an excellent opportunity to make a statement in the world’s biggest sport market.”
The T20 Men’s competition features teams from 20 nations, including England and Pakistan, two of the biggest rivals in the sport. The U.S. team will face Pakistan on June 6 at Grand Prairie Stadium. The U.S. team will open the competition with a match against Canada. Teams from the Netherlands, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh will also compete in North Texas.
Cricket was once a popular sport in the U.S. brought over by British immigrants. During the Civil War, baseball eclipsed cricket and its popularity has faded. In recent years, cricket’s popularity has been on the rise fueled by an influx of immigrants from Southeast Asian countries where the sport remains popular today.
Fans of the sport have long called for the opportunity to host international cricket matches. The T20 Men’s World Cup marks the first time the U.S. has hosted World Cup matches.
Grand Prairie Stadium is one of just five fields recognized for cricket play. The stadium was built with hosting international cricket matches in mind. A sixth facility is under construction in New York to draw international competition to the region.
Ticket prices are not yet available. Grand Prairie Stadium currently has a capacity of 7,000 but can accommodate up to 15,000 spectators for major events.
