Has Cricket Finally Gained Traction in the USA?

In the quest to make cricket a mainstream sport in the United States, Major League Cricket (MLC) appears to be making headway. Launched in 2023 and granted T20 status soon after, MLC aims to overcome long-standing challenges in the U.S. cricket scene. These challenges have historically included a lack of pitches, kit, and coaching, which have held back the sport’s development in the US.

The history of cricket in the United States dates back to 1844 when the first international match took place between Canada and the USA. Despite this early start, the U.S. faced setbacks such as being excluded from the Imperial Cricket Conference founded in 1909. More recently, USA Cricket was formed in 2019 following the expulsion of the USA Cricket Association in 2017.

Cricket’s potential in the American market is underscored by a large expatriate population. The U.S. is home to nearly 10 million people from cricket-loving nations such as India, Pakistan, and the Caribbean. This expatriate market is expected to play a crucial role in popularizing the sport.

The ICC has identified the U.S. as a strategic priority, supporting MLC and planning to introduce cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The recent inclusion of cricket in the upcoming Olympics is a significant milestone announced in October 2023.

The 2024 T20 World Cup, hosted by the U.S., turned out to be the most profitable ICC tournament to date, generating over $500 million. This event utilized venues such as Eisenhower Park in New York, Grand Prairie in Texas, and Lauderhill in Florida.

MLC has gained momentum due to significant investments from individuals like Satya Nadella of Microsoft and Shantanu Narayen of Adobe. Furthermore, MLC has formed ties with established Indian franchises like the Mumbai Indians.

Despite facing hurdles such as poor advertising, pitch issues, and stringent security, MLC has been deemed successful, with plans to expand by building new cricket venues and potentially hosting Olympic cricket.

The vision for cricket in the U.S. is to elevate its status to that of a mainstream sport, in a trajectory similar to soccer’s rise in popularity. With initiatives in place, and an engaged diaspora market, cricket may indeed have cracked the American market.