Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world, after soccer. It has far less of a presence in the United States than it does in other countries. But now, Major League Cricket, and USA Cricket plan to establish their headquarters in Grand Prairie in North Texas.
William Swann is vice president of corporate development for Major League Cricket. He told Texas Standard that lots of U.S. cricket fans live in North Texas.
“There’s a huge expat population of South Asian, Caribbean cricket-following people,” Swann said. “It just became a really good place for us to put down roots.”
Major League Cricket will turn an existing minor league baseball stadium in Grand Prairie into a cricket pitch. Swann says the biggest changes needed are to the field itself.
“The baseball diamond is a little smaller than what cricket gets played on,” Swann said.
Swann says more seats will be added where the baseball diamond’s outfield was before. He hopes new fans will discover the sport along with those who already embrace it.
“The format we’re bringing is short, sharp, explosive,” he said.
The U.S. cricket league will begin with six teams, with one calling North Texas home. Swann says the league hopes to expand to eight teams later on. The season will last approximately three months, to coincide with summer holidays, he says.
Stadium construction will begin in a few weeks, with games beginning in later 2022.