The International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the 34,000-seat temporary modular stadium that will host Men’s T20 World Cup matches this summer in Eisenhower Park in Long Island, New York. Work on the location, which is 30 miles east of Manhattan, began this week and is anticipated to be completed by May 13, in time to host Sri Lanka’s World Cup match against South Africa on June 3. The World Cup is being hosted mostly in the West Indies, although some matches will be played in the United States, including Eisenhower Park, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, and Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.
The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York has been given the highly anticipated June 9 encounter between India and Pakistan, demonstrating the ICC’s desire to expand into a new market.
Populous designed the Eisenhower Park stadium, which will be built by Arena Event Services using the same grandstands as the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The project is being managed by The Parker Company on behalf of T20 Inc.
The facility, which will be located in a massive 930-acre park with three 18-hole golf courses, will have a dedicated fan zone with a range of food and beverage outlets, as well as world-class media and broadcast facilities. The wicket, a drop-in square similar to those used at famous cricket fields such as the Adelaide Oval and Eden Park, is presently being curated and nourished in Florida before being moved to New York by road in early May.
What does ICC’s Head of Events say?
ICC’s Head of Events, Chris Tetley, stated that sustainability will be a significant aspect of the “cutting-edge” facility during an online conversation with select media. The World Cup location would reuse the grandstands used for the Formula One Grand Prix in Las Vegas and feature drop-in pitches.
He stated that once finished, it will be larger than any cricket stadium in England, including the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, which hosted the 50-overs World Cup final in 2011.
“I believe we need to do something of this scale to create an impression in a country like the United States, which has such a large sports market. ICC has a distinct target market. It is widely recognized as the world’s greatest sports market. It’s already our third-largest broadcast market, with at least 30 million cricket fans in the United States.” Tetley said.
The United States is co-hosting the event along the West Indies, and Tetley guaranteed an unforgettable experience for American fans.
While part of the venue, including the pitches, will be removed after the World Cup, Tetley stated that the “world-class facility” would remain for use by the local community.
Tetley dismissed cost concerns, noting that much of the infrastructure was rented rather than purchased.
“Safe to say that it more than pays for itself, and so it’s a viable project for us to be run without it costing ICC anything,” he added.
What is a Drop-in Pitch?
A drop-in pitch is prepared distant from the venue and transported to the location via crane. A steel structure supports a drop-in pitch that weighs approximately 30 tonnes and has a depth of 20 cm. The T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and Pakistan will be played on a drop-in pitch in New York. The Drop-in pitch for the heated clash between India and Pakistan is being curated in Florida.
Using a drop-in pitch allows the stadium/venue to serve several purposes. While the fields are installed during the cricket season, these locations may also be utilized for other athletic events and music performances during the off-season. These drop-in pitches have been used at Australian venues since 1996.
In addition to cricket, the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground, Adelaide Oval, and Eden Park in Auckland offer a range of sports including football, AFL, and rugby. When the cricket season ends, these drop-in pitches are removed and stored to make space for other sporting activities. They are reinstalled before the cricket season begins.