The first-ever match of the inaugural season of Major League Cricket (MLC) will take place in Texas on July 13, 2023, according to an announcement made by Major League Cricket (MLC).
Grand Prairie Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas, which was specifically built for use by Major League Cricket, will be the location of the historic opening match of the league on July 13, 2023. The match will take place.
The first-ever match for the MLC championship will take place on July 30, 2023, and the 2023 season will have a total of 19 matches that will be contested over the course of 18 days.
According to a statement that was released by the league on Tuesday, “Major League Cricket (MLC) announced today the dates for its inaugural season in the summer of 2023,” which will be a “transformative competition that will bring many of the world’s top cricketers to the United States for the first time.”
In the fast-paced Twenty20 (T20) format of the game, six teams from major metropolitan areas will compete against one another. These teams will represent Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Seattle, and New York City. Each of these teams will have multiple international stars on their rosters, in addition to the most talented players based in the United States.
According to Justin Geale, who serves as the MLC Tournament Director, “the eyes of the global cricket will be on the introduction of Major League Cricket, with the stars of the game competing over three weeks of fast-paced Twenty20 action.” This prediction was made by Mr. Geale.
“The debut of MLC will alter American cricket and create one of the best platforms in the sport for the world’s most top players to demonstrate their skills. At the same time, it will fast-track the development of domestic talent so that it can feature in the league.”
On Tuesday, a special ceremony was held at Grand Prairie Stadium to honour the installation of the venue’s playing surface. Grand Prairie Stadium has a capacity of 7,200, and work is scheduled to be finished in the spring of 2023. The competition’s principal venue for the 2023 season will be Grand Prairie Stadium, which is located in the middle of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Grand Prairie Stadium will also serve as the home stadium for Dallas’ Major League Cheerleading squad.
In the beginning of 2023, additional information regarding the Dallas franchise, such as the team’s name and identity, will be disclosed.
The construction of Grand Prairie Stadium will make it the premier location for cricket matches in the United States, according to Ron Jensen, who serves as Mayor of Grand Prairie.
“This arena will be a major benefit to the town of Grand Prairie, bringing Major League Cricket, international cricket, and maybe the 2024 ICC T20 Men’s World Cup to Grand Prairie, allowing fans here to witness a world-class sport in action,” said the mayor of Grand Prairie.
Investors Ross Perot Jr. and Anurag Jain, both of Dallas, are two members of the MLC investor club, which is comprised of some of the most accomplished and recognised business leaders in the United States.
An additional statement made by Anurag Jain stated that “the debut of Major League Cricket in the summer of 2023 will introduce professional cricket to the United States for the very first time here in the Dallas area.”
“We are thrilled that Dallas will have its own team for the state of Texas to root for in Major League Cricket, playing at a world-class cricket venue that will also serve the enthusiastic local cricket community.”
Grand Prairie Stadium, formerly known as the home of the Texas AirHogs, is undergoing a transformation to become a cricket-specific facility at a cost of twenty million dollars. This transformation includes the addition of seats all around the oval, bringing the total permanent capacity to seven thousand two hundred.
The arena will have a capacity of over 15,000 people and will have 1,000 club and premium seats. It will also have the option to expand to accommodate larger events. Matches at the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in 2024 and will be co-hosted by the United States of America and the West Indies, are likely to be held there.
The names of the teams competing in the initial season of Major League Cricket, as well as additional stadiums and additional information, will be revealed early in 2023.