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San Francisco Chronicle
25-04-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Cricket moves U.S. headquarters from San Francisco to Texas
Major League Cricket is relocating its headquarters from San Francisco to Grand Prairie, cementing the Texas city's status as the epicenter of U.S. cricket and underscoring its push to expand the global sport's reach in the American market. The move, announced Thursday, comes as the league prepares for its third season, set to begin June 12 in Oakland before shifting to Grand Prairie for 12 regular-season matches, playoffs, and the championship final on July 13. Grand Prairie's stadium, a converted minor league baseball field, has quickly become a hub for fans from diverse backgrounds and a focal point for advertisers and broadcasters across the globe, according to local news station WFAA. 'We're delighted to continue making Grand Prairie the home of Cognizant Major League Cricket,' said Johnny Grave, chief executive of Major League Cricket, in a statement. 'We are excited to bring the playoffs back to Grand Prairie and look forward to another sold-out championship final.' The timing of the move aligns with the rising profile of cricket in the U.S., particularly with the sport's return to the Olympics in 2028. Last year's Men's T20 World Cup generated more than $100 million in economic impact for Texas, according to league officials. Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen, a baseball enthusiast, now counts himself among the sport's converts. 'It was a party. I will never forget that night,' he said during the Thursday news conference announcing the move. In 2024, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium hosted four matches of the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup, including the U.S. team's dramatic Super Over victory over Pakistan. The game featured standout performances from MLC players Saurabh Netravalkar, Monank Patel and Aaron Jones. A Nielsen Sports study estimated the tournament brought $100.4 million in economic impact to Texas, with 31% of international visitors traveling to the state for the first time. Nationwide, the World Cup generated $618.4 million in total economic impact.
Axios
24-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Major League Cricket moving to Grand Prairie ahead of its third season
Major League Cricket is moving its headquarters from San Francisco to Grand Prairie as part of its plans to grow the sport in the U.S. Why it matters: Grand Prairie Stadium has become the epicenter of U.S. cricket. The converted minor league baseball stadium has hosted Major League Cricket (MLC) and World Cup matches since opening in 2023, drawing fans with roots in many different countries and piquing advertisers' interest. The big picture: MLC matches are broadcast internationally. Millions tune in and thousands pack the stadiums, even on hot days. Cricket will return to the Olympics in 2028, for the first time since 1900. The latest: Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium will host 12 regular-season MLC matches in the league's third season, along with the playoffs and the final. MLC moved its schedule to June this year to avoid the hotter days in July, Texas Super Kings co-owner Anurag Jain tells Axios. Most of the Grand Prairie matches will be at night. Follow the money: Last year's Men's T20 World Cup infused more than $100 million into the Texas economy, from lodging, flights and dining, league officials say. Grand Prairie hosted four matches. Fun fact: MLC's new CEO, Johnny Grave, has worked in international cricket for almost 25 years and was most recently the CEO of Cricket West Indies. The intrigue: Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen, a longtime baseball fan, says he has become a cricket fan since attending the stadium's inaugural match in 2023.
Business Journals
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Major League Cricket to announce headquarters move to Texas
By submitting your information you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and User Agreement . Major League Cricket, which launched in 2023, is set to announce a headquarters relocation to Grand Prairie during a press conference on April 24 ahead of the start of its third season. Read on for more about the planned move and the sport's growing popularity here and abroad. Major League Cricket is set to officially make North Texas its home. The fledgling professional sports league plans to host a news conference on April 24 where it will make "an exciting announcement regarding the transition of MLC's headquarters to Grand Prairie." Speakers will include Johnny Grave, CEO of Major League Cricket, and Anurag Jain, managing partner of Dallas-based venture capital firm Perot Jain and a backer of the league. Additional details were not immediately available and representatives for the league declined requests for comment. GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY Find Local Events Near You Connect with a community of local professionals. Explore All Events Major League Cricket, set to begin its third season in June, is operated by San Francisco-based parent company American Cricket Enterprises. However, since launching in 2023, the league has made Grand Prairie its primary hub. The bulk of MLC matches have been played at Grand Prairie Stadium, a former minor league baseball ballpark that was redeveloped into a cricket ground. And as recently as 2023, D Magazine reported the league had plans to install its headquarters in Grand Prairie Stadium. For Dallas-Fort Worth, MLC's decision comes as cricket continues to grow in popularity in the U.S. and as the league aims to become a central part of the sport's global ecosystem. Cricket is the second-most popular sport in the world behind only soccer. USA Cricket, the domestic governing body for the sport, estimates there are more than 400 local leagues, tournaments, academies, college and school programs with around 200,000 players in the United States. The sport is expected to continue growing in the years to come. Grand Prairie was one of the host sites for the T20 World Cup, which saw the U.S. men's national team pull off a historic upset of Pakistan, one of the sport's powerhouses. That event generated an estimated $1.9 million local economic impact, according to Visit Grand Prairie. Cricket will also be reintroduced into the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles for the first time since 1900. Currently, MLC consists of six teams, including the Texas Super Kings, with plans to add two more by 2027. The league previously raised $120 million in 2022 from investors including Jain and Ross Perot Jr., with plans to invest $1 billion to grow the sport domestically. Other backers include Adobe Inc. CEO Shantanu Narayen and Microsoft Corp. CEO Satya Nadella and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. The Texas Super Kings are owned by Jain and Perot in partnership with India's Chennai Super Kings. The headquarters announcement also comes three months after Johnny Grave became the new CEO of MLC, replacing Vijay Srinivasan. Grave is well known in the cricket world. expand Major League Cricket, led by CEO Johnny Grave who took over the position in January, plans to make Grand Prairie its headquarters. Major League Cricket He previously was CEO of Cricket West Indies for seven years, CEO of the 2024 men's T20 World Cup and was commercial director at the Professional Cricketers' Association in England for 10 years.
Express Tribune
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Major League Cricket to host matches in Oakland Coliseum as cricket grows in USA
The Oakland Coliseum is set to make history in 2025 as it welcomes Major League Cricket (MLC), becoming the latest venue in the U.S. to embrace the growing sport. The stadium will host nine matches, starting with the season opener on June 12, and will serve as the long-awaited home ground for the San Francisco Unicorns. The historic venue, once home to Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics and the NFL's Oakland Raiders, will undergo modifications to accommodate cricket. Plans include installing drop-in pitches and reducing seating capacity to 12,000. Cricket's expansion in the U.S. Since its launch in 2023, MLC has steadily expanded, with matches previously held in Texas and Florida. The addition of the Oakland Coliseum is another step in the league's growth. 'The Coliseum is a fantastic location for Major League Cricket, and we are thrilled by the prospect of some of the world's biggest cricket stars playing in such an iconic Californian venue,' said MLC chief executive Johnny Grave. MLC's third season will see six teams—San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, and Washington D.C.—compete in a month-long tournament. The league's T20 format, lasting approximately 3.5 hours, is designed to appeal to American sports audiences. Growing cricket culture in the Bay Area The Bay Area is home to the second-largest cricket fan base in the U.S., with many fans of South Asian descent. Local cricket enthusiast Omer Chaudhary, who grew up playing in Pakistan, expressed excitement about having professional cricket close to home. 'It used to be hard to watch cricket in the U.S. Now, we can go see a match at the Coliseum,' said Chaudhary, wearing a Pakistan team jersey. 'With Bay Area teams leaving or struggling, this is a refreshing addition to the sports scene.' MLC's arrival follows the Oakland Roots football club, which recently played its first match at the Coliseum. With cricket and football now part of the venue's legacy, the stadium becomes the first in North America to host two of the world's most popular sports. Short-Term Deal, Long-Term Hopes MLC has signed a one-year contract with Oakland due to uncertainty surrounding the stadium's future. However, the deal is expected to generate $3 million in revenue for a city facing financial challenges. Interim Oakland Mayor Kevin Jenkins highlighted the importance of the Coliseum's revenue streams, saying, 'These past few years, the Coliseum and arena have done very well, allowing us to reinvest in public services.' Looking ahead, MLC aims to build momentum leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket will return to the Games. With top players earning upwards of $80,000 for the season, the league hopes to establish itself as a major force in American sports. MLC's season begins on June 12, with tickets going on sale Thursday.
Axios
26-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Oakland Coliseum to host Major League Cricket matches this summer
Some of the world's best cricket players are coming to the Oakland Coliseum this summer. Why it matters: It will mark the U.S. Major League Cricket's inaugural presence on the West Coast and comes after Oakland has lost three major sports teams in recent years. Though not as familiar to Americans, cricket is widely considered the second biggest global sport behind soccer, with over 2.5 billion fans worldwide. Driving the news: Major League Cricket (MLC) announced a deal Wednesday allowing the Oakland Coliseum to host nine matches this year June 12-18. The games will kick off the league's tournament, which will span 34 matches across three venues through the first week of July. MLC is the first professional Twenty20 cricket championship in the U.S. and currently features six teams, including the San Francisco Unicorns. (T20 is one of three forms of cricket recognized by the International Cricket Council.) The Oakland Coliseum will be adapted to accommodate the matches, including installation of specialized drop-in turf wickets that meet international standards. The seven-day gameplay is projected to deliver a $3 million economic boost to Oakland. Ticket prices will start at $20. What they're saying: MLC has been eyeing the Coliseum since 2022, CEO Johnny Grave told Axios. Its field size advantage, coupled with the "huge number of known cricket fans from South Asia" who now reside in the Bay Area, make it a "recipe for success," Grave said. The hope is to return to the Coliseum on a regular basis and potentially even partner to host events for the U.S. national team. MLC is "very, very serious about investing in the sport, developing these home venues across the United States and expanding from six to 10 teams over the next few years," Grave added. How it works: A typical Twenty20 game takes around 3.5 hours with two innings that each last 90 minutes and a 10-minute break in between. A deviation from the days-long (up to five!) matches, the format was introduced in 2003 to create a fast-paced game that would be attractive to spectators and TV viewers. The sport is similar to baseball but features a flat bat; a hard, leather-covered ball; an oval-like field and a rectangular pitch that sees players run between two "wickets." Knock over those wickets while the player is still running and they're out. The batting team tries to score as many runs as possible. 👋 Claire Reilly's Aussie thought bubble: Thanks to its English roots, cricket is largely followed in Commonwealth countries across South Asia, as well as the UK, South Africa and the West Indies. It's also one of the most popular summer sports in Australia and New Zealand. Like a lot of Americans with a summer fondness for baseball, the sound of cricket games on the radio defines summer in Australia for me. The big picture: MLC launched in the U.S. in 2023 with the Unicorns among its inaugural teams. They don't have a home venue yet but some key players include Haris Rauf, Corey Anderson and Sanjay Krishnamurthi, who currently studies at San José State. They are owned by tech entrepreneurs Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan, who co-founded Cambrian Ventures and Kosmix (now known as Walmart Labs). The league estimates over 100 million fans worldwide watched its tournament last year and is aiming to grow the sport across the U.S. Fun fact Cricket was recently confirmed as an official event at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
