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.
