Usain Bolt, Cricket Legends, and NYC Stars Unite for Cricket World First
The first guests took their seats at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, joined by ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador Usain Bolt, cricket legends, Team USA, and New York sports stars to mark a historic moment for cricket.
The unveiling event kicked off the final countdown to the first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixture in New York, featuring 2014 champions Sri Lanka and South Africa on June 3. Bolt, alongside USA cricketers Corey Anderson and Monank Patel, West Indies legend Sir Curtly Ambrose, Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik, and England’s Liam Plunkett, got a first look at the new stadium.
To celebrate World Cup cricket coming to the USA for the first time, they were joined by New York sports stars John Starks (NBA), Elena Delle Donne (WNBA), Bartolo Colon (MLB), Victor Cruz (NFL), and Ibtihaj Muhammad (Fencing). They commemorated the occasion by signing a giant cricket bat, which will remain at the venue for the eight matches hosted from June 3-12.
The 34,000-seat stadium, constructed since January, features extensive hospitality and media pavilions, Cabana seats, and Corner Club seats with prime views and elevated food and beverage offerings. The venue includes a world-class playing surface with four drop-in pitches cultivated with Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass.
In addition to Nassau County, matches will be held at Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas and Broward County International Stadium in Florida. The USA and West Indies co-host the event, with 39 matches across six Caribbean venues and the Final on June 29 in Barbados.
Usain Bolt expressed his excitement: “Coming from the Caribbean where cricket is a part of life, I’m thrilled to see the T20 World Cup coming to the USA for the first time. This milestone can pave the way for cricket’s inclusion in the LA Olympics in 2028. The new stadium will be a fantastic place to watch the matches.”
T20 USA, Inc. CEO Brett Jones added: “Today was a fantastic celebration of our new stadium. Having Usain and New York sports stars here was a fitting welcome to cricket in the USA. Seeing the positive reactions from cricket legends and players to the stadium and playing surface was special, setting the stage for an exciting event next month.”
