The Mangat Group, a Glendale-based land development group, has announced plans to build a 20,000-seat cricket stadium in Buckeye, Arizona.
MG Cricket Stadium will sit on 30 acres of land to the north of the I-10 freeway on Miller Road. The venue would become the second International Cricket Council-certified stadium in North America. The only other ICC-certified stadium is in Lauderhill, Florida.
Earlier this year, USA Cricket partnered with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) to create a professional T20 league that is designed to lead to the creation of Major League Cricket across the country. Tony Mangat, founder of The Mangat Group, hopes that Phoenix and the MG Cricket Stadium will play a key part in the creation of Major League Cricket teams.
Mangat and his team are also planning a soccer pitch and pickleball court in addition to the cricket stadium. The wider stadium site will also include a hotel and shops, along with a cricket training facility for players. The proposal is currently in the pre-application process with the City of Buckeye.
Mangat said: “Although cricket has been played for many years in other countries, it’s gaining popularity here in the States with many athletes, professional and amateur. There are limited places for cricket players and enthusiasts to play, as games have been played on baseball and soccer fields in recent years. Our goal is to create a dedicated place for all cricket enthusiasts to enjoy the sport with accurate accommodations and proper field dimensions.”
Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn added: “Buckeye continues attracting new industrial, retail, and entertainment developments to the city. The announcement of this facility creates another amenity for our residents to enjoy. It is definitely a great time to be in Buckeye.”
In March, Major League Cricket announced timelines for multiple facility developments, including plans for additional new grounds, as part of its vision to introduce several leading venues for the sport in the US.
The goal is to have several cricket-specific venues ready for play by 2024. Upon completion, the venues will host MLC games after the United States’ first professional Twenty20 competition launches in 2023 and will bid to host games at the men’s T20 World Cup in 2024, which is to be co-hosted by the US and the West Indies.
In May, the league completed an initial close of a $44m (£37m/€44m) Series A and A1 fundraising round, with an additional commitment of $76m in further fundraising guaranteed over the next 12 months to support the development of stadiums and training centres across the US.
Image: The Mangat Group
Share this