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Major League Cricket eyes further expansion

Featured image credit: Major League Cricket

US-based Major League Cricket (MLC) is reportedly considering the launch of a new team in Canada as it seeks to expand from six teams to eight by 2027.

MLC launched in 2023 with a 19-game season format, with the schedule expanding to 25 fixtures in 2024. The league has plans for a 34-game season in 2025 and there are long-term aspirations to eventually expand to a 10-team structure.

MLC’s current six teams represent Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Texas and Washington, D.C. Last year, matches took place at two venues: Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas and Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina.

ESPNcricinfo has reported that Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Toronto are on MLC’s shortlist for expansion franchises, with a final decision set to be made later in the year.

The report states that MLC co-founder Satyan Gajwani will launch one franchise, with fellow co-founders Vijay Srinivasan and Sameer Mehta overseeing the other, seeking investment partners once the cities have been selected.

Gajwani told ESPNcricinfo: “There are many cities in America that have large populations of people who already love cricket. But the goal is to grow the game and that means expanding beyond that fan base. We have options ahead of us. I don’t think we’re committed one way or the other right now. That’s realistically a decision we will take closer to launch.”

Organisers are also said to be keen on adopting a home-and-away format for MLC, with teams playing each other twice.

It is hoped that current franchises will be able to move into their own stadiums in the near future. The San Francisco Unicorns, for example, have expressed an interest in playing games at the Oakland Coliseum, which is currently without a major-league tenant following the departure of Major League Baseball’s Athletics last year.

Discussing potential new franchises, Gajwani added: “In the ideal case, we firm up on the city, lock up a land deal and then build a stadium – whether retrofitted or building from zero. The ideal outcome is that we play at home for our first game in 2027. There is this balance of wanting to build something that’s right for where the market is, but have the flexibility to grow with the market. Every city will have its own dynamics.”

Cricket has enjoyed a rapid rise in popularity in the US in recent years. Last year, the country co-hosted the T20 World Cup alongside the West Indies, marking the first time the US had staged a major International Cricket Council (ICC) event.

Ahead of last year’s MLC season, the league was granted official List-A status by the ICC. The league, which has appointed Johnny Grave as its new CEO, hailed the certification as a “crucial milestone” for the growth of the league, and cricket more broadly in the US.