Cricket may not be as mainstream in the United States as it is in other parts of the world, but that could be changing soon. Some high-profile CEOs and investors, including Satya Nadella from Microsoft and Shantanu Narayen from Adobe, have been actively investing in the growth of cricket in the U.S. These investors are backing the new U.S. professional cricket league, Major League Cricket, as they see the potential for the sport to become popular in America.
The Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the U.S. for the first time, has brought a significant amount of attention to the sport in the country. With nearly a billion dollars being pumped into American cricket ambition, the sport is gaining traction and attracting new fans. Companies like Google and venture capital firms like Madrona Venture Group are also investing in the U.S. cricket league, signaling a growing interest in the sport.
Currently, there are six professional teams in Major League Cricket, with each team expected to invest between $75 million and $100 million in the coming years. This investment includes putting together a competitive team, hiring top talent, and building stadiums for live matches. The goal is to establish a sustainable cricket league in the U.S. that can compete on a global scale.
The ongoing T20 World Cup, which is taking place in the U.S. and the West Indies, has generated excitement among cricket fans. The recent match between the U.S. and Pakistan near Dallas, where the U.S. team emerged victorious, has sparked interest in the sport. The upcoming India vs. Pakistan match at Nassau County stadium in New York is highly anticipated, with ticket prices soaring due to the high demand from fans.
Investors like Satyan Gajwani, the vice chairman of Times Internet, are focusing on attracting the loyal cricket fan base in the U.S. Gajwani’s group, which owns Willow TV, has exclusive streaming rights for cricket in North America, including the T20 World Cup. By targeting South Asian expats and fans from the U.K. and Australia, investors aim to tap into a demographic with a high disposable income that can be spent on sports and entertainment.
While cricket is gaining popularity in the U.S., it still faces challenges in competing with more established sports like basketball and football. However, investors believe that there is a potential entry point through fans of baseball, which shares some similarities with cricket. By leveraging the growing interest in cricket and the diverse fan base in the U.S., the sport has the potential to establish itself as a mainstream sport in the country.
The investment and interest from high-profile CEOs and investors in the growth of cricket in the U.S. demonstrate the potential for the sport to become more popular in the country. With the ongoing T20 World Cup and the establishment of Major League Cricket, cricket is on the path to becoming a mainstream sport in the U.S., attracting a diverse fan base and creating new opportunities for the growth of the sport.
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