(Image Source: ICC)
[Saba Sports News] Construction has commenced this week at Eisenhower Park in Nassau County, located 30 miles east of Manhattan, for a new cricket facility, as confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday. This venue will host eight games of the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in June, including the high-profile India vs. Pakistan match. The stadium is expected to be ready in three months.
The construction includes setting up site fencing and beginning work on the outfield. The stadium will feature a capacity of 34,000 spectators, offering a mix of premium and general admission seating, VIP and hospitality suites, a party deck, and cabanas, aiming to create an unparalleled cricket event experience, according to the ICC.
Cricbuzz reported on Wednesday that the grandstands from the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix are being repurposed for this cricket event. This approach of using modular stadiums, though new to cricket, is common in sports like Formula 1, Golf, and the Olympics, ensuring top-notch facilities for a global sports event.
The stadium’s design is by Populous, a renowned sports and entertainment architecture firm known for creating iconic stadiums such as the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, as well as the Yankee Stadium in New York. The ICC highlighted the stadium’s diverse seating arrangements, including premium seats, general admission, VIP suites, and unique party decks and cabanas.
Regarding the pitch and ticket sales, the ICC will implement drop-in pitches, a type used globally, including at Adelaide Oval and Eden Park. These pitches are being prepared in Florida and will be transported to New York in early May. Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions, led by Damian Hough, and the LandTek Group, a US-based sports turf expert, are collaborating on the pitch and outfield development. Chris Tetley, ICC’s Head of Events, announced in a virtual media roundtable that ticket sales for the June 1-29 event will start in two weeks.
The 20-team, 29-day tournament will feature 48 games, with 16 matches held in the US and the remainder, including semifinals and the final, in the Caribbean islands.