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34,000-seat cricket stadium going up outside NYC for 2024 ICC World Cup: See what it looks like

Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY
·4 min read
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The sun was high, the sky a sparkling blue and the wind chilly as the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Trophy made its way to Nassau County on Long Island Tuesday, where a world-class modular cricket stadium is under construction for the upcoming tournament.

Legendary West Indies cricketer and two-time champion of the Men’s T20 World Cup Chris Gayle and Ali Khan of the U.S. cricket team accompanied the trophy as it made a grand entry in Eisenhower Park in Nassau County, about 25 miles east of New York City, escorted by the police, fire trucks and a live band.

Members of the media, including USA TODAY, the International Cricket Council and Nassau County officials were gathered at the venue to welcome the trophy and get a first look at the stadium that is expected to be completed by May.

Legendary West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle and Ali Khan of the U.S. cricket team accompany the trophy as enters the site of the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County, New York on March 19, 2024.
Legendary West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle and Ali Khan of the U.S. cricket team accompany the trophy as enters the site of the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County, New York on March 19, 2024.
Band members escort the trophy as it enters Eisenhower Park in Nassau County on March 19, 2024.
Band members escort the trophy as it enters Eisenhower Park in Nassau County on March 19, 2024.

"It is a world class event. It is one that has been held in many places, but this is the first here in the United States," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, speaking at the event. "I am very, very honored and pleased that Nassau County has been chosen as one of the sites here in America and that we will have the number one game, the premier game, India vs. Pakistan here on June 9 as well."

"It's going to be a great venue for everybody to enjoy cricket," Blakeman said, speaking of the stadium that will have a capacity of 34,000 seats.

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What is a modular stadium?

Construction equipment on March 19, 2024, at the site of the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County, New York.
Construction equipment on March 19, 2024, at the site of the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County, New York.

A modular stadium, made of steel and aluminum, is one that is put together in a short period of time is easily customizable. It includes all the amenities of a regular cricket ground, including fans seating, corporate boxes and dressing rooms, besides media and broadcast facilities. Modular stadiums are widely used across the world for major sporting events such as Formula One or the Ryder Cup last year in Rome. Once the events are over, they can be easily dismantled.

Construction on the stadium began in late February by Populus, a globally renowned architecture and design firm and is expected to be completed by mid-May so that the venue can be tested, a Nassau County official told USA TODAY.

Some of the equipment and infrastructure that was recently used during the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix is being repurposed for the cricket ground, according to ESPN CricInfo.

The stadium has been roughly divided into three different sections: the general stands on the east and west sides of the stadium for audiences and fans, the players locker rooms to the north with the hospitality and VIP boxes next to them, and the operations offices and media and broadcast areas in the south, close to the Nassau Aquatic Center.

The cricket stadium, shown here in Nassau County, New York on March 19, 2024, will have a seating capacity of 34,000 for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
The cricket stadium, shown here in Nassau County, New York on March 19, 2024, will have a seating capacity of 34,000 for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

A world-class pitch for the matches is also being prepared for the tournament by LandTek Group, with the process of "procuring, assembling and growing the portable pitches is in full stride at LTG Sports Turf One, LandTek’s Florida-based division." Head Curator of Australia's Adelaide Oval Damian Hough is also assisting the LandTek team in preparing the pitch for the tournament.

LandTek Group is preparing a world-class pitch for the matches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. The construction site in Nassau County, New York, is shown here on March 19, 2024.
LandTek Group is preparing a world-class pitch for the matches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. The construction site in Nassau County, New York, is shown here on March 19, 2024.

Photos show construction at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium

See exclusive pictures of the new cricket stadium taken March 19 below:

This picture taken on March 19, 2024, gives an insight into what seating will look like at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Long Island, New York for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
This picture taken on March 19, 2024, gives an insight into what seating will look like at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Long Island, New York for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
The cricket stadium, shown here in Nassau County, New York on March 19, 2024, is also expected to include operations offices and media and broadcast zones. The Nassau County Aquatic Center can be seen in the background.
The cricket stadium, shown here in Nassau County, New York on March 19, 2024, is also expected to include operations offices and media and broadcast zones. The Nassau County Aquatic Center can be seen in the background.
Construction workers work the beams on March 19, 2024, at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium on Long Island, New York. The stadium is expected to be complete by mid-May.
Construction workers work the beams on March 19, 2024, at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium on Long Island, New York. The stadium is expected to be complete by mid-May.
The location, where the players locker rooms are expected to take shape, on March 19, 2024, at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium on Long Island, New York.
The location, where the players locker rooms are expected to take shape, on March 19, 2024, at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium on Long Island, New York.

Earlier this month, the ICC also released a time-lapse to mark one month since construction began on the stadium.

What will the Nassau County Cricket Stadium look like?

The ICC released a visualization of the stadium in January:

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What matches will be played at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium?

The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium will host the following matches:

  • Sri Lanka vs South Africa: June 3

  • India vs Ireland: June 5

  • Netherlands vs South Africa: June 7

  • India vs Pakistan: June 9

  • South Africa vs Bangladesh: June 10

  • Pakistan vs Canada: June 11

  • USA vs India: June 12

What to know about the 2024 T20 World Cup

Fifty-five matches will be played across nine cities – three in the U.S. and six in the Caribbean, according to the I.C.C., with the opening match between Canada and the U.S. to be held on June 1 at Grand Prairie Stadium in the Dallas metro area, and the grand finale on June 29 in Barbados. The semifinals will take place in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

England enters the year as defending champions, having beaten Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup final in Melbourne. The series will mark U.S., Canada and Uganda's first appearances at a Men's T20 World Cup.

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Ali Khan of the U.S. Cricket Team at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium on March 19, 2024.
Ali Khan of the U.S. Cricket Team at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium on March 19, 2024.

"For those of you who are not familiar, this is the second most popular sporting event in the world and we're very excited about it," Blakeman said. "We call it the Super Bowl on steroids. We have many days of great competition here, great athletes."

Blakeman added that the county is planning a host of activities for fans and cricket lovers, including performances by international celebrities, notably Bollywood stars, and watch parties for those who were unable to score tickets to the match.

"Let the games begin," Blakeman said.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nassau County Cricket Stadium: See update of ICC T20 World Cup site