America’s Major League Cricket Debut Surpassed Expectations On And Off The Field

Having “exceeded all expectations”, with stirring contests in front of heaving crowds helping surpass its financial targets, the historic Major League Cricket has the foundations to build on as it eyes an expanded second season.

The debut of the well-heeled T20 tournament, as cricket seriously enters the world’s biggest sports market, was deemed a resounding success. Even no nonsense Sunil Gavaskar, the Indian cricket legend and broadcaster at the MLC, was left impressed.

“He (Gavaskar) told me the quality of the cricket was high,” Anand Rajaraman, San Francisco Unicorns co-owner, told me. “He felt the international players were giving it their all and that the pitches were good, which is a ringing endorsement.

“The overseas players said the ground and pitch in Dallas was as good as anywhere they’ve played around the world.

“The tournament exceeded all expectations.”

There was much anticipation over the MLC’s launch with a lot riding on it considering the maligned status of American cricket over the years.

With over $100 million invested, aided by influential Indian businessmen some of whom are ensconced in Silicon Valley, the six-team tournament was able to lure high-profile international cricketers through attractive salaries.

With the U.S. home to a growing South Asian populace, there were plenty of passionate cricket fans eager to watch the matches in person even though some of the matches were rather bafflingly played in the sweltering Dallas heat.

More than 70,000 fans turned out to the 18-day tournament played at the 7200 capacity Grand Prairie Stadium near Dallas and the rather modest Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina.

The broadcast was beamed to 87 countries worldwide and importantly some games were shown live on CBS Sports Network in the U.S.

“The tournament had revenues of around $8 million,” said Rajaraman, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist. “Was more than we anticipated…we thought it would be lucky to make $5 million in the first season.

“We had a lot of sponsors reaching out. It was a success but there are learnings. Scheduling afternoon games was not ideal, they were hard to sell.”

The MLC has been debriefing its first season with the tournament expected to announce its plans for the 2024 edition early in the coming months.

The emotion from tournament administrators was understandable relief, knowing the tournament had lived up to the hype and avoided being the type of fool’s gold project long associated with the tempestuous American cricket scene.

But there is much to work out before a defining second season hot on the heels of the landmark T20 World Cup in June, which will be co-hosted by the U.S. with matches played in New York, Dallas and Florida.

A proper home and away season, where teams play each other twice, is on the cards, while there is hope the salary cap for the teams will rise, further enticing cricketers many of whom are already intrigued by playing on the big sports stage of the U.S.

There is an unknown over player drafts and movements, with those playing in the first edition having signed one-year contracts with options to extend.

“The ownership group in the MLC would like the next season to be a full season, but scheduling will be important,” Rajaraman said. “It will have to be after the T20 World Cup but not impact other (T20) leagues in August.

“It should last around a month and would need double headers, but hopefully not too many games played in the heat.”

As expected, the tournament relied on the star power from its overseas signings to ensure the matches felt pretty similar in standard to most of the other T20 leagues cramming the cricket calendar.

Teams were allowed six overseas players per starting eleven – more than the quota of four accepted in established leagues. Amid an outcry, fearing the sanctity of international cricket, governing body the ICC has tightened regulations with teams in official T20 leagues only allowed to field four overseas players.

This new rule does not come into effect for the MLC or the newly formed cashed-up UAE league, but there is an understanding that homegrown heroes need to be created for the tournament to truly resonate amongst the local populace.

“We have to get to four,” Rajaraman said. “There is no discussion on timeframe, it will probably be six to five to four. It (four) is the right place to be.

“It was amazing for the domestic players, exposure many had never dreamed of having. They will be much better for the experience.”

To grow the tournament beyond a South Asian audience, as these newly formed franchises fight for air amid the congested American sports market, teams will need home grounds in a bid to build a connection with their communities.

Significant infrastructure is required, a daunting task given cricket is played on bigger grounds than baseball and requiring a pitch in the middle. For the Unicorns, a stadium in Santa Clara is in the works, but a temporary venue could be used next season.

“We had a fan event before the MLC in Freemont on the east bay and we had over 1200 people show up,” Rajaraman said. “We organized some watch parties in bars in the Bay Arena, there was an enthusiastic showing.

“Clearly there is interest and we are confident if we do have home games in the Bay Area, we would sell them out. Easily.”

Expectations will inevitably rise further, but there is little concern over complacency creeping in with everyone knowing the daunting task ahead with cricket desperate for visibility in its favored target market.

“We were just holding our breath on this tournament,” Rajaraman said. “We got this tournament to where we thought we would get to in the second or third year.

“There was a novelty factor in the first season, which won’t be there in the second season. We have to consciously build on what we’ve started.”