Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 43 - The Indian EYE 073126
P. 43

    STUMP VISION                                                              JULY 31, 2026    |  The Indian Eye 43

                            10,000 Fans, One Epic Final,

                                      Countless Possibilities:

             Building Cricket’s American Blueprint

                  Cricket’s growth in America is no longer based on hope alone. It is being driven by smart

              leadership, strong community engagement, innovative technology, and a clear long-term vision

            ARCHAN MEHTA

                  he Cricket Impact Lunch 2026,
                  held  at  Eve’s  Waterfront  in
            TOakland  during  the  Major
            League Cricket Championship Week-
            end, showed just how quickly cricket
            is growing in the United States. The
            event also carried an emotional touch
            as  the  cricket  world  remembered
            West Indies legend Sir Garfield So-
            bers  (1936–2026),  widely  regarded
            as one of the greatest all-rounders in
            history.  His  remarkable  career  was
            celebrated as an inspiration for future
            generations. The event also saw the
            launch of the Soma Legacy Award by
            Soma  Somasegar  in  memory  of  the
            late Seattle Orcas co-owner. Cricket
            icons Chris Gayle, Michael Vaughan,
            and Robin Uthappa shared the stage,
            highlighting how the game’s rich his-
            tory is helping shape its exciting fu-  The foundations have been laid, and the game is steadily earning its place in one of the world’s most competitive sporting markets
            ture in America.
                Adam  Hall,  Founder  and  CEO   During breaks in games, they explain   derson and Liam Plunkett. For many   winning team culture.
            of the Cricket Impact Group, is driv-  the basics of cricket and even conduct   attendees,  it  was  their  first  experi-  The growth of cricket in Ameri-
            ing much of this growth. Hall believes   live demonstrations. Their message is   ence with cricket, proving the sport   ca was perfectly reflected during the
            cricket  can  succeed  in  the  United   straightforward: T20 cricket is packed   can attract new audiences in unex-  2026 Major League Cricket final. A
            States  by  bringing  together  leaders   with action, featuring big hits, quick   pected places. One should consider   record  crowd  of  more  than  10,000
            from  sports,  business,  technology,   scoring, and constant excitement that   bringing America to Cricket instead   spectators  packed  the  Oakland
            media,  and  investment.  Instead  of   American sports fans can easily enjoy   of  bringing  Cricket  to  America.   Coliseum  to  watch  the  champion-
            treating cricket as a niche sport, he   once they understand the game.  Technology  is  also  becoming  a   ship clash between the Los Angeles
            wants to build a complete ecosystem   David  White,  CEO  of  San   major  advantage  for  Cricket  teams.   Knight Riders and Washington Free-
            around it. Working closely with Ma-  Francisco Unicorns articulated that   Artificial Intelligence is now helping   dom, the highest attendance for any
            jor League Cricket teams such as the   many growing sports organizations,   franchises study opponents, identify   MLC match across its first four sea-
            San Francisco Unicorns and Seattle   like MLC teams operate with small   overseas talent, and improve player   sons. The Los Angeles Knight Riders
            Orcas, Hall aims to create long-term   staffs  and  limited  resources.  That   recruitment  through  advanced  data   held their nerve to secure a dramatic
            partnerships that connect cricket with   means  they  must  rely  on  creativity   analysis.  Off  the  field,  AI  is  trans-  one-run victory in one of the closest
            American  businesses,  local  commu-  instead  of  large  budgets.  Commu-  forming daily operations. Managing   finishes in league history. It was a fit-
            nities, and young fans. His goal is sim-  nity programs, partnerships with lo-  a  professional  cricket  team  means   ting end to a remarkable week that
            ple: make cricket a permanent part   cal cricket clubs, and interactive fan   coordinating  players  arriving  from   celebrated cricket’s past while show-
            of  the  American  sports  landscape.  experiences have become key parts   different  countries,  booking  travel,   casing its future.
                That  vision  is  already  taking   of their strategy. One of the biggest   handling medical schedules, organiz-  Cricket’s growth in America is no
            shape through the efforts of MLC   successes came at the Black Hat cy-  ing sponsor commitments, and plan-  longer based on hope alone. It is be-
            franchises.  The  Seattle  Orcas,  for   bersecurity conference in Las Vegas,   ning  media  activities.  These  tasks   ing driven by smart leadership, strong
            example,  are  introducing  cricket  to   where a “Cricket Experience Zone”   once  consumed  most  of  a  team’s   community  engagement,  innovative
            fans  who  normally  follow  football,   introduced  more  than  20,000  tech-  time.  Today,  several  franchises  use   technology, and a clear long-term vi-
            basketball, and baseball. Rather than   nology professionals to the sport.   networks  of  AI  agents  to  automate   sion. The foundations have been laid,
            waiting for people to visit cricket sta-  Visitors could try virtual reality bat-  much of this work, allowing staff to   and the game is steadily earning its
            diums,  the  team  is  taking  the  sport   ting simulators and interact with in-  spend more time supporting players,   place in one of the world’s most com-
            directly  to  other  sporting  events.   ternational stars such as Corey An-  building relationships, and creating a   petitive sporting markets.

                                                                   www.TheIndianEYE.com

| 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 |