What makes Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York so special

Cricket is graced by a plethora of iconic grounds. However, as the first modular cricket stadium in the world, the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, USA will hold a unique place in the sport’s history.

The project in Eisenhower Park, about 48 kilometres east of Manhattan, started in January 2024 and is expected to be completed by May 2024, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC). 

The stadium has been designed by Populous, a venue architecture firm that has also designed the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium, in Ahmedabad. Populous has also designed the Yankee Stadium in New York and the English Premier League venue, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Developed to serve as a short-term and sustainable solution using steel and aluminium, modular stadiums enable swift, cost-effective installation of infrastructure without compromising on the safety, comfort or amenities of a permanent stadium venue. Modular stadiums can be deconstructed and reassembled again.

Stadium 974, used for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, is also a modular stadium.

The New York cricket stadium will have a seating capacity of 34,000. The temporary grandstands, the ones also used for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix last year, will be repurposed for the T20 World Cup 2024. 

The T20 World Cup cricket venue will feature an array of seating options, including premium and hospitality suites. The site will include a fan zone, a unique party deck, as well as infrastructure for match-day operations and event presentation and production.

The wicket at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium will be a drop-in square – the type used at Adelaide Oval in Australia and Eden Park in New Zealand. The pitch will be curated in Florida and will be transported by road to New York in early May.

The development of the pitches is being led by the head curator of the Adelaide Oval. The outfield is being developed by US-based sports turf experts who have worked with the New York Yankees and New York Mets as well as Inter Miami CF.

Eight T20 World Cup 2024 matches will be hosted at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium between June 3 and 12, including the India vs Pakistan blockbuster on June 9. The first- T20 World Cup match at the venue will be played between Sri Lanka and South Africa on June 3.

The 2024 edition of the T20 Cricket World Cup is also the first time that the USA is co-hosting the tournament. The matches will be held at three venues with the Broward County Cricket Stadium in Florida and the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas being the other two. Both existing venues will also use modular stadium solutions to expand seating and premium hospitality areas.

The T20 World Cup 2024 will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA from June 1 to June 29. The event will be the largest in the tournament’s history with 20 teams playing 55 matches across nine cities -- six in the West Indies and three in the USA.