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Cricket at the 2028 LA Olympics: Potential East Coast Venues to Maximize Viewership

  • 28 Oct 2024 05:59 PM
  • 2028 Olympics, cricket, East Coast

Cricket competitions at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games are likely to be hosted on the East Coast of the United States, according to Casey Wasserman, chair of the host committee. This strategic decision aims to cater to the massive Indian audience and tap into the growing domestic market for the sport. Cricket will be making a comeback to the Olympic roster after 128 years, featuring in the T20 format.

While the exact venues have not yet been confirmed, the East Coast is favored due to its more favorable time zone for Indian viewers. New York, which hosted several preliminary-round matches of the T20 World Cup earlier this year alongside the West Indies, is seen as a potential host city. The East Coast is nine-and-a-half hours behind India, allowing viewers to catch the action live, whereas Los Angeles is 12-and-a-half hours behind, which could negatively impact viewership.

During a recent Business of Sports Summit in Austin, Texas, Wasserman expressed the intent to maximize cricket viewership in India, emphasizing the significance of the sport in the country. Cricket is one of six sports added to the LA28 Olympic roster, alongside baseball, softball, flag football, squash, and lacrosse. The sport previously featured in the Olympics in 1900.

The LA28 organizers are considering utilizing pre-existing infrastructure to save more than $150 million and maintain a balanced budget for the Olympics. The three venues that hosted the T20 World Cup in the US—Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, and a temporary stadium on Long Island—could serve as potential locations for Olympic matches.

It is not uncommon for host nations to organize Olympic events away from the main center. For instance, during the upcoming Paris Olympics, surfing will be held in Tahiti, sailing in Marseille, and soccer matches will take place across various locations in France.

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