The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by the West Indies and the USA, has seen remarkable fan engagement and a surge of interest in cricket across North America. In the USA alone, a staggering 190,000 fans attended matches during the event, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s growth in the region.
Grand Prairie, Texas, was a standout venue with over 22,000 attendees across four matches, notably drawing a large contingent of passionate Nepal fans and witnessing the USA’s historic victory over Pakistan.
In New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, the largest venue of the World Cup, record-breaking crowds turned out, including 34,028 spectators for the India-Pakistan clash and 31,722 for the India-USA match. Overall, nearly 165,000 fans experienced World Cup games in New York.
The U.S. leg concluded in Broward County, Florida, where despite challenging weather conditions leading to three washouts, over 4,000 enthusiastic fans turned up for the Pakistan-Ireland match.
In addition to stadium attendance, tens of thousands participated in fan parks across key locations such as Cedar Creek in Nassau County, Citi Field and World Trade Center in NYC, Epic Central in Grand Prairie, and Fisher Pavilion in Seattle. Unofficial watch parties sprang up nationwide, underscoring the widespread enthusiasm for the tournament.
Digital engagement also soared, with over 7 million visitors accessing the ICC website and App from the USA, marking a remarkable 370% increase from the previous 2022 edition. This surge in online activity reflects a growing interest in cricket among American sports fans, with a significant portion being new visitors to ICC platforms.
Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events, expressed satisfaction with the event’s reception in the USA, highlighting extensive media coverage and plans for sustained growth in the country as part of a broader global strategy. Looking ahead, the ICC aims to build on this momentum leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and beyond.
Tickets for remaining matches, including Party-Stand options for the final bundled with Super 8 matches in Barbados, are available for purchase at tickets.t20worldcup.com and at various box offices across the Caribbean. For those interested in hospitality options, details can be found on the Barbados page of the website.
