Cricket West Indies (CWI) stays devoted to rising the game in the USA, regardless of a disappointing spectator turnout in the course of the lately concluded T20 collection towards Pakistan on the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, USA.
The 20,000-seat venue was lower than half full throughout the three matches, the place most followers supported Pakistan.
Ronald Stewart, a Jamaican dwelling close to the stadium, admitted he was unaware that worldwide cricket was being performed in his yard, regardless of the venue being nicknamed “Jamaica Hill.”
Nevertheless, CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow emphasised the long-term imaginative and prescient behind internet hosting matches in Florida.
“That is per our technique during the last couple of years, the place we’ve got spoken about increasing the sport throughout the Americas,” Shallow stated. “We’re planning to ascertain a federation and can take part in main multi-sport occasions, together with the Bolivarian Video games later this 12 months, the 2027 Pan Am Video games, and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.”
Whereas acknowledging that matches that includes India sometimes draw bigger crowds, Shallow careworn the importance of sustaining a presence in Florida.
“We all know the distinction in turnout once we host India in comparison with Pakistan, however we should keep true to our plan of increasing our market.”
Whereas acknowledging that extra could be completed to market and promote matches, Shallow additionally stated, “We have to begin profitable, and it is so simple as that. We now have spoken to the gamers and the employees and re-emphasized the significance of profitable, and as soon as we try this, we are going to begin getting extra followers popping out.”
Although missing in native help, the collection served as one other step in CWI’s push to make cricket extra seen within the US, an important market as the game prepares for its Olympic return in 2028.
The problem, nevertheless, stays participating the Caribbean diaspora and American sports activities followers to fill the stands.
