Cricket at LA28 Olympics May Move to East Coast for Indian Audience
Cricket’s return to the Olympics after a 128-year absence could see matches played on the East Coast of the United States to cater to the massive Indian audience and tap into the growing domestic market in the host country.
According to LA28 host committee chair Casey Wasserman, the East Coast’s more favorable time zone for Indian viewers compared to the West Coast makes it the preferred location for the men’s and women’s cricket competitions. New York, which hosted preliminary-round matches of the T20 World Cup earlier this year, is a potential venue.
Wasserman emphasized the importance of maximizing cricket viewership in India, a country with a huge fan base. He noted that the East Coast is nine-and-a-half hours behind India, allowing viewers to watch the matches live, while Los Angeles is 12-and-a-half hours behind.
The LA28 organizers are exploring the use of pre-existing infrastructure to host cricket matches, potentially saving over $150 million and generating new revenue. The three venues that hosted the T20 World Cup in the US – Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, and a temporary stadium on Long Island – are potential candidates.
Hosting Olympic competitions away from the main center is not uncommon. The Paris Olympics featured surfing events in Tahiti, sailing in Marseille, shooting in Chateauroux, and soccer matches across the country.