New York, The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Trophy Tour made a significant milestone by making its first stop at an iconic sporting stadium in the United States, landing at the Nassau County International Stadium site. This event marked the midway point of the stadium’s construction. ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, two-time champion Men’s T20 World Cup Chris Gayle, and USA men’s player Ali Khan attended the ceremony, which was celebrated in spectacular New York style.
According to International Cricket Council, the ceremony showcased the progress of the stadium’s construction, with the East Stand infrastructure completed and the ongoing installation of spectator seating. The West Stand development, which began on March 1, is progressing rapidly, and the premium hospitality and media pavilions have reached the second level of their planned four-level complexes. The development continues on schedule, including the world-class playing field in Nassau County. The cricket ground’s drop-in pitches, maturing to ICC standards under the supervision of Damian Hough from Adelaide Oval, are on schedule to complete the 14,000-mile trip from Adelaide to New York for installation in early May.
In 75 days, Nassau County will host Sri Lanka against South Africa, marking the start of a nine-day festival of T20 World Cup cricket with eight matches scheduled between June 3 and June 12. The venue is also set to host one of cricket’s biggest rivalries, India against Pakistan, on June 9, as an ICC World Cup comes to the USA shores for the very first time.
Following overwhelming demand with more than 3 million ticket applications in the public ballot, additional tickets have been released to 51 of 55 matches, including fixtures where allocations were previously exhausted. This move ensures as many fans as possible can attend. Fans are encouraged to secure their World Cup experience at tickets.t20worldcup.com, where a range of premium hospitality offerings inclusive of food and beverage packages for all fixtures at Nassau County International Stadium and to all matches at West Indies venues are also available.
The Trophy Tour, which was launched with a light-up ceremony of the Empire State Building, will next visit Penn Station in Manhattan, offering fans a chance to take pictures with the trophy, before heading to Texas as part of its tour across iconic sporting teams and landmarks in the USA. Fans can follow the Trophy Tour through ICC’s social channels and t20worldcup.com.
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice expressed delight at witnessing the significant progress at the Nassau County International Stadium and emphasized the unforgettable experience awaiting players and fans across the eight matches in New York in June. Chris Gayle highlighted the potential of the T20 World Cup to elevate cricket’s fanbase in the USA and urged fans to experience the vibrant atmosphere of the World Cup in the Caribbean.