OT: Washington Freedom Cricket Stadium

[MasonSAE4]

To be fair, there are MLS teams who average 30-40k in attendance (average attendance for all teams in 2023 was 22,000 with Atlanta topping the list at 47k and Houston at the bottom with 15k). DC United might have been one of them if an investor who actually knew what they were doing and had true ambition owned the team.

Alright, who is to say this cricket team is going to make super wise investments and be a super power? This idea that there are a ton of Indian/Pakistani/other cricket loving diaspora in the NoVa area and that large numbers of them are gonna turn out for a brand new league with what I'm assuming will be a lack of star power seems silly.

 

[Pablo]

To be fair, there are MLS teams who average 30-40k in attendance (average attendance for all teams in 2023 was 22,000 with Atlanta topping the list at 47k and Houston at the bottom with 15k). DC United might have been one of them if an investor who actually knew what they were doing and had true ambition owned the team.

MLS Team Values - How Much is Each Team Worth?

The MLS has witnessed a transformative journey since its inception in 1993. From humble beginnings, with teams playing in mostly empty stadiums, to the bustling arenas filled with passionate fans today, the league’s growth is … MLS Team Values – How Much is Each Team Worth?Read more

www.mlsfootball.com

"5. D.C. United​

• Current Valuation: $700 million
• Overview: Hailing from the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., D.C. United has showcased impressive financial growth, cementing its place among the elite in MLS valuations.
• Key Factors:
  • Value Growth: A whopping 112.1% increase, the highest among the top five.
  • Revenue: $70 million.
  • Operating Income: $8 million."

 

[MasonSAE4]

MLS Team Values - How Much is Each Team Worth?

The MLS has witnessed a transformative journey since its inception in 1993. From humble beginnings, with teams playing in mostly empty stadiums, to the bustling arenas filled with passionate fans today, the league’s growth is … MLS Team Values – How Much is Each Team Worth?Read more

www.mlsfootball.com

"5. D.C. United​

• Current Valuation: $700 million
• Overview: Hailing from the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., D.C. United has showcased impressive financial growth, cementing its place among the elite in MLS valuations.
• Key Factors:
  • Value Growth: A whopping 112.1% increase, the highest among the top five.
  • Revenue: $70 million.
  • Operating Income: $8 million."

DC United is a real estate scam operating under the facade of a soccer team. They were gifted land by the city to not only build a stadium, but a mixed-used development with a concert venue. These valuations are already kind of bullshit, and DC might be the best example. They've never invested properly since the turn of the century when there were only a handful of teams to compete against, and they needed a handout just to find a home.

 

[GMUgemini]

Alright, who is to say this cricket team is going to make super wise investments and be a super power? This idea that there are a ton of Indinan/Pakistanis/other cricket loving diaspora in the NoVa area and that large numbers of them are gonna turn out for a brand new league with what I'm assuming will be a lack of star power seems silly.

It is a risk, for sure, but Spuhler field sucks. The Freedom owners promised to pay for the stadium and if the league folds before 2025 nothing permanent will have been built.

 

[Pablo]

Alright, who is to say this cricket team is going to make super wise investments and be a super power? This idea that there are a ton of Indinan/Pakistanis/other cricket loving diaspora in the NoVa area and that large numbers of them are gonna turn out for a brand new league with what I'm assuming will be a lack of star power seems silly.

Let's see how well attended the matches are at the temporary Washington Freedom Field this summer. If I were a MLC investor, my primary concern would be the uncertainty in getting the requisite approval to build permanent stadiums for all 5 teams without one.

 

[GMUgemini]

DC United is a real estate scam operating under the facade of a soccer team. They were gifted land by the city to not only build a stadium, but a mixed-used development with a concert venue. These valuations are already kind of bullshit, and DC might be the best example. They've never invested properly since the turn of the century when there were only a handful of teams to compete against, and they needed a handout just to find a home.

Top 10 in roster spend in 2022. They also own 30 acres in Loudoun. It’s not that crazy.

 

[EXpatriot13]

I do think there are some interesting factors that will play a role in the evolution of MLC as we move forward in the short-term.

- It's coming back as an Olympic sport for LA 2028; so there's a desire to grow the game in the lead up
- There's a foundational audience in the US (small vs. US leagues), they need to attract new fans
- Their current media rights deal in the US is with WillowTV for a lowly $33M over 4 years, expires in 2027

If they can widen their reach over the next few years it will set them up with a great opportunity to re-negotiate their US media rights package with more traditional partners in this market, creating a bigger revenue stream.

There's certainly no guarantees with this, but I hope it works and I'm excited to follow the business side of it over these next few years.

 

[Pablo]

I do think there are some interesting factors that will play a role in the evolution of MLC as we move forward in the short-term.

- It's coming back as an Olympic sport for LA 2028; so there's a desire to grow the game in the lead up
- There's a foundational audience in the US (small vs. US leagues), they need to attract new fans
- Their current media rights deal in the US is with WillowTV for a lowly $33M over 4 years, expires in 2027

If they can widen their reach over the next few years it will set them up with a great opportunity to re-negotiate their US media rights package with more traditional partners in this market, creating a bigger revenue stream.

There's certainly no guarantees with this, but I hope it works and I'm excited to follow the business side of it over these next few years.

I would also include the investors as a critical factor - https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...pact-in-us/articleshow/101966966.cms?from=mdr

"The MLC consists of six franchises: the San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings, Washington Freedom, MI New York, and Los Angeles Knight Riders.

Notably, three of these MLC teams are owned by existing IPL franchise owners. The Mumbai Indians are owned by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, the Kolkata Knight Riders are owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are owned by India Cements.

The GMR Group, a 50% stakeholder in the IPL team Delhi Capitals through its subsidiary, holds a sizable stake in the Seattle Orcas, alongside Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The San Francisco Unicorns are jointly owned by esteemed tech entrepreneurs Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan. Indian-American entrepreneur Sanjay Govil has acquired ownership of the Washington Freedom.

The league is promoted by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), a consortium of more than 20 esteemed investors. This distinguished group includes Nadella as well as Adobe Chairman and CEO Shantanu Narayen, The Perot Group Chairman Ross Perot Jr., former Chief Business Officer of WhatsApp Neeraj Arora, and Paytm Founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma, among other notable individuals.

The founders of ACE, the driving force behind the MLC, include Sameer Mehta, Vijay Srinivasan, apart from Satyan Gajwani, and Vineet Jain from Bennett Coleman and Company Limited (BCCL).

BCCL is the publisher of The Economic Times.

Notably, in May 2022, the MLC successfully secured investment commitments amounting to $120 million from a prominent group of investors, spearheaded by Nadella. This substantial funding aims to develop cricket infrastructure across the United States. The investment comprised $44 million raised through Series A and A1 rounds, accompanied by an additional commitment of $76 million."

 

[Verdad]

I would also include the investors as a critical factor - https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...pact-in-us/articleshow/101966966.cms?from=mdr

"The MLC consists of six franchises: the San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings, Washington Freedom, MI New York, and Los Angeles Knight Riders.

Notably, three of these MLC teams are owned by existing IPL franchise owners. The Mumbai Indians are owned by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, the Kolkata Knight Riders are owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are owned by India Cements.

The GMR Group, a 50% stakeholder in the IPL team Delhi Capitals through its subsidiary, holds a sizable stake in the Seattle Orcas, alongside Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The San Francisco Unicorns are jointly owned by esteemed tech entrepreneurs Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan. Indian-American entrepreneur Sanjay Govil has acquired ownership of the Washington Freedom.

The league is promoted by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), a consortium of more than 20 esteemed investors. This distinguished group includes Nadella as well as Adobe Chairman and CEO Shantanu Narayen, The Perot Group Chairman Ross Perot Jr., former Chief Business Officer of WhatsApp Neeraj Arora, and Paytm Founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma, among other notable individuals.

The founders of ACE, the driving force behind the MLC, include Sameer Mehta, Vijay Srinivasan, apart from Satyan Gajwani, and Vineet Jain from Bennett Coleman and Company Limited (BCCL).

BCCL is the publisher of The Economic Times.

Notably, in May 2022, the MLC successfully secured investment commitments amounting to $120 million from a prominent group of investors, spearheaded by Nadella. This substantial funding aims to develop cricket infrastructure across the United States. The investment comprised $44 million raised through Series A and A1 rounds, accompanied by an additional commitment of $76 million."

Yup, seems like a bunch of unsuccessful losers that we want nothing to do with.

Shit, sorry:

Yup, seems like a bunch of unsuccessful losers that we want nothing to do with.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Not really on topic but if you want to check out a cricket game, it is a major time commitment.


“How many hours does a cricket game last?
Test match is the longest format of cricket covering 5 days (90 overs- 8 hours each day). Twenty-twenty format is the shortest which takes approximately three and a half hours. One Day International format takes like 7–8 hours.”

 

[psyclone]

Not really on topic but if you want to check out a cricket game, it is a major time commitment.


“How many hours does a cricket game last?
Test match is the longest format of cricket covering 5 days (90 overs- 8 hours each day). Twenty-twenty format is the shortest which takes approximately three and a half hours. One Day International format takes like 7–8 hours.”

MLC uses a Twenty20 format which involves games of 2-3 hrs.

Short form cricket - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Also, basics can be found here:

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) - The Official Website of the ECB

www.ecb.co.uk

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

MLC uses a Twenty20 format which involves games of 2-3 hrs.

Short form cricket - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Also, basics can be found here:

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) - The Official Website of the ECB

www.ecb.co.uk

Ah ok, makes sense.

 

[GMUgemini]

MLC uses a Twenty20 format which involves games of 2-3 hrs.

Short form cricket - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Also, basics can be found here:

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) - The Official Website of the ECB

www.ecb.co.uk

This explainer video also might help:

View: https://youtu.be/HNPyZsPH8TI?feature=shared

 

[Falco]

I’m just an idiot and I’m probably wrong. But it seems easier to build a stadium to accommodate soccer and cricket than baseball and cricket.

 

[MasonSAE4]

I’m just an idiot and I’m probably wrong. But it seems easier to build a stadium to accommodate soccer and cricket than baseball and cricket.

Yeah...you'd be wrong on that one. Technically you can put most other sports in a cricket stadium. But to maximize the use of both while keeping fans closer to the action, baseball is the clear winner.

 

[Falco]

Yeah...you'd be wrong on that one. Technically you can put most other sports in a cricket stadium. But to maximize the use of both while keeping fans closer to the action, baseball is the clear winner.

If you say so I will believe you. But according to google Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia and Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India have hosted both cricket and football matches. Maybe Mason finally gets its football stadium?!?

View: https://youtu.be/91I3AnH0BDg?si=uC3eIQWzChuf1ZPE

 

[MasonSAE4]

If you say so I will believe you. But according to google Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia and Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India have hosted both cricket and football matches. Maybe Mason finally gets its football stadium?!?

View: https://youtu.be/91I3AnH0BDg?si=uC3eIQWzChuf1ZPE

Not saying you can't do it for both, just that it's better for baseball.

 

[GSII]

So are we getting a new baseball stadium while letting Cricket pay for it?

 

[GMUgemini]

So are we getting a new baseball stadium while letting Cricket pay for it?

That’s the plan.

 

[Pablo]

Cricket is starting to establish a foothold in the U.S.

With a new pro league and World Cup hosting duties on the horizon, cricket is making inroads in America

theathletic.com

"In 2024, around a third of the 55 matches of the T20 Cricket World Cup will take place on American soil, with the rest in the West Indies. It follows the success of Major League Cricket’s first season, which ran through July of this year, bringing some of the world’s best and most recognisable cricketers stateside. Four years later, Los Angeles is bringing cricket to the 2028 Olympics for the first time since 1900.

Major League Cricket currently has six teams — Los Angeles Knight Riders, San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings, Washington Freedom and inaugural champions MI New York — and is owned by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE), which pledged an investment of $1billion to USA Cricket, the country’s governing body for the sport, in 2019 to win the rights to create the league.

It is not the first time America has given cricket a crack, though. Since the turn of the century, there have been several attempts to launch a professional cricket league in a country where a wooden bat is more likely to be round than flat. Pro Cricket survived one season before folding in 2004, while the original Major League Cricket announced plans to launch in 2005 and soon suffered a similar fate. Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar — two of the greatest cricketers of all time — hosted a series of exhibition matches across the U.S. in 2015 but failed to take the interest mainstream.

This time, however, backed by several Indian-American tycoons and franchises from the Indian Premier League, the game’s most powerful and lucrative franchise competition, Major League Cricket demonstrated the potential of one of the world’s biggest sports in the globe’s biggest marketplace.

'It was an incredible proof of concept that domestic American cricket can work and has a real, dedicated fan base,”'Tom Dunmore, vice president of marketing for Major League Cricket, told The Athletic. 'We sold more than 90 per cent of our tickets. Most of the games in the evening were sold out, but more than the number, it was the passion on display. The flags waving, the fans cheering — fans were seeing heroes they are used to watching on television from thousands of miles away, right in front of their eyes.”

Despite sweltering conditions, which saw temperatures cross 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), cricket-literate crowds sold out 11 of the 19 matches. Twelve of those were played at the 7,200-capacity Grand Prairie Stadium near Dallas, Texas — an area of the United States with a significant South Asian population. Grand Prairie, which began its life as a baseball venue in 2008 before then hosting professional soccer matches, received a $20 million redevelopment to convert it to a cricket ground in 2022."

“'It’s very appealing for the players to come here,' says Dunmore. 'We quickly showed that it would be competitive and that we’re going to be a top-three league in the world very quickly. In terms of play, interest in the league, and the conditions we’re providing the players, we’re first-class. The players have come over here and had a tremendous experience.'"