The anticipation is growing for the second season of Major League Cricket (MLC) as the American professional T20 competition looks to capitalize on a successful debut. The upcoming season is set to kick off on July 5 with a double header between defending champions MI New York and Seattle Orcas in a rematch of last season’s final. The tournament will conclude on July 27, with the latter stages overlapping with England’s Hundred competition. MLC officials initially aimed for a mid-June to mid-July schedule to avoid clashes, but the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S, ended in late June this year.
MLC has seen high demand for pre-sale tickets since announcing the season’s schedule, indicating a growing enthusiasm for cricket in America. Chief Executive Vijay Srinivasan expressed delight in providing fans across the nation the opportunity to witness top-tier cricket live in their own backyard. The success of the first season has set a foundation for MLC to establish itself as one of the premier T20 leagues in the world. The goal is to continue expanding the sport in the United States and engage the community, both as fans and participants.
Attendance numbers for last season were impressive, with around 70,000 fans turning out for the tournament played at venues such as the Grand Prairie Stadium near Dallas and the Church Street Park in Morrisville. The second season will see an expansion of six games, with teams set to play seven matches in the group stages leading up to four playoff games. While MLC officials aim to eventually have a home-and-away season, this will only be feasible once all franchises have home grounds. Player wages in the league will remain competitive, with top players earning $175,000 for a minimum of five games.
MLC has been able to attract marquee Australian signings, such as Steve Smith, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Glenn Maxwell, and Travis Head, due to Australia having no international commitments after the T20 World Cup. The league exceeded financial targets in its debut season, generating revenues of $8 million. The success of the league’s first season can be attributed in part to its novelty factor, but there is optimism that MLC will continue to grow in its second season both on and off the field. With momentum from a historic T20 World Cup and a strong fan base, MLC is poised for another successful season as it aims to establish itself as a premier T20 league in the world.
