The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 has seen an extraordinary surge in engagement, with record-breaking attendance, website and app hits. #T20WorldCup2024 #VedantBlog #UnitedStates
The USA, hosting part of the tournament, witnessed some thrilling cricket encounters, including a dramatic victory by the home team in Dallas and a nail-biting match between India and Pakistan in New York.
The cricketing extravaganza drew a massive crowd of 190,000 fans in the USA alone during the first round, marking a significant milestone for the sport in the country.
USA’s Unexpected Victory
The USA's cricket team surprised fans and critics alike with an incredible win over Pakistan. Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events, expressed his delight at the remarkable interest in cricket shown in the USA. The game made headlines in top media outlets, setting a strong foundation for the sport's future growth in North America.
The Grand Venues
Three venues in the USA hosted the World Cup games, with Grand Prairie, Texas, witnessing enthusiastic support from over 22,000 attendees. The highlight was the Nepal fans turning out in large numbers.
Furthermore, the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, the largest venue for the World Cup, hosted the largest crowd in USA history for international cricket when India and Pakistan went head-to-head.
In total, close to 165,000 people attended the T20 World Cup games in New York, reflecting the growing popularity of cricket in the country.
The Digital Impact
The event's impact was equally resonant in the digital sphere, with ICC's digital platforms recording 2.7 million USA-based users, a 370% increase from the numbers for the entire ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
Among these viewers, 52% were new fans, indicating the sport's expanding viewership in the region. Additionally, the ICC mascots Blaze and Tonk were a huge hit on Roblox, joining young fans more than 10 million times.
The Journey Ahead
With this successful venture, the ICC looks forward to building on this momentum towards the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, making cricket a staple in the world's largest sports market.
The remaining matches of the T20 World Cup are being played across the Caribbean.
The T20 World Cup 2024 has certainly hit a six in the USA, bringing an incredible surge in cricket engagement and setting new benchmarks for the sport in the country.
As cricket extends its boundaries, the fans in the USA are all set to be part of this exciting journey.
Picture credit: CC BY-NC 2.0, via Flickr
