Pitch Installation at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium: A Significant Milestone
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has proudly announced the key phase of construction at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The transportation and installation of the pitches, which will be the focal point of the playing surface, have been completed.
Ten drop-in pitches have been meticulously prepared in Florida since late December, using proprietary techniques perfected over a decade at Adelaide Oval. Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions, led by the esteemed Adelaide Oval Head Curator Damian Hough, has undertaken the development of the pitches.
The pitches, cultivated with native Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass, have been carefully nurtured in Florida by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions and US-based sports turf experts LandTek Group. They have been under constant care and maintenance for the past three months.
Four pitches will be installed at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, with an additional six designated for neighboring practice facilities. The Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions team will stay in New York to assist local grounds crews in pitch maintenance throughout the World Cup, ensuring world-class pitches for unforgettable cricket matches.
The drop-in square, a type used globally including at Adelaide Oval and Eden Park, has been curated in Florida and transported by road to New York via a convoy of over 20 semi-trailer trucks, thanks to the support of the ICC’s Official Global Logistics Partner, DP World.
Last week, LandTek laid the outfield. They have previously worked with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Inter Miami CF on their stadium and training fields.
ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley, on the Installation
Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events, said, “The installation of these pitches is one of the final pieces in a project that is unprecedented in international cricket. We have taken a considered and well-planned approach to this project, using the very best in the business in Damian Hough to ensure we have the best possible playing surface for eight World Cup matches in New York.
“T20 as a format was an innovation in its time to bring the sport of cricket to a new and expanded audience. This innovative strategy, to bring the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 to the United States, with a temporary venue and a pitch that has its founding on the other side of the globe, is truly groundbreaking. I can’t wait to see the world’s best compete in Nassau County this June.”
Adelaide Oval Head Curator, Damian Hough, on the Project
Damian Hough, Adelaide Oval Head Curator, said, “We are excited to see the arrival of the pitches here in New York. Florida proved to be the ideal nursery for the pitches with good weather, and working alongside great partners like LandTek has been fantastic. Everything is coming together as it should.
“We’re now focused on bedding in the pitches here in New York to ensure we’re delivering an end product of the highest quality.
“The games in New York are a great platform for us to showcase our abilities to a global audience. It’s certainly a massive thrill for everyone at Adelaide Oval to be involved in such a huge event.”
The matches in New York will take place at a state-of-the-art 34,000-seat modular stadium located at Eisenhower Park in Nassau County, east of Manhattan. Nine teams will feature in New York including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Canada, Ireland, Bangladesh, South Africa, the Netherlands, and the USA, with the first match taking place on 3 June between 2014 champions Sri Lanka and South Africa. Tickets and hospitality packages are available at tickets.t20worldcup.com.