MLC plans expansion to eight teams by 2027; exploring move into Canada

Major League Cricket (MLC), the emerging T20 tournament in the USA, is reportedly planning to expand from six teams to eight by 2027. According to the latest news reports, Major League Cricket is exploring the possibility of moving into cities in Canada like Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Toronto.

Major League Cricket is officially sanctioned by USA Cricket. The T20 league features top international players, bringing high-quality T20 cricket to America. MLC consists of six teams: Los Angeles Knight Riders, MI New York, San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings, and Washington Freedom.

We Have Options Ahead of Us - MLC Co-Founder Satyan Gajwani

MLC co-founder Satyan Gajwani will helm one of the franchises, while fellow co-founders Vijay Srinivasan and Sameer Mehta will lead the other. Gajwani stated that while there are options, no firm decisions have been made yet, and the final choice will be made closer to the launch.

"We have options ahead of us. I don't think we're committed one way or the other right now," Gajwani told ESPNcricinfo. "That's realistically a decision we will take closer to launch."

Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Toronto Shortlisted for MLC Expansion

Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Toronto, which have large South Asian communities, are being considered for the Major League Cricket expansion. The final decision on which cities will be included is expected later this year.

Key factors for expansion include market potential and the support of local governments in developing stadium infrastructure. Recently, MLC officials visited Chicago and were reportedly impressed by the local backing. Visits to other cities are planned for the coming months.

In Major League Cricket, three of the six teams are owned by IPL franchise owners: Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Chennai Super Kings. The Seattle franchise has ties to the Delhi Capitals.

The San Francisco and Washington teams, not affiliated with any IPL franchises, have partnerships with Cricket Victoria and Cricket NSW, respectively. As the league expands, MLC is expected to introduce more games and extend the duration of the competition with a home-and-away format in the season.

America Have Large Populations of People Who Already Love Cricket - Satyan Gajwani

Satyan Gajwani emphasized the importance of growing the game of cricket in America, noting that there are cities with large cricket-loving populations. He acknowledged that the U.S. sports market is highly competitive, with the NBA and NFL being present in 28 cities.

"There are many cities in America that have large populations of people who already love cricket. But the goal is to grow the game and that means expanding beyond that fan base," Gajwani said. "America is the largest sports market in the world. It's also very competitive, and continuing to be relevant will be a challenge.

"But I think the economics of sport in America are pretty robust. The NBA and NFL are in 28 cities. We're in six right now. We still have a lot of headroom for growth in the medium to long term."

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