The International Cricket Council (ICC) has today announced the commencement of a significant construction phase at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. This phase will see the transportation and installation of the pitches that will serve as the centrepiece of the playing surface.
Ten drop-in pitches have been prepared in Florida since late December, employing proprietary techniques honed over a decade at Adelaide Oval. The development of the pitches has been overseen by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions, led by renowned Adelaide Oval Head Curator Damian Hough.
The pitches, cultivated with native Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass, have been meticulously nurtured in Florida by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions and US-based sports turf experts LandTek Group. They have undergone continuous care and maintenance over the past three months.
Four pitches will be set up at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, with an additional six designated for neighbouring practice facilities. The Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions team will remain in New York to assist local grounds crews in pitch maintenance throughout the World Cup. This will ensure that the pitches are maintained to the highest standards, setting the stage for unforgettable cricket.
The drop-in square, a type used around the world, including at Adelaide Oval and Eden Park, has been curated in Florida and transported by road to New York via a convoy of more than 20 semi-trailer trucks, thanks to the support of the ICC’s Official Global Logistics Partner DP World.
The outfield was installed last week by LandTek, a company with experience working with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Inter Miami CF on their stadium and training fields.
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 participate in the New York tournament, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Canada, Ireland, Bangladesh, South Africa, the Netherlands, and the USA. The first match is scheduled for June 3, with Sri Lanka and South Africa, the 2014 champions, facing off.