The United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) and ESPN3 have signed an agreement to deliver the 2014 US National Cricket Championships exclusively on the multi-screen sports network. The US National Cricket Championships will be carried live from the Worlds Sports Park in Indianapolis beginning August 21, 2014 and concluding with both finals on Sunday, August 24.
The US National Championships will involve teams from all Regions of the USA and will be played in the exciting Twenty20 format. Teams will compete in two (2) Conferences, with the top four teams competing in the finals on August 24. Both finals will be delivered live on ESPN3.
“US cricket has worked very hard this year to increase the exposure of our sport in America,” said Gladstone Dainty, President, USACA. “We have been developing a strong foundation on which to showcase cricket to the American public and we believe that the reinvigoration of the US National Cricket Championships will create a great deal of excitement both within and external to the US cricket community.”
“Fans have come to know ESPN3 as a leading destination for live cricket events in the US,” said Todd Myers, Director of Programming and Acquisitions, ESPN. “By carrying the US National Cricket Championships, we hope to continue to grow the sport by giving it national exposure across a variety of accessible platforms.”
Teams from across the 8 Regions in the US will also compete in a lead in series commencing in May which will see 32 matches played across the country. Final teams will be selected in July in preparation for the US National Cricket Championships in late August.
“2014 will be an exciting year for US cricket and the agreement with ESPN3 is a positive start. The US cricketing scene will receive a boost by not only having the chance to play on the brand new Worlds Sports Park in Indianapolis including a new turf pitch, but to follow the lead up the Championships starting in May,” said Darren Beazley, CEO, USACA. “By working closely with ESPN3, we hope that the Finals on August 24 will draw a significant audience across a number of platforms”.
The US National Team will be selected from the US National Cricket Championships to compete in the 2014 Auty Cup in Florida in September.
About ESPN3: ESPN3 is ESPN's live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually. It is accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and streamed on televisions through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members, Apple TV and Roku. The network is currently available to more than 85 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. The network is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers, smartphones and tablets connected to on-campus educational and on-base military broadband and Wi-Fi networks.
About USACA: The United States Cricket Association is the National Body for cricket in the USA and is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 based in Florida. USACA's primary objective is to promote, encourage, foster and develop interest and participation in the game of cricket throughout the United States of America.
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