The Los Angeles Olympics have always been a highly anticipated event, and the 2028 edition is no different, especially with the inclusion of cricket. As cricket makes its return to the Olympic fold, the organisers of the LA28 Olympics are scouting for the perfect venue, and New York has emerged as a strong contender to host the matches.
One of the main considerations is the time difference between Los Angeles and cricket-loving countries like India. With a 12-hour and 30-minute gap between LA and India, a prime-time 8 PM game in Los Angeles would air during breakfast hours in India, which might not be ideal for the Indian audience.
On the other hand, New York, with a more manageable 9-hour and 30-minute time difference, offers a better viewing window for Indian fans. A match starting around 10:30 or 11:00 AM in New York would air in India at 8 PM, perfectly aligning with prime-time viewing.
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This time zone advantage was already leveraged during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, held in the USA, where games were scheduled to accommodate the global audience. However, finding a proper venue in the USA has posed a challenge.
NEW YORK IS LIKELY TO HOST CRICKET IN LA OLYMPICS…!!!!
– New York is more preferable due to the timing for the fans in the subcontinent, especially in India. [Vijay Tagore From Cricbuzz] pic.twitter.com/I6RHFsfs7I
— cricket news 📰🧢 (@ff_oppp) October 22, 2024
The T20 World Cup matches were played in modular stadiums, constructed specifically for the event and dismantled afterwards. Cricket’s unique requirements for a venue are something the LA28 organisers are grappling with, as there are few permanent cricket facilities available in California or anywhere else in the USA.
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Sportico highlighted this challenge, noting that LA28’s cost-effective strategy of using existing venues might hit a roadblock when it comes to cricket. However, if the matches are held in New York, it wouldn’t be the first time an Olympic event takes place outside the host city—football at the Paris 2024 Olympics was staged across various locations in France, and cricket might follow a similar path in LA28.
