June 8, 200422 yr A team of international cricket officials is taking a hard look at Lauderhill today, as part of an 11-nation tour that will determine the sites for World Cup matches in 2007. Eight countries ultimately will divvy up the 51 World Cup matches. A decision is expected by July 4. The sole U.S. bid is based on a planned world-class cricket facility approved May 25 by the Broward County Commission as part of a new, 109-acre Lauderhill park. ''We have this one day to verify, to determine that if in our hearts and minds, the United States is truly prepared to meet the challenge,'' said Donald Lockerbie, venue development director of the International Cricket Council, after breakfast this morning at the Broward County Convention Center. The team will be in Broward only 24 hours, to assess the proposed cricket facility, as well as traffic flow, hotels, security, immigration, and what events the county plans around the games. Lockerbie said all of the 11 countries plan some sort of construction, including new facilities, and part of the equation will be a judgment about the county's ability to finalize designs and get things finished in time for the matches. Broward County Mayor Ilene Lieberman said the county has a history of opening facilities ``ahead of schedule and under budget.'' Lockerbie said the fact that the United States has conducted large championship matches in other sports is a plus. If Lauderhill is awarded the games, it would be the first time that cricket World Cup matches would be played in the United States. Local cricket players and World Cup organizers said the games could help increase the popularity of the sport, much as soccer championships have enticed more youngsters to take it up. The games could also pump $7 to $10 million into Broward's economy, according to the Broward County Convention and Visitors Bureau. ''For many reasons I believe the time has come for cricket to take its rightful place in the United States,'' Florida Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings said in a pre-recorded message to the assesment team at breakfast. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/...ews/8870838.htm I think this is aweome, I would love to go to a cricket game, even though I have no idea how it's played, lol. I figured I would post this in the Marlins forum since it's got to do with South Florida and the sport of cricket is similar to baseball. I think South Florida is a perfect location to hold it. There are tons of baseball fans down here and that is the group which would be the most likely to become cricket fans. It's also funny how they so easily approved a "world class cricket stadium facility" but the Marlins had to go through hell and high water to get approval for a new stadium.
June 8, 200422 yr they don't have money for a stadium and the're going to spend millions in a piece of s*** cricket tournament? This is the most ridiculous and pathetic sports story I've heard in a long time. They choose an international sport with no fan following whatsoever in the US over a Florida baseball team with hundreds of thousands of fans. incredible...
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