Populous designs modular Cricket World Cup stadium

Architecture studio Populous has unveiled designs for a temporary cricket stadium to be constructed with repurposed elements in New York.

The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium is a modular sporting facility and will be constructed to host eight matches of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States and the West Indies in June 2024.

Planned for Eisenhower Park in Nassau County, New York – approximately 30 miles (48 kilometres) east of Manhattan on Long Island– the stadium will measure approximately 361,850 square feet (33,616 square metres).

Populous elected to use a modular construction system that could host the World Cup and then be “removed in legacy”.

“Our design for Nassau County International Cricket Stadium was inspired by the world-class standard set by the ICC and to serve as an exemplary introduction for those new to the sport of cricket,” Populous senior principal Jeff Keas told Dezeen.

“We developed an environment that not only embodies the passion and spirit of its fanbase but creates a remarkable experience for both US and international cricket fans to enjoy some of the sport’s greatest rivalries.”

Image credit: Populous

The stadium will seat 34,000 spectators across premium and general admission sections with six two-tiered sections and six lower single-tiered sections bracketed by support buildings. The modular grandstands are being repurposed from the Formula 1 Grand Prix facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additionally, the facility will include VIP and hospitality suites, a party deck and cabanas, a fan zone with food and beverage outlets and media and broadcast areas. The wicket, which is a drop-in square similar to those in Australia’s Adelaide Oval and New Zealand’s Eden Park, is being created in Florida and will be delivered to New York in May.

Site work commenced in mid-January. Building construction is set to begin in early February and is projected to wrap up in early May with the first match of the World Cup slated for 3 June 2024 between the Sri Lankan and South African teams. International sports procurement firm The Parker Company and the Arena Group will coordinate the assembly of the modular stadium.

After the commencement of the eight scheduled matches, The Parker Company and Arena will remove the installation and return the venue to Nassau County – where it will remain one of the largest open spaces in the New York metropolitan area – to be enjoyed by the public as it was before, the Populous team explained.

“Event overlay and temporary modular structures are a key part of our work at Populous,” Keas said. “From a sustainability point of view, it is essential that event organizers can utilize high-quality, demountable and modular structures that can then be reused while making sure that the fan experience remains at the heart of the project.”