Morehead State University
A new kid on LA's block: College students' interest, understanding, and the perception of potential growth of Cricket in the U.S.
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Freshmen
Institution 24-25
Morehead State University
KY House District #
18;52
KY Senate District #
18;25
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Steve Chen; Vivek Madupa
Department
Business Administration
Abstract
Cricket, the second most popular sport globally, has limited research on Americans' perceptions. Originating in southern England during the late 16th century, it was introduced to the U.S. in 1844. Since then, the sport’s popularity in America has fluctuated. Recent events, such as the U.S. national team's victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup and the opportunity to host the 2024 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, have sparked renewed interest in cricket. This study explores the sport’s historical development and its potential growth in the United States. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 college-aged sports enthusiasts to gather their views on three key areas: (1) interest in the game, (2) willingness to watch matches, and (3) expected ticket prices for attending games. The results revealed that most participants had limited knowledge of cricket’s rules and star players, and displayed only moderate interest in learning about, watching, or attending cricket events. Participants indicated a maximum ticket price of approximately $60 USD. While many sports journalists are optimistic about cricket’s potential growth in the U.S., the findings suggest that significant efforts are still needed for cricket to become a mainstream sport.
A new kid on LA's block: College students' interest, understanding, and the perception of potential growth of Cricket in the U.S.
Cricket, the second most popular sport globally, has limited research on Americans' perceptions. Originating in southern England during the late 16th century, it was introduced to the U.S. in 1844. Since then, the sport’s popularity in America has fluctuated. Recent events, such as the U.S. national team's victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup and the opportunity to host the 2024 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, have sparked renewed interest in cricket. This study explores the sport’s historical development and its potential growth in the United States. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 college-aged sports enthusiasts to gather their views on three key areas: (1) interest in the game, (2) willingness to watch matches, and (3) expected ticket prices for attending games. The results revealed that most participants had limited knowledge of cricket’s rules and star players, and displayed only moderate interest in learning about, watching, or attending cricket events. Participants indicated a maximum ticket price of approximately $60 USD. While many sports journalists are optimistic about cricket’s potential growth in the U.S., the findings suggest that significant efforts are still needed for cricket to become a mainstream sport.