Cricket stadium planned for LaGrange
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The proposed LaGrange Cricket Stadium. Rendering: Courtesy of Selig Enterprises
A sport that originated in the woodlands of England is coming to west Georgia.
Why it matters: While it's played around the world, cricket has yet to find mainstream traction in the U.S.
- This stadium could be an opportunity to introduce the sport to newbies or allow existing cricket fans around Georgia to watch the sport in a venue that's closer to home.
Driving the news: Atlanta developer Selig Enterprises announced Tuesday it finalized a deal to sell 45 acres of land at the company's mixed-use development Sola to build LaGrange Cricket Stadium.
Zoom in: The deal with the DAS Cricket Academy and New Jersey Blackcaps founders will create the fourth cricket stadium in the country, Selig said in an announcement.
- The 10,500-seat open-air venue could expand to 25,000 seats, the company said. It is scheduled to break ground this fall and open in 2027.
- The stadium will meet International Cricket Council regulations and include a FIFA-regulation soccer field, along with a hotel.
What they're saying: LCS founder Siddharth Das said LaGrange made sense for its "mild year-round climate and proximity to the Atlanta airport[.]"
- Located near the Alabama border in Troup County, about an hour's drive from Atlanta, LaGrange has about 32,000 people.
- It's about 12 miles north of Kia's assembly plant in West Point.
What is cricket: It looks like a form of baseball but is much more complicated. We're not going to try to explain it for the fear of messing up, so check out this ICC video for the basics.
Zoom out: Organizations like Major League Cricket and other initiatives are bringing the sport to more people, and areas like the Pacific Northwest and Texas have become hotspots.
The big picture: Sola stretches more than 180 acres, the company said, and was sparked by the development of Great Wolf Lodge, a family-oriented indoor waterpark.
- A Marriott hotel is under development, and Selig wants to add apartments and single-family homes, offices and retail.