Lalit Modi: Cricket in the USA Will Never Work, Emphasizing the Importance of Star Players

Strategic Insights -

Lalit Modi, a key figure in the inception of the Indian Premier League, recently shared his thoughts on why he believes cricket in the USA will never succeed. Modi attributed the likelihood of failure to the American market's preference for watching big-name stars, pointing out that even the recent Major League Cricket (MLC) season in 2023 failed to attract a large audience.

In a podcast with former Australia captain Michael Clarke, Modi explained that the MLC's first season saw low attendance, with his friend Chris Gayle describing the atmosphere at the Texas stadium as "dead." Modi also highlighted the example of the Club World Cup in the USA, where ticket prices were slashed from $473.90 to $13.40 for a semifinal match between Chelsea and Fluminese. This, he said, demonstrates the lack of interest in sports other than American football and basketball.

Modi emphasized that the American market is not interested in watching minor stars or local leagues, but rather seeks to watch star players like Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Michael Clarke. He noted that this trend is similar to the popularity of the NBA, NFL, and baseball in their respective home countries, but not elsewhere. Modi also drew parallels with his failed investment in Major League Soccer, stating that it will not work even with the recent Olympic inclusion of cricket.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lalit Modi believes cricket in the USA will never work due to the market's preference for watching big-name stars.
  • The first season of Major League Cricket (MLC) in 2023 saw low attendance, with Chris Gayle describing the atmosphere at the Texas stadium as "dead."
  • The Club World Cup in the USA in 2025 experienced low ticket sales, with prices being reduced from $473.90 to $13.40 for a semifinal match.
  • Modi emphasized the importance of star players in attracting audiences, citing examples of Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Michael Clarke.
  • The American market is not interested in watching minor stars or local leagues, unlike American football, basketball, and baseball.
  • Modi's past investment in Major League Soccer failed, and he believes the same will happen with cricket in the USA.

Statistics:

  • The first season of the MLC had six founding teams: Los Angeles Knight Riders, MI New York, San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings, and Washington Freedom.
  • Ticket prices for the Club World Cup semifinal match between Chelsea and Fluminese decreased from $473.90 to $13.40.
  • Modi noted that investment in Major League Soccer in 1995-96 resulted in significant financial losses.

Sources:

  • "Lalit Modi's podcast with Michael Clarke: Does anybody watch basketball in the UK, in Europe, in Africa, in India? No." (podcast with Michael Clarke)
  • "Club World Championship finished last weekend where Trump presented the trophy" (article, date not specified)
  • "Copyright 2025 IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd., distributed by Contify.com" (article, date specified as 2025)