Washington Freedom has secured crucial rezoning approval to build a privately funded, 10,000-capacity cricket stadium on land it owns in Frederick, Maryland. The decision marks the end of a persistent four-year search during which the Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise evaluated between 15 and 20 potential locations across the Washington D.C. metropolitan area before focusing on Frederick two years ago.
Establishing dedicated home venues is a core long-term ambition for MLC franchises, though navigating land acquisition and stadium construction in the United States has proven highly complex. The Freedom franchise is aiming to have the new venue ready for the 2027 MLC season, which would allow the league to play across four home venues for the first time. The development plans include a five-pitch square, with the franchise intending to install the wicket block early so the pitches can settle through the Washington winter and undergo a full growing cycle before potentially hosting matches next summer.
This infrastructural milestone follows another key development for MLC, after the Los Angeles Knight Riders opened their new ground in Pomona this summer. That venue is also scheduled to host cricket matches during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, providing another piece of purpose-built cricket infrastructure in America.
To secure local support in Frederick, the Freedom spent the last two years running a grassroots educational campaign. Team officials held open houses, gave presentations, and engaged directly with neighborhood associations, Rotary clubs, and the local Chamber of Commerce, which ultimately endorsed the project for its economic potential. The surrounding region is already home to five or six cricket academies involving an estimated 400 to 500 children. The franchise engaged these young players and their families, even organizing an event featuring Australian star Steve Smith. At subsequent public hearings, local parents and children spoke about traveling long distances to access proper cricket facilities or being forced to practice on makeshift baseball fields.
A major element of the proposal involves turning the stadium site into a broader community asset. A river runs adjacent to the privately owned property, but the riverfront is currently inaccessible to the public. Freedom has proposed creating, funding, designing, and maintaining a public riverfront park next to the stadium that will remain open to the community year-round. The exact layout will be decided through public consultation, with potential uses including walking and biking trails, picnic areas, boat access, farmers markets, and cultural festivals.
"We’re incredibly grateful to the City Council for the thoughtful consideration they’ve given this project and for the many people throughout Frederick who have taken the time to engage with us along the way," Sanjay Govil, owner of Washington Freedom, said. "This vote represents an important step forward, but we know there is still meaningful work ahead. From the beginning, our goal has been to create something that belongs in Frederick – a place where world-class cricket can thrive while also creating new opportunities for young athletes, families and the broader community. We’re excited to continue that work together and bring the vision for the cricket park closer to reality."
The stadium project adds another dimension to what is already one of MLC's most successful franchises. Washington Freedom is the first team in league history to reach three consecutive finals. Under the guidance of coach Ricky Ponting, they won their maiden championship in 2024 by defeating the San Francisco Unicorns by 96 runs in the final. They returned to the championship match in both 2025 and 2026, finishing as runners-up on both occasions.
The stadium project in Maryland is part of a rapidly expanding cricket portfolio for Govil, an Indian-American billionaire. Beyond the United States, Govil has acquired a 50 percent stake in the Welsh Fire through an equal partnership with Glamorgan, giving the franchise a foothold in The Hundred. He has also publicly expressed interest in investing in Australia's Big Bash League should Cricket Australia eventually open its franchises to private capital.
