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Get ready, cricket fans — Major League Cricket 2025 is about to make history! Starting June 12th, the league's third season kicks off at the legendary Oakland Coliseum, marking the first time professional cricket will be played at one of America's most iconic sporting venues.

This isn't just another season. It's cricket coming home to California.

⚾ From Baseball to Boundaries: The Coliseum's Cricket Transformation

The Oakland Coliseum — home to the Oakland Athletics for 56 years until their recent move to Las Vegas — is getting a complete cricket makeover. The venue will be modified to host cricket, with a reduced capacity of 12,000 and the planned installation of drop-in pitches to meet international standards.

It will host the opening match of the 2025 season on June 12, a rematch of last year's final between the Unicorns and Ricky Ponting's Washington Freedom. Talk about starting with a bang! The very first pitch at the Coliseum will be a championship rematch — San Francisco Unicorns taking on defending champions Washington Freedom.

🗺️ Three Cities, Three Venues: MLC Goes Coast-to-Coast

For 2025, Major League Cricket is expanding beyond its traditional Texas and North Carolina homes. The league stage will span all three venues before the playoffs and championship return to Texas.

Here's your MLC 2025 venue breakdown:

• 🌉 Oakland Coliseum (California): June 12-18 — 9 matches

• 🤠 Grand Prairie Stadium (Texas): June 20-29 & July 8-13 — League matches + ALL playoffs and finals

• 🏖️ Broward County Stadium (Florida): July 1-6 — League stage matches

All playoff matches including the Qualifier, Eliminator, Challenger, and Championship final will take place at Grand Prairie Stadium, maintaining Texas as the league's flagship venue for the biggest moments.

🏆 Defending Champions vs. Hungry Challengers

Let's talk about what happened in 2024 — because Washington Freedom absolutely dominated when it mattered most. The Washington Freedom defeated the San Francisco Unicorns by 96 runs to win the tournament. Led by a stellar performance from Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell, Freedom set an imposing target of 208, which proved too steep for the Unicorns to chase.

But here's the thing — the San Francisco Unicorns are hungry for revenge, and they're getting home-field advantage right out of the gate. Playing at the Coliseum gives them a massive opportunity to set the tone for the entire tournament.

🌟 The Teams: Star Power Meets American Ambition

MLC 2025 features six powerhouse franchises:

🗽 MI New York — 2023 inaugural champions looking to reclaim their crown

🦅 Washington Freedom — 2024 Champions coached by Ricky Ponting and featuring Steve Smith

🦄 San Francisco Unicorns — 2024 Finalists getting their Coliseum homecoming, captained by Corey Anderson

🏰 LA Knight Riders — West Coast rivalry brewing

🤴 Texas Super Kings — Faf du Plessis leading the charge

🐋 Seattle Orcas — Looking to bounce back strong under captain Heinrich Klaasen

💰 Economic Impact: $3 Million Boost for Oakland

MLC said on Wednesday that the league would deliver "a $3 million [USD] direct economic boost" to the city, which will become the first west-coast venue to host top-level cricket. That's serious money flowing into Oakland's economy, proving that cricket isn't just entertainment — it's big business.

Tickets start at just $20, making world-class cricket accessible to Bay Area families and cricket newcomers alike.

🎯 Why This Matters for American Cricket

"Coming to the West Coast, and being here in Oakland, is an historic move for cricket globally. It reinforces our commitment to growing the game in the United States and providing fans with an exceptional cricket experience," said Johnny Grave, MLC's CEO.

The Bay Area has the second-largest cricket fan base in the U.S., and bringing professional cricket to an iconic venue like the Coliseum sends a clear message: American cricket is here to stay and growing fast.

Plus, with cricket returning to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, this expansion feels perfectly timed. MLC is building the foundation for something truly special.

📺 Batball USA: Your MLC 2025 Coverage Hub

Here at Batball USA, we're beyond excited to bring you comprehensive coverage of MLC 2025! From opening night at the Coliseum through the championship final at Grand Prairie Stadium, we'll be tracking every boundary, every wicket, and every story that makes this tournament special.

🚀 The Bottom Line

Major League Cricket 2025 isn't just expanding — it's making a statement. From the historic Oakland Coliseum to Florida's Broward County, with all the biggest moments culminating at the cricket-specific Grand Prairie Stadium, this is American cricket at its biggest and boldest.

The June 12th season opener at the Coliseum promises to be unforgettable: defending champions Washington Freedom facing off against hungry San Francisco Unicorns in front of a sold-out California crowd.

Mark your calendars, get your tickets, and get ready for the most ambitious MLC season yet! 🏏🇺🇸

📅 Key Dates to Remember:

• June 12: Season opener at Oakland Coliseum

• June 12-18: Oakland Coliseum matches (9 games)

• June 20-29: Grand Prairie Stadium league matches

• July 1-6: Broward County Stadium matches

• July 8: Qualifier at Grand Prairie Stadium

• July 9: Eliminator at Grand Prairie Stadium

• July 11: Challenger at Grand Prairie Stadium

• July 13: Championship final at Grand Prairie Stadium

👀 Stay locked in with Batball USA for everything MLC 2025. American cricket is writing history, and we're here to cover every moment that matters. The game's going national — let's ride! 🎢🏏