How DP World Helped Bring Cricket’s World Cup to Long Island

For the first time, cricket’s highest-profile global tournament is being held in the USA, as Sri Lanka takes on South Africa on June 3rd to kick off the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup from the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Long Island. While the tournament itself has generated considerable excitement, the story of how it was brought to life in a town on Long Island is equally fascinating. Known more for its championship golf course, Long Island has now become the site of a world-class cricket ground thanks to complex and precise logistics led by DP World.

The logistics giant partnered with LandTek Group, Adelaide Oval, and the ICC to facilitate the transportation of the pitches from Boynton Beach, Florida, to the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The 34,000-seat stadium, the world’s first modular cricket stadium, will host eight T20 World Cup matches in June.

DP World coordinated a fleet of more than 20 vehicles and 40 drivers to transport both match and practice pitches on a two-day journey covering 1,250 miles. The route covered several states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey. The pitches, made of clay, soil, and Bermuda grass, were carefully cut in two and transported in trays that created a microclimate to preserve their integrity and moisture. Each pitch was monitored with a moisture probe to prevent any damaging variances in conditions.

“While we’re well accustomed to handling sensitive items, there’s an added layer of complexity and pressure that comes with transporting the very field where some of the world’s top athletes will compete,” said Terry Donohoe, SVP of Freight Forwarding, Americas at DP World. “It was an intensive process, one that required continuous monitoring of the pitch conditions using moisture probes and overcoming the logistical hurdles presented by one of the busiest transport corridors in the U.S.”

This meticulous process was essential, given that cricket matches are played on the same field repeatedly over several days, making the quality of the pitch crucial. With the world’s top cricket talent set to play, ensuring a world-class playing field was key. “Seeing the pitches successfully installed and ready for live matches, however, affirmed that all the meticulous planning and effort were indeed worthwhile,” Donahoe added.

This project is the latest partnership between DP World and a major sporting organization, following recent collaborations with the Ryder Cup and McLaren Formula 1 Team. “During the 2023 Ryder Cup, we transported 25 containers from multiple locations in Dubai, the UK, and the Netherlands to the tournament’s location in Rome,” Donohoe noted. “Similarly, we facilitated the movement of McLaren Racing's garage and hospitality units from Austin, Texas, to Las Vegas for the inaugural Formula 1 race there last year. Plus, our ongoing relationship with the International Cricket Commission (ICC), recently upgraded to Premier Partner, reflects our deep-rooted expertise and long-standing commitment in the realm of global logistics. This background naturally positioned us as the fitting choice for a global logistics partner.”