Cricket for the people: designing stadium for the 21st century global community

Abstract

Cricket is a popular sport that is played in many countries around the world. It is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players. The game is known for its unique rules and terminology, including the use of a pitch, wickets, runs, and overs. Cricket is a sport that requires strategy, skills and teamwork, making it a popular choice for players and spectators alike. Cricket has a significant cultural and social impact, particularly in countries where it is widely played. It is also a sport that promotes diversity and inclusivity, with players of different backgrounds and nationalities representing their teams. Cricket has a growing presence in the United States, with the sport being played at various levels nationwide. However, cricket has struggled to gain mainstream popularity in the United States, with many Americans unfamiliar with the sport and its rules.

As the immigrant population grows in the US, those from the formerly colonized British diaspora in particular are helping the sport to grow in popularity. These largely grassroots efforts result in many informal leagues and weekend pickup matches. However, the dominance of US major league sports and the broader professional sports industry prevents a broader cultural representation in the US of those who play cricket. Historically, cricket allowed local populations to take the British imposition of colonial rule and adapt it into their own cultural practices. Similarly, my goal for this project is to find ways to effectively represent the numerous immigrant communities on my chosen site in Dallas, Texas, while integrating with other local populations and sports culture.

To do so, I will design a cricket stadium that is representative of these various groups. I will explore architectural languages of pre and post colonial sports architecture, as well as the everyday immigrant experience, and their expressions of material culture in their neighborhoods. Together, I will challenge the architectural primacy of the stadium as an extension of Western-inspired modernist architecture. Through a combination of architectural programs, events, and symbols, I plan to design a stadium that is reflective of a broader diaspora, while being responsive to other local conditions.