Brampton Gears Up for the Highly-Anticipated 2023 GT20 Cricket Tournament

Brampton, Canada – Excitement is building as the countdown begins for the return of one of the world’s largest cricket tournaments to Brampton. The 2023 GT20 Cricket tournament is set to commence on July 20, featuring six Canadian teams, including the Brampton Wolves, competing for the coveted top spot.

After a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual tournament is back in its third year, ready to captivate cricket enthusiasts worldwide. With broadcasting coverage spanning 150 countries and an expected audience of over 150 million, the tournament is set to attract approximately 45 million more viewers than the 2023 Super Bowl’s 115.1 million.

Ticket sales are soaring, and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown confidently predicts a sold-out event this year. “This is going to be the best cricket you’ll see in North America, happening right here in Brampton,” Mayor Brown enthusiastically announced during a press conference held to unveil the Wolves’ new jersey and ignite anticipation for the upcoming competition.

Reflecting on the growing prominence of cricket in Canada, Mayor Brown stated, “Twenty years ago, if you said that Canada was going to be competing in the World Cup of soccer, you would have been skeptical. I think we’re at the same point when it comes to cricket, where you’re going to see Canada compete with the titans in the world.”

During the jersey presentation, members of the Brampton Wolves gifted Mayor Brown a personalized jersey emblazoned with “Patrick” and the number 10.

Local talent Saad Bin Zafar, who represents the Vancouver Knights and captained Team Canada in the cricket World Cup, expressed his excitement about the GT20 tournament. Bin Zafar, a Brampton native, highlighted the unique opportunity for Canadian players to learn from the best cricketers worldwide. “They’ll be coming to our backyard and showcasing their skills, and we’ll get the opportunity to learn from them,” Bin Zafar shared, eager to demonstrate that Canada can compete with cricketing powerhouses.

Mayor Brown acknowledged that cricket is rapidly gaining popularity in Canada and Brampton. Consequently, Brampton City Council recently approved improvements to the city’s cricket infrastructure. Enhancements include a four-lane batting cage at the Kwality Sweets Cricket Pitch, four additional batting cages at the Save Max Sports Centre, and shade shelters at various pitches across the city to provide respite from the summer heat.

The tournament will take place in a temporary stadium at Brampton Sports Park, located at 75757 Kennedy Rd. South. While the GT20 facilities are temporary, Brampton is actively seeking partners to develop a new cricket stadium and a sports and entertainment district that could potentially serve as the future home for events like GT20.

The current site is occupied by the CAA Centre, but the City envisions transforming the area into a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose cricket facility, surrounded by a vibrant sports, entertainment, and retail hub. Mayor Brown expressed his delight at the significant interest shown by “major cricket organizations” from India, the United States, and beyond, in this ambitious project.

According to GT20, the tournament generated an economic impact of around $30 million for the city in 2019. Tourism experienced a surge, with 44 percent of the 75,000 tickets sold to individuals residing outside of Ontario. Notably, 6,700 tickets were purchased by fans from the United States.

The 2023 GT20 Cricket Tournament promises weeks of thrilling matches, commencing on July 20 and concluding on August 6. To learn more about the tournament, visit www.GT20.ca.