Major League Cricket (MLC) powerhouse Washington Freedom is poised to get a permanent home in suburban Washington after the Frederick City Council approved the rezoning of roughly 24 acres for a 10,000-seat cricket stadium, a milestone that could significantly boost the sport’s growth in the nation’s capital region.
The City Council voted 5-1 last week, with one member absent, to rezone the Gateway Property on Frederick’s eastern edge between Route 144 and Interstate 70. The site, currently a golf driving range, is expected to become the home of the Washington Freedom, the MLC franchise owned by Indian American entrepreneur Sanjay Govil.
Frederick, located about 30 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., is Maryland’s second-largest city after Baltimore. Home to about 80,000 residents, it is part of the Washington metropolitan area.
For Govil, the council’s decision marks a pivotal step toward giving both the franchise and the region’s growing cricket community a stadium they can finally call their own.
“I think it’s huge because it’s a lot easier and faster to build the support of the local community if you have a stadium, which is local, and we have people who actually come and watch the Freedom team,” Govil told The American Bazaar. “They didn’t have that luxury in the past because we were playing in other locations. So getting this approval from the council is a very big step toward building a stadium.”
Govil, founder of the Maryland-headquartered technology company Infinite Computer Solutions, said the franchise hopes construction can move quickly, although several regulatory steps remain before work can begin.
“Obviously, we would love to play in 2027 and be part of the Olympics in 2028 in some capacity,” he said. “But we still have a few steps to go through. We’ll work closely with the city, the county, the state, and all the relevant authorities to move as fast as possible.”
READ: Frederick City Council approves rezoning for 24-acre cricket stadium (August 11, 2026)
For the first time since 1900, cricket is set to return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles in 2028.
For Govil and the Washington Freedom, the rezoning represents more than a real estate milestone. It is the beginning of what they hope will become a long-term home for both professional and grassroots cricket in the nation’s capital region.
READ: Washington Freedom was a no-brainer of an investment: Sanjay Govil (July 17, 2023)
A dedicated stadium would provide young cricketers in Maryland with a place to train, give local clubs access to world-class infrastructure, and allow fans to experience elite cricket close to home. It could also help establish the Washington region as one of cricket’s leading centers in the United States.
The proposed facility is designed as more than a venue for professional cricket. Plans call for a cricket park and multi-use community space, with year-round public access and opportunities for youth sports, recreation, community events, and other activities. Project supporters have emphasized preserving green space while creating a destination where local residents can engage with cricket beyond the Major League Cricket season.
If completed as planned, it would likely become only the second purpose-built full-fledged cricket stadium on the East Coast after Broward County Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Govil said the project also stands apart because it is being built on privately owned land.
“If you talk about a full-fledged stadium, probably the second on the East Coast,” said Govil, who also co-owns Welsh Fire, which competes in the English cricket league Hundred. “The big distinguishing factor we have is that we’re building a stadium on private land. I think that’s probably the first in the country.”
The stadium is expected to host cricket from April through October while also accommodating youth sports, festivals, concerts, artisan markets, graduation ceremonies, and other community events during the rest of the year. City officials estimate the facility could attract about 100,000 visitors annually and generate nearly $2 million in tax revenue each year.
For the growing cricket community in Maryland and the wider Washington metropolitan area, the stadium could provide something the region has long lacked: a dedicated, professional-grade cricket venue close to its large South Asian and Caribbean communities.
The Washington metropolitan area is home to one of the largest and most active amateur cricket communities in the United States, with dozens of leagues, hundreds of teams, and thousands of players. Yet despite the sport’s popularity, the region has never had a permanent professional cricket stadium.
“Cricket has always been a big part of my life, so it’s really exciting to see the sport continue to grow in this area,” said Shravan Sudhir, who plays for Fairfax Cricket Club in the Washington Cricket League Premier Division.
READ: Major League Cricket returns amid America’s Olympic push (June 17, 2026)
“Having a dedicated stadium in Frederick is important because it gives the sport a real home and creates a place where players, families, and fans can come together. Its approval is a great step forward and will hopefully create even more opportunities for players and the wider cricket community.”
For Falgun Patel, a board member of the Maryland Youth Cricket Association, coach of Maryland’s first state cricket team, and president of the Howard County Cricket League, the approval represents the culmination of years of grassroots work.
“It is the realization of a dream that so many volunteers, players, families, and cricket lovers have worked and hoped for over the years,” Patel said.
“Having been involved in growing youth and adult cricket for many years, it makes me incredibly proud and emotional to see our community finally take this step and create a place where future generations can play, grow, and call home.”
The move is particularly significant for Washington Freedom, which has emerged as one of Major League Cricket’s premier franchises.
The Freedom won its maiden MLC championship in 2024, defeating the San Francisco Unicorns by 96 runs in the final. The team returned to the championship match in 2025 but lost to MI New York by five runs. In 2026, the Freedom again reached the final before falling to the Los Angeles Knight Riders by a single run at the Oakland Coliseum.
Three consecutive championship appearances—including the 2024 title—have established Washington Freedom as one of Major League Cricket’s hottest franchises.
READ: Why Major League Cricket matters beyond the pitch (June 18, 2026)
Govil credited the team’s sustained success to its culture, coaching, and fan support.
“I think it’s the culture, the team performance, the coaching we have, and the strong support from the fans,” he said. “We have created a culture where people play in a fearless fashion.”
He also acknowledged that success in a league where talent is evenly distributed often comes down to the smallest of margins.
“All teams are very good, and there’s always an element of luck,” Govil said. “A couple of injuries here, one play there, and you can be on either side.”
The Frederick project also marks another step in Major League Cricket’s broader transition toward dedicated home venues. During its early seasons, the league relied largely on shared or temporary facilities.
READ: Sanjay Govil brings professional cricket to Washington (March 20, 2023)
The Texas Super Kings play at Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas, a city-owned facility operated by American Cricket Enterprises. The Los Angeles Knight Riders opened the purpose-built Knight Riders Cricket Ground at Fairplex in Pomona in 2026, while the San Francisco Unicorns have used the Oakland Coliseum as their home venue, which has also hosted MLC playoff and championship matches.
The Washington Freedom stadium would add another dedicated cricket destination to the league’s growing infrastructure while giving the franchise a permanent identity in the Washington market.