Sanjay Govil-owned franchise plans to open Frederick Cricket Park in 2027, with ambitions to host international matches and serve as a year-round community destination.
Ground was broken on October 16 in Frederick, Maryland, for a new cricket stadium that will serve as the permanent home of Washington Freedom, the Sanjay Govil-owned Major League Cricket franchise that has reached three consecutive championship finals, winning the title in 2024.
The groundbreaking ceremony drew dozens of dignitaries and scores of guests, including U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Maryland’s senior senator; Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller; Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.); Major League Cricket CEO Johnny Grave; Cricket West Indies CEO Chris Dehring; and Washington Freedom star Andries Gous.
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor, former Maryland Secretary of Higher Education Sanjay Rai and several other local elected officials also attended.
The 10,000-seat stadium will rise on a 24-acre former golf driving range along the western bank of the Monocacy River, on Frederick’s eastern edge between Route 144 and Interstate 70.
Once completed, it is expected to become the first cricket stadium in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions capable of hosting both international matches and Major League Cricket games. It would also be the second purpose-built, full-fledged cricket stadium on the East Coast, after Broward County Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Cricket West Indies CEO Chris Dehring offered a glimpse of the venue’s international potential, suggesting that Frederick could one day host matches involving some of the world’s leading cricket nations.
READ: Frederick clears way for Sanjay Govil’s Washington Freedom cricket stadium (August 14, 2026)
“I can well imagine West Indies playing India here one day,” he said.
Major League Cricket CEO Johnny Grave also emphasized the stadium’s significance beyond Washington Freedom, saying it could provide a venue for the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams to compete against leading international opponents.
“This is going to be an international venue bringing the best players from all over the world to play against our U.S. national team,” Grave said.
He described the groundbreaking as a historic milestone for American cricket, noting that while MLC had established a high standard of competition since its inaugural season in 2023, its long-term growth would depend on developing world-class stadiums and infrastructure.
Govil told The American Bazaar in August that he hopes the Frederick stadium will “be part of the Olympics in 2028 in some capacity.”
Lt. Gov. Miller, an Indian American, pointed to the symbolism of the groundbreaking date, which marked exactly three years since the International Olympic Committee approved cricket’s return to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“The next great story of cricket is coming right here,” she said.
A homecoming for Sanjay Govil
For Washington Freedom owner Govil, founder of the Maryland-headquartered technology company Infinite Computer Solutions, bringing the franchise to Frederick represents something of a homecoming.
The tech entrepreneur recalled that he and his wife, Vidya, had once considered buying a house in Frederick before deciding it was too far from their community. A longtime Maryland resident whose children were born in the state, he said returning to Frederick with a major cricket development felt like coming full circle.
But his vision extends beyond building a professional cricket stadium.
The larger development, known as Frederick Cricket Park, will feature community spaces accessible to the public year-round, including a park along the Monocacy River where families can gather, relax and enjoy recreational activities.
“The cricket game is going to be a few hours, but the goal is for the fans to come here, enjoy the whole day as a family,” Govil said.
READ: Sanjay Govil brings professional cricket to Washington (March 20, 2023)
Drawing inspiration from his years at Auburn University, where football games were surrounded by festivities before and after the action on the field, Govil said he hopes to create a similar atmosphere around Washington Freedom matches.
The stadium is expected to host cricket matches from April through October while accommodating youth sports, festivals, concerts, artisan markets, graduation ceremonies and other community events throughout the year.
Govil and the franchise hope to complete the stadium by summer 2027, in time for the next Major League Cricket season. The facility will initially feature four pitches oriented north to south, with four additional pitches planned for a later phase.
Located about 30 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., Frederick is Maryland’s second-largest city after Baltimore. With approximately 80,000 residents, it is part of the Washington metropolitan area.
Economic boost for Frederick
City officials have estimated that the facility could attract approximately 100,000 visitors annually and generate nearly $2 million in tax revenue each year.
Miller praised Govil as a visionary entrepreneur whose investment could transform Frederick into a destination for cricket fans.
READ: Washington Freedom was a no-brainer of an investment: Sanjay Govil (July 17, 2023)
“He doesn’t bet on what is. He bets on what can be,” she said.
The lieutenant governor, who described Govil as a risk-taker who had built a billion-dollar business, said the stadium’s benefits would extend beyond cricket to local restaurants, businesses and the broader community.
“It’s not just who wins on the scoreboard. It’s the people of Frederick that are going to win,” she said.
For Maryland and the wider Washington metropolitan area, the project also promises something the region has long lacked: a permanent, professional-grade cricket venue close to its large South Asian and Caribbean communities.
The Washington region is home to one of the country’s most active amateur cricket communities, with dozens of leagues, hundreds of teams and thousands of players. Despite the sport’s popularity, however, it has never had a dedicated professional cricket stadium.
A permanent home for a championship franchise
Washington Freedom has emerged as one of Major League Cricket’s most successful franchises since the league’s launch in 2023.
The team won its maiden MLC championship in 2024, defeating the San Francisco Unicorns by 96 runs in the final. It returned to the championship match in 2025 but narrowly lost to MI New York by five runs.
In 2026, Freedom reached the final for a third consecutive season, only to fall to the Los Angeles Knight Riders by a single run at the Oakland Coliseum.
Three consecutive championship appearances, including the 2024 title, have established the franchise as a powerhouse in the league.
Sen. Van Hollen recalled celebrating Washington Freedom’s 2024 championship on Capitol Hill, saying the franchise’s journey would not be complete without a permanent home.
“We’re so glad you’re making your permanent home right here in Frederick, Maryland,” he said, praising the collaboration among state, county and city officials that helped bring the project to fruition.
The senator also shared his personal connection to cricket. Growing up in a Foreign Service family, he spent part of his childhood in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, where he played the sport.
“I told Sanjay that my bowling arm is a little rusty and my batting is a little rusty, but I look forward to joining you out here on the pitch,” he said.
The Maryland Democrat said cricket’s arrival in Frederick could help introduce the sport to new audiences while bringing together people from different backgrounds.
“Sports are about competition. They’re about rivalries, but at the end of the day, they are about bringing people together, bridging people from all different backgrounds,” he said.