- America’s first-ever national T20 Championship will conclude on Oct. 2-3 with $250,000 in prize money at stake
- Four teams to meet on Finals Weekend at Church Street Park in Morrisville, NC, with games free to attend
- Conference Finals and Championship Final will air live on Willow TV, and will stream outside the United States on YouTube
Minor League Cricket announced today the schedule and broadcast details for Finals Weekend, the conclusion of America’s historic first nationwide T20 competition. Four teams will compete to be crowned the inaugural champion of the Toyota Minor League Cricket Championship presented by SLING TV, to be broadcast live on Willow TV.
Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina will host the Conference Finals on Saturday Oct. 2, and the championship match on Sunday Oct. 3. The first match on Saturday, at 10 a.m., will see the Empire State Titans face the New Jersey Stallions in the Atlantic Conference Final. In the afternoon, beginning at 2.30 p.m., the Golden State Grizzlies will match up against the Silicon Valley Strikers in the Pacific Conference Final. The conference final winners will play in the showpiece Championship Final taking place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, with the grand prize of $125,000 going to the first-ever Toyota Minor League Cricket Champions.
“The intense competition throughout the inaugural Minor League Cricket championship has brought a new level of T20 competition for players around the country, and it has been fantastic to see how the tournament is helping to discover and develop American talent as part of our pathways,” said Iain Higgins, USA Cricket CEO. “Huge credit must go to our partners at Major League Cricket and all of the team owners for their collective hard-work and investment. This has been a professionally delivered tournament at a scale never seen before in the history of cricket in America with 27 teams and over 200 matches already played since the season opener in July.
“The televised National finals this weekend are the ideal way to close out a brilliant first season for Minor League Cricket. This weekend’s games are sure to be a great platform for some of the best cricketers in the country, in an idyllic setting for the game in North Carolina, and I’m excited to see who will be crowned as the inaugural Toyota Minor League Cricket champion!”
Finals weekend at Church Street Park, located only 15 miles from downtown Raleigh, is free to attend for all games. Fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet with international star cricketers, enjoy local food trucks, music and a family activity zone.
In another first for a domestic championship, high definition live television and streaming coverage for the finals weekend will be broadcast on Willow TV, with an eight camera production and top-tier international announcer team in place. All three games will be available to live stream for free on Willow TV’s website and mobile app, and on YouTube outside the United States.
The broadcast for the finals will be hosted by veteran international commentator Barry Wilkinson, with an all-star lineup of analysts to include former West Indian international Colin Croft, current US Women’s National Team coach Julia Price, commentator Nikhil Uttamchandani and ESPNCricInfo’s Peter Della Penna.
“The level of broadcast coverage for Finals Weekend represents a step forward for production quality for a domestic cricket championship and will provide a fitting showcase for the best cricketers in America competing for the Toyota Minor League Cricket Championship title,” said Justin Geale, Tournament Director, Minor League Cricket. “Church Street Park is a gorgeous venue fit for a final, and we are grateful to the Town of Morrisville, the Triangle Cricket League and the Morrisville Cardinals for their support in hosting this event in the Greater Raleigh area.”
The Minor League Playoffs Bracket
The match and broadcast schedule at Church Street Park is as follows (all times local):
ATLANTIC CONFERENCE FINAL
New Jersey Stallions vs. Empire State Titans
Saturday, Oct. 2 – 10 a.m.
- Live broadcast on Willow Extra*
- Live stream on Willow app and website
- Live stream on Willow YouTube channel outside the United States
PACIFIC CONFERENCE FINAL
Golden State Grizzlies vs. Silicon Valley Strikers
Saturday, Oct. 2 – 2.30 p.m.
- Live broadcast on Willow TV and Willow Extra*
- Live stream on Willow app and website
- Live stream on Willow YouTube channel outside the United States
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Sunday, Oct. 3 – 2 p.m.
- Live broadcast on Willow TV and Willow Extra*
- Live stream on Willow app and website
- Live stream on Willow YouTube channel outside the United States
* Willow Extra will be available to watch free for SLING TV subscribers
Live ball-by-ball scoring will also be provided by CricClubs, and will be available at www.minorleague.cricket.
**Entry is free though fans are encouraged to RSVP at finals.minorleague.cricket to receive important information to plan ahead for their visit.**
Church Street Park in North Carolina.
