Cricket is a growing sport in Calgary, and it just received a big boost

Cricket is a fast-growing sport in Calgary and across Canada. A field shortage threatened to stifle that progress until a major funding boost.

A significant funding boost from the City of Calgary aims to address a critical shortage of sports facilities as cricket continues to see a surge in popularity across the region.

Calgary city council earmarked $65 million in its December budget for the development of the Northeast Athletic Complex. The facility is designed to level the playing field for athletes who have struggled to find affordable and accessible space, especially for sports such as cricket and soccer.

Hamza Tariq, with the Future Cricket Stars Academy, said the demand for the sport has grown a lot in the last few years. The academy has expanded from youth programming to include senior and women’s divisions, putting further pressure on existing infrastructure.

“We’ve grown at least three-fold since we started in 2022. It’s very encouraging for any athlete to see that the city is behind them and willing to give them the infrastructure that we never had,” Tariq said.

The new complex will be situated on a 35-acre site and will feature a primary outdoor cricket pitch capable of hosting provincial and national tournaments. The plans also include four additional outdoor fields and an indoor fieldhouse to accommodate soccer and cricket practice during the winter months.

Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal said the project is particularly important for residents in the northeast.

“This will allow for those who are shut out of facilities that are very expensive northeast people,” he said, shortly after council approved the new funding.

For young athletes like Hannah Zain, the new facility represents a step toward professional standards.

“There’s going to be a turf pitch inside... the ones that we play on right now, they’re concrete pitches. So they’ll give us a feel of international cricket,” she said.

Gurnoor Mehra, another young cricketer, said the current lack of space has stifled the experience for local players compared to those in other countries.

“The great thing (about) the complex that’s going to be built is that we’re going to have so many more opportunities to play,” Mehra said.

Beyond competitive sports, the 35-acre site will include community amenities such as picnic areas, a walking track and outdoor fitness stations.

Construction on the Northeast Athletic Complex is expected to begin in 2026 after further design work. The city aims to have the facility open to the public by early 2029.