Cricket Opens Its Account with RAP Budget Request for LA City 2025-2026
The Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) has submitted a BUDGET REQUEST FOR 2025-26 fiscal year, seeking $33,123,226 from the City of Los Angeles, which is currently grappling with a billion-dollar budget shortfall. This request is part of a broader effort to maintain and expand recreational programs, but its approval remains uncertain given the financial challenges. Recent statements from the Mayor highlight the strain on city departments like RAP, which could impact the funding allocations for cricket and other programs.
How Cricket Made It Onto the City Budget Request
Cricket’s inclusion in the city’s budget request is tied to a broader procedural step taken by Olympic planning committees. When a city is designated as an Olympic host, officials are tasked with evaluating and researching potential new and adaptive sports that lack proper infrastructure within the region. This process is meant to prepare for the possible inclusion of these sports in future Olympic programming and to encourage grassroots development ahead of the Games.
Currently, there is no formal decision by the Olympic committees on a dedicated cricket venue in Los Angeles, according to the latest reports. However, local city officials have been directed to explore pilot programs for emerging sports, including cricket, to assess feasibility and participation levels. RAP requesting allocation for cricket is a result of very preliminary efforts, designed to lay the groundwork and support limited program development while understanding the volume and related landscape.
Cricket’s Inclusion in the City Budget
Cricket has been identified as part of the Youth Sports Partnership (YSP) Project Plan, with an initial allocation of $30,000. While this amount is, shall we say, limited, the funding signals an intent to expand cricket’s presence within the city’s recreation programs, for the youth. The pilot initiative aims to provide structured programming at select locations, giving young athletes access to coaching and organized play.
- Woodley Park Cricket Complex (6350 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91436) – ROE and Permitted groups at the Basin include Southern California Cricket Association (SCCA), Los Angeles Cricket, Social League Cricket, + additional organizations to be incorporated through the pilot programs.
- Balboa Park (17015 Burbank Blvd, Encino, CA 91316) – Placeholder site for Valley Municipal Sports Park, which operates Sepulveda Basin; this site will not be used for cricket. LA Cricket along with other orgs are working with the City to identify locations.
Cricket’s Place in the Broader Youth Sports Budget
The RAP budget request includes allocations for various youth sports, but cricket’s share of the funding is a fraction of what other sports receive; it is just now qualifying as a PILOT, if the budget is approved, that is. This raises questions about whether the sport is positioned for real growth or simply included as an afterthought.
In addition to cricket and pickleball, the budget proposal outlines funding for all the regular checkboxes listed below:
- Recreational Leagues & Classes – $23,075,076 to support leagues across 90 prequalified sites and 35 additional locations.
- Aquatics Programs – $4,808,063 allocated for swim lessons, surfing initiatives, and competitive aquatic sports.
- Signature Youth Programs – $4,061,587 to expand specialized sports and adaptive programs.
- Marketing & Safe Sport Programs – $1,178,500 dedicated to outreach, branding, and ensuring compliance with safety standards.
Despite these proposals, cricket’s $30K budget remains a mere drop in the ocean compared to the millions allocated to other sports. If cricket is to thrive, its supporters must SHOW UP IN NUMBERS and push for more substantial, long-term investment. Without increased commitments, cricket risks being relegated to an afterthought, overshadowed by sports that already have stronger financial backing and institutional support.
How Cricket Funds Will Be Used
The cricket pilot program will focus on media outreach, community awareness, and program development rather than direct infrastructure investment. A significant portion of the funding will be used for promotional efforts to highlight cricket across the region, including digital campaigns and outreach initiatives. This approach aims to generate interest and increase participation in the sport.
Additionally, the funds will support introductory clinics and training programs, providing opportunities for youth and community members to engage with the sport. These sessions will be conducted in collaboration with existing cricket organizations, ensuring structured guidance for new players. The program’s success will likely be assessed based on participation levels and community engagement, which may determine the feasibility of future funding increases.
Cricket’s Venue for LA28: The Unresolved Question
The location for cricket at the 2028 Olympics remains uncertain. While Los Angeles is the host city, discussions suggest an East Coast venue, particularly New York, may be considered to maximize global viewership. The temporary stadium in Nassau County, built for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, has fueled speculation that a similar approach could be retaken for the Olympics. After all, what’s another $20 million spent twice? The investment into that venue vanished almost overnight, but discussions suggest that large-scale temporary solutions could be explored again and in the east coast; why? because well, we all know why, right?. However, no official confirmation has been made.
Locally, Sepulveda Basin was initially considered but ruled out quickly due to flood zoning and protected land restrictions. Meanwhile, Oakland’s 2025 Major League Cricket venue is a temporary solution, and though it showcases the city’s ability to host cricket at a professional level, the stadium site is slated for redevelopment, making it an unlikely long-term option. Other venues such as Grand Prarie Stadium (Dallas, TX), Boweard County (FL) are all in contention if all else fails, that is.
With a sealed lip, sources close to the project indicate discussions are ongoing, and an official update is expected soon. While we all sit and wonder, there are higher forces at work; the silence from Los Angeles Cricket’s Commercial Stakeholders has been deafening. Why has there been no movement on potential cricket venues on the West Coast? Could there be plans quietly in motion, or is cricket in Los Angeles simply an afterthought? It isn’t just a matter of ‘if you build it, they will come’—something is coming, soon, very soon. Los Angeles will not go quietly into the night. The pieces are shifting, and while nothing has been publicly confirmed, those working quietly in the shadows know that movement is inevitable.
Challenges and Future Goals
It is time for growth—sustaining is no longer an option. As Los Angeles approaches the 2028 Olympics, the inclusion of cricket in this budget request is a promising sign, but its future will depend on citywide financial realities and the ability of cricket advocates to secure sustained support. The limited funding also underscores the challenges of the voices of the Local Cricket Community uniting as ONE and expanding outreach for the sport in Los Angeles. The sport’s growth will require sustained advocacy to secure more significant investments, particularly in infrastructure, coaching resources, and facility development.
The uncertainty surrounding the city’s finances complicates the outlook. If RAP faces reductions due to the ongoing budget deficit, discretionary funding for pilot programs like cricket could be impacted. Stakeholders will need to navigate these constraints while continuing to push for long-term commitments to cricket’s development.
Next Steps: Sign Up
Now is the time to sign up and bring as many supporters as possible. Every registration strengthens our case for cricket’s future in Los Angeles. We are actively working with LA City Recreation and Parks to rally our community and ensure that participation numbers reflect the sport’s true following. Every registration, every clinic, and every demonstration of support counts toward making cricket a permanent fixture in LA’s sports landscape.
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