The city of Espoo is planning to build a full-sized, temporary cricket field in the Suurpelto district, as demand for the sport grows among the city’s international residents.
The field will be located on a plot reserved for future housing construction and the temporary effort is expected to cost around 200,000 euros. Since the housing project there is not expected to begin for several years, the city said it can be used for cricket in the meantime.
Cricket is particularly popular among residents with South Asian backgrounds, especially those from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. According to the Finnish Cricket Association, there are around 400 licensed cricket players in Espoo, although the total number of hobbyists may reach into the thousands.
Espoo's Director of Sports and Physical Activity, Martti Merra, said the city wants its sports facilities to better reflect the interests of its increasingly diverse population.
"We need to take into account what interests young people at sports venues," Merra said.
The city also plans to invest further in facilities for football, basketball and indoor martial arts, all of which are popular among immigrant communities.
Merra argued that access to familiar hobbies and sports can help immigrants settle and feel more at home in Finland.
"No one will move to Espoo just because a cricket pitch is being built, but the people who live here can stay if we also have a cricket pitch," added Merra.
At present, cricket in Espoo is mainly played on football pitches, which are considered too small for the sport. A regulation cricket field is roughly twice the size of a football field.
The Suurpelto site is expected to serve as a temporary solution for around 10 years while the city looks for a permanent location for a cricket ground.
