Cricket is already hot in North Texas, with a Major League Cricket team in Grand Prairie, top league investors, and Plano alone having the largest collection of cricket fields in the Southwest. Now it’s about to get even hotter—because a high-tech cricket entertainment venue is bowling its U.S. debut straight into our wicket.

Sixes Social Cricket, a U.K.-based “immersive social experience,” plans to launch its first U.S. venue this summer at Grandscape, the shopping and entertainment destination in The Colony. “Combining the thrill of cricket with a fun, social atmosphere,” it adds to the many, many venues that have made North Texas a showcase and proving ground for high-tech, immersive entertainment.

Founded in 2020 in the U.K.

Known in London as “Sixes,” the concept launched in 2020 and has become one of the most popular social entertainment concepts in the U.K., having “bowled” over 10 million balls across seven different venues.

Now North Texans will have the chance to put a cricket bat in their hand, face what looks like a live “bowler” on a video screen, and “swing for the boundaries.”

Re-imagining cricket “for the modern socialite,” Sixes will offer customers “state-of-the-art, tech-enabled batting nets” along with burgers, sharing plates, and wood-fired pizzas. It will also offer full menu of classic cocktails, beer, wine, and shakes.

If you’re uncomfortable with anything not shaped like a football, don’t worry—Sixes Social Cricket aims to make its Grandscape location a “must-visit destination with or without the cricket.”

For everyone from ‘first-timers to seasoned pros’

“Nets” will be placed through Sixes Social Cricket, offering “adrenaline-fueled batting.”  Sixes says everyone from first-timers to seasoned pros can play. You just have to grab a bat, select your level, and let it rip. Sixes says its cutting-edge tech bowls “soft cricket balls.” Points are scored depending on which targets you hit.

“We’re thrilled to bring Sixes to the United States, and what better city to launch our first venue than Dallas,” Sixes Co-Founder Calum Mackinnon said in a statement, blissfully and British-ly ignoring the intricacies of Dallas County’s municipal boundaries.

“We believe that sport and hospitality hold an unrivaled ability to unite and connect people for good and good times shared, and we’re confident that Sixes will become a staple of the Dallas community,” Mackinnon added. “It’s also an exciting time with Major League Cricket launching in Dallas this June, who we’ll be working closely with to grow the game and give people more ways to play.”

Jeff Lind, president of Grandscape, bowled in his own comment, calling Sixes’ “unique and exciting cricket experience” a “perfect addition to our already diverse array of entertainment options. We cannot wait for our guests to experience the thrill of cricket at Sixes’ state-of-the-art venue.”

North Texas—America’s capital of cricket?

Grand Prairie Stadium is Major League Cricket’s first premier cricket venue. The venue will host MLC league matches starting on July 13. [Rendering: HKS/MLC]

North Texas is quickly staking claim to be the capital of cricket in the U.S. As Sixes’ co-founder noted, we already have the first professional cricket stadium in the U.S.—Grand Prairie Stadium, home of Major League Cricket’s Texas Super Kings, who’ll host the MLC’s inaugural match this July 13th. 

In May 2022, local investors Anurag Jain and Ross Perot Jr. joined a $44 million combined Series A and A1 funding round to build out the new league’s infrastructure.

And in a “surprising fact” according to the DALLAS Relocation and Newcomer Guide: Plano is home to the largest collection of cricket fields in the Southwest. Local clubs have boosted the sport in the city with a season that lasts from March until October. 

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