Long Island officials address Cricket World Cup threat, say it will be the "safest place to be on June 9"
MINEOLA, N.Y. -- The 2024 Cricket World Cup is coming to Long Island this weekend, and Nassau County officials say they are prepared to keep the stadium and the surrounding area safe.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder spoke about their security plans Wednesday.
"Each and every day, Nassau County, as well as other communities and cities and counties and towns throughout the United States, receive all kinds of threats. We take every threat seriously," Blakeman said. "To that end, we have taken many, many precautions. As well as making sure that the stadium and the surrounding Eisenhower Park are safe, the parking areas are safe, the watch areas are safe, we also are adding 100 additional police officers to our normal staffing for the rest of the county, just as a precaution."
The police commissioner went into detail about reports, purportedly posted by a group that supports an Islamic State terrorism group, making vague references to "Nassau Stadium" and the date, June 9, when India plays Pakistan.
"When you've got a game and a crowd as big as this, everything is credible. We will go through every fine detail when it comes to the security and safety of the residents here in Nassau County," said Ryder. "I can guarantee you this is the largest security we've ever had to do in this county's history, and I can also guarantee you the safest place to be in Nassau County on June 9 will be inside that stadium."
"I think it's almost to be expected at an event of this magnitude, ISIS trying to find some way to disrupt it mainly by propaganda by creating a sense of panic," added retired Congressman Peter King, a former Homeland Security chair
2024 Cricket World Cup security plan
Ryder said the department has been preparing for the event for the past six months.
He outlined the following safety protocols:
- Eisenhower Park will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to roughly 6 p.m. Police will reopen the area once fans leave for the day.
- Spectators will have to go through metal detectors to enter the stadium grounds.
- No bags or drones are allowed inside or overhead.
- Parking at Eisenhower Park will be limited to VIP ticket holders. Other spectators should park near the Nassau Coliseum, about a half mile away. There will also be designated rideshare drop-off and pick-up locations.
Ryder said police will have a large presence on the ground and in the air, coordinating with federal, state and local partners, as well as transit police.
"This will be one of the tightest securities that Nassau County has ever seen. You will not get in this venue without the proper credentialing, ticketing or parking access that you have. Otherwise, you will be turned around," he said.
Officials plan to share more details about the road closures and transportation options Thursday.
"There are threats each and every day, but during this process of hosting such an important international event, we have taken what I would say are superior measures to make sure that we are on top of every potential situation that could occur," Blakeman said. "If I wasn't confident that we were safe, secure, and that our health care measures were in place, I would not do this."
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement about security Wednesday, which read, in part, "While there is no credible public safety threat at this time, we continue to monitor the situation closely. Public safety is my top priority and we are committed to ensuring the Cricket World Cup is a safe, enjoyable experience."
Crickets fans said they have confidence in law enforcement.
"Of course security is a big concern and hopefully everything will be done nicely without any trouble, without any problem," Kuljit Paul said.
"We can't take any chances anymore. I expect them to up security to keep everybody safe," Danielle Colonel said.
2024 Cricket World Cup warm-up matches start
This is the first time ICC Men's T20 Cricket World matches will be played in the United States. Eight will be held at the newly unveiled Nassau County International Cricket Stadium at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.
"I am extremely confident that this is going to be a very exciting and fun time here in Nassau County," Blakeman said. "It's a chance for us to showcase everything that we have to offer here in Nassau County -- from our shopping, to our great restaurants, to our hotels, to our beaches, our parks, our cultural institutions, all of our museums. This is an opportunity for us to shine, and I'm very, very confident that this is going to be a very, very successful and safe event."
The warm-up matches started over the weekend, and the first one will be played at Nassau on Saturday, when Bangladesh takes on India at 10:30 a.m.
The first regular match at Nassau is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Monday between South Africa and Sri Lanka.
2024 Cricket World Cup schedule at Nassau stadium
Eight of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup matches will be held at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. The biggest game is slated to be India vs. Pakistan on June 9.
- June 3: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa
- June 5: India vs. Ireland
- June 7: Canada vs. Ireland
- June 8: Netherlands vs. South Africa
- June 9: India vs. Pakistan
- June 10: South Africa vs. Bangladesh
- June 11: Pakistan vs. Canada
- June 12: USA vs. India
See the full schedule for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup here
