Broward County Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness has been inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame as he received the Golden Age Award for his commitment to advancing cricket in the United States and the construction of the Cricket Stadium at Central Broward Regional Park.
The announcement was made at the induction ceremony at the Cricket Hall of Fame in Hartford, Conn. Proclamations from the governor of Connecticut and the mayor of Hartford were given to each inductee.
Commissioner Holness is an avid cricket fan and former cricket player who served as the city commissioner and vice mayor for Lauderhill when the Cricket Stadium at the Central Broward Regional Park was built. The stadium is the only cricket venue in the United States that is certified and sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.
Commissioner Holness was also instrumental in bringing the Digicel 2012 West Indies vs. New Zealand Cricket Series to Central Broward Regional Park and Stadium in June. The international sports event brought an estimated $3.1 million into Central Broward.
“I’m proud to be inducted into the Hall of Fame with the Golden Age Award. Events such as the West Indies vs. New Zealand Cricket Series demonstrates the popularity of cricket in South Florida and the economic benefit of hosting these types of events in Broward County,” said Commissioner Holness. “Next year, we hope to have Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka and believe that it will bring the same economic benefit.”
More than 11,000 people were in daily attendance during the Digicel cricket series. More than 1,100 hotel rooms were sold in Central Broward. Ticketmaster reports that more than 40 percent of the tickets were purchased outside of Broward County. The games were seen in 1.2 billion homes via ESPN.
Commissioner Holness also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Cricket Hall of Fame in December for his efforts to support and promote the sport in South Florida.
The Cricket Hall of Fame, located in Hartford, Conn., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and developing the game of cricket in the United States, inducting local and international cricket players for their contribution to the game of cricket.
