Cricket enthusiasts cheer on hope of world class stadium in Brampton

The City of Brampton is hoping to score a run with plans to develop a multi-purpose cricket facility surrounded by a "new urban core with major transit-oriented opportunities for high-density residential, business, leisure and tourism."

The city is launching an expression of interest process for companies interested in taking on the challenge of transforming City Lands, a site located by Highways 410 & 407, following a public survey that closed on Feb. 28. 

A potential project that would transform the 112-acre site owned by the city has been in the works for years as part of the city's 'Living the Mosaic' 2040 vision, which aimed to create "complete neighbourhoods" and support multiculturalism in its decision-making.

"The numbers don't lie," Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown told CBC Toronto. "You'll go by baseball diamonds and hockey rinks that are not used ... Yet, when it comes to cricket, there's literally 400 teams on the waitlist that can't get time."

Brown said the site — which is currently undeveloped, apart from one hockey arena to be retained — will have multiple uses. He said the decision to prioritize cricket is leaning into the "mosaic" that is a demographically changed Brampton, including diaspora populations that love the sport.

"We're building recreation, not for 1961 Brampton, but for the decades to come," Brown said.

While the cricket facility has become a centre-piece of the intended project, many residents who spoke to CBC News said it's about what opens up between residents by inviting a cricket facility into the space, not only the game itself.

"We're having a difficult time making the transition from bedroom communities into full-blown cities," said Harminder Dhillon, a founding member of resident