One of the key players in an ambitious plan to build a $500 million cricket stadium and sports complex in Allen is dropping out of the deal.
It's unclear what the exit of CricRealty Co. means for the project planned at State Highway 121 and Alma Drive in Collin County.
"The City of Allen has been notified by The CricRealty Company that it will not be proceeding with the development of a professional cricket sports stadium on the site owned by Thakkar Developers," Allen officials said in an announcement. "Future plans for the property are not known at this time."
In December, CricRealty and Thakkar Developers unveiled plans for what they said would be one of the largest stadiums for cricket players in the U.S. The proposed Allen Sports Village was also planned to include retail, restaurant, hotel, office and residential units.
The 80-acre development was designed to promote the sport in the U.S.
McKinney-based Thakkar Developers teamed up with the newly formed CricRealty Co., an affiliate of Pennsylvania-based Global Sports Ventures, to develop the project.
Allen Community Development Corp. pledged the developers a $25 million economic incentive grant to help build the project. The City of Allen also offered tax breaks if the development was built.
The high-profile development drew the ire of nearby residential neighbors who protested an expected increase in traffic that the project would bring.
Allen officials said they aren't certain about the project's status.
"The city has not received any information from Thakkar Developers regarding the development and the notice stated future plans are not known at this time," spokeswoman Teresa Warren said.
Cricket is the second most-watched sport globally behind soccer, and the sport is popular with Collin County's growing Asian population.
Along with the Allen project, CircRealty said it was looking to develop similar stadiums in Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, New Jersey, New York, California and Washington, D.C. It's not known if those other proposals are moving forward.
