USA Cricket explains ACE contract termination after court denies restraining order
USA Cricket has issued an official response to recent comments from American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) following the termination of their commercial agreement, and a court ruling denying ACE’s motion to prevent the termination.
On Thursday, a federal judge in Boulder denied ACE’s request for a Temporary Restraining Order that would have blocked USA Cricket from ending the commercial agreement. ACE, which owns and operates Major League Cricket (MLC), had sued USA Cricket following the breakdown of negotiations between the two parties.
Details of the terminated ACE agreement
The agreement between USA Cricket and ACE, established in 2019, granted ACE expansive rights that went far beyond simply operating Major and Minor League Cricket. USA Cricket now asserts that the deal:
- Was negotiated under questionable governance conditions involving an ACE insider on USA Cricket’s Board
- Granted ACE significant control over USA Cricket’s finances and operational activities
- Prevented USA Cricket from pursuing sponsorship, broadcast, and partnership opportunities with other organizations
Why USA Cricket terminated the ACE deal
USA Cricket stated that ACE had consistently failed to meet key contractual obligations over several years, including:
- Failing to provide financial support to national team programs
- Not delivering promised cricket infrastructure projects
- Neglecting commitments to proper governance and transparency
USA Cricket issued multiple breach notices to ACE and attempted to resolve the issues in good faith, including participating in a mutual standdown at ACE’s request. However, according to USA Cricket, ACE used the standdown period to promote MLC’s 2026 season instead of engaging in meaningful negotiations.
Response to ACE’s lawsuit and claims
ACE claims it remained compliant with the agreement and that USA Cricket’s termination damages the national team and the sport. USA Cricket firmly denies this narrative, stating the termination was:
- Based on documented, repeated breaches
- Made to protect the sport’s integrity in the United States
USA Cricket referenced the court’s response to ACE’s motion, noting the judge stated:
“While the contract grants ACE ‘exclusive rights to develop and commercialize’ the National Teams, ACE does not own or manage them… To the extent it is a voluntary reaction by ACE to USA Cricket’s termination of the contract, courts generally ‘do not consider a self-inflicted harm to be irreparable.’”
Looking ahead: commitment to growth and governance
USA Cricket emphasized that its primary mission is to grow the game at every level — from grassroots to national teams — while adhering to strong governance standards. The organization is actively working with domestic stakeholders, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and other partners to ensure stability and progress within U.S. cricket.
“This was not an easy decision, but it was a necessary one,” the statement concluded. “Our focus now is on the future — building trust, supporting our players and members, and creating a strong foundation for cricket to succeed in America.”
