Colorado court denies ACE’s request for TRO in dispute with USA Cricket
A Colorado court on Wednesday denied American Cricket Enterprises’ (ACE) request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) in its legal battle against USA Cricket (USAC).
ACE, the commercial partner behind Major League Cricket (MLC), announced in a September 16 press release that it has initiated litigation against USAC, alleging wrongful termination of its long-term commercial agreement. The company accused USAC of “governance failures and continued bad faith,” arguing that immediate judicial intervention was needed to prevent irreparable harm.
However, Judge Michael Kotlarczyk, in an order issued on September 17, ruled that ACE had not met the high bar required for emergency relief. “The motion identifies time-sensitive matters appropriate for prompt judicial resolution. But none of the matters are so time-sensitive that ACE has shown it will suffer irreparable harm before USA Cricket has an opportunity to be heard. The Court therefore denies the motion to the extent it seeks a temporary restraining order,” the ruling stated.
Instead, the court has scheduled a one-day evidentiary hearing on ACE’s request for a preliminary injunction during the week of September 29, 2025. The outcome of that hearing could determine whether ACE can temporarily block USAC’s actions while the broader dispute plays out in court.
Under the order, USA Cricket must file its response to ACE’s motion “on or before September 24. ACE may file a reply on or before September 26.”
Judge Kotlarczyk also clarified that ACE can still argue at the upcoming hearing that its alleged injuries constitute irreparable harm under the preliminary injunction standard.
The dispute comes just two months after the conclusion of the 2025 Major League Cricket season and less than six months before the men’s T20 World Cup in the United States.
Published on Sep 18, 2025
