From today's Stuff Mag:  The proposed partnership covers a variety of activities, ranging from the sharing of coaching and development expertise through to the staging of international fixtures on American soil.

Noting the Twenty20 World Cup was scheduled for the Caribbean in April-May, Vaughan said it "wouldn't be a huge step to say we could play a series of T20 or ODIs (in the United States) on the way home."

While any series would be a revenue-generating exercise for NZC, Vaughan said it would also "support and grow" cricket awareness in a country dominated by basketball, American football and baseball.

"The US has enormous cricket potential and enormous commercial potential," he said.

The United States is an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and has an estimated 15,000 registered players, mainly expats from the subcontinent.

Vaughan said NZC would look to assist the USACA with coaching, umpire and ground staff development as well as fostering interest in schools.

NZC has already committed to helping the United States team prepare for under-19 World Cup in New Zealand in January.

Vaughan said NZC might also look at accessing a training base in Florida during the winter months, an alternative to Brisbane or Darwin in Australia.

The United States has an internationally accredited venue in Florida at Lauder Hill, near Fort Lauderdale.

"It's pretty impressive, it has the bare bones of what could be an outstanding venue," he said.

"The (Florida) climate is conducive, you just have to get Americans loving the game."

USACA chief executive Don Lockerbie was excited about the potential benefits for his organisation.

"USA Cricket can learn greatly from the experience and knowledge of NZC, and we believe there are real and significant cricketing benefits and commercial opportunities possible through this partnership."

Today's Stuff has more on this developing story:

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said it was interesting to note that the United States had about 15,000 registered adult players, which was not that much fewer than New Zealand.

"That is the largest of any associate country to the ICC but they do not have any junior base."

Significantly, Stuff called this the first commercial partnership to be approved by USACA.

--The USACA called for expressions of interest from possible commercial partners and NZC is the first to be officially approved by the USACA.--

The United States under-19 team, which qualified for the ICC World Cup in New Zealand, will be taken under NZC's wing on their arrival in January and assisted with some coaching and preparation.

In return, matches could be played out of New Zealand's season in the United States that could bring fresh commercial opportunities.

"Apart from our inbound tours and the funds distributed from the ICC, that is basically all we generate," said Vaughan.  

In another interview, Vaughan said that the cricket venues are used for rugby during the off-season and Florida has perfect weather for hosting matches out of season.

"In these changing times with the Indian Premier League, diversifying revenue makes a lot of strategic sense."