The Knight Riders franchise has broken ground on a $21 million cricket facility in the Los Angeles metro area, the venue proposed for cricket's return at the LA28 Olympics, more than a century after the sport's only previous appearance at the Games.
The stadium will be built at Pomona Fairgrounds, approximately 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles, on land leased to the franchise under a long-term agreement with the city of Pomona.
Knight Riders were the first IPL-affiliated franchise to invest in Major League Cricket, entering the ecosystem ahead of counterparts Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. While these IPL owners have since secured stakes in MLC, the Pomona project represents one of the most significant standalone infrastructure investments made by a franchise in the league so far.
The development is part of a broader push to strengthen cricketing infrastructure in the United States. While several turf facilities have come up across the country in recent years, the Pomona venue will become only the second cricket specific stadium under MLC's ownership structure, after the Grand Prairie Stadium in the Dallas area.
"Today isn't just about breaking ground, but about beginning a dream - bringing cricket, the second most-watched sport in the world, into the heart of Los Angeles' sporting identity. Through our long-term partnership with Fairplex, we aim to create not just a cricket ground, but a space of energy, community, and belonging," said co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.
The venue had first been announced last month, with plans confirmed for it to host seven matches during the opening week of July. The ground will feature a large playing square with eight turf pitches. Initial seating capacity is set at 5,000, with expansion plans to take it up to 12,000 by 2027, in line with preparations for the Los Angeles Olympics.
Jay Shah, chairman of the International Cricket Council, said: "These are very exciting times for the game of cricket as it makes giant strides in establishing itself as a global sport. Our focus has been on expanding the footprint of cricket and being part of the Olympic movement is something that brings both pride and dreams with it.
The groundbreaking marks an important milestone in cricket's return to the Olympics and is a proud moment for all ICC members and stakeholders worldwide. We're confident this venue will take centre stage during the Games and leave a legacy for cricket in the USA."
