Knight Riders Cricket Ground
Cricket ground at Fairplex in Pomona, California, US
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Knight Riders Cricket Field is a cricket ground located at Fairplex in Pomona, California, United States. Unveiled on March 19, 2026, the ground serves as the official home field of the Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR).[4] It is the first dedicated home cricket ground for any franchise in the history of MLC, which had previously staged all its matches at shared venues with no team having a permanent base.[5] The venue is also expected to host matches at the 2028 Summer Olympics, at which cricket will return to the Games for the first time since 1900.[6]
Pomona, California, United States
 Interactive map of Knight Riders Cricket Field | |
| Location | Fairplex, 1101 W McKinley Ave Pomona, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°05′04″N 117°45′54″W |
| Owner | Los Angeles County Fair Association (Fairplex) |
| Operator | Knight Riders Group |
| Capacity | 5,000 (2026)[1] 8,500 (2027)[2] 15,000 (2028)[3] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2026 |
| Tenants | |
| Los Angeles Knight Riders (MLC) (2026–present) | |
The cricket stadium will initially hold up to 5,000 spectators and expand to 8,500 in 2027 and reach 15,000 by 2028.[7][8]
Location
The Knight Riders Cricket Field is situated at Fairplex, a nearly 500-acre multi-purpose event complex in Pomona, California, approximately 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of downtown Los Angeles.[9] The Fairplex complex has hosted the Los Angeles County Fair since 1922 and also regularly serves as a venue for concerts, trade shows, sporting events, and cultural gatherings.[10]
Los Angeles County Fair Association Board Chair John Landherr described Fairplex's Olympic selection as "a dream come true", noting that the campus already hosts events including drag racing alongside one of the country's largest fairs.[11]
History
Knight Riders Group entry into US cricket
In November 2020, the Knight Riders Group, the sporting subsidiary alliance co-owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, actress Juhi Chawla, and her husband Jay Mehta, bought a stake in Major League Cricket and was granted ownership rights to the Los Angeles franchise that would become the Los Angeles Knight Riders.[12] At the time of the investment, Shah Rukh Khan stated: "For several years now, we have been expanding the Knight Riders brand globally, and closely watching the potential for T20 cricket in the USA."[13]
However, in MLC's first three seasons (2023, 2024, and 2025), no franchise had a dedicated home ground, with matches rotating among shared venues. In the 2025 season, for example, the first nine matches were played in Oakland, followed by twelve games in Dallas, nine in Lauderhill, Florida, before returning to Dallas for the playoffs.[14]
Unveiling of the Knight Riders Cricket Field
On March 19, 2026, the Knight Riders Group announced the Knight Riders Cricket Field at Fairplex in Pomona as the official home ground of the Los Angeles Knight Riders for the 2026 MLC season, with the group stating the development aimed at "positioning the region as a future hub for cricket in the United States."[15]
Venky Mysore, CEO of Knight Riders Sports, described the move as a significant step: "Los Angeles is one of the world's most dynamic sports markets and an important home for the Knight Riders brand. Establishing the Knight Riders Cricket Field in partnership with Fairplex is a major milestone for our franchise, and we look forward to a long-term partnership with Fairplex to further establish Cricket in the USA."[16]
Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Knight Riders Sports, commented: "Seeing the Los Angeles Knight Riders have a home of their own with the Knight Riders Cricket Field is incredibly exciting. The USA is a great sporting market with passionate fans, and we hope this field becomes a place where people come together to celebrate the game and support the team."[17]
Walter M. Marquez, president and CEO of Fairplex, welcomed the partnership: "As the home of the LA County Fair, one of the largest fairs in the country, we are excited to partner with Knight Riders to present cricket, one of the world's largest sports, on our campus. Fairplex continues to seek new experiences that are unique to Southern California, and the Knight Riders will create the field where the community will come together and celebrate."[18]
The 2026 MLC season has been scheduled for a June–July window (June 18 to July 18), featuring 34 matches across six teams. Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas is set to host the opening phase of the season, with the LAKR expected to play at least some of their home fixtures in Pomona.[19] Ahead of the Olympic Games, the ground is also scheduled to host three Los Angeles Knight Riders home matches between July 1 and 5, 2026.[20]
2028 Summer Olympics
The Fairplex was confirmed as the cricket venue for the 2028 Summer Olympics before the Knight Riders Cricket Field was unveiled. On April 16, 2025, the LA28 organising committee announced that cricket at the 2028 Games would be staged at a temporary, purpose-built structure at the Fairgrounds in Pomona.[21][22]
On November 3, 2025, the Pomona City Council unanimously approved an agreement designating Fairplex as a venue city for the 2028 Games, formalising the arrangement between the City of Pomona, LA28, and Fairplex as an operational step in preparations for the event.[23]
LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover said of the venue selection: "Los Angeles is the epicentre of sports, culture and entertainment, and every venue selected for the 2028 Games will provide athletes and fans the best possible experience."[24] ICC Chair Jay Shah also welcomed the announcement, describing it as "a significant step towards the preparation for our sport's return to the Olympics."[25]
Groundbreaking ceremony
On April 22, 2026, the International Cricket Council (ICC) celebrated the commencement of construction of the cricket stadium at Pomona, marking it as a landmark step toward cricket's return to the Olympic Games after 128 years.[20] A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Fairplex Grounds, attended by ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta, LA28 Vice President of Sports Niccolò Campriani, Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval, Consul General of India in Los Angeles Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore, and Fairplex President and CEO Walter Marquez.[20]
ICC Chairman Jay Shah described the occasion as a "major milestone" for cricket and its 2.5 billion fans worldwide, adding: "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."[20]
Tenants
Los Angeles Knight Riders
The Los Angeles Knight Riders are a professional Twenty20 cricket franchise competing in Major League Cricket. The team is owned by the Knight Riders Group, which also operates the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, and other franchise teams globally.[26]