The “groundbreaking ceremony” of the Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Pomona, California took place on April 22, with ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta calling the venue “cricket’s home for LA28”.
The event, just over a month after it had been confirmed that Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) would play their MLC 2026 matches at their own home venue, marked “a landmark moment for cricket in the United States and positioning Los Angeles as a key hub in the sport’s rapid growth ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games [where cricket will make a comeback after 128 years],” a Knight Riders statement said.
“These are very exciting times for the game of cricket as it makes giant strides in establishing itself as a global sport,” Jay Shah, the chairman of the ICC, said in a statement. “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.”
To start with, the venue at Fairplex will serve as LAKR’s home venue in the upcoming MLC season. Overall, seven matches are scheduled to be held there, including LAKR’s first three home fixtures between July 1 and July 5,.
“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,” Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Knight Riders Sports, said. “Through our long-term partnership with Fairplex, we aim to create not just a cricket ground, but a space of energy, community, and belonging.”
The chief executive of Knight Riders Sports, Venky Mysore, who was present at the ceremony, said, “This is a defining moment – not just for the Knight Riders, but for cricket in America. We see strong potential to grow the game and connect with the community in Southern California to lead this next phase of cricket’s growth in the US.”
Gupta, present on the occasion, said, “The journey over the next two years will see many such milestones which enhance the sense of occasion, culture and community, as cricket’s home for LA28 is built in Pomona. With the inclusion in the Olympic Games and other regional multi-sport events, cricket has already stepped into a new era of global growth powered by improved accessibility, elevated visibility and stronger institutional support.”
Among the others present on the occasion were Tim Sandoval, the mayor of Pomona, and LA28 vice-president of sports Niccolo Campriani.
