Los Angeles, CA., April 22, 2026: Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) & Fairplex
celebrated the groundbreaking at the Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Pomona, LA
County, California, marking 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.
The ceremony brought together civic leaders, global sports stakeholders, and
community partners, underscoring the significance of the project as one of the first
dedicated cricket venues in Southern California. The development follows LAKR’s
stadium announcement in March and will serve as the team’s home base for the
upcoming Major League Cricket (MLC) season.
The event featured a special video message from Mr. Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of
Knight Riders Sports, opening remarks by Venky Mysore, CEO of Knight Riders
Sports, along with Walter Marquez, President and CEO of Fairplex; Other
distinguished speakers included Tim Sandoval, Mayor of Pomona; Sanjog Gupta,
CEO of the ICC; Eric Garcetti, former Mayor of Los Angeles and former U.S.
Ambassador to India; Niccolò Campriani, Chief Brand and Communications Officer
at LA28.
The Knight Riders Cricket Ground will become a long-term, world-class cricket
infrastructure in the region. The venue is set to host seven matches, including
LAKR’s first three home fixtures of the 2026 MLC season from July 1–5, bringing
elite T20 cricket and a high-energy fan experience to Los Angeles.
Shah Rukh Khan, renowned Indian actor, film producer and co-owner of Knight
Riders Sports, said: “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.”
Venky Mysore, CEO of Knight Riders Sports, added: “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 U.S. ”
This marks the beginning of a long-term vision to establish the Los Angeles Knight
Riders Cricket Ground as the home of cricket in the USA, powered by world-class
playing and training infrastructure.
About the Knight Riders
The Knight Riders brand is a global brand in International Cricket, with nine trophies to its
name and four professional franchises under its wings – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the
IPL, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Caribbean Premier League, Abu Dhabi Knight
Riders (ADKR) in UAE’s International League T20 and Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) in
USA’s Major League Cricket, making it one of the most versatile brands in T20 cricket
globally.
KKR has appeared in the IPL final four times, winning the championship three times (2012,
2014, 2024). They finished runners-up in the 2021 season, staging one of the most
remarkable comebacks in the tournament’s history. TKR’s Men’s Team has won the CPL
championship 5 times in 11 years since the Knight Riders took over the franchise. They are
the most successful team in the Caribbean and hold the unique distinction of having won the
trophy in 2020 without losing a single game in the tournament. TKR Women, the Knight
Riders’ first-ever Women’s Team, were champions of the inaugural WCPL in 2022.
For many years now, the Knight Riders Academy has been actively scouting talented
cricketers from across India and around the world. The sole objective of the Academy is to
identify and help cricketers make an overall round-the-year improvement in their cricketing
skills and fitness.
App: Website: https://www.lakriders.us/
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For more information on Knight Riders, please reach out to [email protected]
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