The Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) unveiled the Knight Riders Cricket Field at Fairplex in Pomona on March 18, 2026, marking a historic milestone as the first Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise to establish its own dedicated home venue.
This purpose-built facility will host LAKR's home matches during MLC's 2026 season, scheduled from June 18 to July 18. The Knight Riders Group, owners of IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders, aims to cultivate a strong Southern California fan base and position the region as a future cricket hub in the United States. The field promises world-class infrastructure for professional matches featuring global stars.
Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Knight Riders Sports, expressed excitement about giving LAKR a permanent home. "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," Khan stated. The development expands the Knight Riders' global footprint beyond India.
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Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore called Los Angeles one of the world's most dynamic sports markets. The partnership with Fairplex, home to the LA County Fair, represents a long-term commitment to growing cricket in America through high-quality live events and community engagement.
Fairplex President and CEO Walter M. Marquez hailed the initiative as a major milestone. "Fairplex continues to seek new experiences unique to Southern California, and the Knight Riders will create the field where the community will come together and celebrate," he said, emphasizing cricket's potential alongside traditional fair attractions.
The unveiling underscores cricket's accelerating growth in the US post-2024 T20 World Cup, with MLC gaining traction among diverse diaspora communities. As the only privately-owned MLC venue, Pomona positions LAKR for competitive advantage while boosting local tourism and sports infrastructure.
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