ICC labels Knight Riders' Pomona venue as cricket's LA28 Games home

The ICC designated the Knight Riders' cricket ground in Pomona as the official host venue for cricket during the Los Angeles 2026 Olympic Games.

Historic groundbreaking in Pomona Cricket’s global expansion took a major leap forward as the International Cricket Council (ICC) celebrated the groundbreaking of a new venue in Pomona, California. The event marked a pivotal step in cricket’s return to the Olympic stage, fulfilling ambitions shared by the sport’s leaders and stakeholders worldwide. Organizers expressed confidence that this location will become the focal point of the cricket competition at the Los Angeles 2026 Games and help build a lasting legacy for the sport across the United States. ## Knight Riders' new home ground The Fairplex facility will serve as the primary home ground for the Los Angeles Knight Riders during the upcoming Major League Cricket season. A total of seven matches are scheduled to be played there, including the team’s first three home games, which are set for July 1 to July 5, 2026. The ground will be known as the Knight Riders Cricket Ground, solidifying its role in the team’s local presence and community engagement. ## Vision for cricket in LA Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Knight Riders Sports, emphasized the symbolic importance of the moment. '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,' he stated. Khan highlighted the long-term partnership with Fairplex as an opportunity to create more than just a cricket venue, envisioning a space filled with energy, community spirit, and inclusivity. ## Cricket’s growth in America Venky Mysore, chief executive of Knight Riders Sports, described the groundbreaking as a transformative milestone for both the franchise and the sport in the United States. 'This is a defining moment - not just for the Knight Riders, but for cricket in America,' Mysore said. He expressed optimism about the potential to grow the game and foster deeper connections with communities in Southern California, positioning the effort as a key driver in cricket’s next phase of development across the country. ## Global and local support The ceremony brought together key figures from international and local cricket leadership. Those in attendance included ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta, Tim Sandoval, mayor of Pomona, and Niccolo Campriani, vice-president of sports for LA28. Gupta reflected on the journey ahead, noting that the coming two years will feature many more milestones that enhance the celebration of culture and community as cricket’s official home for the Los Angeles 2026 Games takes shape in Pomona. He also pointed out that cricket’s inclusion in the Olympic Games and other regional multi-sport competitions signals a new chapter of worldwide growth, supported by greater accessibility, visibility, and institutional backing.