Milestone: SRK’s Knight Riders Gets Own Venue In CA, Set To Host Olympics

PICTURE CREDIT- INSTAGRAM-lakriders

India-West News Desk

POMONA, CA – The Knight Riders Group has unveiled its first permanent home ground in the United States, making it the first IPL-owned franchise to secure a dedicated venue outside of India. The facility, named the Knight Riders Cricket Field, is located at Fairplex here and will serve as the home base for the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR).

The move marks a shift for Major League Cricket (MLC), which previously operated without designated home grounds, requiring teams to rotate through venues in Oakland, Dallas, and Lauderhill. The new stadium is expected to host LAKR matches during the 2026 season, currently scheduled for June and July.

Beyond league play, the venue is also set to host cricket matches for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, marking the sport’s return to the Olympics after 128 years.

Co-owner and Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan said, “Seeing the Los Angeles Knight Riders have a home of their own 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.”

Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore noted that establishing the Pomona base is a “major milestone,” describing Los Angeles as a critical market for the brand’s global ambitions.

The partnership with Fairplex, a site traditionally used for the LA County Fair, concerts, and conventions, aims to position Southern California as a future center for American cricket. Walter M. Marquez, President and CEO of Fairplex, told ESPNcricinfo that the organization is eager to present one of the world’s largest sports on their campus through this collaboration.

The establishment of the California venue further expands the Knight Riders’ international reach. Since its 2008 inception in Kolkata, the group has acquired franchises in the Caribbean (Trinbago Knight Riders men’s and women’s teams), the UAE (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), and the United States.

The move to a fixed address in Southern California is intended to help the franchise build a local identity and a consistent training environment.