The $21 Million Cricket Ground in LA Will Host Its First Game July 1, and the World of US Sports Is About to Wake Up

Alright, listen up, Emerald City! You might be thinking, "Cricket? What's that got to do with our Mariners, Seahawks, or Kraken?" But trust me, even as someone who bleeds green and blue, I gotta tell you, something huge is happening down in California, and it's about to shake up the entire sports landscape in the USA. July 1st is going to be a watershed moment when the Knight Riders Cricket Ground throws open its doors for its first-ever Major League Cricket match. We're talking LA Knight Riders taking on the Washington Freedom at Fairplex in Pomona. This isn't just a game, folks, this is a statement!

LA's $21 Million Cricket Dream Just Became Reality

This whole thing started brewing back in 2020 when the Knight Riders Group, already a massive name in cricket globally, dropped some serious cash into MLC. They were the first IPL franchise to jump into the potential of cricket here in the States, with Shah Rukh Khan himself saying he was "closely watching the potential" for T20 in the US. Then, in 2022, American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) got MLC recognized by the ICC, and the Knight Riders pushed to build a 10,000-seater venue. When the LA Olympics gave cricket the green light for 2028, the hunt for a venue was on! Last year, the LA 2028 committee announced Fairplex as a temporary spot, but the Knight Riders Group stepped up, funding a permanent facility instead. That plan got the official stamp in March and April, culminating in a huge ceremony on April 22. Pomona mayor

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Tim Sandoval, Fairplex president Walter Marquez, Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore, LAOCOG VP Niccolò Campriani, and ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta were all there. ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta even called the venue "cricket's home for LA28." Shah Rukh Khan summed it up best: "Today isn't just about breaking ground, but about beginning a dream."

From Fairplex to the Olympics: The Rise of a New Sport

This new ground isn't just a pretty face, it's a beast! Located at the Pomona Fairgrounds, about 30 miles from downtown LA, this place cost a cool $21 million to build. For now, it seats 5,000, but get this: by 2027, it'll hit 12,000, and by the 2028 Olympics, it's expanding to a massive 15,000 capacity. It's got 8 turf pitches, ready for some serious action. This is only the second stadium built specifically for MLC, following Grand Prairie Stadium. It’s also bringing cricket back to the Summer Games for the first time since 1900! Johnny Grave, CEO of MLC, couldn't be more hyped, calling it a "huge milestone for our league and for the growth of cricket across the United States." The venue is set to host seven MLC matches this fourth season, starting with the big one on July 1. So mark your calendars! The LA Knight Riders face the Washington Freedom on July 1. The Orcas play MINY on July 2, and the Knight Riders are back on July 3 against TSK. This new stadium is a massive step for cricket, and frankly, for sports in America. It’s setting the stage for the 2028 Olympics, and you just know every cricket fan, and probably a few curious Seattle sports fanatics like us, will be watching to see how this story unfolds!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.