Shah Rukh Khan unveils new cricket stadium in Los Angeles, thanks Jay Shah for support

In a major push for cricket’s global expansion, the Knight Riders have officially opened the doors to their brand new international stadium in the United States. The new Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Los Angeles marked its historic unveiling by playing host to its inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) match between the Los Angeles Knight Riders and the Washington Freedom on Wednesday.

The purpose-built venue at Fairplex Pomona represents a massive infrastructure milestone, making the Knight Riders the first global franchise to establish its own international cricket stadium abroad.

Bollywood megastar and Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan took to social media to celebrate the momentous occasion and expressed his immense gratitude to the key administrators of the sport for helping turn the long cherished dream into reality. Khan specifically acknowledged the institutional support that facilitated the ambitious transatlantic project and offered special recognition to BCCI Secretary Jay Shah and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“What started as a dream is turning into a reality today,” Shah Rukh Khan said in his Instagram post.

“A place built not just for sports, but for fun and for families and memories that will last forever.

“Special thanks to Jaybhai who has been too kind on this journey @JayShah220988, @ICC and Sanjog Gupta for being so supportive. This is for LA, for cricket fans around the world and for the Knight Riders family. Believe in purple and gold (sic).”

ELITE DEVICE

Built strictly to elite international dimensions, the stadium features an expansive eight-goal main square with natural turf, six massive 120-foot lighting towers for night broadcasts and an arena designed by moving over 32,000 metric tons of earth.

At the launch of Venky Mysore, the CEO of Knight Riders Sports emphasized that the facility serves as a definitive statement of intent regarding the future of the game in the United States. The venue is scheduled to host a blockbuster week of MLC matches from July 1 to July 5, making Southern California a premier cricket hub ahead of the sport’s inclusion in the LA28 Olympics.

While results on the field will fluctuate, with the home team suffering a tough six-wicket defeat against a disciplined Washington Freedom unit in the opener, the structural foundations laid by the franchise promise long-term dividends.

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Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

Jul 02, 2026 1:42 PM IST