MLC 2026: LA Knight Riders get new home ground, become first franchise with own stadium in California

Los Angeles Knight Riders will finally have a place to call home. The Knight Riders Group on Wednesday announced that their Major League Cricket franchise will stage matches at the newly-christened Knight Riders Cricket Field, built inside Fairplex in Pomona, California, beginning with the 2026 season.

The move ends three years of nomadic fixtures for the league. Since MLC’s inception, contests have been scattered across Lauderhill, Florida; Grand Prairie, Texas; and Oakland, California, with no club able to host regular, distinct home dates. With the completion of the Pomona venue, LAKR becomes the first team in league history to operate from a purpose-aligned, self-branded stadium, potentially giving the side a tangible home advantage for the first time.

Situated in eastern Los Angeles County, the ground arrives at a strategic moment: cricket will feature in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, its first appearance at the Games since 1900. League and civic officials hope the facility will help grow the sport locally ahead of that spotlight.

Knight Riders Sports co-owner Shah Rukh Khan hailed the development, saying, “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. I’m really looking forward to this new chapter for the Knight Riders in Los Angeles.”

Fairplex, long known for hosting the LA County Fair and a slate of trade expos and sporting events, will now add top-tier cricket to its portfolio. “As the home of the LA County Fair, one of the largest fairs in the country, we are excited to partner with Knight Riders to present cricket, one of the world’s largest sports, on our campus,” Fairplex president and CEO Walter M. Marquez said. “Fairplex continues to seek new experiences that are unique to Southern California and the Knight Riders will create the field where the community will come together and celebrate.”

While the exact number of 2026 fixtures to be played at Knight Riders Cricket Field has yet to be finalized, the franchise views the ground as a long-term hub. On-field results have been elusive so far; LAKR finished last in two of the league’s first three seasons and second-from-bottom in the other. Club officials hope a stable home environment can help reverse that trend as MLC enters its fourth campaign.

Construction timelines and seating capacity were not disclosed, but the venue is expected to meet league standards in time for the 2026 opener. The announcement also raises the possibility that other franchises may pursue similar permanent facilities as MLC continues to mature.