POMONA — The Los Angeles Knight Riders played their first home game at the Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Pomona, California, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The 200,000-square-foot facility, located at the Fairplex event complex, was developed in preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games.

About 2,000 spectators attended the inaugural match between the Los Angeles Knight Riders and the Washington Freedom. The Washington Freedom won the game. Saurabh Netravalkar, a fast bowler for the Washington Freedom, was named Player of the Match after taking three wickets and conceding 16 runs.

Metta Sandiford-Artest bowled the ceremonial first ball to open the stadium. The venue cost $21 million to build and was completed in under 70 days. Construction involved moving approximately 32,000 metric tons of earth to shape the area. The stadium features six floodlit towers and contains eight pitches.

For the 2026 season, the stadium has a temporary seating capacity for about 5,000 people. Plans are in place to replace this with permanent seating for over 20,000 people within the next year. Major League Cricket consists of six teams, and the Los Angeles Knight Riders are in their fourth season.

Major League Cricket CEO Johnny Grave said, "The legacy of 2028 is what we're most interested in." He added, "This is a permanent base for cricket."

Netravalkar commented on the atmosphere, saying, "It's heartening to see the vibe, the crowd." He also stated, "We're on the right track."

Los Angeles Knight Riders spinner Karthik Gattepalli said, "Having the local fans, the vibe, the view of the mountains, this is something you can't beat."

Why It Matters

The opening of the Knight Riders Cricket Ground contributes to infrastructure development for cricket in the United States as the sport is scheduled to be included in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This marks cricket's return to the Olympics for the first time since the 1900 Paris Games. The new stadium adds to the three other international-level cricket stadiums currently operating in the U.S.