Shah Rukh Khan’s Knight Riders Group Unveils Historic Cricket Stadium in Los Angeles for Major League Cricket Debut!
Knight Riders Cricket Ground, LA hosts its first Major League Cricket match, marking a landmark moment for cricket’s global growth
The Knight Riders Group has rewritten the rules of international sports expansion by becoming the first global cricket entity to build and open its own international stadium. The newly minted Knight Riders Cricket Ground, LA, officially opened its gates to host its inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) fixture, signaling a monumental shift for the sport in the United States.
As the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) take the field against Washington Freedom, the occasion marks far more than the opening of a new venue. It represents the arrival of a permanent, world-class cricketing home in the US and underscores the Knight Riders Group’s vision of accelerating the growth of cricket through long-term investment in world-class infrastructure.
Purpose-built to international standards, the Knight Riders Cricket Ground, LA, has been developed to deliver an elite cricketing experience for players and fans alike. The venue features eight wickets on the main square, ICC-standard playing dimensions and six floodlight towers standing 120 feet tall, while more than 32,000 metric tonnes of earth were moved during construction to create a world-class playing arena.
#ShahRukhKhan, Co-owner, Knight Riders Group, said: “What started as a dream has become a reality today. Bringing cricket, the second most-watched sport in the world, to Los Angeles is a landmark moment for all of us. Through this long-term partnership between Fairplex and Knight Riders, we are creating much more than a cricket venue. We are building a space that celebrates community, togetherness, energy and entertainment.
It is a place built not just for sport, but also for entertainment, for families, and for memories that will last forever. We hope this becomes a home for cricket in Los Angeles and inspires generations of fans and players alike. This is for Los Angeles, for cricket fans across the globe, and for the Knight Riders family. Believe in Purple and Gold,” he added.
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Venky Mysore, CEO, Knight Riders Sports, said:
“The Knight Riders Cricket Ground, LA is much more than a stadium; it is a statement of intent for the future of cricket. Becoming the first global cricket brand to establish an international cricket stadium is a proud milestone for the Knight Riders Group and reflects our belief that the growth of the game must be supported by world-class infrastructure. We wanted to create a venue that players would love competing at, fans would cherish visiting, and the local community could proudly call its cricketing home.”
Adding to the significance of the occasion, Ron Artest, popularly known as Metta World Peace will throw the ceremonial first ball at the inaugural MLC match at the Knight Riders Cricket Ground, LA. An NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and one of Los Angeles’ most recognisable sporting figures, Metta’s presence underscores the growing crossover between cricket and mainstream American sports, while highlighting the Knight Riders Group’s ambition to embed the game within the city’s rich sporting culture.
The Knight Riders Cricket Ground, LA will host Major League Cricket matches from July 1 to July 5, bringing top-level T20 cricket to Los Angeles and providing another significant boost to cricket’s rapidly growing footprint in the United States.
About the Knight Riders
The Knight Riders brand is a global brand in International Cricket, with nine trophies to its name and four professional franchises under its wings – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the TATA IPL, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Caribbean Premier League, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) in UAE’s International League T20 and Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) in USA’s Major League Cricket, making it one of the most versatile brands in T20 cricket globally.
KKR has made four appearances in the TATA IPL final, winning the championship thrice (2012, 2014, 2024). They finished runners-up in the 2021 season, staging one of the most remarkable comebacks in the tournament’s history. TKR’s Men’s Team has won the CPL championship 5 times in 11 years since the Knight Riders took over the franchise. They are the most successful team in the Caribbean and hold a unique feat of having won the trophy in 2020 without losing a single game in the whole tournament. TKR Women, the Knight Riders’ first ever Women’s Team, were champions of the inaugural WCPL in 2022.
For many years now, the Knight Riders Academy has been actively scouting talented cricketers from across India and around the world. The sole objective of the Academy is to identify and help cricketers make an overall round-the-year improvement in their cricketing skills and fitness.
By Keerti Kadam