LA 2028 Olympic cricket stadium in IPL proposal
Image source, LAKRCricket at LA 2028 will be held in the city of Pomona - 45 miles away from the athletes' village in Los Angeles
- Published1 hour ago
The Olympic cricket stadium for LA 2028 could host Indian Premier League teams in the future as part of its global expansion plans, says Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive Venky Mysore.
Construction has now started on the site at the Fairgrounds, officially known as Fairplex, in the southern Californian city of Pomona in readiness for cricket's return to the Games.
The stadium will become the home to KKR's US franchise, Los Angeles Knight Riders and will host Major League Cricket (MLC) matches this July.
It will be a modular venue built in three phases with capacity for 5,000 fans this year, rising to 8,500 in 2027 and then up to 15,000 for the six-team T20 tournament for LA 2028.
Mysore also hopes the ground could eventually stage IPL exhibition fixtures as the competition looks to expand into the United States.
"Wouldn't that be wonderful?" he told BBC Sport.
"The challenge is always player availability. Once the IPL season is over, everyone's calendars are packed and they're running in different directions.
"But the BCCI has talked about a couple of teams going out and playing exhibition games to grow cricket… so that's always on the agenda."
The USA is widely regarded as the world's largest sports market and seen as a key growth area for cricket.
Mysore said there had been "concrete proposals" from both the US and Canada to host IPL teams in the past, although neither have come to fruition.
"This is my 16th season with the IPL and we've tried every year, but somehow it hasn't happened," he explained.
"There's a real opportunity to piggyback on what's happening with MLC to grow the market further.
"When viewership goes up, it has a positive effect on things like media rights. It makes a lot of sense. But first things first – we have to deliver what we've started here."
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LA 2028 pitches will be 'world class'
Image source, LAKRKKR chief executive Venky Mysore and ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta (second and third from right) were both present at a ground-breaking ceremony marking the start of construction of the cricket venue for LA 2028
A major priority is ensuring the playing surface in Pomona meets elite standards, given the extra scrutiny on cricket's return to the Olympics after a 128-year hiatus.
Matches at the last major men's tournament in the US, the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup which the country co-hosted, were played at a temporary venue in New York, where drop-in pitches and outfield conditions came in for heavy criticism.
Organisers in California have built a traditional square using local clay and Tahoma turf harvested close to Pomona for eight pitches, along with a separate practice facility, allowing time for the surface to properly bed in before 2028.
"We made a decision from the get-go that we will not cut any corners," Mysore said.
"The field of play has to be outstanding. Everything else can be built around it.
"We have not spared any expense to make sure it will be absolutely world class. It should compare with any top cricket facility in the world."
Seven MLC matches are scheduled to take place at the venue between 1-5 July, with Mysore confident the ground will be ready in time.
"The square has been laid and the grass is growing," he said.
"The pitches will be fully ready, the outfield will be outstanding, and the lights will be up. We want this to be the best in the business."
There is also the possibility the venue could host the qualifier to decide the final team for LA 2028, although the International Cricket Council has yet to confirm details.
LA Knight Riders are understood to have a long-term lease on the site at Fairplex and, in addition to cricket, the plan is for it to become a multi-purpose stadium and entertainment hub, with potential for concerts and other sports.
The LA 2028 cricket tournament will be played by both women's and men's teams with ticket prices ranging from $28 to $500.
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- Published16 August 2025
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