The Knight Riders Cricket Field at Fairplex in Pomona, California (8,000 capacity) is a purpose-built cricket venue in the greater Los Angeles area, developed by the Knight Riders Group that also owns Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL. The ground sits within the Fairplex complex, a 487-acre events venue historically known for hosting the Los Angeles County Fair, and its conversion into a permanent cricket facility reflects the Knight Riders Group’s commitment to establishing cricket in the American market. Pomona is located roughly 50 kilometres east of downtown Los Angeles, in the Inland Empire corridor that connects the LA basin to the deserts of San Bernardino County.
The venue was developed with Major League Cricket in mind, providing the Los Angeles Knight Riders franchise with a home ground that carries the Knight Riders branding and identity across from their operations in Kolkata and Port of Spain. The ground features a drop-in pitch system, modern broadcast facilities, LED floodlights, and spectator amenities designed to meet both ICC standards and American expectations for live sporting events. At 8,000 capacity, the ground is intimate enough to create a strong atmosphere when full, and the Knight Riders Group has invested in the fan experience with food courts, merchandise areas, and entertainment zones that reflect MLC’s approach to making cricket accessible to American audiences.
Playing conditions at Pomona are shaped by Southern California’s semi-arid climate. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 35 degrees Celsius, with dry heat that is less oppressive than the humid conditions in Texas or Florida but still physically demanding for players on the field. The pitch is a modern drop-in surface designed to produce competitive T20 cricket, generally offering true bounce and even carry that rewards good batting without eliminating the contest between bat and ball. The dry air means there is minimal swing available for pace bowlers, though the surface can offer bounce, and the hard outfield ensures that well-timed ground strokes race to the boundary.
The Los Angeles cricket market is one of the most promising in the United States. The city’s diverse population includes large Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, and West Indian communities, all of whom bring existing cricket knowledge and passion to the stands. The Knight Riders Group’s global brand recognition, built on KKR’s IPL success and Shah Rukh Khan’s celebrity ownership, gives the LA franchise a marketing advantage that extends beyond the sport and into Bollywood and popular culture.
Pomona operates on Pacific Time (PT). During summer (PDT, UTC-7), an MLC evening match at 19:30 PDT translates to 22:30 EDT in New York, 03:30 BST the following morning in London, and 08:00 IST the next day in India. Check whatisthetime.now/los-angeles for current local time or whatisthetime.now/country/united-states for US timezone information.