NEW YORK: The Knight Riders Group – principal owners of Kolkata Knight Riders and Trinbago Knight Riders, as well as a founder investor in Major League Cricket (MLC), USA Cricket’s official upcoming franchise league that has Times Group as the major stakeholder, Sunday confirmed plans to construct a new cricket stadium in Southern California near Los Angeles.
KRG, which boasts Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan as principal investor, alongside actor Juhi Chawla and businessman husband Jay Mehta, will reportedly be investing $30 million in what, when completed, will a 10,000-capacity cricket facility.
In a related development, MLC announced Sunday the approval of an exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with the city of Irvine to move forward with lease negotiations and design approvals to build a “world class cricket venue” on a 15-acre parcel at Great Park. “The development would see a significant multi-million dollar investment by MLC for stadium construction, with MLC planning to engage the internationally renowned architects HKS to design an iconic home for the sport in the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area,” an official release states.
The ENA was approved unanimously by the Irvine City Council on Tuesday, April 26. The agreement marks a significant milestone towards the stadium development and outlines key dates and obligations over the next 12 months for both MLC and the city of Irvine to agree terms and the approvals required for the construction of a stadium with a planned capacity of 10,000 that can be further increased for major international events. The stadium would be home to MLC’s Southern California-based franchise, in the heart of one of the largest cricket-loving populations in the United States.
The investment by KRG is part of a strategic long-term investment by the group in the future of cricket in the United States.
“Our investment in MLC in America is based on our belief in the exciting future of cricket in the USA and is well aligned to our strategy of establishing Knight Riders as a global brand in T20 cricket,” said Shah Rukh Khan. “Plans to build a world class cricket stadium in the greater Los Angeles area is exciting for us and MLC. This will no doubt have a transformational impact for cricket in one of the world’s most iconic metropolitan destinations.”
The stadium plans include state-of-the-art training facilities, locker rooms, luxury suites, dedicated parking, concessions, field lighting and an international-grade pitch to meet International Cricket Council (ICC) accreditation and allow the venue to host the highest level of international cricket competition. USA Cricket is expected to bid for future men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments, with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024 already set to be co-hosted by the United States and the West Indies.
“MLC is committed to building outstanding infrastructure for cricket in key markets accessible to legions of cricket-loving fans. We’re grateful to the City of Irvine for agreeing to explore this development in the heart of Orange County,” said Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan, co-founders, Major League Cricket. “Great Park’s position as a hub for community recreation and its array of first-class sports facilities makes it an ideal location for the addition of a venue serving the local cricket-loving community and the broader Greater Los Angeles region with major international cricket events set to take place there.”
Great Park, originally developed as a Marine Corps Air Station, spans approximately 1,300 acres with more than 200 acres developed and 688 fully funded acres in planning and design phases. It is home to the landmark Great Park Balloon and significant multi-purpose sports and recreation facilities, including a 2,500 capacity Championship Soccer Stadium. Great Park has become a central location for Southern California sports and fitness activities, with a sports complex featuring 24 soccer fields, a multipurpose recreation area, and a Baseball and Softball Complex with 10 ball fields and two championship stadiums.
The city of Irvine is located in the heart of Orange County, home to more than three million people including an estimated 100,000 cricket fans with a further 200,000 more located in nearby Los Angeles county. Two Minor League Cricket teams, the SoCal Lashings and Hollywood Master Blasters, along with thriving local adult and youth leagues in the area provide a significant base of grassroots support for cricket in the region.
