The International Cricket Council (ICC) has welcomed the start of construction on a new cricket stadium at Pomona in Los Angeles County, California, describing the project as a major step forward for the sport ahead of its return to the Olympic Games in 2028.
A groundbreaking ceremony was recently held at the Fairplex Grounds in Pomona to mark the occasion, according to the ICC.
The venue is expected to play a key role in cricket’s long-awaited Olympic comeback at the Los Angeles 2028 Games — the sport’s first appearance at the Olympics since 1900, when Great Britain faced France in a two-day match in Paris.
The ICC said cricket’s inclusion in LA28 presents a significant opportunity to grow the game beyond its traditional markets, expand its presence across the Americas and inspire a new generation of players and fans worldwide.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah described the stadium project as a “major milestone” for cricket and its estimated 2.5 billion followers around the globe.
“These are very exciting times for the game of cricket as it makes giant strides in establishing itself as a global sport,” Shah said.
“Our focus has been on expanding the footprint of cricket and being part of the Olympic movement is something that brings both pride and dreams with it.
“The groundbreaking marks an important milestone in cricket’s return to the Olympics and is a proud moment for all the ICC Members and stakeholders worldwide. We’re confident this venue will take centre stage during the Games and leave a lasting legacy for cricket in the USA.”
The LA28 Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 14-30, 2028, with Los Angeles serving as the host city alongside several venues across the Greater Los Angeles region and Oklahoma City.
Founded in 1909 as the Imperial Cricket Conference, the ICC is the global governing body for cricket and is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
