KKR group partners with Major Cricket League to build cricket stadium in Los Angeles

IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have joined hands with the Major Cricket League (MCL) in their bid to construct cricket stadiums in Los Angeles, USA.

The Knight Riders group, which already has bought teams in T20 leagues like the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), have invested heavily in the US-based Major Cricket League.

On Saturday, an exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) was approved by the City of Irvine to construct a stadium on a 15-acre Great Park in the city of Los Angeles.

The stadium will boast state-of-art training facilities, luxury suites, dedicated parking, locker rooms, and an international grade pitch in line with the International Cricket Council (ICC) requirements so that the venue can get desired accreditation to host international games in the future.

Speaking on the development, KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan said that their investment in MLC is a part of their long-term vision to expand the base of the Knight Riders group in the cricketing world.

"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. 

Plans to build a world-class cricket stadium in the greater Los Angeles area is exciting for us and MLC. This will undoubtedly have a transformational impact on one of the world's most iconic metropolitan areas," he said via an official press release.

Meanwhile, the co-founders of MLC, Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan, said, "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."

The move will also boost ICC's plan to get cricket included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic games. The governing body has already submitted its bid for the same.