Fairgrounds in Pomona to Host Cricket at LA28 Olympics

Cricket is officially heading back to the Olympic Games, and it now has a home — a temporary stadium at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, Southern California. The LA28 organising committee confirmed the venue on Tuesday, marking another big step toward the sport’s much-anticipated return to the Olympics after a 128-year absence.

The Fairgrounds, known locally as Fairplex, sits about 50 kilometers east of Los Angeles and has hosted the LA County Fair since 1922. Come July 2028, it will transform into a cricket venue as the sport returns to the Olympic fold for the first time since Great Britain took on France in a two-day match at the 1900 Paris Games. The International Cricket Council (ICC) welcomed the announcement, with ICC Chair Jay Shah calling it “a significant step towards the preparation for our sport’s return to the Olympics.” 

Cricket's Olympic comeback has been met with growing excitement ever since the IOC confirmed last year that the men’s and women’s T20 formats would feature in LA28. Each competition will have six teams, with up to 15 players per squad, giving a total of 90 players per gender. The full schedule will be locked in closer to the start of the Games. 

The decision to build a temporary venue is not without precedent. Last year, during the T20 World Cup held in the USA and the Caribbean, a similar pop-up stadium in New York hosted major matches — including the India vs Pakistan blockbuster. Other US venues used in that tournament included Central Broward Stadium in Florida and Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas. Cricket joins four other sports making their Olympic debuts or returns at LA28: baseball, softball, flag football, lacrosse (in its sixes format), and squash. 

There’s already buzz that cricket will be part of the 2032 Brisbane Games as well. Early plans even suggest that the final could be the last event held at the Gabba before the iconic stadium is redeveloped. For now, all eyes are on Pomona, where history will be made once again — and cricket will finally get its moment on the Olympic stage. 

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