Development advances on world’s largest cricket stadium
Construction work is advancing on what will become the largest cricket stadium in the world - capable of holding 110,000 people - in the Indian state of Gujarat.
The Populous-designed makeover of the Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad is progressing well and on completion the venue will be home to the Gujarat Cricket Association.
Spread across 25 hectares, the 110,000 seat stadium will more than double the capacity of the old stadium and hold 10,000 more people than the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
One of the main challenges for the design team was the tight timeframe with the Motera Cricket Stadium being constructed in just two years.
As a result, Populous is drawing on its international experience for this precinct including high profile cricket stadiums such as Lord’s Cricket Ground in London and the MCG.
The design of Motera Cricket Stadium revolves around two large seating tiers, each with approximately 50,000 general admission seat capacity; and a huge single patron concourse with 360-degree views of the field.
It will include 76 corporate boxes, four-team dressing rooms and facilities, state-of-the-art club facilities with three practice grounds, an indoor cricket academy and an Olympic-size swimming pool.
The seating bowl has been designed in a way that directs patrons to fill the lower levels for smaller events. This will help in maintaining the spectator atmosphere even when the seating bowl isn’t full.
The Motera Cricket Stadium will not only be for major local and international cricket matches, but will also be for the community use. A community indoor cricket academy will be housed under the podium in the stadium, with a dormitory for up to 40 athletes, allowing students from across India and the globe to attend. The academy also has access to six indoor practice pitches and three outdoor practice fields.
Once completed, the stadium will become an iconic sports venue for both aspiring and elite players. It will become one of the world’s great cricket stadiums, putting the Gujarat Cricket Association on the global sporting map.
The foundation stone of the venue was laid in January last year.
Image courtesy of the Gujarat Cricket Association.
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