amazing cochin / kochi : Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (locally known as Kaloor International Stadium) is an international stadium in Kochi, Kerala, India. With a capacity to hold 60,000 spectators, the stadium was built in 1996. Originally constructed as a football stadium, it has played host to a number of international cricket and football matches. The extensive grounds of the stadium serve as venue for important exhibitions, cinema events and political rallies in the city. The stadium is quipped with floodlights for night play. The architecture of the stadium is unique compared to other stadia in India.

Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium (Malayalam: ജവഹര്‍ലാല്‍ നെഹ്‌റു ഇന്റര്‍നാഷണല്‍ സ്റ്റേഡിയം; locally known as Kaloor International Stadium – Malayalam: കലൂര്‍ ഇന്റര്‍നാഷണല്‍ സ്റ്റേഡിയം) is an international stadium in Kochi, Kerala. The stadium has a capacity of 70,000 spectators making it the third largest stadium in India after the Eden Gardens andSalt Lake Stadium, both in Kolkata.[2] The stadium was built in 1996 by the Government of Kerala with Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA).

Originally constructed as a football stadium, it has played host to a number of international cricket and football matches. The extensive grounds of the stadium serve as venue for important exhibitions, cinema events and political rallies in the city. The stadium is equipped with floodlights for playing at night. The architecture of the stadium is unique compared to other stadium in India. The most innovative aspect of the stadium is its unique lighting towers of 2 kW Floodlights which when switched on fully can provide lighting levels for HD telecast.

The stadium hosts the home games of football I-League team Chirag United Club Kerala. The stadium is also the home ground of the Kerala cricket team.

The first tournament conducted was the Nehru Cup International Football Tournament in 1997. The highest attendance of audience was recorded in this tournament for India v/s Iraq match (nearly one lakh people attended, thus overcrowding the stadium). But the highest money grosser was made in a cricket ODI match between India and Pakistan on April 2005.

The first ODI played on the ground was between India and Australia on 1 April 1998. And the last being on January 15 2013 between India and England. India won the match by 127 runs. An attendance of over 70,000 is being reported, though not confirmed.

The stadium has finished a massive renovation including a modern turf an aesthetic modern roofing. Another recent development has been a new four-lane road from the south of the stadium which has made access easier from that side.

The first Indian Premier League match held at the stadium was between Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Royal Challengers Bangalore on 9 April 2011. The match was also Kochi Tuskers first ever IPL match. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is the home venue for the IPL teamKochi Tuskers Kerala and officially hosted 5 home-matches of the franchise in the 2011 season. The remaining 2 home matches were played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore.