Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi

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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 during the tenure of K. Karunakaran as Chief Minister of Kerala.

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.^{[citation needed]}

The football teams Viva Kerala and FC Kochin play here.

[edit] History

The first tournament conducted was Nehru Cup football tournament. 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 April 1, 1998. And the last being on April 6, 2006 between India and England.

In 2006, the stadium is to undergo a major renovation, including a new PVDF coated fabric roof. Another recent development has been a new four-lane road from the south of the stadium which has made access easier from that side.