| Bangalore Football Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Location | Malleswaram, Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Opened | 1969 |
| Owner | Bangalore Football Federation |
| Surface | Astroturf |
| Capacity | 15,000 |
| Field dimensions | 105 × 68 metres |
| Tenants | |
| HAL (2010–) | |
Bangalore Football Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Bangalore, India. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 15,000 people. It is the home of HAL S.C. of the I-League.
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The construction work began on the stadium began in 1967 with the eastern stands being completed in 1970. [1] The plan was to make the stadium a 90,000 capacity stadium with a three tiers all around the field. People thought that this stadium was being modeled on the Maracana Stadium in Brazil. The a delay in construction saw the cost to make the stadium go up. [2] This was also mixed with corruption coming from the Bangalore Football Federation and the All India Football Federation which made matters worse.
For construction of the stadium cement and steel were meant for the stadium. The costs shot up even more though after buying the steel and cement and the state body was left without necessary funds. The state government in Karnataka even ordered an enquiry with the then PAC chairman Ekanthayya heading it. But the result of the enquiry was not made public due to corruption and not paying fees. [3]
Loan proposal were then made to raise funds. The agreement was signed for Rs 1 crore to be given to the association for a lease period of 88 years. After that loan slow progress was then made as the northern stand was made and completed. [4]
Then another delay cost the association dearly as the highest portion of the mian stands became weak and after a technical study report, it was demolished as it was unsafe for use. [5]
Another problem then occurred when it was released that the southern portion was occupied by slum dwellers and they refused to vacate. Despite High Court orders, the area was not vacated as some officials had selfinterest in their continuation. [6]
The 1994 Indian National Games came as though as an opportunity to have the slums vacated, but the then AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi made it clear to the state government that unless the slums are cleared, there will no football event. [7] With the High Court orders also in place, the slums were finally cleared. [8]
At opening only local matches were played in stadium. [9] The 2006 AFC Youth Championship was also partially held at the stadium. Then in 2010 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited S.C. became the first professional club to play at the stadium. They play in the I-League which is the top division league in India.
The newly-laid artificial playing surface at the Bangalore football stadium was inaugurated on 18th May 2011. Work on the synthetic pitch, laid at a cost of Rs. 4.5 crore under FIFA's Goal project, had begun in November 2010, and was finally completed after several disruptions and deadline extensions owing to unseasonal rains. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited S.C. use the stadium for their Home matches in the I-League. The clean up of the stadium has been done where the weeds on the pitch and stands has been cleared and that also the stands have been repainted and revamped along with the locker rooms.
There are plans to refurbish the stadium to meet international standards to host matches for the national team. Also, one of the FIFA Regional Academies (South Zone) is expected to come at this stadium.
