Jump to content

Bangalore Football Stadium

From Alfawiki
Bangalore Football Stadium
Company typeSports venue
IndustryFootball
Founded1967
Headquarters
Bengaluru
,
India

Bangalore Football Stadium

The Bangalore Football Stadium is a dedicated football venue situated in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It has been utilized as a playing ground for three editions of the I-League, which was previously the premier football competition in India. This stadium notably served as the home ground for Bengaluru FC during their inaugural season, in which they secured the I-League championship. Presently, it functions as the home venue for SC Bengaluru in I-League fixtures and has also hosted matches for I-League 2 as well as Group D of the I-League 3.

Construction and early developments

File:Bengaluru FC vs CIL in Bangalore Super Division.jpg
The venue during a Bangalore Super Division fixture between Bengaluru FC and CIL in 2013.

The stadium's construction commenced in 1967.[1] The original blueprint was inspired by Brazil's renowned Estádio do Maracanã, which at that time could accommodate 250,000 spectators. The plan was to replicate this design for Bengaluru Football Stadium but with a reduced seating capacity of 90,000.[1] Following the completion of the initial stands around 1970 and 1971, FIFA president João Havelange visited Bengaluru to inspect the progress and the commencement of the main stands' construction.[1] He reportedly expressed satisfaction with the developments and indicated intentions to invite South American teams to compete in the stadium.[1]

Nevertheless, escalating expenses soon became an issue. Theft of essential materials like steel and cement contributed to soaring costs, leaving the state football governing body, the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA), financially incapable of finishing the project.[1] Although an investigation was launched, its findings were never disclosed due to corruption within Bengaluru's administrative framework.[1]

To generate revenue, a lease agreement was struck with a private developer for two corner plots intended for his construction projects. This lease spanned 88 years, providing KSFA with an annual payment of one crore.[1] Despite this arrangement, ongoing construction delays necessitated rebuilding one of the stands. Additionally, slum residents settled in the area designated for the southern stand, creating difficulties for both spectators and players who struggled to retrieve balls landing there.[1]

In 1996–97, aiming to facilitate Bengaluru’s hosting of the National Games of India, a high court order mandated the removal of the slum settlement from the stadium premises, which was subsequently enforced.[1] On 5 December 2004, during a Federation Cup match between Dempo and Mohun Bagan, Brazilian footballer Cristiano Júnior tragically died after colliding with Mohun Bagan’s goalkeeper Subrata Pal, who also represented India internationally. The incident occurred as Cristiano scored his second goal for Dempo before collapsing on the pitch. He was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.[2]

The stadium served as one of the venues for the 2006 AFC Youth Championship held partially in 2006.[3]

I-League period (2010–2014)

In 2010, the Bangalore Football Stadium served as the venue for the I-League Second Division, where the local team HAL Bangalore secured promotion to the nation's premier football competition, the I-League. The stadium witnessed its inaugural I-League fixture on 3 January 2011, featuring HAL Bangalore against Salgaocar, with Salgaocar emerging victorious by a 1–0 scoreline. After competing in the I-League for two seasons, the stadium ceased to be an I-League host following HAL Bangalore's relegation, which excluded them from the 2012–13 campaign.

Subsequently, on 28 May 2013, it was formally declared that Bengaluru FC would be established in the city to participate in the 2013–14 season. The club's official launch took place on 20 July at the stadium, which was also confirmed as their home ground for that season. Bengaluru FC's debut match at this venue was against Mohun Bagan, concluding in a 1–1 draw and attracting an audience close to full capacity.

The last I-League contest hosted at the stadium occurred on 28 March 2014 between Bengaluru FC and Pune, ending in a 1–1 result with Anthony D'Souza netting the final goal scored at this ground. Across their tenure at the stadium, Bengaluru FC averaged a home attendance of approximately 7,500 spectators.

In 2023, the stadium once again played a significant role by hosting matches of the esteemed Stafford Challenge Cup.

Redevelopment

Main article: New Bangalore Football Stadium

On 5 December 2013, FIFA officially declared that India would serve as the host nation for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, marking the country's inaugural FIFA international event.[4] It was further revealed that Bangalore was shortlisted as one of the potential host cities for the tournament.[5] In March 2014, announcements confirmed that following the conclusion of the 2013–14 I-League season, the existing stadium would be dismantled to make way for a new stadium constructed at the same location.[5][6]

Nonetheless, as of 2023, the construction of this stadium had yet to commence, with its inauguration deferred to 2027.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Season League P W D L F A Win %
2010–11[7] I-League 13 2 4 7 7 20 15%
2011–12[7] I-League 13 0 1 12 13 40 0%
Total 26 2 5 19 20 60 8%

Bengaluru FC

Season League P W D L F A Win %
2013–14[8] I-League 12 7 4 1 19 9 58%
Total 12 7 4 1 19 9 58%

FC Bengaluru United

Season League P W D L F A Win %
2019-20 I-League 2 8 4 2 2 12 6 50%
2020-21 I-League 2 3 0 2 1 4 6 0%
2022-23 I-League 2 12 7 2 3 24 8 58%
2023-24 I-League 2 14 6 2 6 21 19 43%
2024-25 I-League 2
Total 8 8 0 0 20 7 100%


Sporting Club Bengaluru

Season League P W D L F A Win %
2023-24 I-League 3 1 1 0 0 3 1 100%
2023-24 I-League 2 7 7 0 0 17 6
2024-25 I-League
Overall 8 8 0 0 20 7 100%

Diamond Harbour FC

Season League P W D L F A Win %
2023-24 I-League 3 2 1 1 0 5 2 50%
Overall 2 1 1 0 5 2 50%

Doaba United FC

Season League P W D L F A Win %
2023-24 I-League 3 2 0 0 2 0 4 0%
Overall 2 0 0 2 0 4 0%

Vatika FC

Season League P W D L F A Win %
2023-24 I-League 3 1 1 0 0 3 2 100%
Overall 1 1 0 0 3 2 100%

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Bangalore Buzz Piece
  2. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

External links

Template:Football in Bangalore Template:Bengaluru FC Template:I-League venues Template:Football stadiums in India

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Bangalore_Football_Stadium&oldid=74774"