Narendra Modi Stadium
Foto: A Cricket Premi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · zdroj
- Kapacita
- 132 000
- Postaven
- 1982
- Klub
- —
- Země
- India
Přehled
O stadionu
Narendra Modi Stadium (previously known as Sardar Patel Stadium and Motera Stadium) is a cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. After a complete reconstruction from 2017 to 2020, it became the largest cricket stadium in the world with a capacity of 132,000 seats, making it the largest sports arena on the planet.
Home of Indian Cricket
The stadium is owned and operated by the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA). It is the home ground for the India cricket team for Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is, as well as for the domestic club Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Global Significance
The arena was the venue for the opening match and final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, where Australia defeated the host India in November 2023 to claim their sixth title. In March 2024, it hosted the IPL final, and in February 2020, it held a massive “Namaste Trump” rally with then-US President Donald Trump attended by over 100,000 spectators.
The stadium is named after the current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who was instrumental in the project's inception as then Chief Minister of Gujarat and as the president of the GCA.
Historie
Cesta časem
Original Stadium (1982–2015)
The facility in Ahmedabad, located along the banks of the Sabarmati River, was opened in 1982 under the name Gujarat Stadium. It was named after Vallabhbhai Patel ("Sardar"), the first Prime Minister of independent India. The arena initially accommodated approximately 49,000 spectators and hosted continuous international cricket, including Test matches against Australia, Pakistan, and England, as well as the Asia Cup finals and the Cricket World Cup matches in 1987 and 1996.
Demolition and Complete Reconstruction (2016–2020)
In 2015, the GCA decided to demolish the existing stadium completely and build a brand new arena on the same site. The architectural design was prepared by Populous (USA), the firm behind iconic stadiums like Wembley and Yankee Stadium. The general contractor was the Indian company Larsen & Toubro. Construction began in 2017 and was completed in early 2020.
The grand opening took place on February 24, 2020, during the visit of US President Donald Trump to India. The event was attended by over 100,000 people and went down in history as “Namaste Trump.”
Renaming (2021)
In February 2021, the stadium was renamed Narendra Modi Stadium on the occasion of the commencement of the Test match between India and England. This move sparked political discussion as the Prime Minister remains active in politics; critics pointed out the unusualness of naming a facility after a living politician. The complex as a whole was named the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave, thus preserving Patel’s name at the complex level.
Key Parameters
- Capacity: 132,000 seated viewers (originally planned for 110,000; the final version was expanded).
- Area: 63 acres (~25.5 ha) — the largest cricket facility in the world.
- Four Dressing Rooms: two main ones for Test matches and two for IPL/T20.
- Column-Free: the stadium's roof has no interior supports, allowing an unobstructed view from every seat.
- LED Lighting: installed on the roof instead of traditional pylons — a first for a cricket stadium of this size.
Atmosféra
Den zápasu
Vibrant Atmosphere of Indian Cricket
The Indian cricket audience is among the loudest and most passionate in the world, and the Narendra Modi Stadium symbolizes its heart. Home fans chant “India! India!”, wave tricolor flags, and accompany every match with drumming and whistling. During international matches, the stadium fills up an hour before the start, and the atmosphere throughout the day remains electric — Test cricket lasts five days, and fans flock in tens of thousands daily.
Famous Moments
- February 24, 2020 — grand reopening during the “Namaste Trump” event with US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi; officially attended by over 100,000 people, with some estimates indicating up to 125,000.
- February 24–28, 2021 — the first “Pink-ball” Test match in the stadium’s history between India and England, which India won in just two days.
- November 9, 2022 — T20 tournament final was held in preparation for the 2023 World Cup.
- November 5–19, 2023 — opening match and final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup: Australia defeated the host India by 6 wickets to claim their sixth title; the final was witnessed by 92,453 spectators at the stadium, with an estimated 520 million viewers worldwide on television, according to the ICC.
- May 26, 2024 — final of the Indian Premier League between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in front of a sold-out crowd.
Indo-Pakistani Derby
Matches between the India and Pakistan teams are some of the most-watched sporting events in the world. The stadium in Ahmedabad hosted the derby at the 2023 World Cup on October 14, 2023, when India won by 7 wickets; the match was watched by over 132 million viewers in India alone, and the stadium was sold out months in advance.
Beyond Cricket
The arena has also served as a venue for political rallies and concerts. In September 2024, Indian pop singer Diljit Dosanjh performed here during the Dil-Luminati Tour to a sold-out crowd.
Praktické info
Návštěva stadionu
How to Get to the Stadium
The stadium is located in the Motera neighborhood on the northern edge of Ahmedabad, about 8 km from the city center. The address is Sardar Patel Sports Enclave, Motera, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380005.
- Metro: the Northern–Southern line of the Ahmedabad metro has a station Motera Stadium right at the arena.
- Bus: AMTS and BRTS Janmarg lines stop at the Motera station; connections to the city center (Lal Darwaja, Sabarmati Riverfront) every 10–15 minutes.
- Car/taxi/rickshaw: approximately 25 minutes from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, about 30 minutes from Ahmedabad Junction railway station without traffic.
On match days, it is recommended to arrive 2–3 hours before the start due to security checks and road closures in the area.
Tickets and Tours
- Tickets for national team matches and IPL games are sold through the official platform BookMyShow and the Gujarat Cricket Association website. Tickets for the most popular matches (India–Pakistan, World Cup finals) might sell out within minutes.
- Stadium tours are available on non-match days with prior booking at the GCA; they last about 90 minutes and include dressing rooms, the field, the media zone, and the club pavilion.
- Club House — an exclusive area of the stands — requires GCA membership or special invitation.
Visitor Tips
- Climate: Ahmedabad experiences extreme heat from April to June (often exceeding 40 °C); the most comfortable season is from November to February.
- Food: vegetarian options inside the stadium (samosa, pav bhaji); alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat — it is known as a dry state.
- Nearby attractions: the tourist-friendly Sabarmati Ashram (Gandhi's former home) and Akshardham temple are about 15–20 minutes away by car.
Video
Stadion v pohybu
Mapa
Kde najdeš stadion
Hodnocení
Tvoje hodnocení
Zatím bez hodnocení
Naplánuj návštěvu
Ahmedabad district, India
Ubytování
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Stadium tour
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Vstupenky
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