Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi)

For other uses, see Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Kaloor Stadium
Yellow Arena
The stadium during an Indian Super League match of Kerala Blasters FC
Map
LocationKaloor, Kochi, India
Coordinates9°59′50″N 76°18′04″E / 9.99722°N 76.30111°E / 9.99722; 76.30111
Public transitLogo of the Kochi Metro J. L. N. Stadium
Kaloor Bus Stand
OwnerGreater Cochin Development Authority
OperatorGreater Cochin Development Authority
Executive suites109
Capacity40,000[1]
Record attendance100,000 (India vs Iraq 1997)[2]
SurfaceRiviera Bermuda Grass
Construction
Opened1996; 28 years ago (1996)
Renovated2000, 2017
Tenants
Kerala State Football Team (1997–present)
Kochi Tuskers Kerala (2010 -2011)
Kerala Blasters FC (2014–present)
India national football team (1997-present)
India national cricket team (1998-2014)

The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, also known as Kaloor Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Ernakulam, Kerala, India. Since the 2017 renovation, the stadium has a seating capacity of 40,000.[1] Previously, it was able to host 80,000 spectators, which was reduced to 41,000 for Indian Super League (ISL) matches due to security reasons.[3] It is the home ground of the ISL club Kerala Blasters FC.[4][5][6] The stadium is touted to have hosted one of the loudest audiences for association football matches in the world.[7]

The stadium has played host to a number of international cricket and football matches but after 2014 it didn't hold any cricket match due to ISL. The extensive grounds of the stadium serve as venue for important exhibitions, cinema events and political rallies in the city. 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 Structure of the tower is itself one of a kind in India.[8][9] Greater Cochin Development Authority leased out the Jawaharlal Nehru International stadium at Kaloor to the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) for a period of 30 years.[citation needed]

The stadium acts as the home ground for teams including Kerala cricket team, Kerala Blasters FC (Indian Super League). As of 19 August 2017, the stadium has hosted 10 One Day Internationals. Stadium holds the privilege of having the fifth loudest crowd (128 db) in the world,[10] during ISL 2016 final match where Kerala Blasters played against Atletico de Kolkata.

Kochi was one of the six host cities for 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in India.[11] It was extensively renovated before the event.[1]

  1. ^ a b c AFC Asian Cup 2027 Bidding Nation India. All India Football Federation. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  2. ^ "STADIUM". waytokickoff.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  3. ^ Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kaloor, Kochi Archived 26 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. keralacricketassociation.com. Retrieved 18 July 2021
  4. ^ "'FIFA never compromised on the safety of people at the JNI Stadium. But ISL does' - the New Indian Express". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  5. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup: Kochi stadium capacity reduced to 29,000 from 41,000". 4 October 2017. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Contingency plans if Kochi can't host U-17 World Cup". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Kerala's football fans set high goals". Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Manorama Online". Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  9. ^ "Ground Capacity". 10 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 November 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Loudest record". fanport.in. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Kochi to host U-17 FIFA World Cup matches". Manoramaonline. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015.