2023 ODI World Cup venues: Chepauk Stadium — capability, pitch information and areas that want consideration

The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will host 5 matches, together with India’s opening recreation towards Australia on October 8. The final match on the venue, that includes South Africa and Pakistan, might be held on October 27.

Incidentally, India and Australia met on the identical venue for his or her first match of the Reliance ODI World Cup in 1987. It was additionally the primary ever ODI in Chennai, then Madras, which India misplaced by a run. Thirty-six years later, as Chepauk gears as much as play host to the 2023 ODI World Cup, Sportstar caught up with Prasanna Kannan, Tamil Nadu Premier League CEO, to get the lowdown on the prep work.

If you might be planning to observe a recreation in Chennai in the course of the World Cup, right here’s all it is advisable know…

Capacity: The stadium capability is 38,175. Approximately 970 seats are unavailable as a consequence of digicam stands, pillars, and sight screens, leaving a complete capability of round 37,000. Of these, roughly 1,800–2,000 are reserved for ICC sponsors (complimentary) and friends for the World Cup, whereas BCCI reserves round 700–800. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association usually allocates round 7,500 complimentary tickets for golf equipment, authorities departments, cricketers, former workplace bearers, and present workplace bearers, with a quota system in place. There are round 25,000 public tickets out there on the market, of which BCCI and ICC have reserved round 6,000 for inner gross sales. TNCA has to additionally cater to Madras Cricket Club (MCC) and Madras Race Club (MRC), which accounts for about 3000 tickets. There can also be a TNCA choice to purchase for members within the F, G, and H higher stands, leaving round 13,000 tickets out there for buy by most people. These are offered in two methods. One by ICC outdoors India for overseas followers, and thru BookMyShow in India.

Ground workers put together the infrastructure for ICC males’s ODI World Cup Cricket event at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
| Photo Credit:
B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

Practice services: At MAC B, matting was put in on recognized pitches for decrease division follow because the nets and constructions have been outdated and wanted to be reinstalled. A high-transmission energy line was opted for, and trenches have been dug and wires laid for the set up of a transformer close to the older indoor nets. Wiring was laid throughout the stadium, and therefore the Pattabhiraman gate is at present shut. But it should open for the World Cup. However, the transformer gained’t be operational till the top of December. A examine is being carried out to find out whether or not having an entry gate through Pattabhiraman and an exit through A. G. Ram Singh will ease site visitors stream.

Minor works are additionally being carried out contained in the stadium, together with the set up of showers within the umpire’s room and a change of some mats within the washrooms. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) code mandates one washroom for about 110 folks, however there are extra on supply right here. Although there is no such thing as a actual variety of washrooms out there for every stand because the capability of every stand varies, roughly one rest room for each 70 folks is prone to be maintained.

Lighting: The floodlights have been changed with LED lights in MAC A and MAC B stadiums as a result of outdated metallurgy lamps going out of manufacturing and the excessive value of substitute bulbs. The LED lights obtain higher uniformity of sunshine and cut back vitality consumption by 40–50%.

During testing, an illuminance of round 4000 lux was achieved on the centre of the bottom and 1800–1900 lux on the boundary, which is greater than the manufacturing perspective of 3000 and 1500 lux respectively. There is not any particular customary for lights, however the ICC issued a normal in 2008–2009 from the gamers’ perspective, which is 1500 lux within the centre and 800 lux on the boundary. Even for 4K decision throughout IPL, these lights ought to be sufficient to offer high quality. LED lights give uniformity, and the present roof is product of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) cloth, so it can’t deal with any weight. Therefore, a setup just like the one in Ahmedabad, which has a hoop of lights mounted alongside the rim of the roof, is out of the query.

Floodlights on the M. A. Chidambaram stadium.
| Photo Credit:
B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

These gentle towers are powered by mills as they don’t seem to be related to the primary grid. The transformers usually are not designed to deal with the excessive a great deal of the LED lights or metallurgy, which might trigger delays throughout match days. The LED towers require round 1000 kVA of load, whereas the metallurgy towers require a minimal of 2400–2500 kVA of load. The outdated metallurgy lights took roughly 20 minutes to completely gentle up, whereas the LEDs come again on instantly.

Ticketing: There are two on-line ticketing choices out there: BookMyShow for Indian audiences and ICC excursions and travels for overseas international locations. They are promoting tickets with geoblocks for particular international locations collaborating in occasions. For occasion, for a match between India and Australia, some tickets can be found solely to Australian residents or folks outdoors India who wish to attend the occasion.

Home supply is an choice for advance bookings at an additional value, and redemption of on-line tickets is on the market at different centres. However, there have been points with the e-scanning of tickets in the course of the IPL as a consequence of poor web availability. So, in anticipation of the World Cup rush, Wi-Fi from the stadium’s workplace central community might be made out there at entry gates.

No choice has been taken on whether or not redemption of tickets might be out there or not, which is pending affirmation with BookMyShow. If it’s out there, it is going to be open one week earlier than the event and can proceed till match day at two centres within the stadium — one on Canal Road and the opposite on Wallajah Road. However, logistics are nonetheless being discovered. The redemption course of is as much as particular person centres.

Parking and transport for followers: Parking services for the general public would be the identical because it was throughout IPL 2023 — for followers with out automotive passes, area might be out there on the Madras University campus, the PWD parking space (reverse the V Pattabiraman gate on Wallajah Road), the Omandurar Medical College campus, and the Kalaivanar Arangam parking space. It is important to coordinate with CMRL for transportation preparations throughout matches. TNCA writes to each Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) and native transport authorities about extending bus and prepare timings primarily based on match timings.

Drainage: Back in 2005, two video games [India vs. South Africa, 3rd ODI; India vs. Sri Lanka, 1st Test] have been curtailed as a consequence of a moist outfield, regardless of no rain in the course of the recreation. The TNCA then relaid the outfield with smooth drainage, utilising multi-layered soil and perforated PVC pipes to empty extra water. Since then, there have been no points with inundated outfields. When it rains, covers are positioned on the primary strip, and bowlers run-up. The three tremendous soppers within the stadium are used to take away any extra water from the covers to stop it from spilling onto the 30 yards, which might trigger issues for the bowlers’ run-up. Afterward, a rope is run throughout the outfield to discharge any remaining water earlier than the gamers heat up and the sport resumes. There might be a 45-minute delay on the most — out of which half-hour is mainly for groundsmen to work on the covers — which incorporates eradicating them, marking them, placing up the stumps, and all the things else. Then one other 10–quarter-hour are required for the fielding staff to heat up.

Work in progress on the cricket pitch at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
| Photo Credit:
B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

Pitch: The Chepauk sq. was not absolutely relaid, solely receiving a high wash. Chepauk usually undergoes a high wash as soon as each two seasons. The sq. was final absolutely relaid in 2014. The pitch at Chepauk consists of clay and pink soil. In current occasions, it has helped spinners, however has additionally been a real floor for batters. Out of the 9 IPL matches performed this yr, solely two noticed scores over 200, whereas the others noticed scores ranging between 140-180. The Chepauk pitch appeared to have misplaced its famed bounce for some time, however the curators have managed to get it again. The sq. has 9 pitches, which have undergone annual upkeep because the IPL, and there’s a honest effort to have good grass protecting. If the matches are performed in October, the specter of rains is at all times across the nook as it’s the energetic North-East Monsoon interval. The dew issue will depend on the rains. If there are rains earlier than the matches, the probabilities of dew are slim. But whether it is dry, dew may come into play. If that’s the case, the bottom workers will spray the anti-dew chemical substances on the outfield to make sure toss doesn’t change into a vital issue and the bowling staff doesn’t wrestle below lights with a moist ball.

Areas that want consideration: It is hoped that TNCA’s discussions with CMRL will bear fruition and followers might be allowed to make use of QR/barcoded entry tickets for the World Cup matches as tickets for Metro trains.

Like CSK’s tie-up with CMRL over the past IPL, feeder buses have been out there to move followers from Government Estate Metro Station to the stadium. Similar preparations may improve the WC expertise in Chennai.