2023 ODI World Cup venues: Narendra Modi Stadium — capability, ticket gross sales, pitch information and all you’ll want to know

Ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup, the Narendra Modi Stadium is getting ready to host high-profile video games, together with India vs Pakistan. Despite beforehand internet hosting IPL finals and bilateral fixtures, internet hosting an ICC occasion presents a distinct problem.

The stadium has state-of-the-art amenities, trendy dressing rooms, and plush hospitality areas. The Gujarat Cricket Association officers are working to deal with suggestions made by the ICC and the BCCI earlier than handing over the venue to the event organizing committee on September 15. Although the stadium confronted issues over a moist outfield throughout the IPL ultimate, the groundsmen have labored laborious to make sure the whole lot is in good form for the upcoming World Cup.

GCA secretary Anil Patel says, “The association is working on every aspect to ensure things are in perfect shape…”

When Sportstar visited the venue within the second week of August, the sq. seemed prepared, with the groundsmen giving some ‘finishing touches’.

If you might be planning to look at a sport on the Narendra Modi Stadium throughout the World Cup, right here’s all you’ll want to know…

Capacity: On paper, the stadium has a capability of 1,32,000. But to accommodate sight-screens on each ends and lengthen the dressing room enviornment whereas retaining the worldwide protocols in thoughts, some seats stay out of bounds.

According to GCA officers, round 1,20,000 tickets are saved for followers and friends, with about 10–15 per cent earmarked for the BCCI, the ICC, and its associates. Nearly 1,00,000 tickets go on sale by the net platforms or over-the-counter. Several kiosks can be arrange within the stadium premises main as much as the event the place spectators can acquire bodily tickets.

The hospitality packing containers: While followers can benefit from the proceedings from the stands, there’s a seating capability of 25 every within the 76 company packing containers, that are normally reserved for friends and dignitaries.

On the third ground, there’s a luxurious president’s field, which is solely reserved for the friends of the BCCI, GCA, and ICC. It permits the spectators to look at the sport from the centre wicket, and the state affiliation guarantees top-notch hospitality. There are about 10–12 washrooms on the ground, with amenities for males, ladies, and the specifically abled.

On the partitions of the company field, there are photos of Prime Minister Narednra Modi, who was earlier the president of the GCA; union house minister Amit Shah; and the present secretary, Jay Shah. There are additionally photos that includes former BCCI chief and former India captain Sourav Ganguly and some different cricketers.

Practice amenities: Apart from the common observe enviornment, there are two grounds contained in the premises, which can be utilized by groups for coaching functions. Both the grounds have hosted home fixtures, and even throughout the IPL, the groups had their observe periods right here.

Pitches: It’s a sand-based wicket. There are 11 strips; 5 are manufactured from native black soil, whereas the opposite 5 are a mix of Mumbai pink soil, Murrum yellow soil, and native black soil. The different one is manufactured from 75 per cent Mumbai pink soil and 25 per cent of Odisha black soil.

Since the event can be held in October and November, dew might be an element, however the groundsmen are properly outfitted to counter the dew with moisture balancing and utilizing anti-dew sprays on the outfield.

During the IPL, the venue had batting-friendly surfaces, and the bottom workers indicated that it’s going to be the same state of affairs within the World Cup as properly. While the floor may favour the batters, with a little bit of support to the seamers, the projected rating may hover round 280 and 290.

Drainage and outfield: The stadium has a sand-based outfield with a sub-soil drainage system. According to GCA secretary Anil Patel, “the pre-season renovation has been done soon after the IPL, and the groundsmen are working on the last leg before formally handing over the ground to the organising committee.

Entry points: There are four gates. While Gates No. 1 and 2 are for the general public, there are several walkways leading to the blocks. Even though Gate No. 1 is located on the main road, traffic is usually diverted on match days to ensure smooth entry to the stadium. However, the road approaching Gate No. 2, which is located next to the GCA Club House, is slightly narrow and may lead to congestion.

The Motera metro station is about 200 metres from Gate 2 and is within walking distance. But during the IPL final, with a packed crowd, entry into the stadium was chaotic from both the gates, and it took hours for the fans to finally get in.

The GCA, however, hopes that things will be smoother with adequate security and more volunteers deputed to oversee the process. Like every other time, Gate No. 3 will be used for VIP movements and vendors, whereas Gate No. 4 is restricted to players and VIP dignitaries.

As the GCA officials point out, “there are 18 parking zones for two-wheelers and four-wheelers within a radius of 1 km. In case one finds parking at a further corner, the GCA plans to organise a shuttle service that would pick up the spectators and drop them off at the venue.’ Accessibility and challenges: From the entrance to the stands, it is a long walk. And for big-ticket games like India vs. Pakistan, things could get challenging for the fans to find their way to the respective blocks and zones amid tight security.

But GCA seems to have found a way to address the issue. During the IPL, the association introduced a golf cart service for easy accessibility to the stands, and it will continue with that during the World Cup as well. There are special ramps for the differently-abled, and the GCA will tie up with the ticketing partner and appoint volunteers who will guide those spectators to their seats.

According to Patel, volunteers will also be deputed to make sure that the spectators have no problems locating their respective seat zones. Indicators will also be put up in different areas for easy navigation. “Gate 1 and Gate 2 straightaway lead to the ramps, but we will put up a few additional signs for spectators coming from different parts of the world so that they find it easy to reach their respective zones,” Patel says. “In case anyone needs special attention, they need to inform us while booking the tickets, and we will depute special volunteers to take care of them. We did a similar thing during the IPL as well,” he provides.

In case of emergency: There’s round the clock ambulance service within the stadium premises. Ahead of the event, eight to 10 medical kiosks can be arrange throughout the stadium for spectators. In case anybody wants medical consideration, there can be a main well being centre on the Sports Complex for fundamental therapy. “We have a 3-bed semi-hospital for fans and a few beds are kept for the players, support staff and guests…” a GCA official says.

Dressing rooms: There are 4 dressing rooms, two on both sides. The dressing rooms are spacious and have photos of India’s 1983 World Cup and 2011 World Cup wins. There is a viewing gallery from which the gamers and the help workers can comply with the proceedings earlier than heading to the dugout.

There are three physio rooms on both sides of the dressing rooms, together with two gamers enviornment on both sides. There can be a spacious lunch room and briefing room for house and away groups. The dressing rooms are properly maintained with state-of-the-art amenities, together with a fitness center. However, it’s an extended stroll from the dugout to the dressing room. Currently, one has to take 98 steps to succeed in the dressing room, and factoring within the time restrict, the GCA plans to scale back the variety of steps to make issues straightforward for the gamers as they stroll in or stroll out of the bottom.

Washrooms: There are 150 washrooms within the stadium, of which 130 are in use for spectators. It has amenities for each women and men, in addition to for the in a different way abled. There are greater than 80 toilets as properly. “There is proper signage for the differently-abled, and the facilities are upgraded to ensure that they don’t have any problems,” Patel says.

Water: There’s a centralised Reverse Osmosis (RO) facility within the stadium. The BCCI plans to tie up with the official ‘pouring partner’ of the event to offer free ingesting water for all of the spectators.

Solar panel: The stadium incorporates renewable power sources, water conservation strategies, and waste administration techniques. So far, solely the membership home has photo voltaic panels, however sooner or later, the GCA is open to utilizing photo voltaic panels in your entire stadium. LED lights are used all through the premises.

Areas that want consideration:

During its inspection not too long ago, the ICC delegation sought an expanded media centre to accommodate media personnel travelling from throughout the globe. While presently the press field can accommodate about 150–200 individuals, the GCA is already getting an overflow space prepared that may accommodate extra individuals, following the ICC tips. According to Patel, efforts are on to make sure ‘uninterrupted wi-fi service’ for media personnel. There will even be a separate broadcasting lounge for the commentators and the tv and digital crew.

The GCA additionally must arrange extra ticket counters to keep away from rush hour. Ahead of the IPL ultimate, there have been lengthy queues close to the primary gate for the bodily assortment of tickets, resulting in inconvenience for the spectators.

They needed to look forward to hours braving excessive climate situations, and retaining that in thoughts, the state affiliation plans to arrange extra ticket kiosks to make issues straightforward for the followers.