2023 ODI World Cup venues: Wankhede Stadium — capability, entry factors, pitch data and all you should know

Even earlier than the Indian Premier League last was held in Ahmedabad, the allure of the IPL had disappeared from the Wankhede Stadium. The much-prolonged restore work — to the outfield and a piece of stands and hospitality containers — was undertaken.

After weeks of relentless effort, the Wankhede Stadium is decked as much as welcome the World Cup again. While the followers might be trying ahead to India taking part in Sri Lanka greater than 12 years later on the identical venue the place Mahendra Singh Dhoni sealed the World Cup with a six, the Mumbai Cricket Association officers are assured of placing up the very best foot ahead and providing the followers an enriching expertise.

Capacity: The stadium has a capability of 33,000. However, for every of the 5 World Cup video games, roughly 30,000 spectators may be accommodated after factoring in wasted seats because of sight-screen extensions, big screens, and many others.

Of these 30,000, no more than 15,000 tickets have been offered on-line via the official ticketing associate. The remaining tickets are distributed as complimentary passes among the many ICC, BCCI sponsors, MCA’s affiliated golf equipment, former worldwide cricketers from Mumbai, and numerous state and central companies which are affiliated items of the MCA, together with the state and central companies that assist in the graceful conduct of the matches.

The MCA has 211 unusual Maidan golf equipment affiliated with it. Each membership is allotted a sure variety of tickets for each worldwide recreation, that are anticipated to be handed on to cricketers representing these golf equipment.

“We have appointed a professional auditing firm to oversee ticket distribution. It has ensured that transparency of the highest quality is being maintained while distributing tickets for each of the five matches,” says Ajinkya Naik, the MCA secretary.

Hospitality containers: The Wankhede Stadium has 59 company hospitality containers, of which 48 are offered via the tendering course of. The tendering course of had been undertaken lately after the earlier lease expired in 2021. All the containers put collectively match nearly 1,000 spectators.

While the earlier lease had a mixed clause for IPL and worldwide matches at Wankhede, the MCA has devised a mechanism to draw diversified bidders by dividing and including a further class just for the IPL.

Practice services: It has been a bone of competition on the Wankhede because of an absence of house in south Mumbai. As a outcome, groups practise on the sidelines on the fundamental stadium within the lead-up to matches. Besides, the MCA will even utilise the adjoining Brabourne Stadium — owned by the Cricket Club of India — and MCA’s very personal Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy on the Bandra-Kurla Complex. Should the monsoon delay into October, the indoor facility at BKC will turn out to be useful for the groups. “Since BKC has a year-round activity going, all the arrangements are in place to offer the highest quality training for all the teams competing in Mumbai,” says Naik. 

Pitch and outfield: The Wankhede has 13 pitches on the primary sq., with 4 being ready for the 5 video games, together with the semifinal. The red-soil pitches have behaved to the delight of nearly all of groups and gamers. MCA curator Ramesh Mhamunkar, a veteran, is assured of providing “sporting pitches” for the occasion. “Let me assure you that all the players and spectators will thoroughly enjoy playing on these pitches, as they always do,” says Mhamunkar, with out stepping into the nitty-gritty, citing a BCCI directive for curators to not open up in regards to the pitches. More than the pitches, it’s the relaying of the outfield that was amongst Mhamunkar’s main considerations. With weeds having sprung up everywhere in the outfield, the MCA was instructed to relay the outfield by BCCI’s chief curator nearly two years in the past. But the continual allotment of the video games stored delaying it. Finally, the relaying of the grass began in May, with M/s. L.S. Brothers being handed the bottom. According to Mhamunkar, the outfield was scrapped “three inches deep” and recent grass was relaid. “Due to the rain, we had to keep cutting the grass frequently, but by the end of August, the outfield had a lush-green look,” says Mhamunkar. “Andy Atkinson (the ICC pitch consultant) was all praise for our work when he inspected the pitch and the outfield.” 

The Wankhede has 13 pitches on the primary sq., with 4 being ready for the 5 video games, together with the semifinal. The red-soil pitches have behaved to the delight of nearly all of groups and gamers. 
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI

Entry factors: The stadium has six gates and 48 turnstiles on match days. With the 2 foot-over bridges having been broken and closed for spectators as a result of dispute between the MCA and the Western Railway authorities, the MCA, similar to the IPL, has created a further gate —5A — from the University Pavilion entrance with an eye fixed on avoiding overcrowding. The MCA has ensured that extra signages might be displayed throughout south Mumbai. Besides, a minimum of one raise might be reserved for wheelchair-bound spectators, barring two stands. A ramp will even be created for bodily challenged spectators. With the stadium being adjoining to the famed Queen’s Necklace, it’s nicely related via public transport. The Churchgate and Marine Lines native practice stations are proper subsequent to it, whereas the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is a brief stroll away. Despite the comfort, a majority of spectators should stroll nearly two kilometres because of visitors diversions and logistical points. Add to that the parking woes that almost all of four-wheeler and two-wheeler drivers face, and it’s most advisable for spectators to keep away from driving down on match days. Parking has been a significant problem for MCA, with the restricted parking house barely sufficient to accommodate group buses and VVIP automobiles. For different hospitality containers, the MCA rents out main parking tons in and across the stadium on match days, however that solely results in a most of 600 parking tons being out there to the MCA. It barely suits VIPs and hospitality field ticket holders. 

Accessibility and challenges: The first level of tickets being scanned to the seats is a considerable stroll. Besides, for main video games — particularly the India-Sri Lanka and the semifinal — easy spectator circulation into the stands might be essential. Should the MCA open the gates early, a minimum of for these video games, it should guarantee spectator comfort and security. “We have roped in an event management agency so that the spectators enjoy a memorable experience at the Wankhede. The agency has been appointed to ensure the World Cup experience is as memorable — if not more than — the IPL for each and every spectator. Trained staff and volunteers will assist every cricket-crazy fan that turns up at the stadium,” says Naik. 

In case of emergency: Three ambulances for the spectators might be stationed at numerous factors within the stadium premises for medical emergencies, ought to the necessity come up. Besides the MCA’s association with Bombay Hospital for allotting beds on precedence, if required, for spectators on match days, the MCA will set up a minimum of one first-aid child in each stand, and docs might be out there at each sales space. Sensing the new and humid local weather in Mumbai, free water stations might be created at each stage. 

Dressing rooms: Both the dressing rooms have been renovated. From the seating to the flooring to the eating space to the physiotherapy nook to the toilets, all the pieces has been renewed within the final 4 months. “This was a major part of the revamp project. We consulted former and current cricketers from Mumbai and have tried our best to include their suggestions to make players feel at home,” says Naik.

Washrooms: For spectators, the Wankhede Stadium accounts for 53 washrooms for males and 54 for girls mixed. While the spectator-washroom ratio is appropriate contemplating the comparatively smaller capability, the hygiene of washrooms on match days has been questionable. The spectators have typically complained about choked washrooms, particularly within the latter half of an ODI. “It will not happen any longer,” exclaims a MCA official.

Water: The BCCI has roped in a pouring associate. Besides, the MCA will add to its earlier coverage of getting a minimum of one free water station in each stand, and at each stage. 

Floodlights: Naik states that the BCCI inspection expressed full satisfaction with the present floodlights, and the MCA has ensured the requisite depth ranges as per the event tips. 

What’s new: Besides the new-look dressing rooms, the MCA has additionally amended the president’s field. The key characteristic is the addition of a gallery to the president’s field, with a view to let among the VVIPs expertise the true vibe of a recreation by being outside for some time. 

The affiliation can be making an attempt its finest to jazz up the stadium by having it newly painted and including vibrant colors to the concourse and the partitions. The fundamental entrance can have a lightweight present, in sync with the IPL mannequin. 

The MCA has additionally refurbished the media centre. Despite curbing the capability of the Balasaheb Thackeray Press Box by creating three company containers because the new field was made in 2011, the press field will accommodate not more than 150 people. The commentary containers space has additionally been renovated, with extra containers allotted to regional language commentators for the official broadcasters.