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Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium (SVP Stadium) is an Indian sports stadium located in the Navrangpura locality of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India it is sometimes referred as Sports Club of Gujarat Stadium. The stadium hosted the first One Day International match played in India. It is owned by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. It is mainly used for cricket, but it has also played host to a number of programs arranged by the Government of Gujarat.
| Sports Club of Gujarat Stadium | |
 Navrangpura Stadium | |
| Ground information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Navrangpura, Ahmedabad |
| Establishment | 1960 |
| Capacity | 50,000 |
| Owner | Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation |
| Architect | Charles Correa |
| Operator | Gujarat Cricket Association |
| Tenants | Gujarat cricket team Government of Gujarat |
| End names | |
| Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation End Azhar Altaf Pavilion End | |
| International information | |
| Only ODI | 25 November 1981: India v  England |
| First women's Test | 3–5 February 1984: India v  Australia |
| Last women's Test | 23–25 February 1985: India v  New Zealand |
| As of 8 December 2019 Source: ESPNcricinfo Profile | |
History
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In the early 1950s, the province of Bombay gifted 67,000 square metres (80,000 sq yd) of land to the Cricket Club of Ahmedabad (CCA) to construct a cricket stadium and a clubhouse. CCA handed over the project as well as the land to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) at a token price. It was agreed to have separate management for the Stadium and the Club House and that the original members of the CCA would form a new club, christened The Sports Club of Gujarat Ltd.[1]
Sheth Chinubhai Chimanbhai, a leading industrialist and then Mayor of Ahmedabad, hired architect Charles Correa to design both the stadium and the clubhouse. The early idea for the construction of the stadium was conceived and structural engineer Mahendra Raj served as the consulting engineer.[2]
The construction of the SVP stadium began in 1959. Due to financial issues, the stadium was partially completed in 1966 with only a roof-covered south pavilion. Later the stands around the entire stadium were built by the 1980s.[2][3]
Cricket
editThe stadium hosted its only One Day International (ODI) match and first played in India on 25 November 1981.[3] The match was played between India and England. The match was reduced to 46 overs. India scored 156 for 7. Dilip Vengsarkar top scored with 46 runs. England replied with 160 for 5 and won the match by five wickets and 13 balls to spare. Mike Gatting and Ian Botham were unbeaten on 47 and 25 respectively.[4][2]
Once a Motera stadium came up in Motera in 1982, the stadium is not been used for international cricket matches. The Motera Stadium now hosts all ODI matches and Test matches in the city. The Motera stadium was rebuilt in 2020 and renamed Narendra Modi Stadium.[5]
Indian Cricket League
editDuring 2008 season of Indian Cricket League (ICL), the stadium was chosen as one of the venues for the tournament, other venues being Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Panchkula. Prior to the tournament, the ICL spent ₹100 million (₹10 crore) for renovation of the stadium and ₹30-40 million for floodlights, apart from improving the pitch, outfield, and dressing rooms.
The stadium hosted 12 matches during the T20 tournament. The stadium was scheduled to host all seven matches of ICL World Series, but the tournament was canceled after four matches due to the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
Recreational use
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The stadium is a popular place for recreational use including hosting political and religious events as well as concerts.[2][6]
The stadium hosted the Swarnim Gujarat Fest, the golden jubilee celebrations of the foundation of Gujarat, on 30 April and 1 May 2010. The stadium was renovated at the cost of ₹5 crore (US$600,000). The event was attended by thousands.[7][8][9]
The seating arena was closed in 2020 and was opened for the 11th edition of Khel Mahakhumb, state level multi-sports tournament in March 2022, after repairs.[2]
Restoration proposal
editIn July 2020, the Getty Foundation announced that SVP Stadium was one of 13 significant twentieth-century buildings in the world and announced a grant. In 2022, World Monuments Fund (WMF) and National Centre for Safety of Heritage Structures, Department of Civil Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology Madras submitted the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan for the stadium to AMC in March 2023. The stadium was also included in the 2020 World Monuments Watch. The repair and restoration is estimated to cost ₹50 crore (US$6.0 million).[2][6][10]
There were reports of its demolition proposal to make space for a new stadium under the master plan for Gujarat's bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics. Another proposal was to retain the stadium and build additional sports facilities for the Olympics.[2][6][11][12][13]
Architecture
editThe stadium is spread over an area of 67,000 square metres. It used a complex folded plate structural system, the first such building in India. The folded plate cantilever roof above the pavilion was 20 m wide and 326 feet long. It was made of reinforced cement concrete and was the longest such span in the world in 1963. The exterior has geometric concrete frames which creates open space below the seats for the spectators.[2][14]
The stadium has a seating capacity of 40,000 to 50,000 spectators.[2][15]
It is equipped with floodlights for day-and-night games.
Home ground
editThe stadium is one of the home grounds of the Gujarat cricket team that plays in the domestic tournament of Ranji Trophy. It is a regular venue during the Indian domestic cricket season.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "GlORIOUS PAST – Sports Club". Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Sharma, Ritu (8 October 2023). "Know Your City: Built by Charles Correa, Ahmedabad's iconic Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium boasts of many firsts". The Indian Express. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ a b Trivedi, Tushar (23 September 2023). "Though Many Matches Were Played In The City, It Lacked A Good Stadium; As A Result The AMC In 1960-61 Planned To Built Its Own Stadium In Navrangpura". Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Scorecard". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ "Modern Marvel: World's largest stadium". YouTube. History TV18. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Plans to Demolish Iconic Sardar Patel Stadium: Report". The Wire. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Navrangpura stadium gets Rs 5 cr facelift". swarnimgujarat.org.
- ^ "Gujarat turns 50 in style". The Times of India. Ahmedabad Edition. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ "50,000 Spectators & VIPs Attend Swarnim Guajarat". India News Time.
- ^ "Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium". World Monuments Fund. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Staff, CricTracker (25 August 2023). "Uncertainty looms over fate of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium amid Ahmedabad's 2036 Olympic aspirations". CricTracker. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "As Ahmedabad Preps For Olympics 2036, AMC in a Quandary About SVP Stadium's Fate". TimesNow. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Amin, Neha (23 September 2023). "Ahmedabad's Iconic Venue Sardar Patel Stadium Faces The Wrecking Ball To Make Way For Olympic-Standard Facility". Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Ahmedabad: To revamp or raze, that's the only question for SVP stadium". The Times of India. 25 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ sportsclub
External links
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