The leading global architecture firm Populous has unveiled designs which include a greater range of hospitality and seating options for the fans at one of cricket’s most iconic venues – the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India.
‘POPULOUS’ stated that ahead of this weekend’s Indian Premier League (IPL) match between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Rajasthan Royals the fans have been given a look into the Eden Gardens’ future which includes a new Sky Deck, premium seating and increased corporate hospitality areas with new corporate Boxes and lounges.
Populous is a global architectural and design practice with regional headquarters in Kansas City (US), London (UK) and Brisbane (Australia) specializing in the sports facilities, the arenas and the convention centers as well as in the planning and design of the major special events.
The Eden Gardens is an international cricket stadium in Kolkata, India. Established in 1864, it is the oldest and second-largest cricket stadium in India and third-largest in the world. The stadium currently has a capacity of 68,000.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 (T20) cricket league in India organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Founded in 2007, it features 10 City-based franchise teams. The IPL is the most popular and richest cricket league in the world and the 11th richest sporting league in the world by revenue. It is held annually between March and May.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the principal national governing body of the sport of cricket in India. Its headquarters are situated at the Cricket Centre in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (capital city of the Indian State Maharashtra). The BCCI is the wealthiest governing body of cricket in the world. It has a revenue of more than ₹9,700 crore (US$1.1 billion).
‘POPULOUS’ further stated that built in 1864 and known as the ‘Home of Indian Cricket’ Kolkata’s Eden Gardens is the third largest cricket stadium in the world and one of India’s most important venues representing more than 160 years of cricketing history.
Populous Principal and Architect Siddharth Soni said a new chapter in Eden Gardens’ history was being drawn which will see the venue’s capacity increase from 68,000 seats to 85,000 seats with more modern spectator amenities – “The redevelopment project will create a truly 21st century venue at the Eden Gardens with safety, sustainability and the fan experience at the core to meet the requirements of modern-day sport. For it to continue its legacy and look to the future, particularly for the evolving formats of cricket, we are not just restoring the Eden Gardens, we are enhancing an icon.”
The President of the Cricket Association of Bengal and the former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly said, “Our vision is to make the Eden Gardens one of the finest cricketing venues in the world not just in capacity but in quality, comfort and experience. I’ve grown up playing here, feeling the roar of this crowd. To now be part of its transformation is deeply special – it’s about giving back to a place that has given me everything.”
Along with the 100,024-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia the Eden Gardens is cricket’s answer to the Coliseum. It first hosted a Test match in 1934 and since then has become something of a place of pilgrimage for most international cricketers.
The Sky’s the Limit
The upgraded venue will include 41,000 square feet of exclusive hospitality zones, 44,000 square feet of non-matchday facilities, six different seating categories for the fans to choose from, and 30 percent more corporate hospitality seats.
This includes a new Sky Deck and a Sky Lounge that will offer views of the park and the river and will be a feature for social gatherings during both match and non-matchdays. There will also be dedicated IPL fan zones and lounges and a Member’s club will be introduced that opens the venue into the surrounding gardens. The curated fan experiences such as a museum, Hall of Fame and the digital engagement zones will celebrate the heritage of Eden Gardens while making it future ready for new experiences of the game.
Populous brings its expertise of designing the world’s leading cricket stadiums such as the 1,32,000-seat Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, the 31,100-capacity Lord’s Cricket Ground in London (UK) and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to the project.
Populous Associate Principal Pranav Kashyap said there were many challenges the design team faced including working within a very tight historical inner-city site limiting the venue’s physical expansion potential and ensuring that the redevelopment would respect the legacy of the building and integrate with the existing context – “Our primary design strategy was to turn these challenges into wins for the venue, the players and fans. The design not only unlocks the premium hospitality experiences but also maximizes the event day experience and opens up non-event day opportunities for the venue. This will provide an unparalleled experience for the fans and players in India. Every strike of the bat will be heard loud and clear above the roar of the crowd.”
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