Cricket in India is big business and the sport in the country is aiming to increase its footprint with the announcement of a 100,000-capacity stadium in the financial centre of Mumbai.
On Thursday, the Mumbai cricket association announced that the process for acquiring land for a mega stadium in the metropolitan area of Mumbai has begun.
The plan is to "develop a truly world-class stadium with modern amenities". But more importantly, the aim is to overcome the one obstacle that has been holding cricket experience in the city back – capacity.
Mumbai is one of the biggest financial hubs in the world and has been one of the main pillars of the growth of cricket in India.
The city has three international standard cricket venues, all within the main city limits. The most famous one is the Wankhede Stadium, home of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and a regular venue for ICC tournament matches.
Just a stone's throw from the Wankhede is a largely forgotten gem – the Brabourne Stadium. Run by a separate private club – the Cricket Club of India – the Brabourne Stadium does not appear on the cricket calendar anymore, with the venue hosting its last men's international match in 2018 and women's game in 2022.
Further away from the city centre is the DY Patil Stadium, which has hosted many international and IPL matches, but is now largely known for hosting women's matches, a highly competitive domestic T20 tournament and also music concerts.
Wankhede remains the only in-use venue for men's international cricket matches, and that is creating some issues.
The venue has been redeveloped but is severely restricted in its scope due to lack of available land and capacity limits.
The Wankhede Stadium sits on a modest parcel of land in one of the most expensive portions of real estate in the world. One side of the venue is right next to a major railway line, making it impossible to make any significant changes.
During its redevelopment, which took place more than a decade back, the stands were built up rather than out, providing an incredible colosseum-like atmosphere but also capping the capacity at 33,000.
Among all major cricket centres in the country, Wankhede is the smallest. Compare that to the neighbouring state of Gujarat, which boasts the biggest cricket venue in the world – the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Wankhede's capacity issues have meant all major cricket finals naturally move to the Narendra Modi Stadium. Mumbai now only hosts semi-finals at big events, as it did during the 2023 ODI World Cup and this year's T20 World Cup.
A 100,000-capacity venue in Mumbai, even if near the outskirts of the metropolis, would serve as an attractive option for big-ticket matches, befitting a city that has contributed greatly to the growth of the game through its 'maidans' and great cricketers and administrators.
Beyond cricket
While a mega cricket stadium looks cool, the economics are not so straightforward. The cost of building venues is so high that it requires support from beyond the cricket world. A handful of international and IPL matches each year will barely help recoup any significant portion of the funds needed to build such a venue.
The management at the Narendra Modi Stadium understood this problem and seem to have found a solution. The Ahmedabad ground, built at a cost of around $100 million, has turned into a major centre for events and concerts. Last year, it hosted one of the biggest music concerts of the 21st century when Coldplay performed in front of a reported crowd of over 220,000 across two days.
According to Ernst & Young, that concert alone contributed around $70m to the local economy. The Narendra Modi Stadium also hosts many local tournaments and non-sporting gatherings, making it a financially viable model that can be replicated in Mumbai.
Biggest cricket stadiums in the world
1. Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad - 110,000 capacity (132,000 expanded)
2. Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia - 100,000
3. Eden Gardens, Kolkata - 68,000
4. SVNS Stadium, Raipur, India - 65,000
5. Perth Stadium, Australia - 60,000
