Mumbai Football Arena
Mumbai Football Arena is a football stadium in Mumbai, India. It is located in the Andheri Sports Complex. It is one of the only few dedicated football stadiums in the country, which has been hugely appreciated by football pundits and players alike, and has hosted many games for the national team. It is the home venue of ISL club Mumbai City FC.
Andheri Sports Complex | |
 Interior of the stadium in 2023 | |
| Full name | Mumbai Football Arena |
|---|---|
| Former names | Shahaji Raje Krida Sankul |
| Location | Veera Desai Road, Andheri West, Mumbai |
| Coordinates | 19°7′46.0164″N 72°50′10.1718″E |
| Public transit | Azad Nagar metro station (metro) Andheri railway station (suburban railway) |
| Owner | Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation |
| Operator | Mumbai City FC |
| Capacity | 6,666 |
| Record attendance | 8,890 in 2018 Intercontinental Cup (India) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1988 |
| Opened | 1988 |
| Renovated | 2023 |
| Tenants | |
| India national football team (2016–present) Mumbai City FC (2016–present) | |
Routine usage
It serves as the home stadium of Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League[1] from the 2016 Indian Super League season after the team played their first 2 seasons at the DY Patil Stadium. The football stadium holds a capacity of 6,600 spectators after the installation of bucket seats.
Notable events
The India national football team played a FIFA international friendly on 3 September 2016 beating Puerto Rico national football team 4–1 in front of a packed stadium. This was the first international friendly hosted by the city in 61 years.
The stadium hosted the 2017 Hero Tri-Nation Series between India, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Mauritius, which was won by India after topping the table.
In June 2018, the stadium hosted all 7 matches of the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, in which the Indian men's football team played against Kenya, New Zealand, and Chinese Taipei in a four-way tournament.[2] India beat Kenya 2–0 in the final to win the tournament.[3] The stadium was sold out for all the games for India after the first home game against Chinese Taipei which saw a poor turnout after Sunil Chhetri made an emotional appeal asking the fans to come and support the national team play in the stadium.
It hosted the 2019 Indian Super League Final featuring Bengaluru FC and FC Goa. Bengaluru F.C won the match due to a late goal from defender and local boy Rahul Bheke. This was Bengaluru F.C's first Indian Super League final win after losing in the final the previous year against Chennaiyin FC.
It was one of the host venues of 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup.
Redevelopment
Aditya Thackeray, a local politician, and Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor are known to have played an important role in the redevelopment of the stadium.[4]
Design and atmosphere
Before the beginning of 2022-23 Indian Super League season, the stadium was renovated and bucket seats were installed throughout the stadium; arlier, the stadium could hold 7690-9000 fans.
See also
References
- "Match Preview: Mumbai City FC vs Kerala Blasters FC". Mumbai City FC. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- Noronha, Anselm. "2018 Intercontinental Cup: Teams, fixtures, TV guide & venue". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- "Constantine Lauds Sunil Chhetri and Boys After Winning Intercontinental Cup". News18. Press Trust of India. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- "Indian Football: Aaditya Thackeray - The brain behind Mumbai Football Arena - Goal.com". 24 September 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mumbai_Football_Arena.jpg
