A bigger and better Chepauk stadium awaits new beginnings in post COVID-19 era

MA Chidambaram Stadium to undergo massive renovation.

The MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai, better known as the Chepauk is not scheduled to hold any games in near future, especially after the IPL 2020 all set to be moved to UAE due to COVID-19. Chennai has not seen much international or IPL action in recent past.

In IPL 2018, Chennai was not allowed to host any IPL games due to Cauvery water protests and the issue with their three stands I, J and K being cordoned off due to issues with Municipal Corporation led to Chennai missing out on IPL 2019 final as well.

This layoff due to COVID-19 and IPL 13 being held in UAE has given the administration at Chepauk getting time to give it a facelift, meaning an increase in capacity from 36,000 to 42,000 approximately when big-ticket cricket returns to the city.

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"For a long time, the three stands - I, J and K used to stay closed due to a stand-off with the environmental authorities and that led to a decrease of capacity to 24,000. But now, we have got the clearance to open the stands and following the reconstruction, a full Chepauk will effectively mean an 18,000 increase in capacity," a top TNCA source said.  

The TNCA plans to bring down the three stands - Anna pavilion, MCC pavilion and the terrace over the dressing rooms - at the pavilion end and build a new pavilion with three renovated stands.

Under the new plan, the old roofing with pillars which often blocked the view will be done away with and will be replaced by 'conical roofing with translucent membrane held together with cables.

"We hope to finish the renovation work by the beginning of 2021 so that we can be ready for a full-house for a Test match against England in February-March next year," TNCA secretary RS Ramasaamy said.

"It will mean an increase in revenue...We wanted to start the work soon after the IPL this year but the coronavirus pandemic brought everything to a standstill. However, the opportunity has again presented itself and we don't want to let it go. We hope to get the work done in three-four months from the time we get the permission from the corporation," the secretary added.

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The cost to renovate the three stands will be Rs 20 crore each and TNCA plans to subscribe for BCCI's infra subsidy for each state association which was increased to Rs 100 crore recently. The approximate cost for the last reconstruction work carried out in the stadium before the 2011 World Cup was Rs 175 crore.

As per TNCA’s original plans the Madras Cricket Club had hired London-based contractors Hopkins Architects to build 12 new stands but the state cricket association and MCC couldn't get the necessary permissions to bring down the old MCC structure built in 1846. However, the Madras Cricket Club (MCC) has already given their consent this time around to build the new stand.

"The MCC has been quite co-operative so far and we have reached a mutually beneficial agreement to bring down their structure. During the renovation work, the TNCA office and MCC club house and office which are at the pavilion end will have to be shifted temporarily. We are in the process of finalizing everything and will announce the dates soon when work can commence," he said.

(Times of India inputs)