Salt Lake Stadium
Encyclopedia
Salt Lake Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium
in Bidhannagar, Kolkata
, West Bengal
.
matches and athletics. The stadium was built in 1984 and holds 120,000 people in a three-tier configuration.
It is situated approximately 10 km to the east of the Kolkata
downtown and is elliptical in shape. The roof is made of metal tubes and aluminum sheets and concrete
. There are two electronic score boards and control rooms. The lighting is uniformly distributed to facilitate nocturnal sports. There are special arrangements for TV broadcasting.
The stadium covers an area of 76.4 acres (309,180.1 m²). It was inaugurated in January, 1984. The salient features of the stadium are unique synthetic track for athletic meets, electronic scoreboard, main football arena measuring 105m x 70m, elevators, VIP enclosures, peripheral floodlighting arrangement from the roof-top, air conditioned VIP rest room and Conference Hall. Other features of the stadium are also commentary boxes for All India Radio and TV along with several platforms for TV cameras, press boxes, dormitories and AC. rooms, player's changing rooms, practice grounds for football, cricket and khokho, volleyball field and an ultra-medium gymnasium. The stadium has its own water arrangements and standby diesel generation sets.
The floodlights which illuminate the stadium consist of 624 bulbs of 2 kW each and two electronic scoreboards consisting of 36,000 bulbs of 25 watt each. The four underground reservoirs have unique fire-fighting arrangements with a capacity of 10,000 gallons. The architectural and structural design of the stadium was the work of the Joint Consultants viz., M/S. Ballardie, Thompson & Matthews Pvt. Ltd. and M/S. H.K. Sen & Associates – both from Kolkata, West Bengal. The track was prepared by Reckortan Tartan Track, Germany. The electronic scoreboards were supplied by Electro Impex of Hungary.
After its inauguration in January, 1984 with the Jawaharlal Nehru International Gold Cup Soccer Tournament, the Salt Lake Stadium has hosted several important international tournaments or matches such as The Pre-World Cup Tournament in 1985, Super-Soccers in 1986, 1989, 1991 and 1994, 3rd S.A.F. games in 1987, U.S.S.R. Festival in 1988, Charminar Challenger Trophy in 1992, Jawaharlal Nehru International Gold Cup in 1995. The chief engineer of the stadium is Somnath Ghosh.
The stadium also hosts different kinds of cultural programs such as dance and music concerts
.
There is a climbing wall at the northern side of the stadium, it is maintained by the West Bengal Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Foundation under the Youth Service Directorate of the Government of West Bengal.
The Salt Lake Stadium hosts the home games of local clubs Mohun Bagan A.C., Kingfisher East Bengal F.C., Prayag United S.C. and Mohammedan SC, three of the big clubs in Indian football
. The traditional Kolkata derbies between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan AC take place in this stadium accompanied by much fanfare and feverish emotions (and on a few occasions, outbreaks of violence). Most of these matches are attended by capacity crowds of supporters of both teams.
Many of the home games of the India national football team
are also played in Salt Lake, as are many important games in major stages of national tournaments.
On June 5th 2011 FIFA
sanctioned a match to be played at Salt Lake on September 2nd 2011. The match was scheduled to be played between the football sides of Argentina
and Venezuela
.
The match did end with Argentina wining the game 1–0 with Nicolás Otamendi
scoring the only goal in the 67th minute from a Lionel Messi
corner. Venezuela broke a few times into the Argentinean defense but could not make any real chance.
The stadium was also host to Oliver Kahn
's final official match for Bayern Munich when they played a friendly match against Mohun Bagan; Bayern won 3–0.
in 1987 and various national athletics events in India.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Bidhannagar, Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
.
Information
The stadium is the second largest non-auto racing stadium in the world and the largest in the Indian sub-continent. It is currently used for footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
matches and athletics. The stadium was built in 1984 and holds 120,000 people in a three-tier configuration.
It is situated approximately 10 km to the east of the Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
downtown and is elliptical in shape. The roof is made of metal tubes and aluminum sheets and concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
. There are two electronic score boards and control rooms. The lighting is uniformly distributed to facilitate nocturnal sports. There are special arrangements for TV broadcasting.
The stadium covers an area of 76.4 acres (309,180.1 m²). It was inaugurated in January, 1984. The salient features of the stadium are unique synthetic track for athletic meets, electronic scoreboard, main football arena measuring 105m x 70m, elevators, VIP enclosures, peripheral floodlighting arrangement from the roof-top, air conditioned VIP rest room and Conference Hall. Other features of the stadium are also commentary boxes for All India Radio and TV along with several platforms for TV cameras, press boxes, dormitories and AC. rooms, player's changing rooms, practice grounds for football, cricket and khokho, volleyball field and an ultra-medium gymnasium. The stadium has its own water arrangements and standby diesel generation sets.
The floodlights which illuminate the stadium consist of 624 bulbs of 2 kW each and two electronic scoreboards consisting of 36,000 bulbs of 25 watt each. The four underground reservoirs have unique fire-fighting arrangements with a capacity of 10,000 gallons. The architectural and structural design of the stadium was the work of the Joint Consultants viz., M/S. Ballardie, Thompson & Matthews Pvt. Ltd. and M/S. H.K. Sen & Associates – both from Kolkata, West Bengal. The track was prepared by Reckortan Tartan Track, Germany. The electronic scoreboards were supplied by Electro Impex of Hungary.
After its inauguration in January, 1984 with the Jawaharlal Nehru International Gold Cup Soccer Tournament, the Salt Lake Stadium has hosted several important international tournaments or matches such as The Pre-World Cup Tournament in 1985, Super-Soccers in 1986, 1989, 1991 and 1994, 3rd S.A.F. games in 1987, U.S.S.R. Festival in 1988, Charminar Challenger Trophy in 1992, Jawaharlal Nehru International Gold Cup in 1995. The chief engineer of the stadium is Somnath Ghosh.
The stadium also hosts different kinds of cultural programs such as dance and music concerts
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
.
There is a climbing wall at the northern side of the stadium, it is maintained by the West Bengal Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Foundation under the Youth Service Directorate of the Government of West Bengal.
Football
Football is the main sport in this stadium.The Salt Lake Stadium hosts the home games of local clubs Mohun Bagan A.C., Kingfisher East Bengal F.C., Prayag United S.C. and Mohammedan SC, three of the big clubs in Indian football
Football in India
Association football is one of India's most popular sports, next to cricket. It is a very popular sport in states like West Bengal, Goa, Kerala and the entire North-East India, especially Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Sikkim....
. The traditional Kolkata derbies between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan AC take place in this stadium accompanied by much fanfare and feverish emotions (and on a few occasions, outbreaks of violence). Most of these matches are attended by capacity crowds of supporters of both teams.
Many of the home games of the India national football team
India national football team
The Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
are also played in Salt Lake, as are many important games in major stages of national tournaments.
On June 5th 2011 FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
sanctioned a match to be played at Salt Lake on September 2nd 2011. The match was scheduled to be played between the football sides of Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
and Venezuela
Venezuela national football team
The Venezuela national football team is the national football team of Venezuela and is controlled by the Federación Venezolana de Fútbol. It is nicknamed La Vinotinto , because of the traditional burgundy color of their shirts....
.
The match did end with Argentina wining the game 1–0 with Nicolás Otamendi
Nicolás Otamendi
Nicolás Hernán Gonzalo Otamendi is an Argentine football centre back who plays for F.C. Porto in the Portuguese Liga.-Vélez Sársfield:...
scoring the only goal in the 67th minute from a Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and captains the Argentina national team, mainly as a striker. Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 2009 and 2010...
corner. Venezuela broke a few times into the Argentinean defense but could not make any real chance.
The stadium was also host to Oliver Kahn
Oliver Kahn
Oliver Rolf Kahn is a former German football goalkeeper. He started his career in the Karlsruher SC Junior team. He had his debut game in the professional squad in 1987...
's final official match for Bayern Munich when they played a friendly match against Mohun Bagan; Bayern won 3–0.
Athletics
The stadium also hosts important athletic events. It has hosted the SAF GamesSouth Asian Federation Games
South Asian Games are a bi-annual multi-sport event held among the athletes from South Asia. The governing body of these games is South Asian Sports Council , formed in 1983...
in 1987 and various national athletics events in India.