Why Build 25-K Seater Cricket Stadium In Coimbatore? Fans Reject TN Govt's Plan

Netizens have registered their unhappiness over the reports that the Tamil Nadu government was planning to build a stadium in Coimbatore with a seating capacity of 25,000.

According to project details, a tender has been floated for the development, which will feature a North Pavilion, South Pavilion, East Stand, West Stand, 25 corporate boxes, and lounges, according to a recent report in Business Line.

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (TIDCO) has invited bids from qualified applicants to develop the stadium alongside a commercial complex on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis.

The tender documents reveal that a 20.18-acre plot will be provided for the stadium under a 35-year concession period-including a five-year construction window-while an additional 10.18 acres for the commercial complex will be leased for 60 years at a nominal rate of ₹1,000 per acre per annum. A clubhouse featuring a health club, fitness centre, indoor and board games, changing rooms, a restaurant, banquet hall, and swimming pool has also been proposed.

However, the plans have drawn sharp criticism from social media users, who argue that the proposed capacity is insufficient for a city of Coimbatore's stature.

One user dismissed the project as "election gimmicks," questioning the feasibility of a cricket stadium on a 20-acre plot. Another commented: "If it's 25k seating capacity, please don't ever build it. If they're considering an international stadium, the capacity should be more than Chennai's. It's not about Chennai or Coimbatore being bigger-if Tiruchy builds one, it should be bigger than Coimbatore."

Several others echoed concerns about future prospects, noting that a 25,000-seat stadium would likely be overlooked for international matches or Indian Premier League (IPL) games. One user remarked: "Seating capacity of 25k is of no use. Coimbatore will not be considered to host international or IPL matches due to low capacity. Considering the future growth of Coimbatore, Tirupur and Pollachi, demand will be higher. Capacity should be at least 50k."

Another critic added: "Absolutely nonsense. Even the IPL or international committees won't accept matches here. If you're doing something, don't do it for namesake. Either do it properly or don't waste public money."

A recurring sentiment among users was that new cricket stadiums in Tier-2 cities should have a minimum capacity of 50,000. One netizen stated: "Better not to build it if it's less than 50k seating capacity," while another suggested that even a 35,000-seat capacity would be preferable to the current proposal.

A user also drew comparisons to Chennai's Chepauk stadium, noting: "Chepauk is less than 20 acres and has 38k seating, built decades back. With today's technology and architecture, this should have a minimum of 50k, especially since it will also serve audiences from Kerala. Kindly revisit the plan before starting."