Ahmedabad to get a rain proof Stadium

Rain will no longer play spoilsport in the city as Ahmedabad will have the distinction of housing India’s firstever sports and entertainment complex with a retractable roof. Globally, there is just one such sporting complex that has a retractable roof, and that is the Telstra Dome stadium in Melbourne, Australia. The state government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a London-based company called StadiArena and its Indian partner TransStadia on January 12 to create a complex, which will include a football ground and an entertainment arena, at the cost of Rs 200 crore. The highlight of this 33,000-capacity structure will undoubtedly be its roof, which can cover the entire complex within six minutes. The Telstra Dome takes eight minutes to convert itself into an indoor venue from an open stadium. Currently, it is the only cricket venue where a match remains unaffected by rain. Slated to be ready by 2010, the Ahmedabad stadium aims to develop a similar facility. The state government has offered StadiArena land at five places, including one near Sanand, from where Tata Motors’ Nano car will roll out. Land is also being offered near Kankaria Lake. The company engineers are supervising the spots offered. Construction work is scheduled to begin in March. The main features of the proposed design include:
• A sunken bowl housing the field of play
• Around 33,000 permanent seats to bring fans closer to the action
• A cable-supported retractable roof, which would be operational by a mere push of the button
• A ‘wrap’ around the stadium structure decorated with art, and a separate arena for entertainment events
• Groups of pods situated around the concourse for merchandise and catering facilities.
Upon completion, the stadium’s primary usage will include hosting a world-class sports academy, international competitions at junior and senior levels, and music concerts, theatre, etc. The project’s promoters are hailing the proposed stadium as “Wembley of the East”. The famous Wembley stadium in north-west London is home of the England’s national football team and is a famous host to pop concerts and other cultural events. Pop star Madonna recently performed there in front of almost 90,000 fans. StadiArena’s founder, Paul Fletcher, said his aim is to develop a complex in Ahmedabad that can be a beacon for the world. He said, “Having our first operational arena in such a visionary and progressive city as Ahmedabad is truly an exciting prospect. Due for completion in 2010, the build schedule is impressive, and we have total confidence in our partners and the government.” His Indian partner, Udit Sheth, TransStadia’s managing director and CEO, said: “We want this project to house state-of-the-art facilities and act as the centre of excellence for sports development and events. This is the paradigm shift India needs and will take India to the world.