Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium

Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium

Former names	Municipal Stadium
Location	Stadium Road, Chembukkav, Thrissur
Owner	Thrissur Municipal Corporation
Capacity	15,000[1]
Surface	Artificial turf
Opened	1978-79[2]
Tenants
Kerala Blasters FC Kerala (2014—Present)

Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium is football stadium owned by Thrissur Municipal Corporation. Situated in Thrissur city, it is also known as Palace Stadium. It is one of the oldest stadiums in Kerala, India and have a capacity to hold 15,000 people. The stadium was the home ground for international footballers like I.M.Vijayan (Former Indian Captain), Jo Paul Ancheri etc. Recently the stadium is under renovation, and is being lifted to international standards.^[3][4] The stadium has the first synthetic football turf in Kerala state.^[5]

History

Municipal Corporation Stadium was the venue for the largest and highest temporary stadium in the world according to Guinness World Records, which can hold 35,000 spectators at a height of 70 feet. The stadium was constructed for the Federation Cup (India). The stadium was also the venue for Federation Cup (India) in April, 1990 where Kerala Police defeated Salgaocar SC for 2-1.^[6]

Synthetic turf

The stadium has the first synthetic football turf in Kerala state, and the only football field in India to currently have a FIFA 2 star certification - the highest rating for artificial turf from FIFA. The turf was imported from FieldTurf, United States and was installed by Great Sports Infra Pvt Ltd. The 2 star certification was issued after a series of tests conducted by a FIFA approved laboratory. The stadium was renovated by Government of Kerala for the upcoming National Games of India 2015. The football turf has an approximate area of 7,150 square metres. The renovated stadium will have eight-lane synthetic tracks surrounding the synthetic football ground. Synthetic track and football ground have an 8-year guarantee.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12]}

Kerala Blasters

Sachin Tendulkar-owned Kerala Blasters have their permanent training camp at Corporation Stadium. All the players of Kerala Blasters who will be playing Indian Super League (ISL) matches will be trained here.^{[13][14][15][16]}

Events held

• Santosh Trophy in 1981-982
• Santosh Trophy in 1999-2000^[17]
• Federation Cup (India) in 1990

References

1. http://www.worldofstadiums.com/asia/india/kerala/thrissur-municipal-corporation-stadium/
2. "Municipal Stadium". espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
3. "Major stadiums of Southern India". Soccer IndiaNet.com. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
4. "Make or mar match for Mahindras". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
5. "Thrissur corporation stadium to host Women's football at 35th national games". City Journal. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
6. "Thrissur's Guinness gallery". Manoramaonline.com. Retrieved 2014-01-17.
7. "FieldTurf Executes India's only FIFA 2-Star Football Field for National Games, Kerala". Money Life. Retrieved 2014-09-22.
8. "FieldTurf Executes India's only FIFA 2-Star Football Field for National Games, Kerala". IANS. Retrieved 2014-09-22.
9. "Corporation Stadium, Thrissur, India". FIFA. Retrieved 2014-09-22.
10. "Thrissur corporation stadium to host Women's football at 35th national games". City Journal. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
11. "Construction work at Thrissur Corporation stadium opposed". The Hindu. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
12. "Synthetic turf for stadium". The Hindu. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
13. "Kerala Blasters opts for Thrissur as training base". Kerala2014. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
14. "ISL: Sachin Tendulkar owned Kerala Blasters kick off training". IBNLive.com. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
15. "ames bowls over Kerala stalwarts". New Indian Express. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
16. "Kerala Blasters FC Ignites Soccer Frenzy in Thrissur". New Indian Express. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
17. "List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Santosh Trophy:". Indian Football. Retrieved 2014-01-28.