After final rejection of IPL, Karnataka announces new 80,000 seater stadium near Bengaluru

Just days after Bengaluru lost the hosting rights for the 2026 IPL final, Karnataka announced plans for a massive new international cricket stadium that could become the second largest cricket venue in India. The move also comes amid growing controversy over the limitations of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, particularly its comparatively smaller seating capacity.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the proposed stadium at Suryanagar Phase 4 in Anekal Taluk near Bengaluru. The new venue is planned to have a capacity of 80,000 and will be part of a larger sports complex being developed by the Housing Department and the Karnataka Housing Board.

The timing of the announcement immediately drew attention as it comes just days after the BCCI shifted the IPL 2026 final from Bengaluru to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

KSCA president and former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad admitted this earlier Chinnaswamy Stadium’s limited capacity may have played a role in the decision.

“One of the reasons why the final was moved from this venue is probably because of the capacity of the stadium,” Prasad said during an event in Bengaluru.

The IPL had initially allotted the final on May 31 to Bengaluru before allotting the summit clash to Ahmedabad. Officially, the BCCI cited “certain demands from the local association and authorities which were beyond the established BCCI guidelines and protocols”.

However, throughout the season, reports of logistical problems, crowd management issues and a political controversy surrounding the allocation of tickets have increasingly piled up around the Bengaluru venue.

WHY KARNATAKA WANTS A BIGGER CRICKET STADIUM

The proposed stadium project appears to directly address many of the issues that have recently surfaced around the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Speaking during the foundation stone ceremony, Siddaramaiah highlighted the need for a bigger and more modern sports venue in Karnataka, especially after the crowd chaos witnessed during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations earlier this season.

The chief minister said that nearly 4,000 acres have been acquired for the overall development project, with around 75 acres specifically allotted for the stadium itself. The remaining land will reportedly be used for housing and plots for farmers and applicants.

The new stadium is expected to be built with international standard infrastructure capable of handling significantly larger crowds compared to the Chinnaswamy Stadium which currently holds around 35,000 spectators.

If completed as planned, the venue will become the second largest cricket stadium in India after the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which currently has a capacity of over 1.3 lakh.

The project also reflects the growing trend among Indian states to build mega cricket grounds capable of hosting major ICC events, IPL finals and global tournaments.

Only last month, Maharashtra announced plans for a proposed 1,000,000 m2 stadium in the Mumbai metropolitan area in collaboration with CIDCO and the Mumbai Cricket Association.

The project is expected to eventually shift focus away from the iconic Wankhede Stadium, just as Karnataka’s new stadium could gradually reduce reliance on Chinnaswamy for marquee matches in the future.

CHINNASWAMY IS ALSO BEING RECONSTRUCTED

Interestingly, Karnataka’s push for a new mega venue is happening alongside the ongoing plan to redevelop the M Chinnaswamy Stadium itself.

Venkatesh Prasad recently revealed that the process of redesigning Chinnaswamy had already started before the final change of IPL venue.

According to him, nearly 28 internationally experienced architects have expressed interest in the redevelopment project, with KSCA now selecting firms for conceptual designs.

Discussions about the redevelopment have focused on improving crowd movement, security infrastructure, fan experience and stadium operations after criticism emerged over congestion and ticket management during IPL 2026.

However, despite the excitement surrounding the new stadium project, it has already attracted opposition from some environmental groups and local farmers due to its proximity to the Karadikkal-Mahadeshwara wildlife corridor.

In modern Indian cricket, the power of hosting is becoming almost as important as success on the field. And after losing the IPL 2026 final to Ahmedabad, Karnataka now seem determined to ensure that Bengaluru remain firmly in the conversation for the country’s biggest cricketing events going forward.

– The end

Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

23 May 2026 22:35 IST

‘, e.appendChild