The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will host 5 matches, together with India’s opening sport in opposition to Australia on October 8. The final match on the venue, that includes South Africa and Pakistan, will likely be held on October 27.
By the way, India and Australia met on the identical venue for his or her first match of the Reliance ODI World Cup in 1987. It was additionally the primary ever ODI in Chennai, then Madras, which India misplaced by a run. Thirty-six years later, as Chepauk gears as much as play host to the 2023 ODI World Cup, Sportstar caught up with Prasanna Kannan, Tamil Nadu Premier League CEO, to get the lowdown on the prep work.
If you’re planning to look at a sport in Chennai in the course of the World Cup, right here’s all it’s essential know…
Capability: The stadium capability is 38,175. Roughly 970 seats are unavailable as a consequence of digicam stands, pillars, and sight screens, leaving a complete capability of round 37,000. Of those, roughly 1,800–2,000 are reserved for ICC sponsors (complimentary) and visitors for the World Cup, whereas BCCI reserves round 700–800. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Affiliation usually allocates round 7,500 complimentary tickets for golf equipment, authorities departments, cricketers, former workplace bearers, and present workplace bearers, with a quota system in place. There are round 25,000 public tickets obtainable on the market, of which BCCI and ICC have reserved round 6,000 for inner gross sales. TNCA has to additionally cater to Madras Cricket Membership (MCC) and Madras Race Membership (MRC), which accounts for about 3000 tickets. There may be additionally a TNCA possibility to purchase for members within the F, G, and H higher stands, leaving round 13,000 tickets obtainable for buy by most of the people. These are offered in two methods. One by ICC exterior India for international followers, and thru BookMyShow in India.

Floor workers put together the infrastructure for ICC males’s ODI World Cup Cricket event at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
| Picture Credit score:
B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
Floor workers put together the infrastructure for ICC males’s ODI World Cup Cricket event at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
| Picture Credit score:
B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
Observe amenities: At MAC B, matting was put in on recognized pitches for decrease division observe because the nets and constructions have been outdated and wanted to be reinstalled. A high-transmission energy line was opted for, and trenches have been dug and wires laid for the set up of a transformer close to the older indoor nets. Wiring was laid throughout the stadium, and therefore the Pattabhiraman gate is at present shut. However it’s going to open for the World Cup. Nonetheless, the transformer gained’t be operational till the tip of December. A examine is being carried out to find out whether or not having an entry gate through Pattabhiraman and an exit through A. G. Ram Singh will ease site visitors movement.
Minor works are additionally being carried out contained in the stadium, together with the set up of showers within the umpire’s room and a change of some mats within the washrooms. The Chennai Metropolitan Improvement Authority (CMDA) code mandates one washroom for roughly 110 individuals, however there are extra on supply right here. Though there is no such thing as a precise variety of washrooms obtainable for every stand because the capability of every stand varies, roughly one bathroom for each 70 individuals is prone to be maintained.
Lighting: The floodlights have been changed with LED lights in MAC A and MAC B stadiums as a result of outdated metallurgy lamps going out of manufacturing and the excessive price of substitute bulbs. The LED lights obtain higher uniformity of sunshine and cut back power consumption by 40–50%.
Throughout testing, an illuminance of round 4000 lux was achieved on the centre of the bottom and 1800–1900 lux on the boundary, which is larger than the manufacturing perspective of 3000 and 1500 lux respectively. There is no such thing as a particular normal for lights, however the ICC issued a normal in 2008–2009 from the gamers’ perspective, which is 1500 lux within the centre and 800 lux on the boundary. Even for 4K decision throughout IPL, these lights must be sufficient to offer high quality. LED lights give uniformity, and the present roof is made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) cloth, so it can not deal with any weight. Subsequently, a setup just like the one in Ahmedabad, which has a hoop of lights mounted alongside the rim of the roof, is out of the query.

Floodlights on the M. A. Chidambaram stadium.
| Picture Credit score:
B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
Floodlights on the M. A. Chidambaram stadium.
| Picture Credit score:
B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
These gentle towers are powered by turbines as they aren’t related to the principle grid. The transformers should not designed to deal with the excessive a great deal of the LED lights or metallurgy, which might trigger delays throughout match days. The LED towers require round 1000 kVA of load, whereas the metallurgy towers require a minimal of 2400–2500 kVA of load. The outdated metallurgy lights took roughly 20 minutes to completely gentle up, whereas the LEDs come again on instantly.
Ticketing: There are two on-line ticketing choices obtainable: BookMyShow for Indian audiences and ICC excursions and travels for international nations. They’re promoting tickets with geoblocks for particular nations collaborating in occasions. As an example, for a match between India and Australia, some tickets can be found solely to Australian residents or individuals exterior India who need to attend the occasion.
Dwelling supply is an possibility for advance bookings at an additional price, and redemption of on-line tickets is offered at different centres. Nonetheless, there have been points with the e-scanning of tickets in the course of the IPL as a consequence of poor web availability. So, in anticipation of the World Cup rush, Wi-Fi from the stadium’s workplace central community will likely be made obtainable at entry gates.
No determination has been taken on whether or not redemption of tickets will likely be obtainable or not, which is pending affirmation with BookMyShow. Whether it is obtainable, it will likely be open one week earlier than the event and can proceed till match day at two centres within the stadium — one on Canal Street and the opposite on Wallajah Street. Nonetheless, logistics are nonetheless being found out. The redemption course of is as much as particular person centres.
Parking and transport for followers: Parking amenities for the general public would be the identical because it was throughout IPL 2023 — for followers with out automobile passes, area will likely be obtainable on the Madras College campus, the PWD parking space (reverse the V Pattabiraman gate on Wallajah Street), the Omandurar Medical School campus, and the Kalaivanar Arangam parking space. It’s essential to coordinate with CMRL for transportation preparations throughout matches. TNCA writes to each Chennai Metro Rail Restricted (CMRL) and native transport authorities about extending bus and prepare timings primarily based on match timings.
Drainage: Again in 2005, two video games [India vs. South Africa, 3rd ODI; India vs. Sri Lanka, 1st Test] have been curtailed as a consequence of a moist outfield, regardless of no rain in the course of the sport. The TNCA then relaid the outfield with tender drainage, utilising multi-layered soil and perforated PVC pipes to empty extra water. Since then, there have been no points with inundated outfields. When it rains, covers are positioned on the principle strip, and bowlers run-up. The three tremendous soppers within the stadium are used to take away any extra water from the covers to stop it from spilling onto the 30 yards, which might trigger issues for the bowlers’ run-up. Afterward, a rope is run throughout the outfield to discharge any remaining water earlier than the gamers heat up and the sport resumes. There will likely be a 45-minute delay on the most — out of which half-hour is principally for groundsmen to work on the covers — which incorporates eradicating them, marking them, placing up the stumps, and all the things else. Then one other 10–quarter-hour are required for the fielding workforce to heat up.

Work in progress on the cricket pitch at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
| Picture Credit score:
B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
Work in progress on the cricket pitch at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
| Picture Credit score:
B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
Pitch: The Chepauk sq. was not totally relaid, solely receiving a prime wash. Chepauk sometimes undergoes a prime wash as soon as each two seasons. The sq. was final totally relaid in 2014. The pitch at Chepauk consists of clay and crimson soil. In latest instances, it has helped spinners, however has additionally been a real floor for batters. Out of the 9 IPL matches performed this 12 months, solely two noticed scores over 200, whereas the others noticed scores ranging between 140-180. The Chepauk pitch appeared to have misplaced its famed bounce for some time, however the curators have managed to get it again. The sq. has 9 pitches, which have undergone annual upkeep because the IPL, and there’s a honest effort to have good grass masking. If the matches are performed in October, the specter of rains is all the time across the nook as it’s the lively North-East Monsoon interval. The dew issue relies on the rains. If there are rains earlier than the matches, the possibilities of dew are slim. However whether it is dry, dew might come into play. If that’s the case, the bottom workers will spray the anti-dew chemical substances on the outfield to make sure toss doesn’t turn out to be a vital issue and the bowling workforce doesn’t wrestle below lights with a moist ball.
Areas that want consideration: It’s hoped that TNCA’s discussions with CMRL will bear fruition and followers will likely be allowed to make use of QR/barcoded entry tickets for the World Cup matches as tickets for Metro trains.
Like CSK’s tie-up with CMRL over the last IPL, feeder buses have been obtainable to move followers from Authorities Property Metro Station to the stadium. Related preparations might improve the WC expertise in Chennai.