Stadium of 50 acres of open land and a capacity of 1 lakh spectators

The Mumbai Cricket Association is in the process of planning a new cricket stadium with a capacity of 1 lakh, situated 68 kilometres away from the iconic Wankhede Stadium, according to a recent report.

This development has caused quite a stir in the Indian cricketing community, as the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) is considering constructing a state-of-the-art stadium in the Amane village of Thane district. The proposed stadium will cover approximately 50 acres of open land and will boast a capacity of 1 lakh spectators.

Sources close to the project revealed that the MCA has submitted a bid to acquire the land through an open tender floated by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). Approval from the Maharashtra government is currently pending.

The vision for this new stadium was a dream project of MCA president Amol Kale, who unfortunately passed away in June. The stadium will be equipped with modern amenities, including two grounds for first-class matches.

Interestingly, the idea for the new stadium was proposed during a felicitation ceremony for the T20 World Cup 2024-winning squad at the Vidhan Sabha, where the Maharashtra government honoured four players, including captain Rohit Sharma. This initiative was supported by the deputy Chief Minister and close friend of Kale, Eknath Shinde.

This development comes shortly after Wankhede Stadium hosted a felicitation event for the victorious Indian team, highlighting the importance of building a larger capacity stadium in the region.