Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium: Rourkela joins list of world’s biggest hockey stadiums | Hockey News

Images of winding queues leading to the doors of the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela is not what the sport is used to. It reminded me of the World Cup final in Lahore in 1990, when the National Stadium held 60,000 people and around 10,000 waited outside to watch Pakistan take on the Netherlands. The stadium loudspeakers blared, asking those outside without tickets to go home and watch the game on TV.
The capacity of the Lahore stadium is 45,000. But every available space – sitting, kneeling, standing – has been taken. 21st century hockey has never seen so many fans at a hockey game.

The obvious reason is that the National Stadium in Lahore is still the largest hockey facility in the world in terms of capacity. But what Odisha has done to bring hockey to fans over the past 10 years is also unmatched, although there are often debates in local political circles in the state around the amount of money spent on hockey. promotion of hockey only.

The state’s latest gift to sport is the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, nestled in one of India’s traditional hockey hotbeds – Sundergarh district.

A 20,000-seater stadium tops Odisha’s own Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, which seats 15,000 spectators. The two venues, however, will unite to host the 15th edition of the Men’s hockey world cup from January 13 to 29.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the sprawling Rourkela facility, which includes the only World Cup village.
The Village has 225 rooms and will host the teams staying in Rourkela for their matches during the World Cup. A total of 20 matches, out of a total of 44, will be played in Rourkela.
Taking another step in its support for hockey, the government of Odisha on Thursday announced a reward of Rs 1 crore for each player if the Indian team wins the World Cup.

India’s only World Cup triumph to date came 47 years ago in the 1975 edition, when the Indian men’s team beat traditional rivals Pakistan 2-1 in the final in Kuala Lumpur , in Malaysia.
of the world the biggest hockey stadiums (by capacity):
1. National Hockey Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan (capacity 45,000)
2. Chandigarh Hockey Stadium, Chandigarh, India (30,000)
3. Weingart Stadium (Multipurpose), Los Angeles, USA (22,355)
4. Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, Rourkela, India (20,000)